Tepezza Lawsuit: Hearing Loss and Tinnitus Claims
Product liability lawsuits are no anomaly in the pharmaceutical industry. Over the past few years, there has been a surge in the number of cases filed against companies manufacturing defective products. One such drug that has been making rounds in the news is Tepezza, manufactured by Horizon Therapeutics.
This prescription drug is used in the treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED). However, several people have sued the manufacturer, claiming that its medicine is responsible for causing hearing impairment.
This article digs into the specifics of the Tepezza lawsuit. We’ll also discuss the damages you can seek by suing the manufacturer if you’ve experienced hearing impairment after using the drug.
Tepezza Helps Relieve Symptoms of Thyroid Eye Disease
Tepezza was introduced in January 2020 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it as the first medication to help patients manage moderate to severe TED. This rare autoimmune condition attacks healthy eye tissue, which causes inflammation in the eye muscles, tear glands, eyelids, and fatty tissues.
Multiple Tepezza infusions can significantly improve the signs and symptoms of this condition, including diplopia (double vision), proptosis (bulging eyes), and eye pain. A recent NIH review supports this claim.
As there was a scarcity of TED medications, Tepezza became the most profitable medicine in 2020. Tepezza, sold by Horizon Therapeutics, exceeded $800 million in net sales. However, it was a short-lived success, as this injectable drug came under fire for causing tinnitus and hearing loss.
The Tepezza Litigation: An Overview
While Tepezza is effective in alleviating symptoms of TED, several users reported experiencing hearing issues after using it. These claims aren’t baseless. Several studies have established a link between muffled hearing or hearing loss and the use of Tepezza.
Studies conducted prior to FDA approval revealed that about ten percent of Tepezza users reported otologic symptoms. The findings of a new study state otherwise. A small study conducted in 2021 observed that 65% of patients experienced otologic symptoms after using this injectable drug.
As many as 29% of Tepezza users complained of autophony, i.e., unusually loud hearing of their own voice. Approximately 27% of users experienced tinnitus or ringing in the ears, followed by hearing loss in about 23% and ear plugging sensation in around 12% of patients. Patients experienced otologic symptoms after 3.6 infusions on average.
Users of the TED medications have sued Horizon Therapeutics for failing to issue a warning label regarding the health risks associated with the use of its drug. In the Tepezza lawsuit, plaintiffs allege that the use of Horizon Therapeutics drug impaired their hearing.
TorHoerman Law reports that Cynthia William, one of the plaintiffs in the Tepezza lawsuit, alleges that her tinnitus and hearing loss were due to the defective design of the drug.
Horizon Therapeutics will have to pay millions to settle Tepezza lawsuits because the allegations against it are serious. Another risk associated with this drug is that people with severe TED require a second round of injections. This increases their risk of developing permanent hearing loss or tinnitus further.
Who Qualifies to File a Tepezza Lawsuit?
You are eligible to file a Tepezza lawsuit if you:
- Took Tepezza infusion to relieve symptoms of TED
- Suffered from persistent or permanent tinnitus or hearing loss after taking Tepezza
What Damages Can Plaintiffs Pursue in the Tepezza Lawsuit?
Losing one of your five senses is frustrating. Experiencing otologic symptoms is especially traumatic for people with TED because they are already struggling with one sensory condition, i.e., vision.
Those who develop hearing loss or tinnitus are forced to adapt to a different lifestyle. Even mild hearing loss can have a significant impact on the quality of your life, affecting your relationships, career, and emotional well-being. This results in a number of economic and non-economic damages.
The damages that you can recover from Horizon Therapeutics by suing it are as follows:
- Medical expenses, such as the cost of treatment and bill
- Lost wages or income
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Physical impairment
FDA Updates Tepezza Warning Label Amidst Lawsuit
Amid the growing pool of lawsuits, the FDA has released a new warning label for Tepezza. This updated label warns people regarding the risk of hearing impairment associated with this injectable drug. It also states that the hearing loss could be permanent in some cases.
Further, the label advises doctors to assess the hearing of patients before, during, and after the treatment to determine if the medication has had an effect.
To wrap things up, the failure of Horizon Therapeutics to include a warning on its drug resulted in hearing impairment in Tepezza users. However, those affected by the drug can seek compensation by filing a lawsuit against the manufacturer. As navigating the legal complexities is far from easy, hiring a lawyer will be the best bet.
