Depo-Provera is depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), a progestin injected every three months for contraception. Pfizer holds the brand. The litigation alleges Pfizer failed to warn U.S. patients and doctors that prolonged use raises the risk of intracranial meningioma — a tumor of the membranes surrounding the brain.
Timeline
March 2024. A French national cohort study in the BMJ finds a 5.5-fold meningioma risk with more than a year of DMPA use. Lawsuits begin within months.
February 2025. The JPML creates MDL 3140 in the Northern District of Florida before Judge M. Casey Rodgers, who previously managed the 3M earplug litigation to a $6 billion settlement.
December 2025. The FDA approves a label change adding a meningioma warning and recommending discontinuation on diagnosis — undercutting Pfizer's preemption defense.
June 15, 2026. With the docket near 6,000, the parties report a global settlement in principle for eligible MDL claims. The first bellwether is vacated. As of August, 6,294 cases are filed.
Settlement in principle means the framework is agreed and the documents are being drafted. It does not mean money is flowing. Eligibility criteria, injury tiers, and deadlines for new claims are what everyone is now waiting for.
Direct2Attorney · Litigation ExplainerThe legal theories
Failure to warn
Primary claim- Meningioma risk was known or knowable
- European labels carried warnings earlier
- U.S. label silent until December 2025
- Pfizer argued FDA rules preempted a stronger label
Design defect
Secondary claim- A lower-dose subcutaneous version exists
- Plaintiffs say it should have been promoted as safer
- Alternative progestins carry lower risk
- Less central to the settlement
Why a settlement came before a trial
Three factors converged. The FDA label change validated the core allegation. Judge Rodgers’s management moved discovery and expert challenges on a tight schedule. And the docket’s growth — hundreds of new cases monthly — made trial risk expensive for Pfizer. Judge Rodgers rescheduled the Daubert hearing on general causation for July 27, 2026, keeping pressure on while documents are finalized.
What the settlement likely looks like
Based on comparable programs, expect a matrix: tiers by treatment (surgery, radiation, surveillance), adjustments for duration of use and age, and a claims process with deadlines. State-court cases are not covered by the MDL agreement and continue separately.
What this means if you're considering a claim
Settlements in principle typically include cutoff dates for participation. Whether late filers are included, and on what terms, will be in the final documents. A free review now can determine eligibility and get a participating firm’s assessment of timing.
Want to know if you're eligible?
Free, confidential review by a participating firm.
Common Questions
No. Each woman has an individual case in the MDL, and the settlement, once finalized, will pay according to individual criteria.
Firms have generally screened for a year or more of use and a confirmed meningioma diagnosis. Final settlement criteria are pending.
Participation is typically voluntary; those who opt out continue litigating. A firm will advise on your specific situation.
The MDL settlement covers Pfizer and its affiliates. Generic claims face different legal rules.
No. Direct2Attorney’s review is free, and participating law firms typically work on contingency, meaning fees are generally paid only if there is a recovery. Confirm fee terms in writing with the firm.
