Tepezza Lawsuit

When you take medication, you expect it to treat the condition it was prescribed for. What you don’t expect is to end up with another, permanent condition like deafness, especially if you are taking a drug designed to reduce swelling around your eyes. 

Unfortunately, if you were prescribed Tepezza, permanent loss of hearing might be one of the side effects you experience.

While Tepezza has only been on the market since 2020, hundreds of people have already reported suffering hearing loss or tinnitus after using the product. And all signs suggest that the hearing loss is permanent. 

This unexpected outcome is the basis of several lawsuits against the company Horizon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

If you have taken Tepezza in the past or are currently taking it, you may be eligible to file a Tepezza lawsuit. The lawyers at Morgan & Morgan can tell you about your options. 

Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation and learn more.

The Basics of a Tepezza Lawsuit

Horizon Pharmaceuticals produces and markets the medication Tepezza. It’s the brand name for a drug that treats thyroid eye disease. Thyroid eye disease is a rare condition that causes redness and swelling around the eyes in most people who suffer from it. Occasionally, the disease causes a loss of vision.

While thyroid eye disease is rare and usually more annoying than dangerous, it still frustrates tens of thousands of people in the United States. Tepezza is a first-of-its-kind drug that effectively eases the symptoms of this disease. At this point, Tepezza is only approved for use in the U.S.

Tepezza, like most other medications, comes with several potential side effects. Most of these side effects are listed on the label, allowing doctors and patients to make an informed decision about whether the cure is worth the possible risks. However, one side effect is notably missing from that list.

Horizon Pharmaceuticals did not list hearing loss or tinnitus as possible side effects of Tepezza. Despite this, over half the people who have used this product have reported some degree of hearing problems, with many suffering severe loss of hearing.

The Tepezza lawsuits allege that Horizon Pharmaceuticals was aware of this side effect and didn’t inform the public. Attorneys for litigants are still gathering evidence to prove that allegation, but it’s hard to believe that such a prevalent side effect wasn’t apparent during the initial testing of the drug.

If these allegations prove correct, Horizon Pharmaceuticals acted recklessly with the health of the consumers who used its product. Therefore, the company is responsible for compensating anyone who suffered hearing loss or tinnitus after using Tepezza.

If you have ever used Tepezza, you should consult with an attorney from Morgan and Morgan immediately. You may have been impacted by the drug, and you could be owed compensation.

Why Was Tepezza Approved if It Had Such a Devastating Side Effect?

It isn’t clear that the FDA was aware of the side effects when it approved Tepezza. While drug companies are supposed to report all side effects, it appears that this one was never reported.

Horizon Pharmaceuticals had motivation for not reporting a side effect that might have prevented Tepezza from being approved. The company has already made over $3 billion selling the drug to the public. If the FDA had been aware of the potential for permanent hearing loss, Horizon Pharmaceuticals wouldn’t have made all that money.

Without that crucial information, the drug seemed like a perfect candidate for approval. In two large trials, the drug performed well above expectations and provided undeniable relief for the main symptoms of thyroid eye disease.

Hearing Loss From Tepezza

Tepezza is used to treat people who have thyroid eye disease. This disease was discovered in 1835 by Robert Graves, so the medical community has a lot of data about it. None of that data suggests that hearing loss is associated with this disease.

Thus, the high prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus seen in people using Tepezza is likely due to the drug. If it was caused by the disease, there would have been evidence of that correlation sometime in the nearly 200 years since it was discovered.

Furthermore, there’s no reason to believe that this hearing loss is natural. The average age for people affected by thyroid eye disease is 30 to 50 years old. While people in that age range often suffer mild hearing loss, the majority of cases associated with Tepezza are moderate to severe.

And while Tepezza has only been used since 2020, the signs of hearing loss are apparent. Roughly two out of every three people who use the drug have experienced either hearing loss or tinnitus.

What Is Tinnitus?

There are two major types of hearing loss. The version most people are familiar with is one where you lose the ability to hear lower-decibel sounds. Even loud noises might be faint if you have traditional hearing loss.

Tinnitus is different, though. If you have tinnitus, you hear phantom sounds. With a mild case, it could present as a low buzzing. A more severe case often sounds like a constant moderate to loud ringing.

While you can still technically hear other sounds, they often get overwhelmed by the buzzing or ringing sound that won’t go away. It’s similar to listening to a conversation in a room where dozens of other people are talking loudly. The sounds all blend, and you can’t make out words.

Tinnitus doesn’t just make it difficult to hear things, either. If it is severe enough, it can keep you from sleeping or give you headaches. In some ways, severe tinnitus may be worse than complete hearing loss.

Unfortunately, tinnitus is more difficult to treat than hearing loss. Hearing aids are an effective treatment for many people who suffer from hearing loss. However, these devices do nothing for tinnitus. Medical options are limited for treating this condition.

Filing a Tepezza Lawsuit

If you believe that you are suffering any form of hearing damage due to Tepezza, you may be eligible to file a Tepezza lawsuit. 

To determine your eligibility, schedule a free case evaluation with an attorney from Morgan & Morgan. Our lawyers are familiar with the situation and will help you collect the money you need to deal with lifelong hearing damage.

Before we can get you money, we need to understand how much harm you have suffered. Our attorneys will help you schedule an evaluation with a doctor who can determine the extent of your hearing loss or tinnitus. Based on that examination, we can estimate the value of your Tepezza lawsuit.

Next, you will have to decide whether you want to join a class action lawsuit or file on your own. There are advantages to both choices, and your lawyer will explain your options.

Typically, if you weren’t seriously harmed, you are more likely to get money by joining a class action lawsuit. The higher the value of damages you are owed, the more likely it is that you’ll want to file an individual lawsuit.

Once you decide to file a lawsuit or join a class action suit, your attorney will take the reins. They will gather evidence, file motions with the court, and keep up with any similar cases moving through the court system. You will receive regular updates but usually won’t need to do anything other than possibly sign some paperwork.

You should expect that a lawsuit will take years to complete. It may move faster if Horizon Pharmaceuticals settles the case. Though even if they offer a settlement, that doesn’t ensure that it will be fair or that you will be willing to accept the offer.

The eventual goal is to get you enough money to pay for:

• Devices, assistance services, or therapy you need to alleviate your hearing loss
• Any other expenses resulting from the hearing loss
• All lost wages due to your loss of hearing
• All of your medical bills
• Pain and suffering

If the drug company makes an offer that will pay for all these expenses and losses, we will recommend that you accept it, even if it isn’t as much money as you could potentially get from a jury verdict. We will typically recommend that you refuse any amount less than what your bills add up to, but the final decision is always yours.