The State of Texas Top Legal Officer Files Lawsuit Against Acetaminophen Manufacturers Over Autism Spectrum Claims

Judicial Case
Ken Paxton, who supports former President Trump seeking election to the United States Senate, claimed pharmaceutical manufacturers of withholding potential dangers of Tylenol

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the manufacturers of Tylenol, asserting the companies hid alleged dangers that the pain reliever posed to pediatric cognitive development.

This legal action comes four weeks after Donald Trump publicized an unproven link between using Tylenol - also known as paracetamol - during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in children.

Paxton is taking legal action against the pharmaceutical giant, which previously sold the medication, the exclusive pain medication approved for pregnant women, and the current manufacturer, which currently produces it.

In a declaration, he stated they "betrayed America by gaining financially from suffering and promoting medication without regard for the risks."

The company asserts there is no credible evidence tying Tylenol to autism.

"These corporations misled for generations, deliberately risking numerous people to boost earnings," Paxton, a Republican, stated.

The manufacturer stated officially that it was "deeply concerned by the dissemination of inaccurate information on the safety of paracetamol and the likely effects that could have on the welfare of American women and children."

On its online platform, Kenvue also said it had "consistently assessed the pertinent research and there is insufficient valid information that indicates a proven link between using acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder."

Associations acting on behalf of physicians and healthcare providers share this view.

The leading OB-GYN organization has declared paracetamol - the primary component in acetaminophen - is a restricted selection for pregnant women to address discomfort and fever, which can create significant medical dangers if ignored.

"In more than two decades of investigation on the consumption of paracetamol in gestation, not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that the usage of paracetamol in any trimester of pregnancy causes neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring," the group said.

This legal action mentions current declarations from the former administration in claiming the drug is potentially dangerous.

In recent weeks, the former president raised alarms from health experts when he instructed expectant mothers to "fight like hell" not to take Tylenol when ill.

The US Food and Drug Administration then published an announcement that medical professionals should consider limiting the usage of Tylenol, while also mentioning that "a direct connection" between the drug and autism in minors has remains unverified.

Health Secretary Kennedy, who oversees the FDA, had promised in spring to initiate "extensive scientific investigation" that would determine the cause of autism in a limited time.

But authorities warned that discovering a single cause of autism - thought by researchers to be the outcome of a complicated interplay of genetic and surrounding conditions - would be difficult.

Autism is a category of permanent neurological difference and condition that affects how persons perceive and engage with the surroundings, and is identified using medical professional evaluations.

In his legal document, Paxton - aligned with the former president who is running for the Senate - asserts Kenvue and Johnson & Johnson "intentionally overlooked and sought to suppress the research" around acetaminophen and autism.

The lawsuit seeks to make the companies "remove any marketing or advertising" that claims acetaminophen is secure for expectant mothers.

The court case echoes the complaints of a group of mothers and fathers of minors with autism and ADHD who took legal action against the producers of acetaminophen in 2022.

A federal judge rejected the legal action, stating investigations from the plaintiffs' authorities was lacking definitive proof.

Steven Nguyen
Steven Nguyen

Agile coach and software developer with over a decade of experience in transforming teams and driving digital excellence.