San Francisco, CA – October 28, 2024 – The law firm of Anapol Weiss, known nationally for its leadership in mass tort litigation, today announced the filing of a personal injury lawsuit on behalf of Kathleen Fazio, a 56-year-old California woman, against pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, Inc.
The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that Fazio developed an intracranial meningioma (brain tumor) as a result of her use of Depo-Provera, an injectable drug manufactured by Pfizer and its affiliates, which is commonly prescribed for birth control and the treatment of endometriosis. Fazio used Depo-Provera from approximately 1999 through 2018. She was diagnosed with the meningioma in December 2017 and underwent a craniotomy in January 2018.
The lawsuit cites a recent French study that found prolonged use of Depo-Provera to be associated with an increased risk of developing meningiomas. News reports from the March 2024 release of the study, including an article in The Guardian, quoted Pfizer as stating, “We are aware of this potential risk.” The legal complaint asserts that Pfizer and its affiliated companies failed to adequately warn users of the significant risks associated with long-term Depo-Provera use.
Depo-Provera is used by millions of women globally as a contraceptive, with an estimated 1.5 million women in the United States alone relying on it as a birth control option.
Defendants in the lawsuit include Pfizer, Inc.; Viatris, Inc.; Greenstone, LLC; Prasco Labs; and Pharmacia & Upjohn. The plaintiff’s attorneys claim that these companies were aware, or should have been aware, of the increased risks and failed to take appropriate action to warn patients like Fazio of the potential harm.
"We intend to hold Pfizer and its affiliates accountable for the harm caused to Ms. Fazio and many others who unknowingly faced significant health risks by using Depo-Provera," said Thomas Anapol, Managing Shareholder of Anapol Weiss. "Pharmaceutical companies have a duty to inform patients of the risks associated with their products, and when they fail, they must be held responsible."
"This case underscores the importance of full transparency when it comes to the safety of medications," added Tracy Finken Magnotta, Shareholder at Anapol Weiss. "Our client’s life has been forever altered, and we will fight to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice."
Responding to Pfizer’s statement that it was aware of the potential risk, Anapol further commented, "Pfizer's acknowledgment of the risk makes its failure to properly warn consumers even more troubling. They knew about the danger but chose to withhold critical information from patients who trusted them."
Click here to learn more about the Anapol Weiss team of attorneys on the Depo-Provera lawsuits.
