Robins Kaplan LLP has filed a complaint on behalf of a woman who developed a meningioma - a type of brain tumor - after using Depo-Provera, a commonly prescribed birth control shot. The complaint names Pfizer, Viatris, Greenstone, Prasco, and Pharmacia & Upjohn as defendants, accusing the pharmaceutical companies of failing to adequately warn patients about the potential increased risk of developing meningiomas associated with the medication.
Depo-Provera has been linked to a 555% increased risk of developing intracranial meningiomas, according to a March 2024 study published in the British Medical Journal. While most meningiomas are benign and grow slowly, they often require surgical removal due to the pressure they can put on the brain. Despite this finding, Pfizer has yet to update the U.S. warning labels for the drug, even though European and Canadian labels now include a warning about the associated risks. The complaint claims that the defendants were aware of the potential dangers but failed to act responsibly, putting women’s health at risk.
“This lawsuit represents the growing concern over the risks posed by Depo-Provera, a drug that many women used for years without full knowledge of the dangers it could cause,” said Tara Sutton, Chair of the Mass Tort Group at Robins Kaplan. “Our client’s case highlights the need for pharmaceutical companies to be transparent and proactive in warning patients about the risks of their products, especially when serious conditions, like brain tumors, are involved.”
Depo-Provera has long been marketed primarily to women of color, especially Black and Hispanic women, as a convenient and low-maintenance birth control method. Between 2015 and 2019, 41.2% of Black women and 27.2% of Hispanic women reported using Depo-Provera, compared to 24.5% of sexually active women, according to a 2023 National Health Statistics Report. Additionally, the drug has been promoted in low-income communities, where women often have limited access to healthcare and may feel pressured to choose affordable contraceptive options.
“The disproportionate use of Depo-Provera in marginalized communities highlights the intersection of race, class, and healthcare inequities,” said Rashanda Bruce, an attorney in the Mass Tort Group. “We allege that many women of color and low-income women were not given the full picture about the serious risks associated with Depo-Provera, leaving them more vulnerable to developing meningiomas.”
The complaint seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, and other legal remedies for the client, who alleges that her use of Depo-Provera directly contributed to the development of her meningioma, causing severe physical and emotional harm.
For more information on the risks of Depo-Provera, click here
Related Attorneys
Partner
Associate
Associate
