Tylenol makers J&J and Kenvue sued by Texas for hiding drug’s autism risks
Tylenol makers J&J and Kenvue sued by Texas for hiding drug’s autism risks
Paxton, a Republican, sued five weeks after Republican President Donald Trump said using Tylenol during pregnancy can cause autism in children.
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N), opens new tab and Kenvue (KVUE.N), opens new tab - the makers of Tylenol - were sued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who accused them of knowingly hiding the drug's supposed links to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Paxton, a Republican, sued five weeks after Republican President Donald Trump said using Tylenol during pregnancy can cause autism in children. Trump is not a doctor, and his claim is unproven and not backed by scientific evidence. For more than six decades, J&J sold Tylenol and its former Kenvue unit sold it since 2023 after being spun off. Generically known as acetaminophen, the pain reliever is considered by doctors and medical societies as the best option for treating fever and pain during pregnancy. Tylenol’s safety has been repeatedly defended by Kenvue which stated it would defend against Paxton’s lawsuit.
Kenvue reportedly stated: "Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women as needed throughout their entire pregnancy. We are deeply concerned by the perpetuation of misinformation on the safety of acetaminophen."
While J&J did not comment on Paxton’s suit and separately stated that Kenvue is responsible for “all rights and liabilities associated with the sale of its over-the-counter products, including Tylenol."
Paxton filed his complaint in a Texas state court in rural Panola County, which borders Louisiana and where Trump won 83% of the vote in the 2024 presidential election. He said that the federal government "confirmed" last month that using acetaminophen during pregnancy likely causes autism and ADHD, and that despite "overwhelming evidence" Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue did not warn pregnant women of the risks. Paxton also cited Trump urging pregnant women not to use Tylenol unless it was "absolutely necessary," a claim the president later repeated in a Truth Social post. Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue violated a Texas law against deceptive trade practices by concealing the risks; the attorney general said. J&J violated a Texas law against fraudulent transfers by spinning off Kenvue to shield itself from liability; the attorney general also said.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month said it would seek new warning labels for acetaminophen to reflect the drug's potential links to neurodevelopmental disorders. Autism has been a longtime concern of U.S. Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose agency includes the FDA. Hundreds of private lawsuits have also been filed by families who said their children suffered from autism or ADHD after their mothers used Tylenol during pregnancy. Last December, many of those cases were dismissed by a judge, and the federal appeals court in Manhattan will hear arguments in the families' appeal on November 17.
