The State of Texas Top Legal Officer Files Lawsuit Against Acetaminophen Producers Regarding Autism Allegations
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is filing a lawsuit against the makers of acetaminophen, claiming the firms concealed alleged dangers that the pain reliever posed to children's cognitive development.
The lawsuit follows four weeks after President Donald Trump advocated an unproven link between using acetaminophen - referred to as paracetamol - throughout gestation and autism spectrum disorder in offspring.
Paxton is filing suit against the pharmaceutical giant, which previously sold the medication, the sole analgesic approved for pregnant women, and the current manufacturer, which now manufacturers it.
In a statement, he said they "deceived the public by profiting off of pain and marketing drugs regardless of the risks."
The company asserts there is insufficient reliable data connecting Tylenol to autism spectrum disorder.
"These corporations lied for decades, deliberately risking countless individuals to line their pockets," the attorney general, from the Republican party, declared.
The company stated officially that it was "very worried by the perpetuation of misinformation on the security of acetaminophen and the possible consequences that could have on the well-being of American women and children."
On its official site, Kenvue also mentioned it had "consistently assessed the relevant science and there is lacking reliable evidence that indicates a established connection between using acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder."
Groups representing medical professionals and medical practitioners share this view.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has declared paracetamol - the key substance in acetaminophen - is one of the few options for women during pregnancy to address discomfort and elevated temperature, which can pose serious health risks if ignored.
"In more than two decades of studies on the use of paracetamol in pregnancy, no reliable research has definitively established that the use of paracetamol in any stage of gestation results in neurodevelopmental disorders in young ones," the association commented.
The lawsuit references latest statements from the former administration in arguing the medication is allegedly unsafe.
Last month, the former president generated worry from medical authorities when he advised pregnant women to "resist strongly" not to consume acetaminophen when unwell.
The FDA then released a statement that physicians should think about restricting the usage of Tylenol, while also stating that "a causal relationship" between the drug and autism spectrum disorder in children has remains unverified.
Health Secretary Kennedy, who manages the Food and Drug Administration, had pledged in April to initiate "comprehensive study program" that would identify the origin of autism in a limited time.
But specialists advised that discovering a unique factor of autism spectrum disorder - thought by researchers to be the result of a complex mix of genetic and surrounding conditions - would not be simple.
Autism spectrum disorder is a form of lifelong neurodivergence and disability that affects how individuals experience and engage with the surroundings, and is recognized using physician assessments.
In his court filing, Paxton - who supports Trump who is campaigning for federal office - asserts the manufacturer and Johnson & Johnson "intentionally overlooked and tried to quiet the research" around acetaminophen and autism.
The case attempts to require the corporations "destroy any marketing or advertising" that states Tylenol is secure for women during pregnancy.
This legal action parallels the concerns of a collection of guardians of minors with autism and ADHD who filed suit against the manufacturers of acetaminophen in two years ago.
A federal judge threw out the legal action, declaring research from the family's specialists was lacking definitive proof.