Texas Top Legal Officer Sues Acetaminophen Producers Regarding Autism Allegations
The top legal official in Texas Paxton is suing the manufacturers of Tylenol, claiming the corporations hid potential risks that the pain reliever created to children's cognitive development.
The court filing comes a month after President Donald Trump publicized an unproven link between taking Tylenol - also known as acetaminophen - throughout gestation and autism in offspring.
Paxton is taking legal action against the pharmaceutical giant, which previously sold the drug, the sole analgesic recommended for expectant mothers, and the current manufacturer, which currently produces it.
In a official comment, he said they "betrayed America by gaining financially from suffering and marketing drugs regardless of the risks."
Kenvue says there is lacking scientific proof connecting acetaminophen to autism spectrum disorder.
"These companies lied for decades, knowingly endangering numerous people to increase profits," Paxton, from the Republican party, stated.
The company commented that it was "seriously troubled by the perpetuation of misinformation on the security of paracetamol and the possible consequences that could have on the welfare of women and children in America."
On its website, the company also said it had "consistently assessed the relevant science and there is lacking reliable evidence that indicates a proven link between taking paracetamol and autism."
Organizations representing physicians and healthcare providers concur.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated paracetamol - the main ingredient in Tylenol - is one of the few options for expectant mothers to manage discomfort and elevated temperature, which can pose significant medical dangers if ignored.
"In over twenty years of research on the use of paracetamol in gestation, zero credible investigations has conclusively proven that the usage of acetaminophen in any trimester of gestation leads to neurodevelopmental disorders in young ones," the group stated.
This legal action cites recent announcements from the Trump administration in asserting the medication is potentially dangerous.
In recent weeks, Trump raised alarms from health experts when he told pregnant women to "resist strongly" not to use acetaminophen when ill.
Federal regulators then published an announcement that medical professionals should think about restricting the usage of Tylenol, while also stating that "a causal relationship" between the medication and autism spectrum disorder in children has remains unverified.
Health Secretary RFK Jr, who oversees the FDA, had pledged in spring to initiate "extensive scientific investigation" that would establish the source of autism in a limited time.
But experts warned that identifying a unique factor of autism - believed by scientists to be the result of a intricate combination of genetic and surrounding conditions - would not be simple.
Autism spectrum disorder is a category of lifelong neurodivergence and impairment that affects how persons encounter and interact with the world, and is identified using physician assessments.
In his legal document, Paxton - aligned with the former president who is seeking the Senate - alleges the manufacturer and Johnson & Johnson "willfully ignored and sought to suppress the evidence" around paracetamol and autism.
This legal action aims to force the corporations "eliminate any promotional materials" that asserts Tylenol is safe for pregnant women.
The Texas lawsuit parallels the grievances of a group of mothers and fathers of minors with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD who took legal action against the producers of Tylenol in two years ago.
The court threw out the legal action, declaring investigations from the plaintiffs' authorities was lacking definitive proof.