Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the makers of Tylenol, claiming the companies hid alleged dangers that the drug posed to children's brain development.
The lawsuit comes a month after President Donald Trump promoted an unproven link between taking Tylenol - also known as paracetamol - during pregnancy and autism in children.
Paxton is suing Johnson & Johnson, which previously sold the drug, the only pain reliever recommended for pregnant women, and Kenvue, which now manufactures it. In a statement, he said they betrayed America by profiting off of pain and pushing pills regardless of the risks. Kenvue says there is no credible evidence tying Tylenol to autism.
These corporations lied for decades, knowingly endangering millions to line their pockets, Paxton, a Republican, said.
Kenvue said in a statement that it was deeply concerned by the perpetuation of misinformation on the safety of acetaminophen and the potential impact that could have on the health of American women and children and noted its commitment to evaluating scientific evidence.
Organizations representing doctors and healthcare providers support Kenvue’s stance. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that acetaminophen is among the few treatment options available for pain and fever during pregnancy.
In his court filing, Paxton alleges Kenvue and Johnson & Johnson willfully ignored and attempted to silence the science regarding acetaminophen and autism. The lawsuit also seeks to compel the companies to stop marketing Tylenol as safe for pregnant women.
The lawsuit echoes past grievances from parents of children with autism and ADHD who previously filed a similar case against Tylenol makers, which was dismissed by a federal judge due to inconclusive evidence from expert witnesses.
With ongoing public discourse surrounding medication use during pregnancy, this lawsuit highlights the conflicts between pharmaceutical corporations, public health narratives, and regulatory oversight.
