The State of Texas Top Legal Officer Files Lawsuit Against Acetaminophen Makers Concerning Autism Allegations
The top legal official in Texas Ken Paxton is suing the producers of acetaminophen, claiming the corporations hid safety concerns that the medication created to children's brain development.
The lawsuit comes a month after President Donald Trump publicized an unproven link between using acetaminophen - referred to as acetaminophen - throughout gestation and autism spectrum disorder in offspring.
The attorney general is filing suit against Johnson & Johnson, which previously sold the medication, the only pain reliever suggested for expectant mothers, and the current manufacturer, which presently makes it.
In a statement, he claimed they "misled consumers by profiting off of pain and promoting medication ignoring the potential hazards."
The company asserts there is insufficient reliable data tying Tylenol to autism spectrum disorder.
"These companies deceived for years, knowingly endangering millions to increase profits," the attorney general, a Republican, stated.
Kenvue said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned by the spread of false claims on the safety of acetaminophen and the likely effects that could have on the welfare of women and children in America."
On its official site, Kenvue also mentioned it had "consistently assessed the pertinent research and there is no credible data that demonstrates a proven link between using acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder."
Organizations acting on behalf of doctors and healthcare providers agree.
ACOG has declared acetaminophen - the main ingredient in Tylenol - is one of the few options for women during pregnancy to treat pain and elevated temperature, which can present serious health risks if not addressed.
"In multiple decades of investigation on the consumption of paracetamol in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that the use of paracetamol in any period of gestation leads to brain development issues in offspring," the association commented.
The court filing mentions latest statements from the previous government in claiming the drug is potentially dangerous.
Recently, the former president caused concern from public health officials when he instructed pregnant women to "resist strongly" not to consume acetaminophen when ill.
The FDA then issued a notice that physicians should think about restricting the consumption of Tylenol, while also mentioning that "a direct connection" between the medication and autism spectrum disorder in children has not been proven.
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who supervises the Food and Drug Administration, had promised in April to undertake "comprehensive study program" that would identify the source of autism in a matter of months.
But experts cautioned that finding a sole reason of autism spectrum disorder - thought by researchers to be the outcome of a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors - would not be simple.
Autism spectrum disorder is a category of lifelong neurodivergence and disability that influences how individuals encounter and relate to the world, and is recognized using medical professional evaluations.
In his legal document, the attorney general - a Trump ally who is running for the Senate - asserts Kenvue and J&J "intentionally overlooked and attempted to silence the evidence" around paracetamol and autism.
The case seeks to make the corporations "eliminate any marketing or advertising" that states Tylenol is reliable for women during pregnancy.
This legal action mirrors the complaints of a assembly of guardians of children with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who filed suit against the makers of Tylenol in recently.
Judicial authorities dismissed the lawsuit, saying research from the parents' expert witnesses was inconclusive.