Depo Provera
Marketing to Depo-Provera claimants can be challenging. CAMG handles marketing, lead generation, and intake so you can focus on fighting for your clients’ rights.
Depo-Provera, manufactured by Pfizer, is a popular injectable contraceptive method that uses medroxyprogesterone as its active ingredient. It works by suppressing ovulation and thickening cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to reach a released egg.
Studies have shown that Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) for more than a year can increase the risk of meningiomas by approximately 5.6 times compared to those who never used it.
Over 30 lawsuits in federal courts across the United States have been filed related to Depo-Provera and its potential link to meningiomas. The lawsuits primarily allege that Pfizer failed to adequately warn users and healthcare providers about the increased risk of developing meningiomas associated with long-term use.
Depo-Provera Lawsuit Updates
December 2024: A significant JPML hearing, scheduled for December 5, 2024, will consider the potential consolidation of Depo-Provera lawsuits into multidistrict litigation (MDL)
November 2024: A lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The plaintiff, who used Depo-Provera for nearly 25 years, alleged that the manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings about the risk of developing meningiomas.
About Depo-Provera
Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) is a contraceptive injection that contains the hormone progestin. It is administered every three months via intramuscular injection, typically in the gluteal or deltoid muscle. Intramuscular injections allow for quick absorption into the bloodstream.
Depo-Provera works primarily by suppressing ovulation, thickening cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching an egg, and thinning the uterine lining to prevent implantation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Depo-Provera for various medical uses in 1959 and for contraception in 1992.
Depo-Provera and Bone Mineral Density Loss
Long-term use of Depo-Provera has been associated with a significant loss of bone mineral density, which may not be reversible. This has led to recommendations that it should not be used as a long-term birth control method unless other options are considered inadequate.
Bone Density Lawsuits
In the early 2000s, Pfizer faced legal action because of the link between Depo-Provera and decreased bone mineral density, alleging the company failed to adequately warn about the risk. A 2005 class action lawsuit filed in Canada was settled in 2021 for over $2 million, distributed among plaintiffs who experienced bone density loss and bone fractures. Similar lawsuits were filed in the United States, but this litigation has since been resolved.
Depo-Provera Related Complications
According to the Depo-Provera lawsuits, prolonged use of Depo-Provera is associated with:
- Increased Risk of Meningiomas: Prolonged use of Depo-Provera, especially over a year, significantly increases the risk of developing meningiomas, with a 5.6-fold increase compared to shorter or no use.
- Hormonal Impact: The hormone in Depo-Provera, medroxyprogesterone acetate (a synthetic progestin) affects progesterone receptors in the brain, potentially promoting the growth of meningiomas.
- Health Implications: Meningiomas, though typically benign, can cause serious health issues by compressing surrounding brain tissue, leading to symptoms like headaches, vision problems, and neurological deficits.
- Surgical Intervention: In some cases, surgery may be required to remove the tumor and alleviate symptoms.
Pfizer Liability
Pfizer faces liability in the Depo-Provera lawsuits due to allegations that the company was aware of the potential risk of developing meningiomas with long-term use but failed to provide adequate warning to users and healthcare providers.
Lawsuits claim that Pfizer is liable for these injuries due to:
- Failure to Warn: Alleging that Pfizer did not provide adequate warnings about the risks of meningiomas with long-term use
- Negligence: Claiming that Pfizer was negligent in its duty to ensure the safety of its product
- Deceptive Marketing: Accusing Pfizer of mispresenting the safety and risks of Depo-Provera
- Product Liability: Asserting that Depo-Provera is a defective product due to its potential to cause harm
Depo-Provera Lawsuits
Over 30 lawsuits have been filed in federal courts across the United States related to Depo-Provera and its potential link to meningiomas, including:
- On November 4, 2024, a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California by Mayra Valencia, who alleges that prolonged use led to the development of a meningioma brain tumor.
- On October 29, 2024, a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by a plaintiff who used Depo-Provera for nearly 25 years and claimed that the manufacturers did not provide adequate warning about the meningioma risk.
These Depo-Provera lawsuits revolve around several key components:
- Failure to Warn
- Negligence
- Product Liability
- Deceptive Marketing
Lawsuit Eligibility
To be able to file a Depo-Provera lawsuit, individuals generally need to meet the following criteria:
- Usage: Must have used Depo-Provera or its generic form at least twice
- Diagnosis: Must have been diagnosed with an intracranial meningioma after using Depo-Provera. Some firms accept cases of potential claimants who have not yet been diagnosed but have an MRI or scan scheduled.
For example, a person who received at least two Depo-Provera injections and subsequently was diagnosed with a meningioma may be eligible to file a lawsuit.
Let CAMG Help You Market to Depo-Provera Claimants
If you are a lawyer or law firm looking to sign Depo-Provera clients, contact Consumer Attorney Marketing Group. CAMG is a full-service advertising agency that connects lawyers with potential plaintiffs through traditional media, digital marketing, and public relations.
We work exclusively with plaintiff law firms. We help law firms by developing and executing the right legal marketing strategy for successful client acquisition.
CAMG has thousands of spots and infomercials that can be branded for your firm. Contact us for the latest creative offline and online examples*.
*Examples shown are not always current examples.
