The State of Texas Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Tylenol Makers Regarding Autism Assertions
The top legal official in Texas Ken Paxton is taking legal action against the producers of acetaminophen, asserting the companies hid safety concerns that the medication created to pediatric cognitive development.
The lawsuit comes a month after Donald Trump advocated an unproven link between taking Tylenol - also known as paracetamol - while pregnant and autism in offspring.
The attorney general is filing suit against the pharmaceutical giant, which once produced the drug, the exclusive pain medication suggested for expectant mothers, and Kenvue, which now manufacturers it.
In a declaration, he claimed they "misled consumers by gaining financially from suffering and marketing drugs ignoring the potential hazards."
Kenvue asserts there is no credible evidence linking Tylenol to autism spectrum disorder.
"These corporations deceived for years, intentionally threatening millions to boost earnings," the attorney general, a Republican, said.
Kenvue said in a statement that it was "seriously troubled by the spread of false claims on the reliability of acetaminophen and the potential impact that could have on the health of women and children in America."
On its online platform, Kenvue also mentioned it had "consistently assessed the relevant science and there is no credible data that demonstrates a verified association between using paracetamol and autism spectrum disorder."
Organizations representing physicians and health professionals agree.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated paracetamol - the main ingredient in Tylenol - is among limited choices for pregnant women to address pain and elevated temperature, which can pose major wellness concerns if left untreated.
"In more than two decades of research on the consumption of acetaminophen in gestation, not a single reputable study has conclusively proven that the usage of acetaminophen in any period of pregnancy causes neurological conditions in children," the association commented.
The court filing cites latest statements from the Trump administration in claiming the drug is allegedly unsafe.
Recently, the former president generated worry from public health officials when he told pregnant women to "fight like hell" not to use acetaminophen when ill.
Federal regulators then released a statement that doctors should consider limiting the consumption of acetaminophen, while also mentioning that "a causal relationship" between the medication and autism spectrum disorder in young ones has not been proven.
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who manages the Food and Drug Administration, had pledged in spring to conduct "comprehensive study program" that would establish the cause of autism in a limited time.
But experts warned that finding a sole reason of autism - considered by experts to be the outcome of a complex mix of inherited and external influences - would be difficult.
Autism spectrum disorder is a form of permanent neurological difference and condition that impacts how individuals encounter and interact with the environment, and is identified using doctors' observations.
In his legal document, Paxton - a Trump ally who is seeking federal office - alleges the manufacturer and Johnson & Johnson "deliberately disregarded and tried to quiet the evidence" around paracetamol and autism.
The lawsuit seeks to make the companies "eliminate any marketing or advertising" that asserts Tylenol is secure for women during pregnancy.
This legal action mirrors the grievances of a collection of guardians of young ones with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who sued the manufacturers of acetaminophen in 2022.
The court dismissed the lawsuit, saying investigations from the parents' expert witnesses was lacking definitive proof.