The State of Texas Top Legal Officer Takes Legal Action Against Acetaminophen Manufacturers Concerning Autism Assertions
Texas Attorney General Paxton is suing the makers of Tylenol, asserting the companies hid potential risks that the pain reliever presented to pediatric cognitive development.
The lawsuit arrives four weeks after President Donald Trump publicized an unverified association between taking acetaminophen - also known as paracetamol - during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in children.
Paxton is filing suit against J&J, which once produced the medication, the sole analgesic suggested for women during pregnancy, and Kenvue, which currently produces it.
In a official comment, he claimed they "deceived the public by making money from pain and marketing drugs ignoring the risks."
The manufacturer says there is lacking scientific proof tying acetaminophen to autism spectrum disorder.
"These companies lied for decades, deliberately risking numerous people to line their pockets," the attorney general, a Republican, declared.
The manufacturer said in a statement that it was "seriously troubled by the perpetuation of misinformation on the reliability of paracetamol and the potential impact that could have on the health of US mothers and children."
On its website, the company also mentioned it had "continuously evaluated the relevant science and there is no credible data that demonstrates a established connection between taking acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder."
Groups representing medical professionals and medical practitioners share this view.
ACOG has stated acetaminophen - the primary component in Tylenol - is a restricted selection for pregnant women to address pain and fever, which can create major wellness concerns if not addressed.
"In more than two decades of studies on the consumption of paracetamol in gestation, zero credible investigations has definitively established that the use of paracetamol in any trimester of gestation results in neurodevelopmental disorders in young ones," the group said.
The court filing mentions latest statements from the Trump administration in arguing the drug is reportedly hazardous.
Last month, the former president generated worry from health experts when he told women during pregnancy to "fight like hell" not to consume acetaminophen when sick.
The US Food and Drug Administration then issued a notice that medical professionals should think about restricting the consumption of Tylenol, while also stating that "a proven link" between the medication and autism in minors has not been established.
The Health Department head RFK Jr, who supervises the FDA, had promised in April to initiate "a massive testing and research effort" that would establish the cause of autism spectrum disorder in a limited time.
But specialists advised that discovering a unique factor of autism - thought by researchers to be the consequence of a complex mix of inherited and environmental factors - would prove challenging.
Autism is a form of permanent neurological difference and impairment that affects how individuals perceive and interact with the environment, and is identified using physician assessments.
In his legal document, Paxton - aligned with the former president who is running for the Senate - alleges Kenvue and J&J "intentionally overlooked and tried to quiet the evidence" around paracetamol and autism.
The lawsuit attempts to require the firms "destroy any promotional materials" that states Tylenol is secure for pregnant women.
This legal action parallels the concerns of a group of mothers and fathers of young ones with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who took legal action against the manufacturers of acetaminophen in recently.
A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit, stating research from the plaintiffs' authorities was inconclusive.