Texas Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Acetaminophen Manufacturers Regarding Autism Spectrum Allegations
The top legal official in Texas Ken Paxton is suing the producers of acetaminophen, asserting the companies concealed alleged dangers that the pain reliever presented to children's neurological development.
The court filing arrives a month after Former President Trump advocated an unsubstantiated connection between using Tylenol - alternatively called acetaminophen - throughout gestation and autism spectrum disorder in children.
The attorney general is suing the pharmaceutical giant, which previously sold the drug, the exclusive pain medication recommended for pregnant women, and the current manufacturer, which now manufacturers it.
In a statement, he said they "deceived the public by gaining financially from discomfort and pushing pills regardless of the dangers."
The manufacturer says there is no credible evidence connecting Tylenol to autism spectrum disorder.
"These companies lied for decades, intentionally threatening millions to increase profits," the attorney general, a Republican, said.
The company stated officially that it was "seriously troubled by the spread of false claims on the reliability of acetaminophen and the potential impact that could have on the health of American women and children."
On its online platform, Kenvue also stated it had "consistently assessed the applicable studies and there is no credible data that demonstrates a proven link between taking acetaminophen and autism."
Organizations representing medical professionals and health professionals agree.
The leading OB-GYN organization has stated acetaminophen - the main ingredient in Tylenol - is a restricted selection for women during pregnancy to manage pain and fever, which can create major wellness concerns if not addressed.
"In over twenty years of investigation on the utilization of paracetamol in gestation, not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that the consumption of acetaminophen in any trimester of pregnancy results in neurological conditions in young ones," the group commented.
The court filing cites latest statements from the former administration in claiming the medication is allegedly unsafe.
Recently, Trump generated worry from public health officials when he told women during pregnancy to "resist strongly" not to consume Tylenol when sick.
The FDA then issued a notice that physicians should contemplate reducing the consumption of acetaminophen, while also stating that "a direct connection" between the drug and autism spectrum disorder in minors has remains unverified.
The Health Department head RFK Jr, who manages the FDA, had pledged in spring to conduct "comprehensive study program" that would identify the source of autism in a limited time.
But experts warned that discovering a unique factor of autism - thought by researchers to be the result of a complicated interplay of inherited and environmental factors - would prove challenging.
Autism is a category of lifelong neurodivergence and disability that influences how individuals experience and interact with the world, and is identified using medical professional evaluations.
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 science" around acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder.
The case aims to force the corporations "eliminate any marketing or advertising" that asserts Tylenol is safe for pregnant women.
The court case parallels the grievances of a collection of guardians of young ones with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who took legal action against the makers of acetaminophen in recently.
A federal judge threw out the case, stating investigations from the parents' expert witnesses was inconclusive.