Do You Qualify for the Tepezza Settlement? What Patients Need to Know Before the Deadline

If you received Tepezza infusions for thyroid eye disease and now live with hearing loss or tinnitus, you may qualify for compensation through the Tepezza settlement — if and when one is finalized. The federal MDL judge overseeing these cases removed all bellwether trial deadlines in October 2025, a procedural move that signals settlement talks between plaintiffs and Horizon Therapeutics are advancing seriously. No official settlement has been announced as of April 2026, but the litigation is in a phase where eligibility, documentation, and timing matter enormously.

Here is what patients need to understand about how to qualify, what the process looks like, and why waiting may cost you your claim.

What Is the Tepezza Settlement?

The Tepezza settlement refers to the potential global resolution of MDL No. 3079, a federal multidistrict litigation pending in the Northern District of Illinois before U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin. The MDL consolidates approximately 273 individual lawsuits filed by patients who allege that Horizon Therapeutics, the manufacturer of Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw), failed to warn them about the drug's risk of causing permanent hearing damage and tinnitus.

Tepezza was approved by the FDA in January 2020 as the first treatment specifically indicated for thyroid eye disease (TED). It became the standard of care relatively quickly, but patients began reporting hearing loss and ringing in the ears shortly after infusions began. Horizon did not update the drug's label to include a hearing loss warning until July 2023. The lawsuits allege that by the time that warning appeared, thousands of patients had already been harmed without any opportunity to make an informed decision about their treatment.

A global settlement, if reached, would establish a fund from which eligible claimants receive individual compensation. Each person's payout would be determined by their specific injuries, medical history, and other factors established in the settlement agreement.

Who Qualifies for the Tepezza Settlement?

Eligibility for the Tepezza settlement is not yet officially defined — the terms will be set when (and if) a formal agreement is announced. However, based on the claims currently pending in the MDL and the legal theories at the core of the litigation, the following criteria are likely to define who qualifies:

You received Tepezza infusions. The litigation focuses specifically on patients who received teprotumumab-trbw (brand name Tepezza) as part of treatment for thyroid eye disease or a related condition. The number of infusions received may also be relevant — many reported injuries emerged after three or more infusions.

You experienced hearing loss, tinnitus, or related auditory symptoms. The qualifying injuries in this MDL are permanent or persistent hearing damage and tinnitus. Other auditory symptoms — muffled hearing, ear fullness, difficulty distinguishing high-frequency sounds — may also support a claim, particularly when documented by audiological testing.

Your symptoms arose after your Tepezza treatment. A causal connection between the drug and the auditory injury is central to each claim. Medical records showing normal hearing prior to treatment, or showing a documented decline in hearing function during or after infusions, significantly strengthen a claim.

You meet applicable deadlines. Product liability statutes of limitations generally run two to three years from the date of injury or from when the injury was or should have been discovered. These timelines vary by state. Patients who waited to seek legal advice because they assumed a settlement would be easy to access after the fact may find themselves ineligible.

What Injuries Are Compensable?

The injuries at the center of Tepezza claims are hearing-related. Permanent sensorineural hearing loss — the type caused by damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve — is the most severe form alleged. Tinnitus, a persistent ringing or buzzing sensation in the ears, is also a primary claimed injury. Both conditions can be disabling: they disrupt sleep, interfere with communication, cause anxiety and depression, and permanently alter a person's quality of life.

Research published in the course of the litigation has added depth to these claims. A 2024 case series of 22 Tepezza patients found that 39% of ears examined met clinical ototoxicity criteria — a formal threshold for drug-induced hearing damage — even among patients whose standard audiograms appeared within normal limits. An observational study presented at ENDO 2021 reported that 65% of treated patients developed new auditory symptoms after a mean of 3.6 infusions.

This research matters because it establishes that standard hearing tests may fail to detect Tepezza-related damage. Patients who were told their hearing was normal after treatment may still have a compensable injury. If you experienced any auditory changes after Tepezza infusions, a comprehensive audiological evaluation is an important first step before speaking with an attorney.

How Is Tepezza Settlement Compensation Calculated?

In pharmaceutical MDL settlements, individual compensation is typically determined by a negotiated point system or matrix that assigns values to different injury categories. The specific factors likely to affect a Tepezza claimant's compensation include:

Severity of hearing loss. Profound or total hearing loss, or hearing loss requiring hearing aids, is valued more highly than mild hearing reduction. Documentation from an audiologist using standardized testing protocols is essential.

Permanence of the injury. Injuries that are permanent or have not improved since treatment ended are generally valued higher than temporary or partially resolved conditions. Medical records spanning at least 12 months post-treatment help establish permanence.

Number of infusions received. Patients who received more infusions — and therefore greater cumulative drug exposure — may receive higher valuations, consistent with a dose-response relationship supported by the scientific literature.

Pre-existing conditions. Claimants with no prior history of hearing loss present stronger causal arguments. Defendants in these cases typically argue that pre-existing audiological conditions contributed to the injury, so documentation of baseline hearing function is important.

Age and impact on daily life. Younger patients who face decades of hearing impairment, or patients for whom hearing loss has had demonstrable professional or social consequences, may receive higher awards in the individual valuation process.

Attorneys familiar with the Tepezza litigation have projected individual settlement values for strong claims in the range of $140,000 to $500,000. Some analysts have projected a broader range of $50,000 to $2 million for the most severe injuries. These are estimates based on comparable pharmaceutical mass tort settlements and are not guaranteed amounts.

Why the Timing of Your Claim Matters

The October 2025 removal of bellwether trial deadlines — and the subsequent status conference in January 2026 — tells a specific story in mass tort litigation: the parties are in active, substantive settlement negotiations. When courts and defendants reach this stage, the window for new claimants to register and be included in a global settlement fund can close quickly.

Once a settlement is formally announced, a claims administrator is typically appointed, and a registration period is set. Patients who have not already retained an attorney and begun the claim evaluation process before that window opens may face procedural barriers that prevent them from participating — or may receive significantly reduced compensation because of the late timing of their engagement.

The statutes of limitations in individual states create a separate and independent risk. Even if a settlement fund is established, late-registered claims may be excluded on timeliness grounds depending on state law and the terms of the settlement agreement. In most states, product liability claims must be filed within two to three years of the injury or discovery of the injury. A Tepezza patient who received infusions in 2021 and noticed hearing changes in 2022 may already be approaching that window in certain jurisdictions.

What Documentation Do You Need?

Gathering and preserving your medical documentation is the most important practical step you can take right now. Attorneys evaluating Tepezza claims will typically need:

Infusion records confirming you received Tepezza, including the dates, doses, and treating facility. Pharmacy records, specialty pharmacy shipment documents, or hospital infusion center records are all acceptable forms of documentation.

Audiological testing records from before and after your Tepezza treatment. A baseline audiogram from before your first infusion — compared to audiograms taken during or after treatment — is the strongest form of causal evidence. If you do not have a pre-treatment audiogram, an attorney can help you assess alternatives.

Physician records documenting your reported symptoms. Office notes, specialist referrals, and any communications between your treating physician and Horizon's patient support personnel are all relevant.

Diagnosis and treatment records for your thyroid eye disease or Graves' disease, which establish the medical basis for the Tepezza prescription and the clinical context in which the drug was administered.

How to File a Tepezza Claim

The process for filing a Tepezza claim begins with a free consultation with a product liability attorney experienced in pharmaceutical MDL litigation. During that consultation, the attorney will review your medical history, assess the strength of your claim, and advise you on the applicable deadlines in your state.

If your claim has merit, the attorney will typically file a complaint in federal court, which will be transferred to the Northern District of Illinois and added to MDL No. 3079. Your case then proceeds through the MDL process, which — given the current settlement trajectory — may resolve through a global settlement fund rather than an individual trial.

You do not need to travel, appear in court, or take significant time away from your daily life to participate in this process. Most pharmaceutical MDL representation is handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront legal fees and attorneys are compensated only if compensation is recovered on your behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Tepezza Settlement

Has the Tepezza settlement been finalized?

No. As of April 2026, no global Tepezza settlement has been officially announced. However, the removal of all bellwether trial deadlines in October 2025 is widely interpreted as a sign that negotiations are advancing toward a resolution.

Who is eligible for the Tepezza settlement?

Patients who received Tepezza infusions and subsequently developed hearing loss, tinnitus, or related auditory injuries are likely eligible. Final eligibility criteria will be established in the settlement agreement once one is announced.

What is the average Tepezza settlement amount?

No settlement amounts have been confirmed. Attorney projections for strong individual claims range from approximately $140,000 to $500,000, with some estimates reaching higher for the most severe injuries. These figures are projections based on comparable litigation, not guaranteed outcomes.

Do I need to have an attorney to file a Tepezza claim?

Technically no, but navigating federal MDL procedures without legal representation is extremely difficult. Product liability attorneys handling Tepezza cases typically work on contingency, meaning you pay no fees unless you recover compensation. Most patients significantly benefit from professional representation.

How long does the Tepezza lawsuit process take?

MDL timelines vary. If a global settlement is reached in 2026, individual claimants who are registered and represented could receive compensation within one to two years of the settlement announcement, depending on the terms and claims administration process.

What if I already have a hearing aid — does that affect my claim?

The need for a hearing aid can actually strengthen a Tepezza claim by documenting the severity and permanence of the hearing loss. Audiological records supporting the prescription, and any records linking the need for amplification to the post-Tepezza period, are relevant supporting documentation.

Can I still file a claim if my Tepezza treatment was several years ago?

It depends on your state's statute of limitations and when the injury was discovered or should have been discovered. Some states use a discovery rule that may extend your deadline. An attorney can analyze your specific timeline and advise whether you are within the filing window.

What if I only have mild tinnitus — is that enough?

Tinnitus is one of the primary alleged injuries in the Tepezza MDL. Even mild tinnitus documented by a physician and connected to Tepezza infusions may support a claim. The compensation amount will depend on the severity, persistence, and impact on your quality of life.

Is the Tepezza case a class action lawsuit?

No. The Tepezza litigation is a multidistrict litigation (MDL), not a class action. Each plaintiff has an individual claim and will receive individualized compensation if a settlement is reached, rather than sharing a flat class payout.

Who do I contact to evaluate my Tepezza claim?

An attorney specializing in product liability or pharmaceutical mass tort litigation can evaluate your Tepezza claim. Look for attorneys with experience in federal MDL proceedings and drug injury cases specifically.

What is the deadline to file a Tepezza claim?

Deadlines depend on the state where you live and when your injury occurred or was discovered. Product liability statutes of limitations typically run two to three years. The sooner you consult an attorney, the better positioned you are to protect your eligibility.

Will filing a Tepezza claim affect my relationship with my doctor?

Filing a product liability claim against a pharmaceutical manufacturer does not implicate your treating physicians. Tepezza claims are directed at Horizon Therapeutics for its alleged failure to warn — not at the doctors who prescribed the drug in reliance on information Horizon provided.

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 believe you may qualify for the Tepezza settlement, search for a personal injury attorney on AttorneyReview.com. You can also use our Get Matched feature to be connected with a qualified attorney based on your situation.