The State of Texas Attorney General Sues Acetaminophen Producers Concerning Autism Spectrum Assertions
The top legal official in Texas Ken Paxton is suing the producers of Tylenol, asserting the corporations hid alleged dangers that the pain reliever created to pediatric brain development.
The lawsuit comes thirty days after President Donald Trump publicized an unproven link between using Tylenol - also known as acetaminophen - while pregnant and autism in young ones.
The attorney general is suing J&J, which formerly manufactured the drug, the exclusive pain medication recommended for pregnant women, and Kenvue, which now manufacturers it.
In a declaration, he said they "misled consumers by making money from pain and promoting medication without regard for the risks."
The company states there is insufficient reliable data linking acetaminophen to autism.
"These companies deceived for years, deliberately risking millions to line their pockets," the attorney general, from the Republican party, stated.
The company stated officially that it was "very worried by the perpetuation of misinformation on the reliability of acetaminophen and the likely effects that could have on the health of American women and children."
On its official site, Kenvue also stated it had "consistently assessed the relevant science and there is insufficient valid information that shows a verified association between using paracetamol and autism spectrum disorder."
Groups acting on behalf of medical professionals and healthcare providers agree.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated acetaminophen - the main ingredient in Tylenol - is a restricted selection for expectant mothers to address pain and elevated temperature, which can create major wellness concerns if ignored.
"In multiple decades of research on the utilization of acetaminophen in gestation, no reliable research has definitively established that the consumption of paracetamol in any trimester of pregnancy causes neurological conditions in children," the group said.
The court filing cites latest statements from the former administration in arguing the drug is reportedly hazardous.
Last month, Trump caused concern from public health officials when he told pregnant women to "struggle intensely" not to consume Tylenol when sick.
The US Food and Drug Administration then released a statement that physicians should contemplate reducing the usage of acetaminophen, while also stating that "a direct connection" between the medication and autism in young ones has not been established.
Health Secretary Kennedy, who manages the Food and Drug Administration, had vowed in April to undertake "comprehensive study program" that would establish the cause of autism in a limited time.
But experts cautioned that discovering a single cause of autism - believed by scientists to be the outcome of a complex mix of inherited and external influences - would be difficult.
Autism is a category of lifelong neurodivergence and condition that impacts how individuals perceive and engage with the world, and is recognized using physician assessments.
In his court filing, Paxton - a Trump ally who is seeking federal office - asserts the manufacturer and J&J "intentionally overlooked and tried to quiet the research" around paracetamol and autism spectrum disorder.
The lawsuit attempts to require the firms "remove any marketing or advertising" that claims acetaminophen is reliable for expectant mothers.
This legal action parallels the complaints of a collection of parents of minors with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who filed suit against the makers of acetaminophen in recently.
Judicial authorities rejected the case, declaring research from the plaintiffs' authorities was not conclusive.