Horizon's Tepezza Broke The Mold For 2020 Launches, But Still Got Snared By COVID-19

An Interview With CEO Tim Walbert

Tepezza was the breakout launch of the year and will change Horizon's growth trajectory, but for now it has been sidelined by a supply constraint caused by COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing.

rocket, missile, spaceship — Tepezza has powered Horizon's growth strategy • Source: Shutterstock

Horizon Therapeutics plc has reached the blockbuster big leagues with the launch of Tepezza (teprotumumab) for thyroid eye disease. It became the breakout launch of 2020 even in the challenging environment caused by COVID-19 and the strength of the franchise is poised to position Horizon as a credible rare disease specialist – even though the pandemic created a supply issue.

Tepezza generated $820m in 2020 after launching that February for the rare eye condition, putting it among the best drug launches ever based on revenues – and that comes despite COVID-19 and a manufacturing hold-up starting in December. (Also see "J.P. Morgan Extras: Pandemic Impact on Launch, Production, Development And More" - Scrip, 18 January, 2021

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