On January 30, 2025, the JPML hearing confirmed the formation of an MDL for Depo-Provera. The debate over venue selection remains, with plaintiffs advocating for California, given the majority of filed lawsuits.
Verus provides comprehensive claimant validation, data collection, and case management to streamline your litigation process. Our team ensures accurate verification, reducing administrative burdens while improving efficiency and compliance.
What is Depo-Provera?
Depo-Provera is the brand name for medroxyprogesterone acetate, an injectable form of contraception. Administered every three months, it provides a long-lasting and effective birth control method.
Pfizer has profited significantly from the drug, with 24.5% of sexually experienced women using Depo-Provera in the U.S. between 2015 and 2019. Initially developed for cancer treatment, Depo-Provera faced multiple FDA rejections over safety concerns before approval in 1992.
How Depo-Provera Works
Depo-Provera prevents pregnancy by:
- Suppressing ovulation
- Thickening cervical mucus to block sperm
- Altering the uterine lining to prevent implantation
However, plaintiffs claim Pfizer failed to warn users about the risks of brain tumors, particularly in light of a lower-dose alternative known as Depo-SubQ Provera 104, which has a significantly lower risk of meningioma.
Key Questions for Investigation:
Why did Pfizer maintain a high 150 mg dose when lower-dose alternatives existed?
Did Pfizer conduct clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of lower doses?
Was the higher dose truly necessary for contraception, or were other factors at play?
For law firms pursuing Depo-Provera litigation, a well-structured strategy is essential. Verus offers expert support in claimant validation, data analysis, and case management to help build a strong foundation for your cases.
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Depo-Provera Brain Tumor Risks
Calling meningiomas “benign” understates their impact. These tumors can quietly grow in the brain, causing seizures, vision loss, and cognitive impairments. Even with successful surgical removal, lasting effects include chronic headaches and the need for continuous monitoring.
A March 2024 British Medical Journal study of 18,000 French women found that those who received Depo-Provera injections for over a year had a 550% increased risk of developing intracranial meningiomas.
Scientific Link Between Depo-Provera and Meningioma
Depo-Provera contains high levels of synthetic progestin, a hormone that mimics progesterone. Meningiomas express hormone receptors for progesterone and estrogen, and research suggests that prolonged exposure to high doses of progesterone over-activates these receptors, fostering tumor growth.
A dose-response relationship underscores the risk: the more injections a woman receives, the higher her likelihood of developing meningioma. Cases involving a single injection are rare, as synthetic progestin exposure accumulates over time. Many women who used Depo-Provera for 15+ years have reported symptoms consistent with meningioma diagnoses, aligning with scientific research linking prolonged hormone exposure to other cancers, such as breast and uterine cancer.
Depo-Provera Usage and Brain Tumor Risk Estimates
Approximately 2-3 million Depo-Provera prescriptions are filled annually in the U.S. The baseline incidence of meningioma is 9.5 per 100,000 people per year. Given a 5.5-fold increased risk, for every 100,000 Depo-Provera users, approximately 52.25 cases of meningioma could develop each year.
Understanding the full scope of claimants in the Depo-Provera litigation is critical. Verus offers data-driven analytics to help law firms assess claim trends, identify key litigation insights, and optimize case strategies.
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Depo-Provera Lawsuit Allegations Against Pfizer
Despite mounting scientific evidence, Pfizer failed to warn consumers about meningioma risks. Drug manufacturers are legally required to disclose known risks, but Pfizer left out meningiomas from its label, prioritizing profits over patient safety.
The long-standing link between progesterone and meningiomas should have triggered stronger post-market safety monitoring. Plaintiffs argue that had they been warned, they would have chosen alternative birth control options.
Navigating the complexities of Depo-Provera litigation requires efficient case management to track plaintiffs, medical records, and legal strategy. Verus provides streamlined solutions to help law firms manage high-volume litigation with advanced analytics and case tracking tools.
Partner with Verus to optimize your Depo-Provera lawsuit case management and ensure your firm stays ahead in this emerging litigation.
Depo-Provera Litigation Timeline
- 1992 – FDA approves Depo-Provera
- 2024 – BMJ study links Depo-Provera to a 550% higher risk of meningiomas
- Early 2024 – Nearly 70 lawsuits filed
- Plaintiffs’ Request – Cases consolidated in California, Massachusetts, or Florida
- Pfizer’s Proposal – Cases in Southern District of New York
- February 7, 2025 – MDL assigned to Judge M. Casey Rodgers (Northern District of Florida)
Judge Rodgers’ Experience – Previously oversaw 3M earplug MDL (largest mass tort in U.S. history)
Estimated Depo-Provera Meningioma Cases
A recent estimate projects that the number of potential Depo-Provera meningioma cases falls between 16,651 and 18,156 for progesterone receptor-positive cases, with a broader estimate ranging from 27,752 to 30,261 total cases within the 18-55 age demographic.
This projection focuses on cases where the causal link is more immediately evident based on existing scientific data. Women who used Depo-Provera within a defined timeframe and were subsequently diagnosed with meningioma may have a more straightforward burden of proof than those who used the drug earlier in life and developed tumors decades later.
However, litigation success requires more than biological plausibility. Plaintiffs must demonstrate clear causation, which will be contested in court. Challenges include individual risk factors, medical documentation gaps, and alternative explanations for tumor development.
Partner with Verus for Case Management
Verus supports law firms in handling Depo-Provera MDL cases with advanced case management solutions. Contact our end-to-end case management support team to enhance your mass tort case handling.
