The State of Texas Top Legal Officer Sues Tylenol Producers Over Autism Claims
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the producers of Tylenol, alleging the companies concealed alleged dangers that the drug posed to children's neurological development.
The lawsuit comes a month after President Donald Trump publicized an unproven link between consuming acetaminophen - also known as acetaminophen - while pregnant and autism spectrum disorder in young ones.
The attorney general is suing Johnson & Johnson, which formerly manufactured the drug, the sole analgesic suggested for expectant mothers, and Kenvue, which now manufacturers it.
In a statement, he stated they "deceived the public by gaining financially from discomfort and marketing drugs regardless of the risks."
The company asserts there is lacking scientific proof connecting acetaminophen to autism spectrum disorder.
"These manufacturers lied for decades, deliberately risking countless individuals to boost earnings," Paxton, from the Republican party, declared.
The manufacturer stated officially that it was "seriously troubled by the spread of false claims on the safety of paracetamol and the likely effects that could have on the welfare of women and children in America."
On its online platform, Kenvue also stated it had "continuously evaluated the pertinent research and there is insufficient valid information that indicates a verified association between consuming paracetamol and autism."
Organizations speaking for medical professionals and healthcare providers concur.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said paracetamol - the key substance in acetaminophen - is a restricted selection for pregnant women to address discomfort and elevated temperature, which can present serious health risks if left untreated.
"In over twenty years of research on the consumption of paracetamol in pregnancy, no reliable research has conclusively proven that the consumption of acetaminophen in any stage of pregnancy results in neurodevelopmental disorders in children," the organization stated.
The court filing cites recent announcements from the former administration in asserting the drug is potentially dangerous.
In recent weeks, Trump generated worry from medical authorities when he advised women during pregnancy to "struggle intensely" not to use Tylenol when ill.
The US Food and Drug Administration then issued a notice that doctors should contemplate reducing the use of acetaminophen, while also mentioning that "a causal relationship" between the medication and autism in children has not been established.
The Health Department head Kennedy, who manages the Food and Drug Administration, had pledged in April to conduct "a massive testing and research effort" that would determine the cause of autism spectrum disorder in a limited time.
But authorities advised that discovering a single cause of autism spectrum disorder - thought by researchers to be the result of a complicated interplay of genetic and surrounding conditions - would prove challenging.
Autism spectrum disorder is a type of lifelong neurodivergence and disability that impacts how people encounter and interact with the environment, and is recognized using medical professional evaluations.
In his lawsuit, the attorney general - a Trump ally who is seeking federal office - alleges the manufacturer and J&J "intentionally overlooked and sought to suppress the science" around acetaminophen and autism.
This legal action seeks to make the companies "remove any commercial messaging" that claims acetaminophen is secure for women during pregnancy.
The Texas lawsuit echoes the grievances of a group of guardians of children with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD who filed suit against the producers of Tylenol in recently.
The court rejected the case, stating research from the parents' expert witnesses was lacking definitive proof.