Please ensure JavaScript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility How TEPEZZA® Works in the Body | TEPEZZA® (teprotumumab-trbw)
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P-TEP-US-01062 04/23

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How TEPEZZA Was Designed to Work

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    How TEPEZZA (teprotumumab-trbw) works to treat Thyroid Eye Disease, or TED.

    TEPEZZA is a prescription medicine used to treat Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), no matter if you’ve had TED for months or years.

    TEPEZZA may cause infusion reactions. Tell your doctor right away if you have high blood pressure, fast heartbeat, redness of the face or feeling hot, difficulty breathing, headache, or muscle pain.

    Please stay tuned for additional Important Safety Information later in this video.

    Thyroid Eye Disease, or TED, is a serious vision threatening condition. You may have heard Thyroid Eye Disease called Graves’ eye disease.

    To understand what causes TED, you have to go behind the eye.

    In the tissue behind the eye are cells which have receptors on their surface that act like switches. But when you have TED, your body’s immune system attacks this tissue, which causes molecules, known as autoantibodies, to turn these switches on. This leads to swelling of the muscle and fat.

    The swollen muscle and fat tissue behind the eye can also make the eyes bulge, which your doctor may call proptosis and cause double vision which your doctor may call Diplopia.

    TEPEZZA is the first FDA-approved treatment for Thyroid Eye Disease.

    TEPEZZA treats a source of TED, not just the symptoms.

    While precisely how TEPEZZA works is not fully understood. TEPEZZA is designed to bind to the switch and block it from turning on.

    Since TEPEZZA blocks the switches so they cannot turn on, swelling of the muscle and fat tissue goes down.

    This can lead to reduced bulging of the eyes.

    TEPEZZA can also improve double vision, and in some cases make it completely go away.

    Please keep watching to hear Important Safety Information about TEPEZZA.

    Talk to your doctor about TEPEZZA.

The exact nature of how TED develops and progresses is not entirely understood, therefore, precisely how TEPEZZA works is not fully established.

TEPEZZA is the first FDA-approved treatment for Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). In simplest terms, TEPEZZA was designed to work by going to a source of TED, blocking the body’s response to this autoimmune condition that can cause 1 or more of the following signs and symptoms: pain, redness, swelling, pressure behind the eyes, bulging, watery eyes, and more.

For more information, see this list of signs and symptoms of TED.

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TEPEZZA Safety

Understand the side effects of TEPEZZA and find questions to ask your doctor.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about TEPEZZA?

Infusion reactions can happen during or within 24 hours after your infusion of TEPEZZA. If you have a reaction while receiving TEPEZZA, your doctor or nurse will slow or stop your infusion and treat your reaction. If you have a severe infusion reaction, your doctor may stop your treatment completely.

Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you have any of these symptoms during or after your treatment with TEPEZZA:
  • High blood pressure
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Redness of the face/Feeling hot
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Headache
  • Muscle pain

TEPEZZA may worsen inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, even if you don’t have a diagnosis of IBD before starting TEPEZZA treatment. Tell your doctor right away if you have worsening IBD symptoms, which may include diarrhea with stomach pain or cramps, blood in your stools, sudden urgency to have a bowel movement, or feeling like you need to have a bowel movement even when there’s little or no stool to pass.

TEPEZZA may cause an increase in your blood sugar. Before starting treatment with TEPEZZA, tell your doctor if you are currently being treated for diabetes, know your blood sugar is high, or have been diagnosed with diabetes. It is important for you to take your treatments and follow an appropriate diet for glucose control as prescribed by your doctor.

TEPEZZA may cause severe hearing problems including hearing loss, which in some cases may be permanent. Tell your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms of hearing problems or changes in hearing.

Before receiving TEPEZZA, tell your doctor if you:
  • Have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis).
  • Are currently being treated for diabetes, have been diagnosed with diabetes, or know your blood sugar is high.
  • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. TEPEZZA may harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant or suspect you are pregnant during treatment with TEPEZZA.
    • Women who are able to become pregnant should use an effective form of birth control (contraception) prior to starting treatment, during treatment and for at least 6 months after the final dose of TEPEZZA.
  • Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if TEPEZZA passes into your breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best ways to feed your baby during treatment with TEPEZZA.
  • Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary and herbal supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
What are the possible side effects of TEPEZZA?

The most common side effects of TEPEZZA include muscle cramps or spasms, nausea, hair loss, diarrhea, feeling tired, high blood sugar, hearing problems, taste changes, headache, dry skin, ear discomfort, weight loss, nail problems, and changes in menstruation.

This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Tell your doctor or treatment team about any side effect you may have.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information or visit TEPEZZA.com for more information.

USE

TEPEZZA is a prescription medicine used to treat Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), no matter if you’ve had TED for months or years.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about TEPEZZA?

Infusion reactions can happen during or within 24 hours after your infusion of TEPEZZA. If you have a reaction while receiving TEPEZZA, your doctor or nurse will slow or stop your infusion and treat your reaction. If you have a severe infusion reaction, your doctor may stop your treatment completely.