The State of Texas Attorney General Sues Tylenol Makers Concerning Autism Spectrum Assertions
Texas Attorney General Paxton is filing a lawsuit against the manufacturers of acetaminophen, asserting the firms hid potential risks that the pain reliever created to children's brain development.
This legal action comes four weeks after Donald Trump promoted an unverified association between consuming Tylenol - referred to as paracetamol - during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in young ones.
The attorney general is suing J&J, which previously sold the medication, the sole analgesic approved for expectant mothers, and Kenvue, which currently produces it.
In a declaration, he stated they "deceived the public by making money from pain and promoting medication ignoring the potential hazards."
The manufacturer asserts there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism.
"These manufacturers deceived for years, deliberately risking numerous people to line their pockets," the attorney general, a Republican, said.
Kenvue commented that it was "deeply concerned by the perpetuation of misinformation on the safety of paracetamol and the potential impact that could have on the welfare of American women and children."
On its official site, Kenvue also stated it had "regularly reviewed the pertinent research and there is insufficient valid information that demonstrates a established connection between using acetaminophen and autism."
Associations speaking for doctors and health professionals concur.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated paracetamol - the main ingredient in Tylenol - is one of the few options for pregnant women to manage discomfort and elevated temperature, which can create major wellness concerns if not addressed.
"In more than two decades of studies on the utilization of acetaminophen in gestation, zero credible investigations has definitively established that the usage of acetaminophen in any stage of pregnancy causes brain development issues in young ones," the group said.
The lawsuit mentions recent announcements from the former administration in claiming the medication is allegedly unsafe.
In recent weeks, Trump raised alarms from medical authorities when he told expectant mothers to "fight like hell" not to consume acetaminophen when sick.
The US Food and Drug Administration then published an announcement that doctors should contemplate reducing the consumption of Tylenol, while also stating that "a proven link" between the drug and autism in children has remains unverified.
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who oversees the Food and Drug Administration, had promised in April to initiate "comprehensive study program" that would establish the source of autism in a short period.
But authorities cautioned that discovering a sole reason of autism - believed by scientists to be the consequence of a complicated interplay of genetic and environmental factors - would not be simple.
Autism spectrum disorder is a form of enduring cognitive variation and disability that affects how individuals experience and interact with the environment, and is recognized using medical professional evaluations.
In his legal document, the attorney general - a Trump ally who is running for the Senate - alleges the manufacturer and Johnson & Johnson "intentionally overlooked and sought to suppress the research" around acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder.
The case aims to force the corporations "remove any marketing or advertising" that states acetaminophen is secure for pregnant women.
This legal action parallels the grievances of a group of guardians of minors with autism and ADHD who sued the makers of Tylenol in 2022.
A federal judge rejected the legal action, saying research from the family's specialists was not conclusive.