Postmarketing Safety Concerns of Teprotumumab: A Real-World Pharmacovigilance Assessment

Teprotumumab, which targets the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, is the only drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED).

This study aimed to identify potential safety signals of teprotumumab by analyzing postmarketing safety data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database in 2023.

The case/noncase approach was used to estimate the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and information component (IC) with relevant 95% CI for adverse events (AEs) that numbered 3 or more.

A total of 2158 cases were included in the analysis. Main safety signals identified were ear and labyrinth disorders, reproductive system and breast disorders, metabolism and nutrition disorders, and gastrointestinal disorders. Specifically, autophony (ROR [95% CI] = 4188.34 [1403.29-12500.8]), eyelid retraction (ROR [95% CI] = 2094.17 [850.69-5155.29]), permanent deafness (ROR [95% CI] = 1552.35 [789.07-3053.98]), bilateral deafness (ROR [95% CI] = 73.12 [41.14-129.97]), inflammatory bowel disease (ROR [95% CI] = 23.26 [13.46-40.19]), hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome (ROR [95% CI] = 17.75 [5.70-55.28]), and amenorrhea (ROR [95% CI] = 47.98 [36.22-63.54]) showed significant safety signals with teprotumumab.

This study identified ear and labyrinth disorders, and reproductive system and breast disorders, as specific safety signals of teprotumumab. Clinicians and pharmacists should be vigilant regarding these AEs. However, available data are currently insufficient, and further pharmacovigilance and surveillance are needed to fully understand this issue.