Texas Top Legal Officer Sues Acetaminophen Manufacturers Over Autism Claims
Texas Attorney General Paxton is filing a lawsuit against the producers of Tylenol, claiming the firms hid alleged dangers that the drug presented to children's neurological development.
The lawsuit arrives thirty days after President Donald Trump publicized an unsubstantiated connection between using Tylenol - referred to as acetaminophen - during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in young ones.
The attorney general is taking legal action against the pharmaceutical giant, which formerly manufactured the drug, the only pain reliever approved for pregnant women, and Kenvue, which presently makes it.
In a statement, he said they "betrayed America by making money from pain and pushing pills without regard for the dangers."
The manufacturer says there is lacking scientific proof linking Tylenol to autism spectrum disorder.
"These corporations deceived for years, intentionally threatening countless individuals to line their pockets," Paxton, a Republican, said.
The manufacturer stated officially that it was "seriously troubled by the dissemination of inaccurate information on the reliability of acetaminophen and the possible consequences that could have on the well-being of women and children in America."
On its website, Kenvue also said it had "regularly reviewed the relevant science and there is no credible data that shows a verified association between taking paracetamol and autism spectrum disorder."
Organizations speaking for doctors and healthcare providers concur.
ACOG has declared acetaminophen - the primary component in acetaminophen - is a restricted selection for expectant mothers to manage pain and elevated temperature, which can create serious health risks if ignored.
"In multiple decades of studies on the consumption of acetaminophen in gestation, no reliable research has successfully concluded that the consumption of acetaminophen in any stage of gestation causes neurological conditions in children," the organization said.
The court filing references latest statements from the previous government in arguing the medication is reportedly hazardous.
In recent weeks, the former president caused concern from public health officials when he instructed women during pregnancy to "struggle intensely" not to take acetaminophen when sick.
Federal regulators then issued a notice that physicians should consider limiting the usage of Tylenol, while also stating that "a direct connection" between the drug and autism in young ones has not been proven.
Health Secretary RFK Jr, who supervises the Food and Drug Administration, had pledged in spring to initiate "extensive scientific investigation" that would identify the source of autism in a limited time.
But specialists advised that discovering a sole reason of autism spectrum disorder - thought by researchers to be the outcome of a complicated interplay of genetic and environmental factors - would prove challenging.
Autism spectrum disorder is a type of lifelong neurodivergence and impairment that impacts how persons experience and relate to the world, and is recognized using medical professional evaluations.
In his legal document, Paxton - a Trump ally who is running for the Senate - asserts the manufacturer and Johnson & Johnson "intentionally overlooked and sought to suppress the evidence" around paracetamol and autism.
This legal action aims to force the firms "eliminate any promotional materials" that asserts acetaminophen is safe for women during pregnancy.
The Texas lawsuit parallels the complaints of a collection of guardians of young ones with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who filed suit against the producers of Tylenol in 2022.
The court dismissed the lawsuit, saying investigations from the plaintiffs' authorities was not conclusive.