The State of Texas Top Legal Officer Sues Tylenol Producers Regarding Autism Allegations
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the makers of Tylenol, asserting the firms hid safety concerns that the medication created to children's neurological development.
The court filing follows four weeks after President Donald Trump promoted an unproven link between taking acetaminophen - referred to as paracetamol - throughout gestation and autism spectrum disorder in offspring.
The attorney general is taking legal action against the pharmaceutical giant, which previously sold the drug, the only pain reliever recommended for pregnant women, and the current manufacturer, which presently makes it.
In a official comment, he claimed they "betrayed America by making money from discomfort and marketing drugs without regard for the dangers."
The manufacturer states there is lacking scientific proof tying acetaminophen to autism spectrum disorder.
"These companies misled for generations, intentionally threatening countless individuals to boost earnings," the attorney general, from the Republican party, declared.
The manufacturer said in a statement that it was "seriously troubled by the spread of false claims on the reliability of paracetamol and the potential impact that could have on the well-being of American women and children."
On its online platform, Kenvue also mentioned it had "consistently assessed the pertinent research and there is lacking reliable evidence that demonstrates a verified association between using paracetamol and autism."
Associations representing medical professionals and healthcare providers share this view.
ACOG has stated paracetamol - the primary component in acetaminophen - is a restricted selection for pregnant women to address pain and fever, which can present serious health risks if not addressed.
"In more than two decades of investigation on the use of acetaminophen in gestation, no reliable research has conclusively proven that the consumption of paracetamol in any period of pregnancy results in neurodevelopmental disorders in young ones," the group commented.
This legal action mentions current declarations from the former administration in claiming the medication is reportedly hazardous.
Recently, Trump generated worry from medical authorities when he advised pregnant women to "resist strongly" not to use Tylenol when unwell.
Federal regulators then issued a notice that physicians should think about restricting the use of Tylenol, while also stating that "a causal relationship" between the medication and autism spectrum disorder in minors has not been proven.
Health Secretary Kennedy, who oversees the FDA, had promised in spring to conduct "a massive testing and research effort" that would determine the origin of autism spectrum disorder in a limited time.
But authorities warned that finding a unique factor of autism spectrum disorder - believed by scientists to be the outcome of a intricate combination of inherited and external influences - would be difficult.
Autism spectrum disorder is a form of lifelong neurodivergence and condition that influences how persons perceive and interact with the world, and is recognized using medical professional evaluations.
In his legal document, the attorney general - aligned with the former president who is campaigning for US Senate - alleges the manufacturer and J&J "deliberately disregarded and tried to quiet the research" around paracetamol and autism.
This legal action attempts to require the corporations "eliminate any promotional materials" that asserts acetaminophen is reliable for women during pregnancy.
This legal action parallels the grievances of a collection of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD who filed suit against the producers of Tylenol in two years ago.
A federal judge threw out the case, stating research from the plaintiffs' authorities was inconclusive.