Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson and its spinoff company Kenvue, accusing them of 鈥渄eceptively marketing鈥� Tylenol to pregnant women while concealing potential risks of autism in unborn children 鈥� despite linking the drug to the neurological disorder.
the companies ignored research suggesting that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen, Tylenol鈥檚 active ingredient, could increase the risk of autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
The lawsuit accuses Johnson & Johnson of violating Texas law by transferring liabilities tied to Tylenol to Kenvue, its consumer spinoff, to shield itself from potential lawsuits.
鈥淏ig Pharma betrayed America by profiting off of pain and pushing pills regardless of the risks,鈥� Paxton said in Tuesday.
The lawsuit cites observational studies, including and the , that have found possible associations between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and developmental disorders. These same studies were referenced by about a month ago, when he that taking Tylenol during pregnancy could increase the risk of autism and ADHD in children.
But the says no causal relationship has been found between the drug and neurological disorders, and . The agency also notes that acetaminophen is the only over-the-counter medication approved to treat fever during pregnancy, while aspirin and ibuprofen can pose risks to the fetus.
In , Kenvue strongly criticized Paxton鈥檚 lawsuit, describing the allegations as a "deliberate distortion of the facts.鈥�
鈥淣othing is more important to us than the health and safety of the people who use our products,鈥� the statement read. 鈥淲e will vigorously defend ourselves against these claims and respond per the legal process.鈥�
