Pfizer Faces Brain Tumor Lawsuit After Study Links Depo-Provera to Meningioma Risk

Australian Law Firm Investigates Class Action Following British Medical Journal Research

Australian women discovered they face up to six times higher risk of brain tumors after using Pfizer’s Depo-Provera contraceptive injection, prompting law firm Shine Lawyers to investigate a potential class action. A British Medical Journal study published in March 2024 examined 108,000 women, revealing increased meningioma risks for long-term users. The development affects 24,000 current Australian users and millions globally who received the injectable contraceptive since its 1972 introduction.

5 Key Points

• BMJ research tracked 18,000 meningioma cases among 108,000 women over ten years in France.
• Doctors have administered 3.6 million Depo-Provera doses to Australian patients since 1992.
• The study found five-to-six-fold higher brain tumor risk after one year of contraceptive use.
• Therapeutic Goods Administration added the first meningioma warning in March 2024 after 52 years of Australian use.
• Pfizer faces similar legal actions in the United States and Canada over alleged failure to warn patients.

Australian Women Discover Hidden Health Risks

Chanel Stuart-Clarke’s routine facial scan revealed a 15mm brain tumor resting against her personality center at age 31. After taking Depo-Provera for over a decade to manage heavy periods, she faces lifelong medical surveillance costing $500 per scan every two years. “The hardest part was explaining to my family it could change my personality in the future,” Stuart-Clarke said. “No one ever said you could potentially get a brain tumor.”

Brisbane mother Nicole, 38, received similar news in 2024. Doctors discovered an inoperable grape-sized meningioma between two brain lobes following her decade of intermittent Depo-Provera use. She experiences migraines, tinnitus, and memory problems while living under constant seizure risk. “You’re just waiting for it. As soon as you get a strange tingle, you think, ‘Oh my goodness, is this today I’m going to have a seizure?'” Nicole said.

Research Reveals Widespread Impact

The British Medical Journal published findings from French epidemiologist Dr. Noemie Roland’s team, who examined health records spanning a decade. Their research identified 18,000 women who developed meningiomas among 108,000 contraceptive users. “We are very worried about this issue in the world. We fear a significant prevalence of meningioma, where women are highly exposed to Depo-Provera,” Roland said.

The study found that hormone-linked tumors typically developed at the skull base, creating surgical complications. Roland’s team confirmed their results aligned with Indonesian studies and recent U.S. research. The findings carry global implications for an estimated 74 million women using Depo-Provera worldwide.

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Medical Experts Assess Patient Risk

Professor Kate Drummond, Neurological Society of Australasia president and neurosurgeon, confirmed researchers long suspected hormonal connections to meningioma development. These tumors commonly affect middle-aged and older women, sometimes appearing after pregnancy. “You can be close to some pretty important nerves, regions of the brain, arteries supplying blood to the brain or the spinal cord. So, it’s all about position,” Drummond explained.

Dr. Nisha Khot from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists called to reconsider long-term prescriptions. “We should be questioning whether it is the right contraceptive to give to women in the long term,” Khot said. She noted Depo-Provera maintains value for short-term contraception and treating conditions like endometriosis, heavy periods, and certain cancers.

Legal Action Builds Momentum

Shine Lawyers attorney Lorne Franks cited studies dating to the early 2000s suggesting links between Depo-Provera and meningioma development. “Until February of this year, there was no disclosure or a warning whatsoever in any of the material that’s provided to consumers or their doctors,” Franks said. The law firm began recruiting participants after similar legal preparations launched in the United States and Canada.

After consulting multiple healthcare providers, Nicole joined other women who were considering legal action. “I’ve spoken to at least three different doctors about this. None of them ever said to me that it could contribute to the growth of brain tumors,” she said. “If I was told, I wouldn’t do it. It’s too big of a risk.”

Regulatory Response and Manufacturing Defense

The Therapeutic Goods Administration added meningioma warnings to their March 2024 Medicines Safety Update for healthcare professionals. “In the case of Depo-Provera, the benefits continue to outweigh the risks for its intended use,” the TGA stated in their announcement.

Pfizer defended its product through a spokesperson: “Depo-Provera has been approved in more than 60 countries over the last 30 years and has been a safe and effective treatment option for millions of patients during that time.” The company stated that it continuously monitors medicine safety with independent health bodies, including Australia’s TGA.