Texas Top Legal Officer Sues Tylenol Makers Concerning Autism Allegations
Texas Attorney General Paxton is taking legal action against the manufacturers of acetaminophen, claiming the firms concealed potential risks that the pain reliever presented to pediatric brain development.
The court filing comes a month after Donald Trump publicized an unverified association between using acetaminophen - referred to as paracetamol - while pregnant and autism in young ones.
Paxton is taking legal action against the pharmaceutical giant, which formerly manufactured the medication, the sole analgesic approved for expectant mothers, and Kenvue, which currently produces it.
In a declaration, he claimed they "misled consumers by profiting off of suffering and pushing pills ignoring the potential hazards."
Kenvue asserts there is insufficient reliable data linking acetaminophen to autism.
"These corporations lied for decades, intentionally threatening numerous people to increase profits," Paxton, from the Republican party, said.
The manufacturer commented that it was "very worried by the dissemination of inaccurate information on the reliability of acetaminophen and the likely effects that could have on the well-being of US mothers and children."
On its online platform, the company also mentioned it had "continuously evaluated the relevant science and there is lacking reliable evidence that demonstrates a proven link between consuming acetaminophen and autism."
Groups acting on behalf of physicians and healthcare providers agree.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated acetaminophen - the main ingredient in Tylenol - is a restricted selection for women during pregnancy to address pain and elevated temperature, which can pose serious health risks if left untreated.
"In more than two decades of research on the consumption of paracetamol in pregnancy, no reliable research has successfully concluded that the usage of paracetamol in any stage of pregnancy causes neurological conditions in young ones," the organization commented.
The lawsuit mentions latest statements from the previous government in asserting the medication is reportedly hazardous.
In recent weeks, the former president caused concern from public health officials when he instructed expectant mothers to "resist strongly" not to use Tylenol when ill.
The US Food and Drug Administration then issued a notice that physicians should contemplate reducing the use of Tylenol, while also stating that "a direct connection" between the medication and autism in children has not been proven.
Health Secretary RFK Jr, who manages the FDA, had promised in spring to initiate "comprehensive study program" that would identify the source of autism spectrum disorder in a short period.
But authorities advised that finding a single cause of autism spectrum disorder - believed by scientists to be the consequence of a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors - would prove challenging.
Autism spectrum disorder is a type of permanent neurological difference and disability that affects how individuals perceive and engage with the surroundings, and is recognized using doctors' observations.
In his lawsuit, the attorney general - aligned with the former president who is campaigning for US Senate - asserts the manufacturer and J&J "intentionally overlooked and attempted to silence the science" around paracetamol and autism.
The case seeks to make the companies "destroy any marketing or advertising" that asserts Tylenol is safe for pregnant women.
The Texas lawsuit mirrors the concerns of a assembly of parents of young ones with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who sued the producers of acetaminophen in 2022.
Judicial authorities dismissed the lawsuit, stating research from the parents' expert witnesses was not conclusive.