Thousands of women are suing Pfizer, claiming its birth control injection Depo-Provera caused them to develop brain tumors. The lawsuits allege that Pfizer failed to warn users about the risk of intracranial meningiomas, a type of benign brain tumor. A trial is set for December 7, 2026, with over 2,100 women involved in the litigation.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a label change for Depo-Provera, adding a warning about the risk of these tumors. Studies have shown that women who used Depo-Provera for over a year were significantly more likely to develop meningiomas. The lawsuits claim that Pfizer knew of the risks but failed to inform users. Similar warnings were added in Canada and Europe long before the FDA's action in the U.S.
The outcome of this trial could impact future settlements and raise awareness of the potential risks associated with Depo-Provera, which is used by two million women annually in the U.S. The number of lawsuits has surged fivefold since May, with lawyers urging affected women to join the litigation.