Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue, the makers of Tylenol, alleging that they deliberately concealed the drug’s purported connections to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The legal action follows recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested a potential link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism in children. Notably, Trump’s assertions lack scientific substantiation and professional medical validation.
Johnson & Johnson had marketed Tylenol for over sixty years before establishing Kenvue as a separate entity in 2023 to oversee the brand. Kenvue, now responsible for Tylenol’s distribution, has consistently affirmed the safety of the pain reliever, dismissing Paxton’s claims in a public statement.
In response to the lawsuit, Kenvue emphasized that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, represents the safest pain relief option for expectant mothers throughout pregnancy. The company expressed apprehension over the dissemination of misleading information regarding the drug’s safety.
Despite the legal developments, Johnson & Johnson refrained from commenting directly on Paxton’s allegations. They clarified that Kenvue bears the legal responsibilities and obligations associated with Tylenol’s commercial transactions.
Following the lawsuit’s announcement, shares of both Kenvue and Johnson & Johnson experienced declines in morning trading. Paxton lodged the lawsuit in a rural Texas jurisdiction, citing government validation of acetaminophen’s risks during pregnancy and accusing the companies of deceptive trade practices and fraudulent transfers.
The attorney general referenced Trump’s cautionary advice to pregnant women against unnecessary Tylenol usage, echoing the president’s repeated statements regarding the drug’s potential risks. Paxton underscored the companies’ purported violation of Texas laws and alleged that Johnson & Johnson orchestrated the spinoff of Kenvue to evade accountability.
In a separate development, Health Canada rebuffed Trump’s assertions, reasserting Tylenol’s therapeutic benefits for fever and pain management during pregnancy. The Canadian health authority emphasized the absence of conclusive evidence linking acetaminophen use during pregnancy to autism or other developmental disorders.
Furthermore, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada reiterated the safety and appropriateness of acetaminophen for pregnant women as medically advised. Numerous private litigations have been initiated by families attributing autism and ADHD diagnoses in their children to maternal Tylenol consumption during pregnancy, with ongoing legal proceedings challenging these claims. Johnson & Johnson faces a multitude of lawsuits, including those from over 73,000 plaintiffs alleging cancer diagnoses following the use of its talc products.
