Pharmacy Daily | Pfizer drug linked to tumours

PFIZER could face legal action in Australia after its popular contraceptive, Depo-Provera, was linked to brain tumours.

Australian law firm Shine Lawyers said it is currently looking into whether legal action against the pharmaceutical giant is viable, in response to findings from a major study published in the British Medical Journal last year.

The study found that women who had used Depo-Provera, which is a high-dose injection of a synthetic progesterone called medroxyprogesterone acetate, for more than a year had a five-to-six-fold increased risk of developing a meningioma compared to women who didn't use it.

While meningiomas are not malignant, the slow-growing tumours require removal, as they could cause problems once they reach a certain size, particularly if they are close to important nerves.

Study author epidemiologist Dr Noemie Roland said, "we are very worried about this issue...we fear a significant prevalence of meningioma, where women are highly exposed to Depo-Provera".

"We think that the cumulative dose of progesterones is a major issue, and when you have long exposure," she said.

According to PBS figures, an estimated 24,000 women are currently using Depo-Provera in Australia, while around 74 million women use Depo-Provera globally.

Lorne Franks from Shine Lawyers said that until Feb of last year, "there was no disclosure or a warning whatsoever in any of the material that's provided to consumers or their doctors".

"There's been studies going back at least to the early 2000s which is at least suggestive of the link [to meningioma]," he added.

Franks revealed that a number of women who had developed meningiomas early in life and had used Depo-Provera long term had already contacted the law firm. JM