This page look at the newly developing Depo Provera brain tumor lawsuits. Depo Provera is a female contraceptive injection that is commonly known as the birth control shot. Millions of women in the U.S. have used Depo Provera at some point in their lives. New evidence has shown that Depo Provera can cause a specific type of brain tumor called meningiomas.
This has sparked a growing wave of Depo Provera brain tumor lawsuits. Based on the size of the potential plaintiff field and the strength of the causation evidence, this is expected to be a significant new mass tort. We will examine the allegations in the Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuits and discuss the potential settlement value of these cases.
News and Updates on Depo Provera Litigation
April 16, 2025 – Co-Defendants Miss Key Deadline in Depo-Provera MDL
In the ongoing multidistrict litigation (MDL) concerning Depo-Provera, U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers issued an Order to Show Cause after generic drug manufacturers Greenstone and Viatris failed to meet a critical court deadline. Under Case Management Order No. 2, all generic defendants were required to file a Notice of Compliance within a specified timeframe. While Prasco met this requirement on time, Greenstone and Viatris did not, prompting judicial action. TruLaw
April 8, 2025 – Monthly Case Management Conferences Scheduled
Judge Rodgers has scheduled monthly case management conferences through 2025 to ensure the Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuits progress efficiently. These conferences aim to keep the litigation on track for early bellwether trials. The next status conference is scheduled for May 30.
April 2, 2025 – MDL Nearly Doubles in Size
The Depo-Provera brain tumor MDL nearly doubled in size last month with the addition of 52 new cases, bringing the total to 130. This increase reflects growing attention to the potential risks associated with Depo-Provera, particularly in relation to claims of brain tumor risk linked to its use.
April 1, 2025 – Court Establishes Process for Verifying Depo-Provera Use
A recent court order in the MDL has introduced a structured process to help plaintiffs confirm their use of Depo-Provera. Individuals involved in the case must complete and submit a “Plaintiff Proof of Use/Injury Questionnaire” within 120 days of March 14, 2025—or within 120 days of filing, in the case of new claims. The court has approved a process to retrieve documentation from third parties, such as pharmacies and healthcare providers, to verify medication use. TruLaw
February 7, 2025 – MDL Formed for Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuits
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) approved the formation of an MDL for women who took Depo-Provera and developed brain tumors (meningiomas). The consolidation, titled MDL 3140 IN RE: Depo-Provera (Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) Products Liability Litigation, is centralized in the Northern District of Florida under Judge M. Casey Rodgers. This consolidation aims to streamline the lawsuit-filing process for the numerous women affected.
December 1, 2024: A motion has been filed to coordinate over 20 lawsuits related to the contraceptive Depo-Provera in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The motion requests the consolidation of the cases under one judge in California. 18 of the 22 pending cases have been filed in California.
About Depo Provera – The “Birth Control Shot”
Depo-Provera is a prescription contraceptive injection containing medroxyprogesterone acetate, a synthetic form of the hormone progestin. It’s commonly used for birth control, but it also has other medical applications.
Depo-Provera is administered as an injection, usually in the buttock or upper arm, once every 3 months (13 weeks). It is highly effective, with a failure rate of less than 1% when used correctly, making it one of the most reliable forms of contraception available. The injection suppresses ovulation, thickens cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching the egg, and thins the uterine lining, reducing the likelihood of implantation.
Depo Provera was initially developed in the early 1970s by Upjohn (a pharmaceutical company that is now part of Pfizer). In the late 1970s, the FDA refused to approve Depo-Provera for birth control use in the U.S. due to concerns about links to cancer (particularly breast cancer) that were found in animal studies. There were also concerns about its potential side effects, including bone density loss, which led to hesitation regarding its safety for long-term use.
In 1983, the FDA approved Depo Provera for the treatment of endometriosis. However, it was still not approved as a contraceptive due to safety concerns. In the 1980s, the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted studies showing that Depo-Provera was both safe and effective for use as a contraceptive. These findings helped support the argument for its use in family planning.
After years of additional research and pressure from healthcare providers advocating for more contraceptive options, the FDA approved Depo-Provera as a contraceptive in October 1992.
New Evidence Links Depo Provera to Brain Tumors
In March 2024, a significant new study was published in the British Medical Journal which revealed conclusive scientific evidence showing that Depo Provera can cause brain tumors called meningiomas.
The study examined the link between the use of specific hormone medications, known as progestogens, and the risk of developing meningiomas, a type of brain tumor. Researchers analyzed data from the French National Health Data System, focusing on women who had undergone surgery for meningiomas in France.
The study was extensive, involving over 100,000 women, including 18,000 who had surgery for meningiomas, making it one of the largest studies of its kind.
The study found that women who reported long term use of Depo Provera had a significantly higher risk of developing meningioma brain tumors. More specifically, the study reported that women who used Depo Provera were nearly 6 times more likely to be diagnosed with meningiomas compared to women who did not use Depo Provera, or who used other types of hormonal birth control (e.g., the pill).
The 2024 BMJ study was a major breakthrough, but it was actually not the first scientific study to indicate a link between Depo Provera and brain tumors. A study published in the early 1980s found evidence of potential link between meningiomas and the synthetic hormone used in Depo Provera. Then in 1991, another study in the Journal of Neurosurgery reported a causal connection between meningiomas and Depo Provera.
Meningiomas
A meningioma is a type of brain tumor that forms in the protective membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. These tumors are the most common type of brain tumor, accounting for about 40% of all cases.
Most meningiomas are non-cancerous (benign) and generally grow slowly, sometimes existing for years without causing symptoms. However, a small percentage can be cancerous (malignant). They are typically first detected through MRI scans and are often discovered incidentally in patients without symptoms. In such cases, doctors may opt for watchful waiting rather than immediate intervention.
When treatment is required, especially for symptomatic or large meningiomas, the primary approach is surgery, often with the goal of removing the entire tumor and some surrounding tissue to reduce the risk of recurrence. Advances in imaging and surgical techniques have significantly improved the safety and effectiveness of these procedures.
Meningiomas are classified into three grades based on their growth patterns, cellular characteristics, and risk of recurrence:
- Grade I (Benign): The most common type, making up 80% of cases. These tumors grow very slowly and are generally considered non-cancerous.
- Grade II (Atypical): Accounts for about 15% of cases, but are more challenging to treat due to their faster growth. These tumors exhibit atypical cellular changes, increasing the risk of recurrence.
- Grade III (Malignant): These aggressive, cancerous tumors make up less than 2% of meningioma cases. They grow rapidly and often require a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Surgical removal is the preferred treatment, especially for spinal meningiomas, which often have good outcomes with a low recurrence risk.
For intracranial meningiomas, surgery may involve a craniotomy, where a portion of the skull is removed to access the tumor. This procedure is highly invasive and may be risky due to the tumor’s sensitive location, particularly if the tumor involves critical veins or is surrounded by moderate to severe peritumoral edema.
Meningiomas linked to the use of progesterone-based contraceptives, such as Depo-Provera, are often located at the skull base, making them harder to access and increasing the risk of complications.
With the severity of these cases and the challenges of treating meningiomas, particularly those associated with hormone-based contraceptives, all three grades of meningioma tumors present strong grounds for personal injury claims. We anticipate significant compensation in these cases, given the complexity of treatment, the risk of recurrence, and the potential for long-term neurological complications.
Depo Provera Lawsuits
Depo-Provera, a long-acting injectable contraceptive, is manufactured by Pfizer Inc., one of the largest pharmaceutical corporations in the world. As a global pharmaceutical company, Pfizer is legally obligated to ensure the safety of its products and to warn patients and physicians about all known and reasonably foreseeable risks. When a company like Pfizer fails to do so, it is not a lapse in judgment—it is a violation of the law and a betrayal of the public trust.
In the case of Depo-Provera, Pfizer did not warn American patients about the risk of developing meningiomas, a type of brain tumor, despite substantial evidence indicating a potential connection between long-term use of the drug and tumor formation. International regulators issued warnings. Medical literature raised an alarm. Yet Pfizer failed to act. The company continued to market Depo-Provera to millions of women without updating its label to reflect this serious and life-altering risk. That was not oversight. That was deliberate inaction in the face of emerging safety signals.
The failure to update the warning label is not a technicality. It is the foundation of liability in this litigation. Patients were placed in harm’s way because Pfizer withheld critical safety information. These women were told the product was safe. They were never informed of the possibility that a birth control shot could lead to neurological damage, invasive surgery, or lifelong health complications. The consequences of that silence are now being measured in operating rooms and oncology wards across the country.
The law does not permit drug manufacturers to wait until harm becomes undeniable. It demands proactive disclosure. Pfizer had access to the data. Pfizer had the power to prevent injuries. And Pfizer chose not to warn. That decision to prioritize market protection over patient safety is precisely why these lawsuits have been filed.
This is not a matter of interpretation. It is a matter of accountability. Pfizer did not fulfill its duty to the women who relied on Depo-Provera. It must now answer for the damage caused by that failure.
Potential Settlement Value of Depo Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuits
Although it’s very early to say with accuracy, we can make predictions about the settlement value of these cases based on various assumptions. Our lawyers think that the Depo Provera brain tumors lawsuits could have a settlement value of $50,000 to $750,000 or more. The severity of the plaintiff’s individual injuries will be the main factor determining how much the case is worth.
While specific settlements will vary based on individual circumstances, here are estimated ranges based on similar types of litigation:
- Lower Range ($50,000 – $200,000): Cases involving less severe, non-cancerous meningiomas that were successfully treated with minimal long-term impact.
- Mid Range ($200,000 – $750,000): Cases where patients suffered significant complications, underwent multiple surgeries, or experienced lasting neurological symptoms affecting their quality of life.
- High Range ($1 million and above): Cases involving malignant or atypical meningiomas (Grade II or III), where the tumor led to severe, permanent damage or even death. These cases may include evidence of Pfizer’s failure to warn despite knowing about the risks, potentially resulting in punitive damages.