The federal Depo-Provera brain tumor litigation continues to grow rapidly. Roughly 1,700 new lawsuits were filed into the multidistrict litigation over the past month, pushing the total case count past 5,500. The MDL is now one of the largest active pharmaceutical mass torts in the country.
Filings have accelerated since the FDA's December 2025 label update, which added a meningioma warning to Depo-Provera packaging for the first time in the United States. Many women are only now connecting their brain tumor diagnoses to years of injectable contraceptive use.
What Plaintiffs Are Alleging
The lawsuits allege that Pfizer failed to adequately warn patients and healthcare providers that long-term use of Depo-Provera could increase the risk of intracranial meningioma, a tumor that develops in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. While most meningiomas are classified as non-cancerous, they can still cause vision problems, seizures, hearing loss, cognitive impairment, and the need for brain surgery or radiation treatment.
The scientific theory underlying the litigation is that meningiomas frequently contain progesterone receptors, and that prolonged exposure to the synthetic progestin in Depo-Provera may contribute to tumor growth. A landmark 2024 study published in The British Medical Journal found a 5.6x elevated risk of meningioma in women who used injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate for a year or more, and several subsequent studies have reinforced that finding.
The June Daubert Hearing
The most important upcoming event in the litigation is the Daubert hearing scheduled for June 24-26, 2026. A Daubert hearing is the procedural step by which a federal court determines whether expert scientific testimony is reliable enough to be presented to a jury.
For the Depo-Provera MDL, plaintiffs must demonstrate that their experts rely on sound science to establish a causal link between the birth control shot and meningioma development. If the court permits the testimony, juries in upcoming trials will hear the scientific evidence supporting plaintiffs' claims. If the testimony is excluded, plaintiffs' cases will face significantly greater challenges. Daubert rulings often become a turning point in pharmaceutical mass torts of this size.
Delayed Diagnosis Is an Emerging Issue
Another issue drawing attention in the litigation is delayed diagnosis. Meningiomas typically grow slowly, and early symptoms such as chronic headaches, dizziness, memory problems, visual disturbances, ringing in the ears, and personality changes can be mistaken for stress, migraines, or hormonal fluctuations. Some women allegedly continued receiving Depo-Provera injections for years before learning they had a brain tumor. Attorneys argue that stronger warnings could have prompted earlier recognition of symptoms and reduced the severity of injuries in many cases.
What Comes Next
The first bellwether trial in the MDL is scheduled for December 2026. Bellwether trials are early test cases that help both sides assess how juries respond to the evidence, and they often shape settlement discussions for the broader litigation.
For women who used Depo-Provera for at least one year and were later diagnosed with a meningioma, the coming months are an important time to evaluate their options. Statutes of limitations vary by state, and acting promptly helps preserve potential claims.
Contact Triten Law
Our attorneys are following the Depo-Provera MDL closely and can review your situation at no cost. If you used Depo-Provera and have been diagnosed with a meningioma or other brain tumor, contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.
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