In recent years, several lawsuits against Tepezza, a prescription drug designed to treat thyroid eye disease (TED), have emerged. These lawsuits seek to sue the product for causing individuals to experience hearing loss and tinnitus. So, what does the Tepezza class action lawsuit look like?
In this article, we will provide you with complete information about the Tepezza class action lawsuits. So, read on!
Get to Know Tepezza, a Prescription Drug for Patients with Thyroid Eye Disease
Tepezza, also known as teprotumumab-trbw, is a prescription drug developed and approved to treat thyroid eye disease (TED). TED is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and swelling of the tissues in the area around the eye.
TED is also commonly defined as a condition where the fatty tissue behind the eye and in other parts of the eye becomes chronically inflamed. Worse, this inflammation causes the eye to swell, which can significantly impair one’s vision. This condition is commonly associated with a condition called hyperthyroidism.
Tepezza is a drug created and developed by the Horizon Therapeutics company. This is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in developing drugs to treat rare rheumatoid and autoimmune diseases. The drug works by inhibiting the activity of the insulin-1 protein which is believed to be the cause of TED.
Later in 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Tepezza. This approval ensured that Horizon Therapeutics’ Tepezza was the first and only drug approved by the FDA to treat TED.
As with the newest drugs on the market, the FDA’s approval for Tepezza was based on very limited testing. It was also without any determination of the drug’s exact mechanism of action. In addition, the single clinical trial Horizon used to gain FDA approval for Tepezza involved less than 100 patients.
The Beginning of the Tepezza Class Action Lawsuit
As soon as the Tepezza drug entered the United States market, reports of serious hearing damage from patients and doctors began to arrive. In addition, in 2021, a study on Tepezza was published which demonstrated that the Horizon company had underestimated the risk of hearing damage due to the use of the Tepezza drug.
This study was published concerning Horizon’s statement acknowledging that Tepezza could pose a hearing risk as a potential side effect. The company also claimed that only 10% of users may experience this potential side effect. Plus, Horizon also characterized this hearing loss as a temporary risk.
However, this statement contradicts a study published in the journal Endocrine Society. The study reported that 65% of people taking Tepezza experienced some degree of hearing damage and ringing in the ears. This figure is certainly 6 times higher than what Horizon claimed during the approval process to the FDA.
Tepezza Injury Statistics that Sparked the Tepezza Class Action Lawsuit
According to a study in the journal Endocrine Society, it was reported that as many as 65 percent of patients who received the infusion experienced hearing side effects. Moreover, these Tepezza drug-related side effects appear after an average of 3 to 6 infusions. Auditory side effects include the following:
- Subjective hearing loss
- Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
- Ear plugging sensation
- Autophony, is a perception that one’s voice is excessively loud
- Sensorineural hearing loss
- Patulous Eustachian tube
Then, on December 31, 2022, the FDA officially received reports regarding the side effects of using the drug Tepezza. Here is the number of reports.
- 117 cases of hearing loss
- 84 cases of tinnitus
- 68 cases of deafness
Who is Responsible for Tepezza Injuries?
Certainly, the responsible party for any Tepezza injury is the company that made the drug, Horizon Therapeutics. However, another company, Amgen, which acquired Horizon in December 2022 may also be liable for your injuries.
In addition, Amgen has also stated its intention to continue marketing and selling this drug in the market. The amount of Tepezza sold may also give rise to strict liability. This is the type of liability that makes manufacturers, distributors, and retailers liable for the harm that consumers suffer.
Is There a Tepezza Class Action Lawsuit?
Definitely, yes. After a months-long process to consolidate the trial damage lawsuits into one class action lawsuit, it is finally official. It all started on January 20, 2023, when the Tepezza plaintiffs’ lawyers filed a motion to consolidate the class action lawsuit.
Thereafter, after various motions from 18 pending product liability cases were filed for a class action lawsuit against Tepezza. Finally, on June 5, 2023, the Multidistrict Litigation Panel (MDL) legally formalized a Tepezza class action lawsuit against Horizon Therapeutics.
The lawsuit alleges that the Horizon company failed to warn about the potential hearing loss and tinnitus from Teppeza. In addition, as of the emergence of this class action lawsuit, 71 cases have been filed in the Tepezza hearing loss MDL class action lawsuit.
Although there are already 71 pending cases related to the lawsuit for Tepezza, there is still no settlement or trial approved by the courts in the United States. As time goes on and the year turns to 2024, it is said that the lawsuit against Tepezza may grow and there will be a high number of settlements offered.
Why File A Tepezza Lawsuit?
If you used Tepezza and suffer from permanent hearing loss or tinnitus, you can file a Tepezza lawsuit. Don’t hesitate to file a lawsuit so that you can receive compensation for your medical bills, suffering, lost wages, and decreased quality of life.
Moreover, filing a lawsuit can also help warn other patients about the risks of Tepezza use. After all, these permanent side effects of Tepezza use are not only costly but can also reduce your quality of life.
As you already know, many studies have shown that permanent hearing loss or tinnitus makes it difficult to understand others. This can potentially lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety, and depression.
Let’s File a Tepezza Class Action Lawsuit to Get Your Compensation!
Here is a brief overview of the class action lawsuit against Tepezza. The lawsuit case against this thyroid eye disease (TED) drug has accumulated around 71 cases since the inauguration of the class action lawsuit in June 2023. This number is also expected to continue to grow in 2024.
Therefore, let’s hope that this case will soon go to court and a settlement will be found. With a settlement, people who experience the side effects of hearing loss or tinnitus can immediately get the compensation they deserve.
