Pfizer, the manufacturer of Depo-Provera, acknowledged in an April 2024 press release the connection between Depo-Provera and meningioma tumors, although drug labels and information sheets remained unchanged.
Lawsuits began in October 2024 against Pfizer and Pharmacia & Upjohn, claiming significant and life-altering injuries resulted from Depo-Provera shots. One plaintiff, who used the medication from 1995 to 2018, was unaware of the risks associated with extended use.
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October 2, 2025 – Case Count
The case count stands at over 1,222.
September 30, 2025 – Preemptive Hearing
Judge Rodgers heard arguments on Pfizer’s bid for summary judgment on federal preemption. A ruling is forthcoming.
September 22, 2025 – Plaintiffs’ Response to Preemption Motion
Plaintiffs have responded to Pfizer’s preemption motion. The brief argues that Pfizer never gave regulators the complete picture on meningioma risks by downplaying the epidemiological studies, ignoring decades of evidence.
It was also pointed out that the FDA never rejected an adequate warning. The response letter from the FDA was not a final rejection letter.
September 11, 2025 – MDL Numbers Continue to Rise
There are now over 800 lawsuits in the Depo-Provera MDL.
September 8, 2025 – Kaiser Named as a Defendant
A California woman has filed a new lawsuit, alleging she developed debilitating brain tumors after using Depo-Provera for a decade.
The lawsuit also names Kaiser entities as defendants, accusing them of promoting Depo-Provera as safe, despite knowledge of the risks of brain tumors.
September 3, 2025 – Cleveland Clinic Study
A new study by the Cleveland Clinic in JAMA Neurology has changed the calculus for the MDL. After studying ten million women across 68 health care systems, they found that long-term use of the birth control shot, especially those over 31 or stayed on it for more than four years, faced a higher risk of intracranial meningiomas.
August 22, 2025 – Order Issued
Judge Rodgers issued an order directing lead plaintiffs’ firms to fully disclose the number of unified cases they are sitting on. She will not tolerate a flood of the docket after a ruling on preemption.
August 23, 2025 – Preemption
Pfizer is pushing to dismiss the litigation on the basis that the FDA’s 2024 rejection of a proposed label change blocks any claims that the company failed to warn users of the risk of brain tumors.
The law on preemption is clear. Pfizer must show that the FDA definitively rejected the specific label warning. A general or vague refusal is not acceptable. In 2024, Pfizer requested the FDA approve a very weak and generic label stating that meningioma had been reported after long-term use of MPA-containing products. The FDA refused because the proposed language lacked scientific weight and clarity.
August 16, 2025 – Attorneys’ Fees Dispute
As seen in other MDL’s, attorneys’ fees are being debated. The center of the dispute revolves around the common benefit fund, which is used to compensate lawyers fairly. When a settlement is reached, courts can allow a percentage of each recovery to be set aside for the attorneys that led the MDL. However, this is only allowed when the settlement has created a common fund or when the attorneys involved agree in advance to contribute. Without either of those, the courts do not have the power to take a portion of fees from clients who haven’t participated.
August 2, 2025 – Numbers Continue to Grow
The MDL now includes 550 filed cases. Currently, the federal action will be the central hub as state court filings remain low.
July 2, 2025 – Wrongful Death Suit Filed in Texas
The family of a woman in Texas filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Pfizer and related Depo-Provera entities, alleging the contraceptive shot caused a fatal brain tumor.
According to the complaint, the decedant was administered Depo-Provera in Minnesota from 2006 to 2012. She passed away in October 2024.
The autopsy revealed a hemorrhage from an undiagnosed intracranial meningioma brain tumor caused her death.
June 16, 2025 – Depo-Provera Mass Tort Stalled Out in Philadelphia
A judge severed nearly all of the 100 plaintiffs from a consolidated case, allowing them to file individually – no new filings were made. Pfizer has withdrawn its petition for consolidation.
While Philadelphia is essentially out, there are still over 400 cases active in the federal MDL in the Northern District of Florida.
June 10, 2025 – Oral Arguments Scheduled
Judge Rodgers will begin hearing oral arguments on Pfizer’s federal preemption on September 29, 2025. They could theoretically dismiss 400 cases before they reach the discovery phase.
Pfizer asserts that federal law shields them from state failure-to-warn lawsuits regarding Depo-Provera, citing the FDA’s earlier dismissal of a brain tumor warning for the drug’s label. Their argument hinges on federal preemption, contending that state claims demanding a warning that the FDA declined are invalid.
June 6, 2025 – Proof of Use
Following Pretrial Orders No. 17 and 22, plaintiffs have begun submitting proof of Depo-Provera use and meningioma diagnoses. At this time, 34 plaintiffs have completed questionnaires.
June 4, 2025 – Consolidated Litigation in PA
Due to the large number of cases, Pfizer has requested that the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas establish a mass-tort program. There are only three cases filed in Philadelphia, but one has claims from over 100 plaintiffs.
June 2, 2025 – MDL Grows
As of June 1, 2025, the Depo-Provera MDL has 348 active cases pending. This is a 20.4% increase in a single month.
May 16, 2025 – New Case Filed in Iowa
A new case was filed in Iowa City, IA. The plaintiff was exposed to Depo-Provera from 2008 to 2016, receiving roughly 25 injections while living in Illinois. She was diagnosed with an intracranial meningioma in 2023.
May 14, 2025 – Pretrial Order No. 23
Judge Rodgers’ Pretrial Order No. 23, issued on Monday, mandates a procedure for identifying and resolving issues with plaintiff complaints in the Depo-Provera multidistrict litigation. Specifically, the order details the minimum requirements for all complaints: a confirmed diagnosis of a qualifying meningioma, a clear connection between the injury and Depo Provera use, and full jurisdictional information for all involved parties.
May 12, 2025 – Pretrial Order No. 22
Judge Rodgers issued Pretrial Order No. 22, which outlined how deficiencies in plaintiffs’ Proof of Use and Injury submissions will be addressed. All plaintiffs must complete a Use/Injury Questionnaire and submit any supporting documents through the BrownGreer MDL Centrality system.
May 6, 2025 – New Study Backs up Claims
A new study from the University of British Columbia found that women who used Depo-Provera for more than one year had a 3.55-fold increased risk of developing a meningioma.
May 2, 2025 – 2 New Cases Added in April
The MDL picked up two new cases in April, bringing the total to 289.
May 1, 2025 – New Case Filed in Utah
A woman in Utah has filed a new lawsuit. She claims she received Depo-Provera injections from 1996-2006, later developing a WHO Grade II-III intracranial meningioma at age 31.
April 18, 2025 – Judge Orders Affidavits
As of the March Case Management Conference, Judge Rodgers ordered generic drug defendants Greenstone, Viatris, and Prasco to submit affidavits confirming their non-involvement with Depo-Provera. Case Management Order No. 2 gave them 14 days to do so and file a Notice of Compliance.
March 31, 2025 – Proof of Product Use
Plaintiffs’ lawyers have proposed a uniform, court-authorized process for collecting proof-of-use evidence. Plaintiffs are required to complete a “Plaintiff Proof of Use/Injury Questionnaire“ within 120 days of March 14, 2025 (or within 120 days of filing for newly added cases).
March 25, 2025 – The MDL Moving Rapidly
BrownGreer has been appointed as the Data Administrator by the Court with Judge Herndon as Special Master, and a separate Common Benefit Special master to oversee fees and expenses. The judge has instructed the parties to work with BrownGreer and propose a uniform process by April 14.
Discovery has also officially opened with an aggressive scheduling order for the pilot cases. Defendants must have completed their document production on preemption and general causation by May 11, with preemption discovery expected to wrap up by late July.
March 19, 2025 – Depo-Provera Litigation in State Courts
Judge Rodgers appointed liaison counsel for Pennsylvania, California, and Illinois. The federal court will serve as the central hub for the consolidated MDL, but state courts in PA, CA, and IL will remain active and may potentially reach a decision more quickly than the MDL.
December 7, 2024 – New Lawsuit Filed in Pennsylvania State Court
A new lawsuit was filed in the Court of Common Pleas for Philadelphia County. The plaintiff started injections as a teenager and has since undergone multiple brain surgeries and suffers from prolonged physical and cognitive impairments.
October 31, 2024 – EU Warning Label Updated
Pfizer updated label changes for Depo-Provera in the EU and UK. The additional cautionary language reads:
“Meningioma: Meningiomas have been reported following long-term administration of progestogens, including medroxyprogesterone acetate. Depo-Provera should be discontinued if a meningioma is diagnosed. Caution is advised when recommending Depo-Provera to patients with a history of meningioma.”
October 1, 2024 – Class Action Hearing
Kristina Schmidt filed the first lawsuit against Pfizer in the Northern District of California.
September 25, 2024 – Will the new Depo-Provera lawsuits be a class action?
The Depo-Provera lawsuits will likely be combined into an MDL, as this will be the most expeditious route to compensation and accountability. The other issue is that the injuries suffered by each woman are radically different.
It’s never too late to fight for your rights. Contact us today to explore your options if you have been diagnosed with meningioma due to prolonged use of Depo-Provera.
Our team of experienced litigators specializes in cases related to cancer exposure and has a proven track record of success. We care about you and your family, and we hold responsible parties accountable. Your fight is our fight.