The State of Texas Top Legal Officer Sues Acetaminophen Makers Over Autism Spectrum Assertions

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is taking legal action against the manufacturers of acetaminophen, claiming the companies withheld potential risks that the drug posed to children's neurological development.

The lawsuit follows four weeks after President Donald Trump promoted an unsubstantiated connection between consuming Tylenol - referred to as acetaminophen - during pregnancy and autism in children.

Paxton is taking legal action against J&J, which formerly manufactured the medication, the exclusive pain medication suggested for women during pregnancy, and the current manufacturer, which now manufacturers it.

In a statement, he said they "betrayed America by making money from suffering and promoting medication regardless of the potential hazards."

The company says there is lacking scientific proof linking acetaminophen to autism.

"These companies deceived for years, deliberately risking millions to boost earnings," Paxton, a Republican, said.

The company said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned by the perpetuation of misinformation on the reliability of acetaminophen and the likely effects that could have on the welfare of US mothers and children."

On its website, Kenvue also mentioned it had "consistently assessed the applicable studies and there is lacking reliable evidence that shows a proven link between taking paracetamol and autism."

Groups acting on behalf of doctors and healthcare providers share this view.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated acetaminophen - the primary component in Tylenol - is a restricted selection for expectant mothers to treat discomfort and elevated temperature, which can present serious health risks if ignored.

"In over twenty years of investigation on the utilization of acetaminophen in gestation, no reliable research has definitively established that the consumption of acetaminophen in any trimester of gestation leads to brain development issues in young ones," the association commented.

The court filing mentions current declarations from the previous government in arguing the drug is allegedly unsafe.

In recent weeks, Trump raised alarms from medical authorities when he told expectant mothers to "resist strongly" not to take acetaminophen when ill.

Federal regulators then published an announcement that medical professionals should contemplate reducing the use of Tylenol, while also stating that "a direct connection" between the drug and autism in young ones has remains unverified.

Health Secretary RFK Jr, who manages the FDA, had promised in April to conduct "comprehensive study program" that would identify the cause of autism spectrum disorder in a matter of months.

But experts warned that finding a single cause of autism - believed by scientists to be the result of a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors - would prove challenging.

Autism is a form of permanent neurological difference and disability that influences how people experience and interact with the environment, and is identified using doctors' observations.

In his legal document, Paxton - a Trump ally who is campaigning for the Senate - asserts the manufacturer and J&J "willfully ignored and tried to quiet the evidence" around paracetamol and autism.

This legal action attempts to require the corporations "remove any commercial messaging" that claims Tylenol is safe for women during pregnancy.

This legal action echoes the concerns of a assembly of parents of minors with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who took legal action against the producers of Tylenol in recently.

A federal judge threw out the case, declaring investigations from the plaintiffs' authorities was not conclusive.