The State of Texas Attorney General Takes Legal Action Against Tylenol Makers Regarding Autism Spectrum Allegations
The top legal official in Texas Ken Paxton is taking legal action against the manufacturers of acetaminophen, alleging the corporations hid alleged dangers that the pain reliever posed to pediatric neurological development.
The lawsuit follows four weeks after President Donald Trump promoted an unsubstantiated connection between taking Tylenol - referred to as acetaminophen - during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in children.
The attorney general is filing suit against Johnson & Johnson, which formerly manufactured the drug, the exclusive pain medication suggested for expectant mothers, and the current manufacturer, which currently produces it.
In a official comment, he claimed they "betrayed America by gaining financially from pain and pushing pills ignoring the risks."
The manufacturer says there is no credible evidence tying Tylenol to autism.
"These corporations misled for generations, knowingly endangering numerous people to line their pockets," the attorney general, from the Republican party, said.
Kenvue said in a statement that it was "seriously troubled by the perpetuation of misinformation on the safety of paracetamol and the likely effects that could have on the welfare of US mothers and children."
On its website, Kenvue also stated it had "consistently assessed the applicable studies and there is insufficient valid information that shows a verified association between consuming paracetamol and autism."
Associations acting on behalf of doctors and healthcare providers agree.
The leading OB-GYN organization has said acetaminophen - the key substance in Tylenol - is among limited choices for expectant mothers to address discomfort and elevated temperature, which can create serious health risks if not addressed.
"In multiple decades of research on the utilization of paracetamol in gestation, not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that the use of acetaminophen in any period of pregnancy results in neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring," the group commented.
The court filing cites recent announcements from the Trump administration in claiming the drug is potentially dangerous.
Last month, the former president generated worry from health experts when he told pregnant women to "struggle intensely" not to take Tylenol when ill.
Federal regulators then published an announcement that doctors should contemplate reducing the use of Tylenol, while also mentioning that "a proven link" between the drug and autism in young ones has not been proven.
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who manages the FDA, had promised in spring to undertake "extensive scientific investigation" that would establish the cause of autism in a short period.
But specialists advised that identifying a single cause of autism - considered by experts to be the outcome of a intricate combination of genetic and external influences - would not be simple.
Autism is a form of lifelong neurodivergence and disability that influences how persons experience and relate to the surroundings, and is recognized using medical professional evaluations.
In his lawsuit, Paxton - who supports Trump who is running for the Senate - claims Kenvue and Johnson & Johnson "willfully ignored and tried to quiet the evidence" around paracetamol and autism.
This legal action aims to force the corporations "remove any commercial messaging" that states Tylenol is safe for pregnant women.
The court case mirrors the grievances of a group of mothers and fathers of minors with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who filed suit against the makers of Tylenol in two years ago.
The court threw out the case, saying investigations from the plaintiffs' authorities was inconclusive.