Tepezza Hearing Loss Lawsuit 2026 Update: Are We Headed for a Settlement?

The Tepezza hearing loss lawsuit is moving toward a potential global settlement. In October 2025, the federal judge overseeing the multidistrict litigation (MDL) vacated all upcoming bellwether trial deadlines — a development widely interpreted by legal analysts as a sign that Horizon Therapeutics and the plaintiffs may be approaching a resolution. As of April 2026, no official settlement has been announced, but the litigation's trajectory has shifted decisively away from the courtroom.

If you or someone you love experienced hearing loss or tinnitus after receiving Tepezza infusions, here is what you need to know about where this case stands today.

What Is the Tepezza Lawsuit About?

Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw) is a biologic drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2020 for the treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED), a condition caused by hyperthyroidism and often associated with Graves' disease. The drug represented a significant clinical advance — it was the first FDA-approved therapy specifically targeting TED — and was manufactured and marketed by Horizon Therapeutics.

After launch, patients and physicians began reporting serious auditory side effects, including permanent hearing loss and tinnitus, that were not disclosed on the drug's original label. Horizon did not update the Tepezza label to include a hearing loss warning until July 2023, years after these adverse events first surfaced in clinical data and patient reports.

The lawsuits allege that Horizon Therapeutics failed to adequately research, test, and warn about the risk of irreversible hearing damage — exposing patients to a harm they had no way to anticipate or prevent.

How the MDL Was Formed

Federal Tepezza hearing loss cases were consolidated into a multidistrict litigation on June 2, 2023, when the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) transferred all pending and future cases to the Northern District of Illinois. The MDL, numbered MDL No. 3079, was assigned to U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin.

MDL proceedings allow cases with common factual questions to be coordinated for discovery and pretrial proceedings before a single judge, without merging them into a single class action. Each plaintiff retains their individual claim. The MDL mechanism is designed to reduce redundancy, preserve judicial resources, and create pressure for global resolution — which is precisely the dynamic now playing out in the Tepezza litigation.

The Bellwether Program and What Changed in October 2025

Shortly after the MDL was established, Judge Durkin launched a bellwether program — a standard feature of large mass torts. Under this program, a group of representative cases is selected for early trial to give both sides a realistic preview of how juries might evaluate the evidence. The Tepezza bellwether pool consisted of 12 cases; four were chosen to proceed to trial first.

By August 2025, the first bellwether trial had been rescheduled multiple times and was set for August 3, 2026, with subsequent trials planned for September 28, November 30, and February 1, 2027. Then, on October 1, 2025, Chief Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman held an off-the-record conference with counsel for both sides and issued a docket entry striking all existing bellwether deadlines — without any accompanying ruling dismissing claims.

The decision followed nearly a year of court-directed settlement negotiations. Judge Durkin had required both parties to meet at least once every 90 days to discuss resolution. The abrupt erasure of trial deadlines — absent any dispositive ruling — is widely read in mass tort litigation as a signal that the parties are making serious progress toward a global settlement.

A status conference was scheduled for January 8, 2026, to address case management and the next steps. As of April 2026, approximately 273 active cases remain pending in the MDL.

What the Hearing Loss Research Shows

The scientific foundation underlying the Tepezza lawsuits has grown stronger over the course of the litigation. A 2024 case series following 22 Tepezza-treated patients found that 39% of ears examined met ototoxicity criteria for hearing loss — with many patients also reporting tinnitus, a sensation of ear fullness, and muffled hearing, even when baseline audiometry had appeared normal. A separate observational study presented at ENDO 2021 reported that 65% of patients developed new auditory symptoms after an average of 3.6 infusions.

Experts have also raised concerns that standard audiograms may fail to detect Tepezza-related hearing damage, particularly when the loss occurs at high frequencies or develops gradually. This means some patients with genuine auditory injury may have been told their hearing is normal, underscoring the importance of seeking evaluation from an audiologist experienced with ototoxic drug effects.

Who Is Horizon Therapeutics?

Horizon Therapeutics, the manufacturer of Tepezza, is a biopharmaceutical company acquired by Amgen in a $27.8 billion transaction that closed in October 2023. The Tepezza MDL names Horizon Therapeutics and its successor entities as defendants. Amgen's substantial financial resources have not slowed the litigation, and the MDL has continued to advance under Judge Durkin's management.

How Many Tepezza Lawsuits Have Been Filed?

As of early 2026, approximately 273 cases are pending in MDL No. 3079. The litigation grew steadily from its origins — there were 54 cases at inception in August 2023 — though filings have leveled off in recent months. Legal observers note that the relatively contained case count, compared to larger MDLs involving thousands of plaintiffs, may actually facilitate a faster global resolution: with fewer claims to value and resolve, the parties face less administrative complexity in reaching a settlement framework.

What Happens Next: Settlement or Trial?

When a federal MDL judge removes all trial deadlines and schedules ongoing status conferences with both parties, the standard interpretation is that settlement negotiations have reached a substantive stage. No global Tepezza settlement has been formally announced as of April 2026, but the procedural posture of the case is consistent with what courts and practitioners describe as the pre-announcement phase of a mass tort resolution.

If a global settlement is reached, it will likely take the form of a settlement fund — sometimes called a qualified settlement fund — from which eligible claimants are compensated according to a negotiated allocation matrix. Factors commonly used to determine individual compensation in drug injury MDL settlements include the severity and permanence of the hearing loss, the number of Tepezza infusions received, baseline hearing status before treatment, age, and any related medical complications such as tinnitus.

Settlement value estimates in the Tepezza litigation have ranged widely. Attorneys handling these cases have projected individual payouts for strong claims between approximately $140,000 and $500,000, while other analyses have suggested a broader range of $50,000 to $2 million depending on the nature and severity of the injury. These figures are projections, not guarantees — final values will depend on the terms negotiated and individual claim characteristics.

What Should Tepezza Patients Do Right Now?

If you received Tepezza infusions for thyroid eye disease and have experienced hearing loss, tinnitus, muffled hearing, or a sense of ear fullness, you should consult with a mass tort attorney as soon as possible. Product liability claims in federal court are subject to statutes of limitations — typically two to three years from the date of injury or from when the injury was reasonably discoverable. These deadlines vary by state and can be shortened by individual circumstances.

The fact that settlement talks are underway does not eliminate the urgency of acting promptly. Claims that are filed or evaluated after a settlement fund closes may not be eligible for compensation. An attorney with experience in pharmaceutical MDL litigation can assess whether your situation meets the eligibility criteria, help gather your medical records and audiological documentation, and advise you on the steps required to register or preserve your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Tepezza Lawsuit

What is the Tepezza lawsuit about?

The Tepezza lawsuit alleges that Horizon Therapeutics failed to adequately warn patients about the risk of permanent hearing loss and tinnitus associated with Tepezza infusions for thyroid eye disease.

Has a Tepezza settlement been announced?

No global settlement has been officially announced as of April 2026. However, the federal judge overseeing the MDL removed all bellwether trial deadlines in October 2025, which is widely interpreted as a sign that settlement talks are advancing seriously.

How many Tepezza lawsuits have been filed?

Approximately 273 cases are currently pending in the Tepezza MDL in the Northern District of Illinois as of early 2026.

Who can file a Tepezza lawsuit?

Patients who received Tepezza infusions for thyroid eye disease and subsequently experienced hearing loss, tinnitus, or other auditory injuries may be eligible to file a claim. Consult a product liability attorney to evaluate your specific situation.

What is an MDL?

A multidistrict litigation (MDL) is a federal procedural mechanism that consolidates related lawsuits before a single judge for coordinated pretrial proceedings. Unlike a class action, each plaintiff in an MDL retains their individual claim and potential for separate compensation.

What are bellwether trials?

Bellwether trials are early test cases selected from a larger MDL to give both sides insight into how juries respond to the evidence. The outcomes of bellwether trials are not legally binding on other claims, but they heavily influence settlement negotiations.

Why were the Tepezza bellwether trial deadlines removed?

Chief Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman struck all bellwether deadlines on October 1, 2025, following an off-the-record conference with counsel for both parties. This move, coming after nearly a year of mandatory settlement discussions, is broadly interpreted as a signal that the litigation may be nearing a global resolution.

What side effects qualify for a Tepezza claim?

The primary qualifying injuries in the Tepezza litigation are permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. Other auditory symptoms such as muffled hearing, ear fullness, or high-frequency hearing damage may also be relevant. An attorney can help determine whether your symptoms meet the criteria.

How long do I have to file a Tepezza lawsuit?

Product liability statutes of limitations generally range from two to three years from the date of injury or discovery, depending on the state. These deadlines can affect eligibility for compensation, so consulting an attorney promptly is essential.

What is the potential Tepezza settlement value?

Attorneys handling Tepezza cases have estimated individual settlement values for strong claims in the range of $140,000 to $500,000, with some projections extending higher for severe and permanent injuries. These are estimates based on comparable litigation and are not guaranteed outcomes.

Is the Tepezza lawsuit a class action?

No. The Tepezza litigation is structured as a multidistrict litigation (MDL), not a class action. Each plaintiff has an individual claim and will be compensated separately based on their specific injuries if a settlement or verdict is reached.

Who manufactured Tepezza?

Tepezza was developed and marketed by Horizon Therapeutics, which was acquired by Amgen in October 2023. The MDL names Horizon Therapeutics and its successor entities as defendants.

Disclaimer

This content is for general informational purposes only, is not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Joy Coleman is licensed in Georgia and New Jersey and is not licensed to practice law in all states where Tepezza lawsuits are pending. Readers should consult a qualified attorney licensed in their jurisdiction.

If you suffered hearing loss after Tepezza infusions, a personal injury attorney on AttorneyReview.com can help you understand your legal options. Use our Get Matched feature to connect with a qualified attorney today.