Texas Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Tylenol Makers Regarding Autism Allegations
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the producers of acetaminophen, asserting the firms concealed safety concerns that the drug created to pediatric neurological development.
The court filing arrives four weeks after President Donald Trump advocated an unsubstantiated connection between consuming acetaminophen - also known as acetaminophen - while pregnant and autism in children.
The attorney general is taking legal action against J&J, which formerly manufactured the medication, the exclusive pain medication suggested for pregnant women, and the current manufacturer, which now manufacturers it.
In a official comment, he claimed they "betrayed America by making money from suffering and marketing drugs ignoring the potential hazards."
The manufacturer says there is lacking scientific proof linking Tylenol to autism.
"These manufacturers deceived for years, knowingly endangering millions to line their pockets," Paxton, a Republican, stated.
The manufacturer said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned by the dissemination of inaccurate information on the safety of acetaminophen and the likely effects that could have on the well-being of American women and children."
On its official site, Kenvue also said it had "consistently assessed the relevant science and there is lacking reliable evidence that demonstrates a proven link between taking paracetamol and autism."
Organizations representing medical professionals and health professionals share this view.
ACOG has stated paracetamol - the key substance in acetaminophen - is a restricted selection for expectant mothers to manage discomfort and elevated temperature, which can create significant medical dangers if ignored.
"In multiple decades of investigation on the use of paracetamol in gestation, zero credible investigations has definitively established that the consumption of acetaminophen in any stage of pregnancy results in neurological conditions in young ones," the group stated.
This legal action references recent announcements from the Trump administration in asserting the drug is potentially dangerous.
Recently, Trump generated worry from public health officials when he advised expectant mothers to "resist strongly" not to take Tylenol when sick.
The FDA then issued a notice that medical professionals should contemplate reducing the use of Tylenol, while also declaring that "a causal relationship" between the drug and autism spectrum disorder in children has not been established.
Health Secretary RFK Jr, who oversees the Food and Drug Administration, had pledged in spring to conduct "a massive testing and research effort" that would establish the cause of autism in a short period.
But experts advised that finding a sole reason of autism - considered by experts to be the outcome of a complex mix of inherited and environmental factors - would prove challenging.
Autism spectrum disorder is a type of permanent neurological difference and impairment that affects how individuals experience and interact with the surroundings, and is recognized using physician assessments.
In his lawsuit, Paxton - who supports Trump who is running for US Senate - asserts Kenvue and J&J "willfully ignored and tried to quiet the research" around paracetamol and autism.
The case attempts to require the firms "eliminate any commercial messaging" that asserts Tylenol is secure for expectant mothers.
The Texas lawsuit mirrors the complaints of a group of guardians of minors with autism and ADHD who sued the producers of Tylenol in recently.
A federal judge dismissed the case, stating research from the parents' expert witnesses was inconclusive.