Pfizer Depo-Provera lawsuit overview:
- Who: Kristina Schmidt filed a lawsuit against Pfizer Inc., Viatris Inc., Greenstone LLC, Prasco Labs and Pharmacia & Upjohn.
- Why: Schmidt argues Pfizer failed to warn that its Depo-Provera contraceptive and endometriosis medication can cause or “substantially contribute” to the development of intracranial meningioma, a type of brain tumor.
- Where: The lawsuit was filed in California federal court.
- How to get help: If you or someone you know was diagnosed with a brain tumor after using Depo Provera for more than a year, you may be eligible for compensation.
Pfizer failed to warn that its Depo-Provera contraceptive and endometriosis medication can cause or “substantially contribute” to the development of brain tumors, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiff Kristina Schmidt’s lawsuit claims that Pfizer for decades either knew or should have known Depo-Provera can cause or substantially contribute to the development of intracranial meningioma, a type of brain tumor.
Schmidt argues that despite allegedly knowing this, Pfizer failed to “warn, instruct, advise, educate, or otherwise inform,” Depo-Provera users and prescribers of the medication about the risk of intracranial meningioma or the need to monitor resultant symptoms.
“To date, the U.S. label for Depo-Provera still makes no mention of the increased risk to patients of developing intracranial meningiomas,” the Pfizer lawsuit says.
Schmidt argues several scientific studies have established that progesterone, its synthetic analogue progestin, and Depo-Provera “in particular,” cause or substantially contribute to the development of intracranial meningioma.
Depo-Provera user developed brain tumor after receiving regular injections of drug for years, suit says
The Pfizer lawsuit claims Schmidt developed a brain tumor after receiving regular prescribed injections of Depo-Provera from approximately 2005 to 2021.
“Over time Plaintiff developed disturbing symptoms including severe headaches, dizziness, and vertigo. After numerous medical visits and testing procedures, Plaintiff was diagnosed with an intracranial meningioma,” the Depo-Provera lawsuit says.
Schmidt claims the location of her brain tumor is in a region of the brain which is the exact location that “progesterone-mediated” meningiomas have been found to develop most often.
The Pfizer lawsuit argues the company is guilty of breach of express and implied warranty, negligence, negligent design defect, negligent failure to warn and negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation, among other things.
The plaintiff demands a jury trial and requests compensatory and punitive exemplary damages, along with general damages for physical and mental pain and suffering, inconvenience and loss of enjoyment of life, and special damages for all past and future expenses, medical expenses and loss of earnings and earning capacity.
Pfizer agreed earlier this year to pay $39 million to end claims the company worked with Teva Pharmaceuticals to delay generic versions of the antidepressant drug Effexor from reaching the marketplace.
Did you develop a brain tumor after taking Depo-Provera? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Melinda Davis Nokes, Ellen Relkin and Brendan A. McDonough of Weitz & Luxenberg PC.
The Pfizer Depo-Provera lawsuit is Schmidt v. Pfizer Inc., et al., Case No. 3:24-cv-06875, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
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