Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue, the current and former manufacturers of Tylenol, over claims that the companies concealed risks linking the drug to autism. Kenvue asserts there is no credible scientific evidence to support a connection between Tylenol and autism, a position shared by medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The lawsuit follows recent public statements by former President Donald Trump and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding potential links between Tylenol use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Lawsuit Allegations
Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue, alleging that the companies deliberately withheld information regarding potential dangers of acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, to children's brain development. Paxton stated that the corporations "lied for decades, knowingly endangering millions to line their pockets." The lawsuit seeks to compel the companies to remove any marketing or advertising that asserts Tylenol is safe for pregnant women. Paxton's court filing further alleges that the companies "willfully ignored and attempted to silence the science" surrounding acetaminophen and autism.
Manufacturers' Response
Kenvue, the current manufacturer, issued a statement expressing "deep concern by the perpetuation of misinformation on the safety of acetaminophen and the potential impact that could have on the health of American women and children." The company states on its website that it has "continuously evaluated the relevant science and there is no credible data that shows a proven link between taking acetaminophen and autism."
Medical and Scientific Consensus
Organizations representing doctors and healthcare providers generally agree with Kenvue's position. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has identified acetaminophen as one of the limited options available for pregnant women to manage pain and fever, conditions that can pose serious health risks if left untreated. ACOG states that "In more than two decades of research on the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that the use of acetaminophen in any trimester of pregnancy causes neurodevelopmental disorders in children."
Recent Public Statements and FDA Position
The Texas lawsuit references recent public statements from political figures. Last month, former President Donald Trump publicly discouraged pregnant women from taking Tylenol when ill, suggesting an unproven link to autism. Following these remarks, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reiterated that "a causal relationship" between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism in children has not been established, and there are currently no changes to FDA recommendations for acetaminophen use during pregnancy.
Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had previously pledged in April to initiate "a massive testing and research effort" to identify the cause of autism. Experts generally caution that finding a single cause for autism, which is understood to stem from a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors, is unlikely to be straightforward. Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition diagnosed through medical observation.
Previous Legal Action
The Texas lawsuit mirrors a 2022 federal lawsuit filed by a group of parents of children with autism and ADHD against Tylenol makers. That case was dismissed by a federal judge, who concluded that the research presented by the parents' expert witnesses was not conclusive.