Texas Attorney General Paxton is suing the makers of Tylenol, asserting the companies concealed alleged dangers that the drug presented to children's cognitive development.
The court filing follows four weeks after Donald Trump advocated an unsubstantiated connection between taking acetaminophen - referred to as paracetamol - during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in children.
Paxton is suing Johnson & Johnson, which previously sold the drug, the exclusive pain medication suggested for pregnant women, and Kenvue, which now manufacturers it.
In a declaration, he said they "misled consumers by profiting off of pain and marketing drugs without regard for the potential hazards."
The manufacturer asserts there is insufficient reliable data connecting acetaminophen to autism spectrum disorder.
"These manufacturers deceived for years, intentionally threatening countless individuals to boost earnings," the attorney general, from the Republican party, stated.
Kenvue commented that it was "very worried by the perpetuation of misinformation on the security of acetaminophen and the possible consequences that could have on the well-being of American women and children."
On its online platform, the company also stated it had "regularly reviewed the pertinent research and there is no credible data that demonstrates a verified association between consuming paracetamol and autism."
Associations acting on behalf of doctors and medical practitioners agree.
The leading OB-GYN organization has declared paracetamol - the primary component in acetaminophen - is among limited choices for pregnant women to manage pain and fever, which can create major wellness concerns if ignored.
"In multiple decades of studies on the utilization of acetaminophen in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has definitively established that the consumption of acetaminophen in any trimester of pregnancy results in neurological conditions in young ones," the organization said.
This legal action cites recent announcements from the former administration in asserting the drug is reportedly hazardous.
In recent weeks, Trump raised alarms from medical authorities when he told women during pregnancy to "struggle intensely" not to take acetaminophen when sick.
The FDA then issued a notice that doctors should consider limiting the usage of Tylenol, while also stating that "a direct connection" between the medication and autism spectrum disorder in young ones has not been established.
The Health Department head Kennedy, who supervises the Food and Drug Administration, had promised in spring to conduct "comprehensive study program" that would establish the cause of autism in a short period.
But specialists warned that discovering a unique factor of autism - considered by experts to be the consequence of a intricate combination of genetic and environmental factors - would be difficult.
Autism is a type of lifelong neurodivergence and condition that impacts how individuals experience and engage with the world, and is identified using medical professional evaluations.
In his court filing, the attorney general - aligned with the former president who is campaigning for federal office - alleges Kenvue and Johnson & Johnson "intentionally overlooked and tried to quiet the science" around paracetamol and autism.
The case aims to force the firms "destroy any marketing or advertising" that asserts Tylenol is reliable for women during pregnancy.
The court case parallels the complaints of a assembly of parents of minors with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD who sued the producers of acetaminophen in two years ago.
A federal judge rejected the legal action, stating studies from the parents' expert witnesses was not conclusive.
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