After initial attempts to dismiss legal action forming against it, Horizon Pharmaceuticals (Horizon) has been hit with several lawsuits that allege its drug Tepezza can cause hearing loss and tinnitus. Tepezza is used intravenously to treat thyroid eye disease (TED) and Graves eye disease (GED), but it has been linked to hearing damage. The complaints state that Horizon knew of the hearing loss risk but never warned doctors or patients about it. If true, this “failure to warn” could justify compensation paid by the Big Pharma company to Tepezza users.
A plaintiff in one of the recently filed lawsuits received several Tepezza IV infusions between November 2021 and April 2022. Despite the treatments lasting just half a year, she soon suffered from permanent hearing loss and tinnitus.
Studies Link Tepezza to Hearing Loss
Before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tepezza in 2020, Horizon seemingly downplayed the drug’s link to hearing loss. The company told the FDA that there was about a 10% risk of “temporary” and mild hearing loss. Using this information, the FDA determined the drug was safe enough to approve.
However, not long after Tepezza hit the market and was being recommended by doctors, complaints of severe and permanent hearing loss began to pile up. A study conducted in 2021 found a much more concerning connection between Tepezza use and hearing damage. Based on a study hosted by the Journal of Endocrine Society, Tepezza’s risk of hearing loss should have been reported at 45%, and it should have been noted that permanent tinnitus or hearing loss was possible. A later study hosted by Otology & Neurotology would conclude the risk could actually be as high as 65%.
What are Tepezza Plaintiffs Demanding?
The Tepezza lawsuits that have been filed ask for unspecified damages based on losses and hardships caused by hearing loss or permanent tinnitus. Sensory loss lawsuits tend to value hearing loss in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, though. Still, no specific amount can be promised or easily estimated at this time because the lawsuits have only recently been filed.
How Many Lawsuits Will Horizon?
At this point, several Tepezza lawsuits have been filed, but many, many more are expected. Thousands of people used Tepezza across the country after it was FDA-approved, so there could be just as many plaintiffs. The situation could likely call for multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the form of mass torts if the number of potential plaintiffs increases significantly. Mass torts can benefit plaintiffs by allowing each case to be handled individually while benefitting from the evidence, arguments, and results of other Tepezza cases.
See If You Can Start a Tepezza Injury Claim
Golomb Legal, P.C., a nationwide leader in lawsuits against Big Pharma and major corporations, is investigating the developing cases for Tepezza lawsuits. The more people who come forward with stories of how Tepezza caused them to suffer hearing damage, the stronger each future claim can become. If you used Tepezza and suffered hearing loss or tinnitus, then please send a contact form to the firm’s mass tort attorneys. You can also call (215) 278-4449 if possible and preferred.