Google Searches for Thyroid Eye Disease After Regulatory Approval of Teprotumumab

Abstract

Importance: Given that direct-to-consumer advertising campaigns have the potential to both positively and negatively affect patient care, clinicians would benefit from being conscious of changes in public interest that result from such campaigns.

Objective: To understand how direct-to-consumer advertising was associated with information-seeking behavior based on Google Trends.

Design, setting, and participants: This descriptive cross-sectional study used Google Trends to examine relative search volumes for thyroid eye disease (TED) from January 1, 2004, to June 30, 2021, in the US. The data for this cross-sectional study were downloaded on October 17, 2021. This study included internet search engine queries originating within the US, as determined by Google Trends.

Main outcomes and measures: Monthly changes in relative search volumes for the terms "thyroid eye disease," "Tepezza," and "teprotumumab."

Results: From January 1, 2004, through June 30, 2019, searches for TED demonstrated a stable baseline level with a mean (SD) relative search volume of 1.78 (1.25). After US Food and Drug Administration approval of teprotumumab in January 2020, TED searches increased by 25%. After the manufacturer of teprotumumab ran its first national television commercial in December 2020, a 525% increase in TED searches was observed. After a second series of national television advertisements for teprotumumab in May 2021, TED searches increased by 640%.

Conclusions and relevance: Findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that direct-to-consumer advertising campaigns for teprotumumab may have been associated with an increase in internet search traffic for TED. Google Trends may serve as a useful tool for measuring the influence of pharmaceutical advertising campaigns on information-seeking behavior in the public. Additional studies are warranted to determine how these changes in public interest correlate with clinical measures, such as referral patterns.

Figure.. US Search Volumes for Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), Tepezza, and Teprotumumab From January 2004 to September 2021

^aSeptember 2019: Horizon launches Facebook community web page “Listen to Your Eyes,” which provides public education on TED, as part of a digital marketing campaign. ^bJanuary 2020: The US Food and Drug Administration approves Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw) for the treatment of TED. ^cDecember 2020: First unbranded TED awareness commercials are aired on national television, which include references to Horizon-sponsored websites on TED. ^dMay 2021: First brand-name commercial for Tepezza is aired on national television.