The State of Texas Attorney General Sues Acetaminophen Makers Over Autism Claims
The top legal official in Texas Ken Paxton is taking legal action against the makers of acetaminophen, asserting the firms hid potential risks that the medication created to children's neurological development.
The lawsuit comes thirty days after Donald Trump promoted an unproven link between taking Tylenol - referred to as acetaminophen - during pregnancy and autism in offspring.
Paxton is taking legal action against Johnson & Johnson, which previously sold the drug, the only pain reliever recommended for expectant mothers, and the current manufacturer, which now manufacturers it.
In a declaration, he claimed they "deceived the public by profiting off of pain and pushing pills without regard for the risks."
Kenvue says there is no credible evidence linking Tylenol to autism spectrum disorder.
"These companies deceived for years, deliberately risking countless individuals to line their pockets," the attorney general, a Republican, said.
Kenvue stated officially that it was "seriously troubled by the dissemination of inaccurate information on the safety of acetaminophen and the possible consequences that could have on the welfare of American women and children."
On its official site, the company also said it had "continuously evaluated the pertinent research and there is insufficient valid information that demonstrates a proven link between consuming acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder."
Groups representing physicians and medical practitioners concur.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated paracetamol - the main ingredient in Tylenol - is one of the few options for women during pregnancy to treat discomfort and elevated temperature, which can pose significant medical dangers if not addressed.
"In multiple decades of studies on the utilization of paracetamol in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that the usage of acetaminophen in any stage of pregnancy causes brain development issues in offspring," the group stated.
The lawsuit mentions recent announcements from the former administration in arguing the medication is reportedly hazardous.
In recent weeks, Trump raised alarms from public health officials when he told expectant mothers to "fight like hell" not to use acetaminophen when unwell.
The FDA then released a statement that doctors should consider limiting the usage of acetaminophen, while also mentioning that "a direct connection" between the drug and autism in minors has remains unverified.
Health Secretary RFK Jr, who manages the FDA, had pledged in April to undertake "a massive testing and research effort" that would identify the source of autism spectrum disorder in a matter of months.
But experts advised that finding a single cause of autism spectrum disorder - thought by researchers to be the outcome of a complicated interplay of inherited and surrounding conditions - would not be simple.
Autism spectrum disorder is a category of permanent neurological difference and disability that affects how people encounter and relate to the surroundings, and is recognized using medical professional evaluations.
In his legal document, Paxton - who supports Trump who is seeking federal office - asserts the manufacturer and J&J "intentionally overlooked and tried to quiet the science" around acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder.
The lawsuit aims to force the firms "eliminate any marketing or advertising" that asserts acetaminophen is secure for pregnant women.
The Texas lawsuit mirrors the grievances of a group of parents of minors with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD who took legal action against the manufacturers of acetaminophen in two years ago.
The court threw out the legal action, declaring investigations from the plaintiffs' authorities was not conclusive.