The State of Texas Top Legal Officer Sues Acetaminophen Manufacturers Regarding Autism Spectrum Assertions
The top legal official in Texas Paxton is taking legal action against the manufacturers of acetaminophen, alleging the firms hid safety concerns that the drug created to children's neurological development.
The court filing arrives four weeks after President Donald Trump publicized an unproven link between using acetaminophen - referred to as paracetamol - throughout gestation and autism spectrum disorder in offspring.
Paxton is suing J&J, which formerly manufactured the medication, the sole analgesic approved for pregnant women, and Kenvue, which now manufacturers it.
In a statement, he claimed they "deceived the public by profiting off of pain and marketing drugs without regard for the dangers."
The company states there is insufficient reliable data linking Tylenol to autism.
"These companies deceived for years, knowingly endangering millions to boost earnings," the attorney general, from the Republican party, declared.
Kenvue stated officially 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 US mothers and children."
On its website, the company also said it had "continuously evaluated the applicable studies and there is insufficient valid information that shows a verified association between using paracetamol and autism."
Associations representing physicians and health professionals share this view.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated paracetamol - the primary component in Tylenol - is a restricted selection for women during pregnancy to treat discomfort and elevated temperature, which can pose major wellness concerns if ignored.
"In multiple decades of research on the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy, zero credible investigations has conclusively proven that the usage of paracetamol in any trimester of pregnancy leads to neurodevelopmental disorders in young ones," the organization said.
The court filing mentions latest statements from the Trump administration in asserting the medication is reportedly hazardous.
Last month, Trump raised alarms from public health officials when he instructed women during pregnancy to "struggle intensely" not to use acetaminophen when unwell.
The FDA then released a statement that medical professionals should contemplate reducing the usage of acetaminophen, while also mentioning that "a causal relationship" between the drug and autism spectrum disorder in minors has not been proven.
The Health Department head Kennedy, who manages the Food and Drug Administration, had vowed in April to initiate "comprehensive study program" that would establish the origin of autism in a short period.
But specialists warned that finding a unique factor of autism - thought by researchers to be the consequence of a complicated interplay of genetic and surrounding conditions - would not be simple.
Autism is a form of lifelong neurodivergence and disability that affects how persons experience and engage with the surroundings, and is recognized using doctors' observations.
In his court filing, the attorney general - who supports Trump who is running for the Senate - claims Kenvue and J&J "intentionally overlooked and tried to quiet the research" around acetaminophen and autism.
The case aims to force the companies "destroy any commercial messaging" that claims Tylenol is reliable for women during pregnancy.
The Texas lawsuit mirrors the concerns of a assembly of guardians of children with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD who sued the manufacturers of Tylenol in 2022.
A federal judge dismissed the case, saying studies from the plaintiffs' authorities was inconclusive.