If you developed hearing loss after taking Tepezza (also known as teprotumumab), you may be entitled to compensation. While the manufacturer (Horizon Therapeutics) warned that only 10 percent of patients might experience hearing problems, recent studies demonstrated that over 80 percent of people who use this medication face significant hearing-related side effects.
Once the results of the study surfaced, many people started filing lawsuits against Horizon Therapeutics. Some of them are still ongoing.
Even if your case appears straightforward, you still need to prove the manufacturer’s negligence. Without a Tepezza hearing loss lawyer, doing this is nearly impossible. That’s why the majority of Tepezza plaintiffs work with experienced attorneys.
What Is Tepezza?
Tepezza is the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medication for treating thyroid eye disease (TED). TED is an autoimmune disease in which eyelids, eye muscles, and tear glands become inflamed. As a result, eyes and eyelids are red and swollen, causing patients to experience significant discomfort.
When the FDA approved Tepezza back in 2020, the drug label listed various side effects of the medication, including hearing problems. However, the manufacturer explained that the possibility of such a side effect was low. During clinical trials, it occurred in 10 percent of the subjects.
The hearing issues that Horizon and the FDA warned about include:
- Deafness
- Eustachian tube dysfunction (blockage in tubes that connect the ear to the upper throat)
- Hyperacusis (sensitivity to loud sounds)
- Hypoacusis (problems with sound clarity)
- Autophony (feeling that your voice sounds too loud in your ears)
As soon as the medication hit the market, people started experiencing side effects. The hearing problem disappeared after they stopped taking the drug for some of them. Others faced permanent hearing loss.
Side effects start occurring after just four infusions of the drug. For some people, hearing improved after a week of taking the drug. Others had to wait several months. A number of patients didn’t experience any improvements and faced permanent hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
The first person to file a lawsuit against Horizon was Daniel Weibel in August 2022. Since then, many other patients have decided to recover compensation for their damages.
Tepezza Hearing Loss Studies
Several studies demonstrated that Tepezza could lead to hearing loss problems in more than 10 percent of patients.
Study#1: Hearing Dysfunction After Treatment with Teprotumumab for Thyroid Eye Disease
This study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology in February 2022 looked at 27 patients who took Tepezza to treat thyroid eye disease. A disturbing 81.5 percent of them developed hearing problems only after four infusions of the drug.
Doctors followed up with the patients ten months after they stopped using Tepezza. Some patients reported improvements. Three patients still had hearing loss problems.
Study#2: Hearing Loss and Teprotumumab
A study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society revealed that thirteen out of twenty-eight patients who took Tepezza experienced hearing loss symptoms. That’s 46 percent. Symptoms occurred after three to four infusions of the drug. While some patients experienced significant improvement after quitting the medication, others still had side effects.
Researchers who conducted the study explained that while Tepezza is a promising new medication, it requires further research to examine the side effects.
Even after the results of the above studies became public, the manufacturer, Horizon Pharmaceuticals, failed to warn patients about the high possibility of developing hearing loss and tinnitus after using the drug.
The first person to file a hearing loss lawsuit, Daniel Weibel, claimed that he would have never started using Tepezza if he had known about the high rate of hearing loss problems. Weibel and other plaintiffs claim that the manufacturer knew or should have known about the high possibility of developing hearing loss side effects.
While several studies pointed to the high incidence of hearing loss and tinnitus, Horizon didn’t warn doctors and patients about it. As a result, some people developed permanent hearing loss. Plaintiffs also blame the manufacturer for marketing the drug aggressively without being clear about the hearing loss issue.
Can I File a Tepezza Hearing Loss Lawsuit?
If you took Tepezza and experienced permanent hearing problems, you could be eligible to file a lawsuit against Horizon Pharmaceuticals. To evaluate the possibility of winning the case against the drug manufacturer, you need to speak with a Tepezza hearing loss attorney.
A reliable product liability lawyer doesn’t charge clients for the initial case evaluation. You can speak to an experienced attorney without hiring them to determine whether you can recover damages.
At the initial evaluation, the attorney looks at the evidence, hears about your case, compares it to the existing lawsuits, and helps you make a decision on whether to proceed.
Before contacting an attorney, you could collect such information as:
- How long you’ve been taking Tepezza.
- When you started experiencing side effects.
- Doctor’s reports and prescriptions.
- Medical bills related to hearing loss treatment.
- Doctors’ reports about your hearing loss problems.
The more information and documents you can provide, the easier it is to understand your situation clearly. Even if you don’t have all the documents yet, don’t worry. You can still talk to an attorney and receive valuable advice about the lawsuit possibility.
If you can file a Tepezza hearing loss lawsuit, your attorney can explain how to proceed with the case.
Two Possible Outcomes of Lawsuits Against Horizon Pharmaceuticals
If you and your Tepezza hearing loss attorney manage to build a strong case and prove that Horizon Pharmaceuticals acted negligently, you might expect two possible outcomes:
- Settlement. Once Horizon understands that your case is strong, they may want to settle instead of going to trial. You would need to negotiate with the manufacturer’s attorneys to settle the amount you deserve.
- Trial.If Horizon doesn’t want to settle, the case proceeds to trial. The judge and the jury decide who is right and how much money to award, if necessary.
In both cases, you need legal assistance. Going up against a pharmaceutical giant without legal help can be exhausting, frustrating, and often useless.
Damages You Can Collect
If you can prove that Horizon Pharmaceuticals knew or should have known about the high chances of developing hearing loss after using Tepezza, you can demand compensation for several types of damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are financial damages you face due to your hearing loss problem after taking Tepezza.
Common examples of such damages are:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- At-home assistance
- Loss of earning capacity
If you can prove your case, Horizon should cover all past, present, and future economic damages related to your hearing loss problem. To make sure you get sufficient compensation, you have to present relevant evidence.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are related to the loss of quality of life that you experience after developing hearing problems. For example, you may need to give up some of your hobbies.
Other damages include:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Chronic discomfort
- Emotional distress
Your attorney can help you find evidence or hire expert witnesses to prove your right to non-economic damages. They can increase the amount of your settlement by 150 percent or more.
Punitive Damages
In some situations, when the case proceeds to trial, the court may decide to award punitive damages. These damages aim to punish the defendant for recklessly negligent behavior.
If the court decides that by failing to inform patients about severe side effects, Horizon demonstrated immense negligence, you may receive additional compensation.
How a Tepezza Hearing Loss Lawyer Can Help
If you’ve suffered permanent hearing loss or tinnitus after taking Tepezza, you can file a lawsuit against the drug manufacturer. When you are going up against a large company, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, you have to prepare for a tough fight. Winning it is only possible with the right legal assistance.
By hiring a Tepezza hearing loss attorney, you are delegating legal issues to a professional who can fight for your money and your rights. A few ways an attorney can help include:
Case Evaluation
An experienced attorney, who has already dealt with similar cases, can evaluate your situation and tell you how to proceed.
During the initial consultation, reputable mass tort lawyers will provide you for free, you can learn:
- Whether you qualify to file a Tepezza hearing loss lawsuit
- What evidence you need to make a strong case
- How much time you have to file a lawsuit
- Difficulties you may face
The attorney can also help you evaluate the amount you can sue Horizon Pharmaceuticals for. It’s imperative not to miss any damages. Otherwise, you may receive unfair compensation.
Document Filing
Filing a lawsuit is more than just a one-step process. It involves substantial paperwork. A mistake during this process could push your case back weeks or even months. An attorney can file a lawsuit according to the right legal procedure.
When fighting against pharmaceutical companies, avoid mistakes. These organizations have large teams of lawyers whose fundamental goal is to save money for the company. They can easily capitalize on any error you make to keep you from recovering damages.
Collecting Evidence
Evidence plays a major role in Tepezza’s hearing loss lawsuits. You may need to provide medical records, doctors’ reports, W-2 forms, photos, videos, journals, and much more. You may also need your friends and family to testify.
In some cases, you may have to hire an expert witness to testify about your condition and its consequences.
A Tepezza hearing loss lawyer can tell you exactly when, where, and how to collect relevant evidence for your case. This legal professional can also help you gather some of the evidence and hire expert witnesses.
Negotiations
Negotiations are often the most challenging part of the product liability case. Once the defendant understands your case is strong, they may want to settle. However, they will try to do everything they can to minimize the settlement amount.
When the company makes an offer, make the right counteroffer backed by evidence and strong arguments. Your attorney can conduct seamless negotiations to bring the offered figure closer to a reasonable amount.
Going up against a pharmaceutical giant without legal representation usually means failing to recover fair compensation.
Trial
If your case proceeds to trial, an attorney can help prepare strong arguments and present them to the judge and the jury.
When hiring a Tepezza hearing loss lawyer, look for legal teams with trial experience. Many personal injury and product liability lawyers only focus on settlements. While unlikely, your Tepezza case may proceed to trial.
Can Tepezza Hearing Loss Lawsuit Turn Into Class Action Lawsuit?
Since the first victim filed a lawsuit against Horizon, only around 100 other people have done the same.
Since the number of people who sustained permanent hearing loss is small, a class action lawsuit is currently unlikely. However, if people continue fighting against Horizon, litigation could expand.
How Much Money Can a Tepezza Hearing Loss Lawyer Help Me Recover?
The amount you can recover can depend on many factors, including the size of your damages and the evidence you present. An attorney will fight for a fair amount to cover your expenses and improve your quality of life.
Filing a Tepezza Lawsuit
I
f you’ve developed permanent hearing problems after taking Tepezza, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Consult an experienced Tepezza hearing loss attorney to learn what to do next.
Once you prove the manufacturer’s negligence and collect sufficient evidence, you could recover a sizable compensation.
By filing a Tepezza lawsuit, you don’t just collect damages to cover expenses and improve your quality of life. Doing this can increase awareness about the product and prevent other people from suffering the same consequences.