Texas Attorney General Paxton is taking legal action against the producers of acetaminophen, alleging the companies concealed safety concerns that the medication created to pediatric cognitive development.
The court filing arrives thirty days after President Donald Trump advocated an unsubstantiated connection between using Tylenol - referred to as acetaminophen - throughout gestation and autism in offspring.
The attorney general is filing suit against J&J, which previously sold the medication, the only pain reliever suggested for pregnant women, and the current manufacturer, which currently produces it.
In a statement, he claimed they "deceived the public by making money from discomfort and promoting medication without regard for the dangers."
The company says there is no credible evidence connecting Tylenol to autism spectrum disorder.
"These manufacturers lied for decades, intentionally threatening numerous people to line their pockets," Paxton, a Republican, declared.
The company stated officially that it was "deeply concerned by the dissemination of inaccurate information on the reliability of acetaminophen and the possible consequences that could have on the health of women and children in America."
On its online platform, Kenvue also said it had "regularly reviewed the pertinent research and there is no credible data that demonstrates a proven link between taking acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder."
Organizations speaking for physicians and health professionals share this view.
ACOG has declared acetaminophen - the key substance in acetaminophen - is a restricted selection for women during pregnancy to manage pain and elevated temperature, which can create serious health risks if not addressed.
"In more than two decades of studies on the use of acetaminophen in gestation, no reliable research has conclusively proven that the use of acetaminophen in any period of gestation results in neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring," the organization stated.
This legal action references recent announcements from the Trump administration in arguing the medication is reportedly hazardous.
Recently, the former president generated worry from public health officials when he instructed expectant mothers to "resist strongly" not to use acetaminophen when unwell.
The US Food and Drug Administration then published an announcement that physicians should consider limiting the consumption of Tylenol, while also mentioning that "a causal relationship" between the drug and autism in minors has not been proven.
Health Secretary Kennedy, who oversees the FDA, had vowed in spring to initiate "comprehensive study program" that would establish the origin of autism spectrum disorder in a limited time.
But specialists advised that discovering a sole reason of autism - believed by scientists to be the outcome of a intricate combination of genetic and surrounding conditions - would be difficult.
Autism is a category of enduring cognitive variation and condition that influences how individuals perceive and engage with the world, and is recognized using medical professional evaluations.
In his court filing, the attorney general - aligned with the former president who is seeking federal office - claims Kenvue and Johnson & Johnson "willfully ignored and tried to quiet the evidence" around paracetamol and autism spectrum disorder.
The case aims to force the corporations "eliminate any marketing or advertising" that claims Tylenol is secure for women during pregnancy.
The Texas lawsuit parallels the grievances of a collection of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD who filed suit against the makers of acetaminophen in recently.
The court rejected the lawsuit, stating research from the family's specialists was not conclusive.
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