Teprotumumab

Teprotumumab, sold under the brand name Tepezza, is a medication used to treat adults with thyroid eye disease, a rare condition where the muscles and fatty tissues behind the eye become inflamed, causing the eyes to bulge outwards.

The most common side effects are muscle spasm, nausea, hair loss, diarrhea, fatigue, high blood sugar, hearing loss, dry skin, altered sense of taste, and headache. Teprotumumab should not be used if pregnant, and women of child-bearing potential should have their pregnancy status verified prior to beginning treatment and should be counseled on pregnancy prevention during treatment and for six months following the last dose.

It is a human monoclonal antibody developed by Genmab and Roche for tumour treatment but was later researched by River Vision Development Corporation and Horizon Therapeutics to be used for ophthalmic uses. It binds to IGF-1R.

Teprotumumab was approved for use in the United States in January 2020. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers it to be a first-in-class medication.