Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Clinical Trials and Treatments

Thyroid eye disease is a separate disease from the thyroid problem that usually accompanies it. In Graves' disease, antibodies overstimulate the thyroid gland; in TED, the same autoimmune attack turns on cells behind the eyes called orbital fibroblasts, which carry both the thyroid hormone receptor and a partner receptor called IGF-1R. When activated, these cells expand the fat and muscle inside the bony eye socket.

The most common symptoms of Thyroid Eye Disease include Bulging or protruding eyes (proptosis), Double vision (diplopia), Pain or pressure behind the eyes, Red, gritty, dry, or watery eyes, Retracted eyelids that create a staring appearance, among others. About 16 in 100,000 women and 3 in 100,000 men diagnosed each year; up to half of people with Graves' disease develop some degree of TED. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may vary between individuals.

Trial Friend lists all active clinical trials for Thyroid Eye Disease from ClinicalTrials.gov, with eligibility criteria translated into plain English. Patients can filter by trial phase and recruitment status, search by location, and use the Match Me tool to score trials against their profile. Three drugs are FDA approved for TED. Two target IGF-1R, the receptor driving tissue expansion behind the eyes.

Yes. As of October 21, 2026, 3 FDA-approved medicines have a current label that names Thyroid Eye Disease: Enspryng (satralizumab), first approved in 2020; Lumvoa (veligrotug), first approved in 2026; and Tepezza (teprotumumab), first approved in 2020. Corticosteroids and immune globulins count once each.

The exact cause of Thyroid Eye Disease is not fully understood. It is not caused by a single gene; inherited variants raise risk, and immune, environmental or other triggers are thought to set it off. Autoimmune, almost always alongside Graves disease; no genetic test has a diagnostic role. About 16 in 100,000 women and 3 in 100,000 men diagnosed each year; up to half of people with Graves' disease develop some degree of TED. Research is ongoing to better understand the disease mechanism.

No single gene test diagnoses Thyroid Eye Disease. The diagnosis rests on clinical findings and laboratory or imaging results; genetic variants shift risk rather than cause the disease. Autoimmune, almost always alongside Graves disease; no genetic test has a diagnostic role.

Some trials collect genetic samples for research or check specific risk markers. The Genetic Testing section of this page shows any tests listed in the NIH Genetic Testing Registry, which for this condition are usually research or risk-marker tests rather than diagnostic ones.

Eligibility for Thyroid Eye Disease clinical trials depends on factors like age, diagnosis, treatment history, and overall health. Each trial sets its own inclusion and exclusion criteria. Trial Friend translates these requirements from medical language into plain English so patients can review them more easily. The Match Me tool can score your profile against active trials to help identify studies that may be a fit.

Participating in a Thyroid Eye Disease clinical trial typically involves scheduled visits, medical tests, and close monitoring by a research team. Depending on the study phase, you may receive an investigational treatment, a placebo, or the current standard of care. Trials may last from a few weeks to several years. Study participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.