Tepezza Hearing Loss – Symptoms, Causes, and What You Can Do

Tepezza (teprotumumab) was marketed as a first-of-its-kind treatment for Thyroid Eye Disease, but some patients have suffered permanent hearing loss after taking the drug. Horizon Therapeutics, the maker of Tepezza, originally claimed that the hearing loss was temporary and affected fewer than 10% of patients.

Unfortunately, post-marketing studies, including one performed at the Stanford University School of Medicine and presented to the Endocrine Society, now indicate that the hearing loss may be permanent and affect as many as 65% of patients. The FDA has yet to recall the drug.

If you or someone you know has taken Tepezza and suffered tinnitus or hearing loss, here’s what you need to know. For immediate assistance, call 1-866-900-7078.

Thyroid Eye Disease and Why Tepezza Was Approved

Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) is the inflammation of eye muscles, eyelids, tear glands, and fatty tissues behind the eye. TED is an autoimmune disease – meaning the body’s immune system is attacking tissues. If you are suffering from the condition, you may be experiencing swelling and bulging of the eyes, impaired or double vision, and pain and discomfort.

The same autoimmune disease that causes TED in most patients also affects the thyroid gland, and can result in Graves’ disease – a condition that causes an overactive thyroid gland.

Tepezza Approval, Cost, and Signs of Problems

Whenever a new drug hits the market, it’s accompanied by the fanfare of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and often marketing language touting it as revolutionary in some way. Tepezza had it all.

It is the first FDA approved therapy for Thyroid Eye Disease and was set to be a huge success for its makers, Horizon Therapeutics. It was FDA approved in January 2020, even though clinical trials included fewer than 100 patients. At the time of launch, the company charged $14,900 per vial, with a six month regimen costing about $200,000.

Tepezza was such a breakthrough that Amgen, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, planned to buy Horizon Therapeutics. Now, that purchase is on hold. Amgen investors have filed suit to stop the acquisition due to fear over Tepezza litigation costs.

Tepezza Hearing Loss – Permanent Side Effects Underreported?

Just over a year after its release, a study from Stanford University raised alarming questions about Tepezza’s safety. In contrast to the studies used to get FDA approval for Tepezza (which reported hearing loss in 10% of patients), this small study found that otologic symptoms could occur in as many as 65% of patients treated.

Researchers tested 26 patients who had received at least four treatments of Tepezza. Seventeen of those patients developed hearing-related symptoms, including subjective hearing loss, tinnitus, ear plugging sensation, and autophony – the unusually loud hearing of one’s own voice.

Some patients experienced sensorineural hearing loss, which is the result of damaged hair cells in the inner ear. Others experienced a Patulous Eustachian Tube – a condition where the tube that opens and closes to regulate air pressure stays open.

Symptoms of Tepezza Hearing Loss

Are you or someone you love taking Tepezza? Here are some signs of hearing impairment you may experience. If you’ve experienced any of these, contact your doctor immediately:

• Muffled Hearing
• Tinnitus – ringing in the ears
• Patulous Eustachian Tube – feeling pressure in the ear(s)
• Hypoacusis – inability to hear clearly or partial hearing loss
• Hyperacusis – sensitivity to sounds
• Autophony – unusually loud hearing or echoing of your own voice
• Sensorineural Hearing Loss – damaged hair cells in the inner ear

Tepezza Hearing Loss Signs of Problems – And Cause for Action

If you have taken Tepezza for Thyroid Eye Disease and are suffering from hearing problems, hearing loss, or other hearing symptoms of the drug’s side effects, contact your doctor immediately and then contact one of our experienced dangerous drug attorneys. Worsening sensorineural hearing loss or any other hearing impairment may become irreversible hearing loss.

While Tepezza has offered an effective treatment of Thyroid Eye Disease, a higher rate of adverse reactions than previously reported in clinical trials represents an undisclosed risk that patients should have been made aware of. Because these side effects – including permanent hearing loss – were not adequately disclosed, patients were unable to fairly evaluate risk factors.

You Could Be Entitled to Compensation

The side effects of Tepezza can be permanent, and lead to lifelong discomfort and disability. You may be entitled to compensation for:

• pain and suffering
• medical costs for treatments to address the side effects
• wages lost due to medical treatments and procedures
• and other damages

Seeking compensation costs you nothing upfront and we don’t charge hourly. We work on a contingency fee arrangement, so we only collect an attorney’s fee if we are able to recover for you.²

Aggressive, Efficient Representation in Your Best Interests

If you’ve suffered harm from taking Tepezza, one of our experienced attorneys will evaluate your case at no charge and with no obligation. You may deserve significant compensation for the harm that’s been done to you.

Since 1997, we’ve helped more than 65,000 clients recover more than $1.8 billion in total compensation. This does not include our historic civil rights victory where we reached a settlement of more than a billion dollars for 15,000+ clients from the federal government.¹

We have the resources, experience, and skill to fight for everything you may deserve. Call the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin at 1-866-900-7078 or contact us online right now.

The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin consults with a national network of attorneys on product liability, defective drugs, and defective products cases in an attempt to provide the best representation we can for our clients. Depending on the details of your case, our firm will likely refer your matter to another law firm with which we associate. We will only do this if we believe it is in your best interests and if you agree.

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