Texas Top Legal Officer Sues Tylenol Producers Over Autism Claims
Texas Attorney General Paxton is filing a lawsuit against the producers of acetaminophen, claiming the firms concealed safety concerns that the pain reliever posed to children's brain development.
The court filing comes a month after Donald Trump advocated an unverified association between consuming Tylenol - also known as acetaminophen - during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in children.
The attorney general is taking legal action against Johnson & Johnson, which formerly manufactured the drug, the exclusive pain medication suggested for expectant mothers, and the current manufacturer, which now manufacturers it.
In a declaration, he stated they "betrayed America by gaining financially from pain and promoting medication without regard for the dangers."
Kenvue says there is lacking scientific proof linking acetaminophen to autism.
"These companies misled for generations, knowingly endangering countless individuals to boost earnings," Paxton, from the Republican party, stated.
Kenvue commented that it was "deeply concerned by the perpetuation of misinformation on the security of acetaminophen and the likely effects that could have on the health of US mothers and children."
On its online platform, Kenvue also stated it had "continuously evaluated the relevant science and there is insufficient valid information that indicates a established connection between using acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder."
Groups representing doctors and healthcare providers agree.
The leading OB-GYN organization has stated paracetamol - the key substance in Tylenol - is one of the few options for women during pregnancy to manage discomfort and fever, which can pose significant medical dangers if ignored.
"In over twenty years of research on the utilization of acetaminophen in pregnancy, no reliable research has conclusively proven that the use of acetaminophen in any period of gestation leads to neurological conditions in children," the group said.
The court filing mentions latest statements from the former administration in asserting the medication is potentially dangerous.
Last month, the former president raised alarms from medical authorities when he instructed women during pregnancy to "struggle intensely" not to use Tylenol when unwell.
The FDA then published an announcement that doctors should contemplate reducing the usage of acetaminophen, while also declaring that "a causal relationship" between the medication and autism in minors has not been established.
Health Secretary RFK Jr, who supervises the FDA, had vowed in April to initiate "extensive scientific investigation" that would determine the cause of autism spectrum disorder in a short period.
But specialists cautioned that discovering a single cause of autism - thought by researchers to be the outcome of a intricate combination of genetic and environmental factors - would not be simple.
Autism spectrum disorder is a form of permanent neurological difference and disability that impacts how individuals encounter and interact with the surroundings, and is recognized using physician assessments.
In his court filing, the attorney general - who supports Trump who is campaigning for the Senate - alleges the manufacturer and J&J "intentionally overlooked and sought to suppress the research" around acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder.
This legal action attempts to require the corporations "eliminate any promotional materials" that asserts Tylenol is safe for women during pregnancy.
The court case echoes the grievances of a collection of mothers and fathers of minors with autism and ADHD who sued the manufacturers of Tylenol in two years ago.
A federal judge threw out the case, declaring studies from the plaintiffs' authorities was lacking definitive proof.