See, when Tepezza (scientifically known as teprotumumab-trbw) came out, it was kinda a revolutionary medicine or drug to treat Thyroid Eye Disease, or TED for short. But, just in a matter of a few years, there are now hundreds of people who have been facing other medical issues after taking this drug, and that is the very reason why this whole mess has turned into a legal fight. Yes, this whole thing has not taken the shape of this Tepezza lawsuit. And if you don’t know where things stand with this case for now, just keep on reading then.
What’s the Issue With Tepezza?
It turns out that, after taking Tepezza, a lot of people out there have reported some strange symptoms, like constant ringing in the ears and having difficulty hearing. There are some severe cases as well, like some people have lost their hearing.
And the main issue here is that when Tepezza came out, there were no side effects mentioned on the labels or anything like that by the company. Not a single warning about it all! That’s the thing that has pissed a lot of people off. And then, back in July 2023, Horizon went on to add the hearing-loss warning after it had already and permanently impacted so many people’s lives.
What Are the Lawsuits Claiming?
So now, yes, this lawsuit is in place, and the claims are pretty straightforward, actually. Like? The lawsuit clearly states that the company knew about the problems or side effects with this drug, but didn’t care to tell the medical professionals or the patients. Here’s what people are accusing Horizon of doing wrong:
- Not warning doctors and patients about the real hearing risks.
- Downplaying how serious those hearing problems could become.
- Delaying updates to the drug’s safety information.
- Actively promoting Tepezza to people who may not have needed it.
There is a report being discussed in this lawsuit that clearly states that in Horizon’s own research or studies, higher hearing loss numbers came out, but they went on to share lower numbers to the public. Not just that, we even saw a former Horizon scientist, Dr. Jerry Lui, alleging that the number of people who have taken this drug, almost 40% of them, are dealing with hearing issues.
What Does the Science Say?
Well, for now, the science is clearly in support of this lawsuit because when Horizon first presented its research to the FDA, it said that only about 10% of the patients had reported hearing problems, but in reality, the number was much higher. And now, there is a new study from the 2021 medical conference that suggests that around 65% patients are having hearing problems with this drug. So what does this tell you now? Huh?
How Did This End Up in Court?
Tepezza became a problem for many people out there, so no doubt, the cases started piling up, and eventually, it all ended up in court. Now, it is an MDL case filed in June 2023, under Judge Thomas Durkin in Chicago. Just to give you an idea of how big this case really is, well, there are as many as 270 lawsuits combined in this MDL. And as of right now, the first set of bellwether trials in this case is set to be scheduled for mid-2026.
What Are the Legal Claims?
Here’s a simple look at the main legal claims people are filing against Horizon:
- Failure to Warn: The company didn’t clearly state that any kind of hearing loss could be permanent.
- Negligence: Horizon didn’t test the drug thoroughly or act quickly on safety reports, even though they knew beforehand.
- Defective Design: There might be a flaw in the way Tepezza works.
- Hiding Information: Important safety data was allegedly kept from the public.
- Strict Liability: Since Horizon made and sold the drug, they’re responsible for the harm it caused, of course.
And for those who don’t know yet, it was Amgen that acquired Horizon in 2022, which means it could now share responsibility for any legal fallout.
