The State of Texas Attorney General Takes Legal Action Against Tylenol Manufacturers Concerning Autism Spectrum Assertions
The top legal official in Texas Paxton is filing a lawsuit against the producers of acetaminophen, asserting the companies concealed potential risks that the drug presented to pediatric brain development.
The court filing arrives thirty days after Donald Trump promoted an unverified association between taking Tylenol - also known as paracetamol - during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in offspring.
Paxton is filing suit against J&J, which previously sold the medication, the exclusive pain medication recommended for pregnant women, and the current manufacturer, which currently produces it.
In a statement, he stated they "betrayed America by gaining financially from suffering and marketing drugs ignoring the risks."
Kenvue says there is insufficient reliable data linking acetaminophen to autism.
"These companies deceived for years, intentionally threatening numerous people to boost earnings," Paxton, a Republican, stated.
The company commented that it was "deeply concerned by the spread of false claims on the safety of acetaminophen and the possible consequences that could have on the well-being of women and children in America."
On its official site, Kenvue also stated it had "continuously evaluated the relevant science and there is no credible data that shows a established connection between taking paracetamol and autism."
Organizations speaking for medical professionals and health professionals agree.
ACOG has stated acetaminophen - the main ingredient in Tylenol - is among limited choices for expectant mothers to address discomfort and elevated temperature, which can pose serious health risks if ignored.
"In more than two decades of studies on the use of paracetamol in gestation, not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that the consumption of paracetamol in any trimester of gestation results in neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring," the organization said.
This legal action references latest statements from the former administration in arguing the drug is potentially dangerous.
Recently, the former president raised alarms from medical authorities when he instructed women during pregnancy to "fight like hell" not to take acetaminophen when sick.
The FDA then published an announcement that physicians should consider limiting the use of acetaminophen, while also declaring that "a proven link" between the drug and autism in young ones has not been established.
Health Secretary RFK Jr, who oversees the FDA, had promised in April to undertake "a massive testing and research effort" that would identify the cause of autism spectrum disorder in a short period.
But authorities advised that finding a sole reason of autism spectrum disorder - believed by scientists to be the result of a complicated interplay of inherited and surrounding conditions - would be difficult.
Autism spectrum disorder is a form of permanent neurological difference and disability that affects how people encounter and engage with the surroundings, and is recognized using medical professional evaluations.
In his court filing, the attorney general - who supports Trump who is running for the Senate - asserts the manufacturer and Johnson & Johnson "deliberately disregarded and sought to suppress the science" around acetaminophen and autism.
This legal action attempts to require the corporations "eliminate any marketing or advertising" that asserts acetaminophen is reliable for expectant mothers.
The court case parallels the concerns of a group of mothers and fathers of minors with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who sued the makers of acetaminophen in two years ago.
Judicial authorities rejected the case, saying research from the family's specialists was not conclusive.