Depo-Provera (Medroxyprogesterone) Brain Tumor Products Liability Litigation
Case Overview
Depo-Provera is a widely used injectable hormonal contraceptive manufactured by Pfizer (via its Pharmacia subsidiary) that has been on the U.S. market since 1992. It is administered every three months and contains medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a synthetic progestin. A landmark French pharmacoepidemiological study published in the British Medical Journal in March 2024 found that women who used progestin-based contraceptives for more than one year — particularly injectable MPA — had a significantly elevated risk (odds ratio of approximately 5.6) of developing intracranial meningiomas compared to non-users. Meningiomas are tumors that grow on the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord; while often slow-growing, they can cause severe headaches, vision and hearing problems, seizures, and cognitive impairment, and frequently require neurosurgery or radiation treatment.
Plaintiffs allege that Pfizer knew or should have known about the meningioma risk far earlier than its public disclosures and failed to update the drug's U.S. label with an adequate warning, depriving women and their doctors of the information needed to make informed treatment decisions. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) consolidated the growing wave of federal cases into MDL No. 3140 in the Northern District of Florida in late 2024. As of mid-2025, the MDL docket has grown rapidly and bellwether trial selection is underway. Pfizer has denied all liability. The FDA issued an updated label for Depo-Provera in 2024 acknowledging the meningioma risk.
Who May Qualify
Women who received injections of Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) for contraceptive purposes — typically for one year or longer — and were subsequently diagnosed with an intracranial meningioma (brain or spinal cord membrane tumor). Cases involving other progestin-only injectables containing MPA may also qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Depo-Provera cause brain tumors?
A major 2024 study published in the BMJ found that long-term use of injectable medroxyprogesterone (Depo-Provera) was associated with a significantly increased risk of intracranial meningiomas. The FDA updated Depo-Provera's label in 2024 to include this risk. Thousands of lawsuits are now pending against Pfizer.
Can I sue Pfizer for a brain tumor caused by Depo-Provera?
If you used Depo-Provera injections for an extended period (generally one year or more) and were diagnosed with a meningioma, you may have a valid claim. Cases have been consolidated into a federal MDL in Florida. You should consult a mass tort attorney promptly, as statutes of limitations vary by state.
What is an MDL and how does the Depo-Provera litigation work?
An MDL (Multidistrict Litigation) consolidates thousands of similar federal lawsuits before one judge for coordinated pretrial proceedings. In the Depo-Provera MDL, a set of representative 'bellwether' cases will go to trial first; those outcomes typically drive global settlement negotiations for the remaining plaintiffs.