Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers | September 10, 2025 | Class Actions and MDLs
Depo-Provera lawsuits are quickly becoming one of the most closely watched pharmaceutical mass torts in the country. These lawsuits allege that the popular women’s contraceptive injection, Depo-Provera, causes brain tumors known as meningiomas. With new scientific evidence, hundreds of new case filings, and high-stakes courtroom battles ahead, both plaintiffs and Pfizer (the manufacturer and defendant), are preparing for a long legal fight. Here’s the latest Depo-Provera lawsuit update you should know about.
IMPORTANT: Pfizer strongly denies any liability and/or wrongdoing in these cases.
How Many Depo-Provera Lawsuits Have Been Filed?
The number of lawsuits tied to Depo-Provera has exploded in recent months. When the federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) was first created in February 2025, only around 78 cases were pending. By late summer, filings had already surged past 550. As of September 2025, there are nearly 900 Depo-Provera cases consolidated in the MDL, with more lawsuits being filed, including in state courts including Texas, Delaware, New York, California, and Pennsylvania. State-level filings are important to watch, since some of these cases may reach trial before the federal MDL bellwethers begin.
New Studies Strengthening Plaintiffs’ Claims
One reason for the rapid rise in filings is new scientific research that links Depo-Provera to brain tumors known as meningiomas. Studies from the University of British Columbia, the University of Alabama, and international journals like the British Medical Journal have suggested significantly elevated risk of these tumors based on use of Depo-Provera.
Some findings show that women who used Depo-Provera faced a 3.5 to 5 times higher risk of developing meningiomas compared to women who used oral contraceptives. These studies are expected to play a major role in supporting plaintiffs’ causation arguments as the litigation moves forward.
Depo-Provera MDL Developments
Pfizer’s Preemption Argument
Pfizer, the manufacturer of Depo-Provera, is mounting a strong defense — and steadfastly denies any liability and/or wrongdoing. The company recently filed a motion arguing that it could not have added a warning label about brain tumor risks because the FDA rejected its request to do so in 2023. This legal argument, known as “preemption,” has the potential to reshape the MDL. If the judge agrees with Pfizer, some claims could be dismissed across the board. On the other hand, if preemption is denied, the litigation could accelerate toward trials and potential settlements.
Discovery and Case Management
Discovery (or the collection, investigation, and sharing of evidence), is moving at a rapid pace. Pfizer has already produced thousands of documents, and a third-party administrator is reviewing all complaints to ensure they meet strict requirements. The court has also selected five “pilot” cases to serve as early test, or “bellwether,” trials, which will help gauge the strength of evidence on both sides. Depo-Provera bellwether cases are expected to be heard beginning in 2026 or 2027, making them an important milestone for the entire litigation.
MDL Leadership and Ethical Scrutiny
The Depo-Provera MDL has not been without controversy. Earlier in the year, Judge M. Casey Rodgers addressed concerns about ensuring fairness in leadership appointments, clarifying that case leadership is based on merit.
Wrongful Death and State Court Actions
While most cases in the MDL focus on brain tumor injuries, wrongful death lawsuits have also been filed. In Texas, the family of a woman who allegedly died from a hemorrhage linked to an undiagnosed meningioma filed suit against Pfizer. State courts are also seeing significant action, including 100 cases in Delaware and dozens more in New York. These state-level cases could provide important insights into how juries respond to Depo-Provera claims ahead of the MDL bellwethers.
What Happens Next?
Key deadlines are on the horizon. Preemption motions and summary judgment hearings are scheduled for late 2025 and early 2026. Bellwether trials are expected to begin in 2026–2027. Until then, filings are likely to continue growing as more women come forward with claims of meningiomas linked to Depo-Provera. This Depo-Provera lawsuit update shows a litigation that is growing rapidly, backed by new science, and moving toward major courtroom battles.
With nearly 900 cases already filed and more expected, the question “how many Depo-Provera lawsuits have been filed?” will likely need constant updating over the next several years. For injured women and their families, staying informed is critical as this litigation unfolds and the first trial results begin to shape the future of the MDL.
For more information, please contact Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a class action and MDLs lawyer in North Carolina today. We have twelve convenient locations in North Carolina, including Greenville, Raleigh, Goldsboro, Jacksonville, Kinston, Charlotte, Greensboro, Durham, Fayetteville, Wilmington, Winston-Salem & Garner.
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