Texas Attorney General Takes Legal Action Against Tylenol Makers Over Autism Spectrum Claims
The top legal official in Texas Ken Paxton is filing a lawsuit against the producers of acetaminophen, alleging the corporations hid alleged dangers that the medication posed to pediatric cognitive development.
This legal action arrives thirty days after President Donald Trump advocated an unverified association between using acetaminophen - referred to as paracetamol - during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in offspring.
Paxton is suing J&J, which once produced the drug, the exclusive pain medication approved for women during pregnancy, and Kenvue, which currently produces it.
In a statement, he claimed they "deceived the public by making money from pain and promoting medication regardless of the potential hazards."
Kenvue says there is lacking scientific proof linking acetaminophen to autism.
"These corporations misled for generations, intentionally threatening countless individuals to increase profits," Paxton, from the Republican party, said.
The manufacturer said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned by the perpetuation of misinformation on the safety of acetaminophen and the possible consequences that could have on the welfare of American women and children."
On its website, Kenvue also stated it had "consistently assessed the relevant science and there is lacking reliable evidence that demonstrates a verified association between consuming paracetamol and autism spectrum disorder."
Organizations speaking for physicians and healthcare providers agree.
The leading OB-GYN organization has declared acetaminophen - the primary component in Tylenol - is among limited choices for women during pregnancy to address discomfort and elevated temperature, which can create serious health risks if left untreated.
"In multiple decades of research on the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy, no reliable research has definitively established that the usage of paracetamol in any stage of gestation leads to neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring," the organization said.
The court filing cites latest statements from the former administration in claiming the drug is reportedly hazardous.
Last month, Trump raised alarms from health experts when he advised women during pregnancy to "struggle intensely" not to use acetaminophen when unwell.
Federal regulators then issued a notice that physicians should consider limiting the usage of Tylenol, while also mentioning that "a proven link" between the medication and autism spectrum disorder in children has not been established.
Health Secretary RFK Jr, who supervises the FDA, had vowed in spring to undertake "comprehensive study program" that would identify the origin of autism in a limited time.
But authorities cautioned that finding a sole reason of autism spectrum disorder - believed by scientists to be the consequence of a intricate combination of inherited and external influences - would prove challenging.
Autism spectrum disorder is a type of enduring cognitive variation and disability that influences how people perceive and interact with the world, and is recognized using medical professional evaluations.
In his lawsuit, Paxton - who supports Trump who is campaigning for the Senate - asserts the manufacturer and J&J "willfully ignored and sought to suppress the research" around acetaminophen and autism.
This legal action aims to force the firms "destroy any marketing or advertising" that claims acetaminophen is safe for pregnant women.
This legal action echoes the concerns of a group of parents of children with autism and ADHD who sued the manufacturers of Tylenol in 2022.
Judicial authorities dismissed the case, stating investigations from the family's specialists was inconclusive.