Tepezza Hearing Loss Lawsuit Tracker & Eligibility Estimator
Active MDL — no settlement yet. Bellwether trials begin March 2026 in the Northern District of Illinois against Horizon Therapeutics (Amgen). Estimate where your case fits and how to find a lawyer.
Last reviewed: April 2026
⚠️ NO SETTLEMENT YET. This is an active MDL with bellwether trials scheduled to start March 2026. Any per-person dollar figures on this page are LAWYER ESTIMATES, not court verdicts or settlement payouts.
Your Case Details
Answer a few questions to see your estimated range.
Higher-tier injuries qualify for higher settlement tiers.
Estimated Settlement Tier
$105,000 — $195,000
Mass tort settlements use injury-severity tiers. Most MDLs have published payment matrices — your tier depends on diagnosis + exposure proof.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
The Tepezza Hearing Loss MDL — What’s Happening
Tepezza (teprotumumab) is an IV infusion treatment from Horizon Therapeutics (acquired by Amgen in 2023) for thyroid eye disease (TED). After post-market reports of permanent hearing loss and tinnitus, hundreds of patients sued, alleging Horizon failed to adequately warn about hearing risks.
Cases were consolidated into a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Northern District of Illinois in 2023. As of 2026 there are 230+ federal cases in the MDL, with additional cases pending in state court.
The first bellwether trials are scheduled to begin March 2026 — four trials, three to four weeks each. Bellwether outcomes typically guide global settlement discussions, but until trials run there is no settlement, no payout schedule, and no claim form. Anyone telling you a Tepezza payout is guaranteed is misinforming you. Defendant: Horizon Therapeutics (subsidiary of Amgen). MDL court: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois.
Example Eligibility Profiles
These illustrative profiles show how MDL plaintiffs’ attorneys typically tier prospective cases. <strong>Any dollar amounts are lawyer estimates, not verdicts or settlement offers.</strong>
Profile 1 — Mild Tinnitus, Partial Documentation
Eight Tepezza infusions in 2022. Persistent ringing in both ears beginning around infusion 4. ENT visit documented tinnitus but no audiometric hearing-threshold change.
Lawyer-estimated tier: Tier 1 (~$40K–$80K). Estimate only — outcome depends on bellwether verdicts and individual causation strength.
Profile 2 — Documented Bilateral Hearing Loss
Full Tepezza course in 2021. Audiogram before and after showing measurable bilateral high-frequency hearing loss. Now requires hearing aids in both ears.
Lawyer-estimated tier: Tier 2 (~$140K–$250K). Estimate only — actual case value depends on documented causation and bellwether outcomes.
Profile 3 — Severe Permanent Loss + Strong Causation
Tepezza in 2021. Severe sudden sensorineural hearing loss within weeks of treatment. Multiple ENT specialists confirm permanent damage; ototoxicity formally attributed to teprotumumab in chart notes.
Lawyer-estimated tier: Tier 3 ($300K+, estimate only). Top-tier MDL cases anchor settlement ranges; actual amounts depend on bellwether jury verdicts.
Profile 4 — Treatment Before Approval (Off-Label / Clinical)
Received teprotumumab through a clinical-trial pathway before 2020 FDA approval.
Consult an attorney directly. Pre-approval/clinical-trial exposure has different legal pathways and may or may not fit the current MDL — depends on consent forms and trial sponsor.
Profile 5 — Hearing Issues Predating Tepezza
Pre-existing high-frequency hearing loss before Tepezza treatment; no clear worsening documented post-treatment.
Likely not eligible — causation requires a documented change attributable to Tepezza. A lawyer free-case-review can confirm whether any aggravation argument is viable.
Current MDL Status (May 2026)
Where the case actually stands today. <strong>No settlement, no payouts, no claim form.</strong> What plaintiffs can do right now is preserve their right to file before the statute of limitations runs out and prepare documentation.
Sources: MDL 3079 docket (N.D. Ill.), public statements from MDL plaintiffs’ steering committee, Amgen public filings.
Who May Be Eligible to Join the MDL
Plaintiffs’ lawyers generally evaluate prospective cases on these criteria. This is not legal advice — only a licensed plaintiffs’ attorney can confirm whether your specific situation qualifies.
- You received Tepezza (teprotumumab) as IV infusion treatment for thyroid eye disease (TED)
- You developed hearing loss, tinnitus, or another otologic injury during or after treatment
- Your hearing problem can be medically documented (audiogram, ENT records, tinnitus diagnosis)
- The injury is persistent, not transient (some short-term effects may not meet the threshold)
- You can establish a temporal link between treatment and onset of symptoms
Statute of limitations varies by state — typically 2 to 6 years from injury or discovery. Wait too long and you lose the right to file. Free case reviews from MDL-experienced firms are standard.
Tepezza MDL vs Other Active Pharma MDLs
How Tepezza compares to other active mass-tort pharmaceutical litigations the public often confuses it with.
| Tepezza MDL | Other Pharma MDLs | |
|---|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Patients who took Tepezza (teprotumumab) for TED + developed hearing loss/tinnitus | Defined per each MDL’s class — Hair Relaxer (uterine cancer), Hernia Mesh, Talcum Powder, etc. |
| Fund / settlement status | No fund yet — settlement-stage not reached | Some have established global funds (e.g., 3M Earplug $6B), others are pre-settlement like Tepezza |
| Distribution timing | Bellwether trials starting March 2026; no payouts yet | Varies — some MDLs are paying out, others still in trial phase |
| Defendants | Horizon Therapeutics (subsidiary of Amgen) | Single or multiple defendants depending on MDL |
| Filing deadline | Statute of limitations (varies by state, typically 2–6 years from injury/discovery) | Each MDL has its own filing deadlines and SOL rules |
| Court / docket | MDL 3079, U.S. District Court, N.D. Illinois | Each MDL is docketed before a different federal district court |
Reported Case-Value Ranges (Lawyer Estimates Only)
Multiple plaintiffs’ firms publish estimated per-person case-value ranges. These are lawyer projections based on similar mass-tort outcomes, NOT settlement amounts, NOT verdicts, and NOT a guarantee of any payment. Tepezza has settled nothing. Use these ranges only as a rough framework for what attorneys are signaling.
- Tier ranges below reflect commonly published lawyer estimates aggregated from MDL plaintiff-firm publications.
- Actual outcomes depend on bellwether-trial verdicts (first wave March 2026), aggregate settlement negotiation, and the strength of each individual case.
- Lower tiers typically apply to tinnitus-only cases with limited documentation; higher tiers to documented permanent severe hearing loss with strong causation evidence.
| Tier | Source | Estimated Range |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 — Tinnitus only, mild | Lawyer-estimated range | ~$40,000–$80,000 (estimate, not a verdict) |
| Tier 2 — Documented hearing loss | Lawyer-estimated range | ~$140,000–$250,000 (estimate, not a verdict) |
| Tier 3 — Severe / bilateral permanent loss + strong causation | Lawyer-estimated range (top-tier MDL cases) | $300,000+ (estimate; depends on bellwether outcomes) |
Tepezza Litigation Timeline
- 1
January 2020: Tepezza FDA Approved for TED
Horizon Therapeutics receives FDA approval for teprotumumab (brand name Tepezza) as the first treatment for active thyroid eye disease. Initial label does not feature a prominent hearing-loss warning.
- 2
2021–2022: Post-Market Hearing-Loss Reports Surface
Published case studies and otolaryngology research report a meaningful rate of persistent hearing impairment and tinnitus in Tepezza-treated patients. Plaintiffs’ lawyers begin accepting cases.
- 3
June 2023: MDL Consolidation in Northern District of Illinois
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidates federal Tepezza cases into MDL 3079 before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois for coordinated pretrial proceedings.
- 4
2024–2025: Discovery, Expert Reports, Bellwether Selection
MDL discovery proceeds: corporate documents, internal safety analyses, expert reports on ototoxicity. Court works with both sides to select bellwether (test) cases representative of the MDL inventory.
- 5
March 2026: First Bellwether Trials Begin
Four bellwether trials scheduled to begin March 2026 in the Northern District of Illinois, three to four weeks each. Verdicts and rulings typically drive global settlement negotiations — but there is no guarantee Horizon (Amgen) will settle, and no settlement amount has been agreed.
Why This Case Matters
Tepezza is one of the highest-profile ototoxicity mass torts of the 2020s. Outcomes will influence how the FDA and pharma companies disclose hearing-loss risks for new biologics. From a personal-recovery standpoint, the bellwether trials starting March 2026 will be the first concrete data points on how juries value these claims. Related MDLs in adjacent zones: Hair Relaxer (Uterine Cancer) MDL, Tylenol Autism MDL, Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
Tepezza Lawsuit Scams — Don’t Get Tricked
Pre-settlement mass torts attract scammers because eligible patients are hopeful and motivated. These are the most common Tepezza-specific scam patterns to recognize.
⚠️ Anyone promising you a “guaranteed payout amount”
There is no settlement and no payout schedule. Any person, ad, or call that promises a specific guaranteed dollar amount is misleading you. Legitimate attorneys discuss estimated ranges and clearly disclose uncertainty.
⚠️ “Fast-track Tepezza claim” websites asking for an up-front fee
Real plaintiffs’ MDL attorneys work on contingency — they’re paid only if you recover. No legitimate firm requires up-front fees, claim-processing fees, or “evaluation deposits.”
⚠️ Calls asking for SSN, full bank details, or Medicare/Medicaid numbers before retainer signed
An attorney needs basic medical-records authorization and contact info to evaluate your case. Detailed financial / SSN data should not be collected by cold-callers ahead of a signed engagement.
⚠️ Settlement “check release” advance fees
Because no settlement exists, anyone claiming to need a small fee to “release your Tepezza settlement check” is running an advance-fee fraud. Hang up.
⚠️ Fake government / FDA / Amgen email about your “Tepezza claim”
The FDA, Amgen, and Horizon do not contact patients with personal claim information. Any unsolicited email implying official sender status is likely phishing — verify via the MDL docket or a known plaintiffs’ firm.
Tepezza Hearing Loss Lawsuit FAQs
Has Tepezza been settled?
No. As of May 2026 there is no global Tepezza settlement and no individual settlement framework announced. The MDL’s first bellwether trials are scheduled to start March 2026 — those outcomes typically drive (but do not guarantee) settlement talks.
How much will I get from a Tepezza lawsuit?
Nobody knows yet, because no jury has decided a Tepezza case and no settlement has been agreed. Plaintiffs’ lawyers publish estimated ranges (often quoted around $140K–$250K for documented hearing-loss cases) but these are projections from similar mass torts, not verdicts or settlement payouts.
Is it too late to file?
Maybe — it depends on your state and when you were injured. Statute-of-limitations clocks vary by state (often 2–6 years from injury or discovery). Missing the deadline permanently bars the claim. A free case review from an MDL-experienced firm can confirm your specific window.
Does the lawsuit cover tinnitus, or only full hearing loss?
Both are within scope of the MDL, but tinnitus-only cases generally fall into a lower lawyer-estimated tier than documented bilateral hearing loss requiring hearing aids. Severity, permanence, and documentation drive case value.
Do I need to pay an attorney up front?
No. Mass-tort plaintiffs’ firms work on contingency — they’re paid a percentage of any recovery (commonly around 33–40%). If there’s no recovery, you owe no fee. Up-front fees are a red flag.
What if Horizon was acquired by Amgen — who actually pays?
Amgen completed its acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics in October 2023. Amgen now bears the litigation liability through Horizon, which remains the named defendant on the MDL docket.
Is there a class action I can join, or do I file individually?
It’s an MDL (multidistrict litigation), not a single class action. Each plaintiff files an individual case consolidated for pretrial purposes. Cases are evaluated and (potentially) resolved individually, not as a single class with a single recovery distributed.
Will my Tepezza recovery (if any) be taxable?
Compensation for personal physical injury or sickness is generally not taxable under IRC Section 104(a)(2). Punitive-damages portions and interest are usually taxable. This is not tax advice — consult a tax professional if you receive a recovery.
What’s Still Uncertain
Everything about case value remains unsettled. No jury has yet awarded damages in a Tepezza case; no global settlement framework has been announced. All dollar figures on this page are lawyer estimates drawn from comparable mass-tort outcomes. Bellwether trial verdicts in March 2026 will be the first real data points. We will update this page as actual verdicts and settlement announcements emerge.