Tepezza Hearing Loss Trials Delayed Until Aug 2026

Tepezza Hearing Loss Trials Delayed Until Aug 2026

Introduction

A series of Tepezza hearing loss lawsuits, which were expected to go before juries next year, will now be delayed. The U.S. District Judge overseeing the multidistrict litigation (MDL) granted a request to extend several key deadlines, pushing the start of the first bellwether trial to at least August 2026.

Background on Tepezza and Reported Side Effects

Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw) is an infusion therapy approved in 2020 for the treatment of thyroid eye disease, commonly known as “bulging eye disease.” Shortly after its approval, patients began reporting hearing loss and tinnitus—side effects that were not initially listed on the drug’s warning label. 
In July 2023, the FDA required Horizon Therapeutics to update Tepezza’s warning label to include the risk of hearing damage. Horizon also issued new guidelines advising doctors to monitor patients’ hearing both before and during treatment.

Rising Litigation Over Hearing Loss Risks

Currently, more than 260 product liability lawsuits have been filed by former Tepezza users. Plaintiffs allege that Horizon failed to adequately research potential side effects and failed to provide timely warnings to users and healthcare providers. They argue that, had proper warnings been in place, many hearing-related injuries could have been prevented.

Due to the large number of cases involving similar claims, the lawsuits have been centralized in an MDL in the Northern District of Illinois. This consolidation allows for coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings.

Bellwether Trials Pushed Back to 2026

To facilitate potential settlement negotiations, the court previously established a bellwether trial program in November 2023, selecting four representative cases for early trial dates. These trials are intended to gauge how juries may respond to key evidence and testimony.

The first bellwether trial was originally set for April 6, 2026, then moved to June 8, 2026. However, an order issued on August 12, 2025, delays it again to August 3, 2026. Subsequent bellwether trials are now scheduled for September 28, 2026, November 30, 2026, and February 1, 2027. Each trial is expected to last three to four weeks.

Impact of the Extension on Pretrial Deadlines

The new scheduling order also affects pretrial deadlines, including expert depositions. Originally planned for late August through September 2025, these depositions will now take place between October 6 and October 31, 2025. This adjustment impacts several other deadlines leading up to the first bellwether trial.