Depo-SubQ Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Depo-Provera and its generic versions, injectable birth control made by Pfizer, face lawsuits from women who say they developed meningioma, a brain tumor. Plaintiffs allege Pfizer failed to warn that long-term use can raise the risk. Pfizer disputes the allegations. The federal cases are centralized as MDL No. 3140 in the Northern District of Florida. Pfizer and the plaintiffs reached a tentative global settlement in June 2026, and its terms are confidential. More than 6,200 cases have been filed as of a July 27, 2026 hearing, and Judge M. Casey Rodgers oversees them.

Latest Depo-SubQ Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuit Updates

August 10, 2026: Judge Sets Settlement Registration Deadline

Judge M. Casey Rodgers set a November 30, 2026 deadline for lawyers to register clients for the settlement, Law.com reported [1]. She also approved three pilot cases to decide threshold issues. The judge rescheduled a general causation expert hearing in Pensacola, Florida, for September 18, 2026. The hearing concerns the three new pilot cases, which Pfizer selected.

July 29, 2026: Judge Approves New Pilot Plaintiffs

The Florida federal judge overseeing the MDL approved three new pilot plaintiffs for the cases remaining after the global settlement, Law360 reported [2]. She called the settlement an “excellent outcome.” The litigation is MDL No. 3140, pending before her in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

July 27, 2026: Pfizer Says About 20% of Cases Are Ineligible

At a hearing, Pfizer attorney Joseph Petrocinelli said about 20% of the more than 6,200 cases filed in the MDL are ineligible for the settlement, according to the same Law.com report. The settlement terms are confidential. The 20% figure is a statement by one party and is not a finding by the court.

June 30, 2026: Tentative Settlement Reported, Bellwether Trial Vacated

Pfizer reached a tentative settlement that would resolve most of the 5,500 MDL lawsuits, Law.com reported [3]. It would exclude Depo-Provera cases in state courts, most of which are in New York and Delaware. The judge vacated the first bellwether trial, which had been set for December 7. The judge also held off her ruling on Pfizer’s motion for summary judgment based on federal preemption.

June 15, 2026: Pfizer and Plaintiffs Reach an Agreement

Plaintiffs in the MDL reached an agreement with Pfizer, according to an order filed on June 15. They accuse the company of failing to warn of a brain tumor link. Law360 reported it on June 16 [4].

December 12, 2025: FDA Approves Meningioma Label Change

The FDA approved a label change for Pfizer’s Depo-Provera that warns patients of the risk of meningioma, NBC News reported on December 16 [5]. The depo-subQ provera 104 label, revised December 2025, carries the same meningioma warning. The warning appears in the FDA-approved labeling [6].

September 25, 2025: MDL Plaintiffs Exceed 1,300

Law360 reported that MDL plaintiffs claiming Pfizer failed to warn of risks numbered more than 1,300 [7]. More plaintiffs were expected to file suits. The report came ahead of a hearing, set for the following Monday, on whether their claims are preempted by federal law.

February 7, 2025: Judicial Panel Centralizes the Cases as MDL 3140

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transfer order centralized Depo-Provera cases as MDL No. 3140 before Judge M. Casey Rodgers [8]. The order covered 27 actions in eight districts and 41 related actions in fifteen districts. The Panel chose the Northern District of Florida as the single court for pretrial proceedings.

March 27, 2024: BMJ Publishes Meningioma Study

The BMJ published a French national case-control study by Roland and colleagues [9]. It found that prolonged use of injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate was associated with an increased risk of intracranial meningioma. The study is an association study. It does not show that the drug caused any one person’s tumor, and the authors describe the link as an association.

What Is Meningioma?

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, meningioma is the most common type of primary brain tumor. It accounts for approximately 30 percent of all brain tumors [10]. These tumors originate in the meninges, the outer three layers of tissue between the skull and the brain that cover and protect the brain. They grow slowly and may exist for years before being detected.

Who May Be Affected?

People who used Depo-Provera or a generic version of the injection, especially for a year or longer, may be affected if they were later diagnosed with an intracranial meningioma. The MDL covers both. Pfizer’s lawyers have insisted the statute of limitations could prevent more than 1,000 cases from participating in the settlement. That is Pfizer’s position, and the pilot cases are meant to decide it. Whether you qualify depends on an individual legal review of your records and your diagnosis.

Reported Injuries or Damages

Plaintiffs allege that Depo-Provera or generic medroxyprogesterone acetate injections caused them to develop an intracranial meningioma, a brain tumor. These are complaint allegations, made in court filings. The BMJ study found an odds ratio of 5.55 (95% confidence interval 2.27 to 13.56) for injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate. For prolonged use, the odds ratio was 5.62 (2.19 to 14.42). The FDA-approved label warns: “Cases of meningiomas have been reported following repeated administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate, primarily with long term use.” Reports and associations do not prove cause in any one person.

Recall and Regulatory Background

The regulatory action is a labeling change and not a recall. It does not establish liability. Pfizer said in a court filing summarized by NBC News that it became aware of meningioma risks in 2023. Pfizer applied to the FDA in February 2024 to add a warning. It also said the FDA denied the request for the lower-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) pills because observational studies alone did not support a warning for them. People who used the 150 mg injection can read about related litigation, including the same MDL, on our Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuit page.

Evidence to Preserve

Keep these records and items, because they help show what you used and when:

• The product name and dose, such as Depo-Provera or generic medroxyprogesterone acetate 150 mg, or depo-subQ provera 104.
• Pharmacy, clinic and prescription records showing the dates and the number of injections.
• Medical records and imaging for the meningioma diagnosis and treatment.
• Photographs or packaging, if you kept them.
• Communications with your doctors or the manufacturer.
• A written timeline of your symptoms.

Keep originals and make copies of each record. Do not discard anything that relates to your injections or your diagnosis, even if it seems minor.

Filing Deadlines

Injury claims have filing deadlines, and state law sets them. The deadline depends on your state and on when the injury and the diagnosis happened. Waiting past the deadline may end a claim no matter how strong the facts are. A lawyer can check which deadline applies to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There a Depo-SubQ Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuit?

There is a federal lawsuit over Depo-Provera and its generic versions, and the Judicial Panel’s February 2025 order said it was unclear whether any action would allege injury from Depo-SubQ Provera 104. The FDA approved Depo-Provera as an injectable contraceptive in 1992.

What Is the Difference Between Depo-Provera and Depo-SubQ Provera?

The difference between Depo-Provera and Depo-SubQ Provera is dose and route. Depo-Provera CI is 150 mg given every 3 months by deep intramuscular injection. Depo-subQ provera 104 is 104 mg/0.65 mL given under the skin and also treats endometriosis-associated pain.

What Does the Research Say About Depo-Provera and Meningioma?

The research on Depo-Provera and meningioma shows an association, not proof of cause. The FDA-approved label tells clinicians to monitor patients for signs and symptoms of meningioma. It says to discontinue the drug if a meningioma is diagnosed.

What Are the Symptoms of Meningioma?

The symptoms of meningioma may be very subtle and start slowly, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Common ones may include headaches, seizures, blurred vision, weakness in the arms or legs and numbness. Less common ones include loss of balance, hearing loss and memory loss.

Who Is at Higher Risk of Meningioma?

Risk of meningioma is higher in women, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. It is about three times more common in women than in men and most common in people in their 70s and 80s. Known risk factors include radiation therapy and neurofibromatosis type 2.

What Happens Next in the Depo-SubQ Provera Brain Tumor Lawsuit?

What happens next in the Depo-SubQ Provera brain tumor lawsuit is a court date: the next case management conference is set for December 18, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. CT, before Judge M. Casey Rodgers in the Northern District of Florida.

References

1. https://www.law.com/2026/08/13/who-is-eligibleand-who-isntfor-the-depo-provera-settlement/
2. https://www.law360.com/articles/2507317
3. https://www.law.com/2026/06/30/pfizer-reaches-tentative-settlement-in-depo-provera-cases-bellwether-trial-vacated/
4. https://www.law360.com/articles/2490508/pfizer-agrees-to-deal-to-end-depo-provera-mdl
5. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/fda-approves-label-change-depo-provera-adding-brain-tumor-warning-rcna249568
6. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2025/020246s074lbl021583s045lbl.pdf
7. https://www.law360.com/articles/2390924
8. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/MDL-3140-Transfer_Order-1-25.pdf
9. https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-078078
10. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/meningioma