(Austin) — The state of Texas is suing the makers of Tylenol.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday repeated claims made by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., saying that use of the pain reliever by pregnant women “leads to a significantly increased risk of autism and other disorders.”
“We’re suing Johnson & Johnson for the distribution of Tylenol without disclosing the potential side effects,” said Paxton.
The lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson alleges that Tylenol — known generically as acetaminophen — was marketed as safe for pregnant women and claims the company violated Texas consumer protection laws.
“For decades, Johnson & Johnson willfully ignored and attempted to silence the science that prenatal and early childhood exposure to their acetaminophen products can cause Autism and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. Despite being well aware of this fact, Tylenol was marketed as a completely safe pain medication for pregnant women, violating Texas’s consumer protection laws. The considerable body of evidence demonstrating these dangers was recently highlighted by the Trump Administration,” stated a press release from the attorney general’s office.
However, the World Health Organization wrote last month that there is currently no conclusive scientific evidence showing a link.
“Extensive research has been undertaken over the past decade, including large-scale studies, looking into links between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism. At this time, no consistent association has been established,” said a statement from WHO officials.
Johnson & Johnson also maintains that the drug is safe for use during pregnancy.