On Tuesday, a new lawsuit in Texas accused former and current manufacturers of Tylenol, including Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue, of concealing evidence linking Tylenol to autism spectrum disorder. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton requested the court to prohibit deceptive advertising of Tylenol in Texas.
According to Paxton, the defendants had the right and obligation to change the warning labels of Tylenol products based on significant scientific evidence, but they failed to do so. Research has found that pregnant women taking Tylenol or other forms of acetaminophen may increase the risk of their babies developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This includes a study published in 2019 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Over 90 researchers in a statement in 2021 emphasized the need to caution pregnant women against indiscriminate use of acetaminophen. Acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol in the United States, is a widely used pain reliever and fever reducer.
The lawsuit filed on Tuesday pointed out that Johnson & Johnson, which has been producing Tylenol for decades, chose not to warn consumers and instead promoted Tylenol’s safety through channels such as the “BabyCenter” website it owns.
In 2022, Johnson & Johnson split its Tylenol manufacturing division, establishing a new company called Kenvue. Paxton claims that this move was aimed at protecting Johnson & Johnson’s assets to evade future legal compensation losses in case pregnant women’s use of Tylenol leads to successful lawsuits due to autism or ADHD in children.
Currently, an appeal related to this case is scheduled for oral arguments in November. The current Tylenol labels still do not include any warnings related to autism or ADHD. However, federal officials recently stated they would update the drug labels and have informed physicians that there is evidence showing a possible link between the two.
An internal email from Johnson & Johnson in 2018 obtained by Epoch Times revealed a senior scientist expressing concerns about further research linking Tylenol to neurodevelopmental issues, stating, “The weight of this evidence is beginning to weigh on me.”
Johnson & Johnson declined to comment on the lawsuit. However, a spokesperson for Kenvue stated in an email to Epoch Times that the company would actively address the allegations and defend itself under legal procedures, emphasizing that the safety of acetaminophen is widely recognized in the global medical community and that the lawsuit lacks legal and scientific support.
The spokesperson suggested that pregnant women should consult a professional physician before taking any over-the-counter medication, including acetaminophen, which is clearly labeled on Tylenol products.
Paxton has requested the court to prohibit Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue from conducting deceptive advertising of Tylenol in Texas, directing the two companies to destroy all promotional materials depicting Tylenol as “safe for pregnant women” and imposing a $10,000 fine for each violation under the Texas Consumer Protection Act.
In a statement, Paxton criticized large pharmaceutical companies for prioritizing profit over risks, misleading the public, calling it a betrayal of the American people. He emphasized that these companies have been lying for decades, knowingly putting the lives of millions at risk for personal gain.
Paxton also condemned Johnson & Johnson for attempting to evade responsibility by transferring assets despite knowing the consequences. Holding pharmaceutical giants accountable for harming the public is the first step to restoring health in America, according to Paxton.