These lawsuits claim that Tepezza — the infusion drug for thyroid eye disease — caused permanent hearing loss and tinnitus that patients say they were never warned about. The federal litigation, MDL 3079, is in expert discovery, with the judge pushing both sides toward a possible settlement.
Allegations Only · No Settlement Yet
This article describes a product-liability lawsuit. The claims that Tepezza causes permanent hearing loss are unproven allegations. Horizon Therapeutics and Amgen deny the allegations, there is no certified class, and there is nothing to claim at this time. This page is informational and is not legal or medical advice.
What Is This About?
Tepezza (teprotumumab) is an intravenous infusion drug that the FDA approved in 2020 to treat thyroid eye disease, an autoimmune condition that can cause the eyes to bulge and the vision to deteriorate. It was the first drug approved specifically for the condition and was marketed by Horizon Therapeutics, which Amgen acquired in October 2023.Beginning in 2023, patients across the country filed lawsuits alleging that Tepezza caused permanent hearing damage — including hearing loss and tinnitus — and that the manufacturer failed to adequately warn patients and physicians about that risk. The federal cases were consolidated into MDL No. 3079, In re: Tepezza Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, before U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin in the Northern District of Illinois. By mid-2026 the docket held roughly 277 pending cases, according to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. The manufacturer denies the allegations.
The Alleged Hearing Injuries
The complaints allege that Tepezza can cause a range of hearing problems, some of which patients say did not resolve after treatment ended:• Sensorineural hearing loss — permanent damage to the inner ear or hearing nerve
• Tinnitus — persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears
• Muffled or diminished hearing
• Autophony — hearing one's own voice, breathing, or heartbeat unusually loudly
Whether Tepezza actually causes permanent hearing damage is disputed and has not been decided by any court. The drug's prescribing information has discussed hearing-related side effects, and part of the litigation concerns whether earlier warnings were adequate. This page does not offer medical advice; patients should discuss any concerns with their own physician and should not stop a prescribed treatment based on a news article.
Where the Litigation Stands in 2026
The Tepezza MDL is active but has not reached trial. Fact discovery closed in May 2025, and the litigation moved into the expert-discovery phase, where each side develops the scientific testimony on whether the drug can cause the alleged injuries. In a notable turn, the court canceled the deadlines tied to the planned bellwether trials while Judge Durkin ordered the parties to meet regularly — reported to be on a quarterly basis — to try to negotiate a resolution.In practical terms, that means the case is being steered toward settlement discussions rather than an imminent jury trial, but as of mid-2026 there is no settlement, no settlement fund, and no jury verdict. Nothing has been established against the manufacturer. For how Tepezza fits among the country's other active drug and device cases, see our MDL tracker.
Who Was Affected
The people bringing these cases are generally patients who received Tepezza infusions for thyroid eye disease and later reported hearing loss, tinnitus, or other hearing problems. Because this is individual product-liability litigation rather than a class action, each case turns on the patient's own medical records, the timing of the infusions, and the hearing diagnosis. There is no automatic "class" and no public claim form to fill out.What Happens Next
The near-term questions are whether the court-ordered settlement negotiations produce a framework to resolve the pending cases, and — if they do not — whether bellwether trials are rescheduled to test how juries respond to the hearing-loss claims. Because the litigation is active and the science is still being litigated, timelines can shift. Anyone who believes they were harmed should speak with a licensed attorney promptly about their own situation and the deadlines that may apply in their state.Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Tepezza lawsuit allege?
Plaintiffs allege that Tepezza (teprotumumab), an infusion drug approved in 2020 to treat thyroid eye disease, caused permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, and related hearing problems, and that the manufacturer failed to adequately warn patients and doctors about that risk. These are unproven allegations; the manufacturer denies them.
Is there a Tepezza settlement yet?
No. As of 2026 there is no Tepezza settlement and no jury verdict. The federal cases are consolidated in MDL 3079 before Judge Thomas Durkin in the Northern District of Illinois, where the litigation is in expert discovery and the judge has ordered the parties to meet regularly to explore settlement. Bellwether trial deadlines were canceled while those talks continue.
What hearing problems are linked to Tepezza?
The lawsuits allege hearing-related injuries including sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), muffled or diminished hearing, and autophony (hearing one's own voice or body sounds loudly). Whether Tepezza causes permanent hearing damage is disputed and has not been decided in court.
Who makes Tepezza?
Tepezza was developed by Horizon Therapeutics, which Amgen acquired in October 2023. Horizon's pre-acquisition warnings and labeling decisions are central to the litigation.
Sources
• U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation — MDL 3079 statistics and docket, jpml.uscourts.gov• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois — In re: Tepezza Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, MDL 3079, ilnd.uscourts.gov
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration — Tepezza (teprotumumab) prescribing information and safety updates, fda.gov
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