Horizon’s Tepezza Found Effective in Treating Dysthyroid Optic Neuropathy

Horizon Therapeutics announced the results of Tepezza in real-world treatment of Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) patients with DON, which is a complication of TED characterized by thyroid-related visual function impairment that can result in permanent vision loss due to optic nerve compression.

Tepezza is the first and only FDA-approved drug for treating TED - a severe, progressive, and potentially vision-threatening autoimmune disease.

The analysis presents the real-world experience of individuals with Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) and DON who received treatment with Tepezza between January 2020 and September 2022. A total of 24 patients were observed, with 22 out of 24 having received oral or intravenous steroids, surgery, and/or radiation prior to receiving Tepezza. The data were sourced from both literature and the author's clinical experience.

Following treatment with Tepezza, there was a significant improvement in visual acuity for eyes affected by DON, with an average improvement of 3.7 lines among 23 patients (range 1-15). Additionally, the mean deviation on visual field testing improved by -5.87 in seven patients. Proptosis was reduced by an average of 4.4 mm among 19 patients, diplopia improved by 0.75 grade in eight patients, and the Clinical Activity Score (CAS) showed an average reduction of 5.1 in 17 patients. Adverse events reported were similar to those observed in Tepezza clinical trials, including fatigue, dysgeusia, hearing issues, nausea, hyperglycemia, and muscle spasms.

“We know how devastating Thyroid Eye Disease can be for patients, and the risk of blindness in those with dysthyroid optic neuropathy is one of the most worrisome complications, especially when traditional therapies fail,” Madhura A. Tamhankar, MD, study author and associate professor of ophthalmology and neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvaniaa, said in a company news release. “These data are encouraging for physicians looking for an option to treat patients at the highest risk of losing their sight and provide evidence that Tepezza can help improve symptoms and preserve visual acuity.”

“The spectrum and severity of Thyroid Eye Disease symptoms can vary greatly for people and often require significant intervention to avoid long-term repercussions and negative impact to everyday activity, especially when dysthyroid optic neuropathy is involved,” said Mandeep Kaur, MD, M.S., senior vice president, global medical affairs and outcomes research, Horizon. “This research underscores our ongoing commitment to ensuring patients receive appropriate care that can result in improved clinical outcomes.”