Depo-Provera and Meningioma Lawsuits: December 2025 Update

The litigation linking the popular birth control injection, Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate), to an increased risk of a brain tumor called meningioma is growing rapidly.

Eligibility: Generally, women who used Depo-Provera or its generic for one year or more and were later diagnosed with a meningioma brain or spinal tumor may qualify to file a claim.

Here is a breakdown of the status of the lawsuits against the manufacturer, Pfizer, as 2025 comes to a close.

1. The Litigation is Gaining Momentum

• Venue: The federal cases are consolidated in a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL No. 3140) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, overseen by Judge M. Casey Rodgers.

• Case Count: The total number of pending lawsuits in the MDL has surged, now standing at approximately 1,470+ cases as of December 2025. This number is expected to keep climbing as public awareness spreads.

• The Allegation: Plaintiffs claim that Pfizer knew or should have known about the link between prolonged Depo-Provera use (typically one year or more) and meningioma development, but failed to provide adequate warnings to users and healthcare providers.

2. Key Legal Battle: Federal Preemption

The most immediate and critical fight in the litigation is Pfizer’s defense motion based on Federal Preemption.

• Pfizer's Argument: The company argues that federal law should "preempt" (override) the state-level failure-to-warn claims because the FDA allegedly rejected their proposed warning label update in 2024. Therefore, they argue, they are shielded from liability.

• Plaintiffs' Response: Plaintiffs argue that Pfizer withheld crucial data for decades and that the 2024 submission was too late, meaning the preemption defense should not apply.

The ruling on this motion in early 2026 will be pivotal—if the court sides with Pfizer, many cases could face dismissal.

3. Timeline Going Foward

The litigation is now focused on the science and setting up the initial test trials.

Expert Discovery Completed by February 2026 - Both sides present evidence linking (or disproving the link) between the drug and the tumors.

Daubert Hearings Mid-2026. The Judge rules on which scientific experts are allowed to testify at trial.

Bellwether Trials Late 2026 / Early 2027 - The first few test trials will proceed to jury verdict, heavily influencing future settlement discussions.