Tepezza Hearing Loss Attorneys

Tepezza (or Teprotumumab)  Recently Linked To Permanent Hearing Loss And/Or Tinnitus

Tepezza, which is also known as teprotumumab, is an injectable prescription medical drug made by Horizon Pharmaceuticals that has commonly been used to treat thyroid eye disease (TED). A recent study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology has found a link between Tepezza and permanent hearing loss and tinnitus, which is characterized by constant ringing in the ears. The study followed a number of patients who were taking injectable Tepezza and experienced otologic symptoms. After 39.2 weeks following their last infusion, most patients with tinnitus (100%), ear plugging (90.9%) and autophony (83.3%) experienced a resolution of their symptoms. According to the study, “Hearing loss is a concerning adverse event of teprotumumab, and its mechanism and reversibility should be further studied.”

A number of people taking Tepezza have filed lawsuits. As more lawsuits have been filed against Horizon Pharmaceuticals, efforts have been made to consolidate the cases to one U.S. District Court Judge for common discovery and management. Attorneys for the plaintiffs have argued that Horizon Pharmaceuticals failed to warn customers about the detrimental effects of their drug including hearing loss and tinnitus. Any person who has been harmed after taking Tepezza may be able to seek damages through a civil claim. Our team of personal injury attorneys at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. are here to help in any way that we can. We can evaluate your case free of cost and let you know what your legal rights are. You can reach us anytime at 800-529-9997. 

Symptoms To Look Out For After Taking Tepezza 

Despite studies showing a link between Tepezza and hearing loss, the drug is still being marketed and sold via prescription. It is important to keep in mind that people who are taking Tepezza already have serious eyesight problems from their thyroid eye disease. Now, many of those patients may also be slowly going deaf. Only time will tell how many patients have permanent hearing loss. Any person that is taking Tepezza should consult with their doctor about continuing to use it. They should also be aware of a number of common symptoms associated with the drug. 

• Ringing in the ear
• Ear pain
• Subjective hearing loss
• Feeling as though one’s ears are plugged
• Autophony (hearing one’s voice as being too loud)

More studies need to be done in order to determine the long term effects of Tepezza. But many people have reported experiencing eustachian tube dysfunction, which is a disorder that causes pressure abnormalities in the inner ear. Others have experienced hyperacusis, which is a disorder that causes sensitivity to sound. Perhaps most concerning, a number of people have reported partial or permanent hearing loss. Hearing loss in any capacity can cause substantial damage to a person’s life, their career, relationships and mental health.

Demonstrating Liability For Dangerous Medications

Companies that manufacturer medications and medical products have a legal responsibility to ensure that  what they make is reasonably safe. They will typically need to go through clinical trials which examine the possibility for adverse reactions. When a medication could cause adverse reactions, drug manufacturers must properly warn about the dangers of their products. Product liability claims against drug companies will typically need to demonstrate that the drug in question was defective or unreasonably dangerous. To that end, plaintiffs will need to show the following:

• Design Defect: The product was unreasonably dangerous and created a substantial risk of injury; It was feasible for the product to have been designed in a safe manner; and The defect was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury.
• Failure to Warn: The defendant failed to warn the plaintiff of the dangers associated with their product.
• Manufacturing Defects: A product caused injury by not performing as intended. However, other products of identical design do not fail.

Horizon Pharmaceuticals found in two separate clinical trials that about 10% of users would experience hearing loss or other hearing problems. But the severity, duration and extent of the problem does not appear to have been properly documented or understood by the company. The lawsuits that are piling up against Horizon Pharmaceuticals claim that the company negligently designed the drug and failed to adequately research the permanency of the hearing loss that consumers were experiencing. They also failed to warn users or regulators that Tepezza can cause permanent hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

Why You Should Hire An Attorney If You’ve Taken Tepezza

Permanent hearing loss or tinnitus can be two of the most difficult things that people will ever go through in their life. Hearing problems can produce great emotional and psychological harm. They can also be extremely disruptive to a person’s career and ability to care for themselves and others. People injured after taking Tepezza can seek legal aid. There are a number of benefits to hiring an attorney. For starters, it is nearly impossible for individuals to take on drug companies on their own. An attorney can help in a number of key areas. 

• An attorney can initiate discovery to help build your case.
• It does not cost anything up front to hire an attorney. 
• Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis and only get paid if they are able to successfully resolve your claim. 
• An attorney can help maximize the value of your claim through skilled legal representation. 

Sadly, though, pharmaceutical companies will often fight hard to deny liability for any person that is injured by their drugs. They will also fight hard to prevent certain evidence from coming forward. Skilled legal representation is essential when pursuing any claim against a pharmaceutical company. Pharmaceutical companies and their insurance providers make more money by denying responsibility for as many claims as possible. By contrast, personal injury attorneys have an incentive to help you get the largest settlement possible for your injuries.

Getting Help After Using Tepezza And Developing Hearing Loss

People tend to trust their doctors and the pharmaceutical companies that make their prescriptions. But far too often that trust is misplaced by companies that are more concerned about making a profit than producing safe and reliable medications. It can be difficult to know where to begin after any illness or ailment from taking a prescription. But it is important to remember that consumers do have rights. They are able to be compensated for their injuries through civil actions.

Have you or someone that you care about experienced hearing loss or tinnitus after taking Tepezza? Our team of highly experienced attorneys at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that people who have been harmed by dangerous medications are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. We can investigate your case completely free and let you know if you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 800-529-9997.