Pfizer is one of the largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the world. Founded in the 1800s, this company has played an enormous role in advancing medicine, including mass-producing penicillin during World War II and developing the COVID-19 vaccine.
However, Pfizer has also been accused of disregarding women’s health by concealing information about a dangerous side effect of their popular contraceptive, Depo-Provera.
Depo-Provera and Meningiomas
In early 2026, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new black box warning for Depo-Provera, noting an increased risk of brain tumors. Research demonstrates that women who take this contraceptive shot are at a higher risk of meningiomas, a type of brain tumor that develops in the meninges.
The meninges are three layers of protective cells that cover the brain and spinal cord. A meningioma forms in this protective layer and compresses the brain tissue, which can result in neurological issues. Most women who develop meningiomas in conjunction with Depo-Provera use suffer from intracranial meningiomas, not spinal meningiomas.
The risk is highest in women who use Depo-Provera for long-term contraception, typically four years or longer.
Treatment Options for Meningiomas
While meningiomas are typically noncancerous, a small percentage may be highly aggressive and treatment-resistant. Symptoms of meningiomas include headaches, vision problems, balance and coordination issues, hearing problems, memory changes, and behavioral or cognitive changes.
Meningiomas can be difficult to treat, as they do not respond to chemotherapy like other tumors may. Some doctors may take a “wait and see” approach because surgery can be risky; it may damage healthy tissue or lead to brain injuries.
Doctors typically perform surgery to remove the tumor. They may then follow up with targeted radiation therapy to eliminate any remaining meningioma cells. Throughout the process, you’ll receive treatments to manage the symptoms, such as speech therapy, corrective lenses, or pain medication.
Pfizer’s Awareness of Increased Brain Tumor Risk
Like most hormonal birth controls, Depo-Provera alters a woman’s hormones. This medication delivers synthetic progesterone that interacts with progesterone receptors throughout the body, including in the hypothalamus. These highly active receptors may induce meningioma growth, especially if the synthetic progesterone is present at high levels for a long period.
According to court documents, Pfizer and its codefendants were aware of the increased risk of meningioma since at least the 1980s. Studies emerged showing an unexpected link between women receiving Depo-Provera and meningioma rates. In 1985, researchers determined that progestins, such as those in Depo-Provera, might stimulate hormone-sensitive tumor growth. There were also clear dose-dependent findings, showing that the longer a woman remained on the medication, the more likely she was to develop a meningioma.
Warning labels were placed on Depo-Provera in markets outside of the United States, including Canada and Europe, but Pfizer and its codefendants did not choose to inform the American public because the FDA did not require them to. Even if the FDA did not require it, Pfizer and its associated companies, like Greenstone and Presco Labs, should have valued disclosure of known risks.
Depo-Provera Mass Torts and Individual Litigation
Claimants are now pursuing both individual tort claims and consolidating their claims into multidistrict litigation, currently pending in the Northern District of Florida. Multidistrict litigation (MDL) claims are not the same as a class action lawsuit. Instead of all cases being tried together as a class, an MDL streamlines the pre-trial process, including hearings and discovery, so that each claimant has access to the same resources. Once the MDL process is complete, each case will be returned to its separate jurisdiction and tried on its own.
The lawsuit process requires proving a causal link between your use of Depo-Provera and the development of a meningioma. This can include medical records throughout the time that you were receiving Depo-Provera, then diagnostic imaging of the meningioma and your treatment plan. Your attorney will work with medical experts and your care team to assess the extent of the meningioma, its associated costs, and your expected recovery.
Both your attorney and opposing counsel will attempt to determine that there were no other deciding factors that could have caused the meningioma in order to strengthen your claim. Additionally, attorneys will value your damages, which can include medical bills, lost wages, physical pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Depo-Provera settlement value insights suggest that claimants could receive $200,000 to $500,000, with some receiving $1 million or more. The value of the claim depends on the severity of the meningioma; Grade III (cancerous) cases could receive over a million dollars, while those with Grade I (noncancerous) meningiomas will likely receive less.Â
The Need For a Skilled Attorney
Suing a massive multinational corporation like Pfizer is not easy. This company has a large legal fund and skilled attorneys ready to deny any accountability. As such, it is crucial for women to have skilled legal counsel by their side to smoothly coordinate the case, negotiate for a fair settlement, and represent them at trial if necessary.
Personal injury attorneys, such as those handling dangerous drug cases, typically work on a contingency fee basis. This means they are paid a percentage of the settlement rather than being paid up front. You may be able to schedule a free case review to provide your evidence and discuss whether you may have a strong legal case.
How the Lawsuit Process Works
A lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company can be challenging, as these corporations have their own legal teams that will vigorously defend against accountability. However, an experienced attorney will know how to counter their defenses and push for compensation. The process will include the following steps.
Free Consultation
During the initial consultation, your attorney will determine whether or not you have a strong case based on information like how long you were on Depo-Provera, what type of tumor you have, and the available evidence. They’ll also discuss your legal options, such as joining multidistrict litigation.
Determining Statutory Deadlines
Personal injury lawsuits, like those for dangerous drugs, typically have a short statute of limitations; if the deadline passes, you can’t file a claim. This ranges from only one year to up to five years from the date of your meningioma diagnosis. Your attorney will determine whether you still have a claim under the statute of limitations in your state.
Gathering Evidence
Once you give permission for the legal team to access your medical records, they will sift through the information to find the links between your birth control method and your meningioma diagnosis.
Evidence your attorney will request can include:
- Proof of your Depo-Provera shots, such as outpatient visits or insurance billingÂ
- Information about a family history of tumors or meningiomas
- Labwork and diagnostic tests confirming your meningioma
- Treatment plans, such as surgery, radiation therapy, or medications
- Insurance claims confirming your expenses related to the treatment
- Personal narratives like pain diaries, symptom lists, and challenges related to your meningioma
- Pay stubs or tax returns proving time off workÂ
Evaluating Damages
Your attorney needs to decide how much they want to demand from Pfizer based on the information you provide, as this determines how they file a claim. This will be based on calculations of all your expenses related to the diagnosis, then calculations of your pain and suffering damages.
In cases like these, law firms may use the multiplier method, which means they take all your expenses and multiply them by an integer. The higher the integer, the more compensation you may receive.
Filing a Claim
Multidistrict litigation still requires the law firm to file a complaint in your jurisdiction, such as the Circuit Court of Cook County. The MDL process only streamlines the pre-trial tasks rather than replacing an individual lawsuit.
Discovery Process
Discovery is the process by which all parties to the suit exchange information. For example, your lab work and diagnostics will be shared with the opposing counsel, and your attorneys will learn how much Pfizer knew about meningioma risks.
Gathering evidence will be simplified if you join multidistrict litigation, as the process creates a pool of evidence among all the plaintiffs and defendants.
Pfizer may attempt to use discovery as a tactic to drain meningioma patients, such as by requesting huge amounts of information that all parties must then review. They may also claim that certain documents, like Depo-Provera human trials, are irrelevant. However, an MDL often helps counter these defenses and reduce the per-plaintiff cost, as the financial burden is shared among many plaintiffs and attorneys.
Negotiations
Once the MDL process is complete, all lawsuits return to their separate jurisdictions, meaning that each client and attorney is responsible for negotiating a settlement. This process involves your attorney making a demand based on the information they gathered. The defense will return with a counteroffer, and this process continues until both parties can agree on a sum.
Trial
Negotiations may fail, which is when the case goes to trial. This involves your attorney representing you in front of a judge and jury, explaining how the evidence proves your meningioma was directly connected to your use of Depo-Provera.
The defense will attempt to bring up other factors, such as a family history of tumors or other treatments you may have received. If a jury rules in your favor, then you will receive a settlement, but if they agree with the defense, then you don’t get anything and will need to pay court fees.
Legal Help Is Available
While a meningioma diagnosis can be overwhelming, you have the right to pursue legal action for dangerous drugs. An attorney can help you review your options, determine whether you’re eligible for multidistrict litigation, and push to hold Pfizer accountable for failing to protect women.
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