Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Johnson & Johnson and its spun-off consumer-products company Kenvue, claiming they deceptively marketed the over-the-counter painkiller Tylenol as safe for pregnant women despite concerns over links to autism.
The suit comes amid mounting scrutiny, including regulatory moves by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that would require new warning labels - though federal regulators say the scientific evidence does not definitively establish causation.
Courts previously dismissed related lawsuits for lack of sufficient expert evidence. The companies involved argue their labeling is already adequate and challenge the legal claims.
In a statement released to KRLD, Kenvue writes:
“Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of the people who use our products. We are deeply concerned by the perpetuation of misinformation on the safety of acetaminophen and the potential impact that could have on the health of American women and children.
Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women as needed throughout their entire pregnancy. Without it, women face dangerous choices: suffer through conditions like fever that are potentially harmful to both mom and baby or use riskier alternatives. High fevers and pain are widely recognized as potential risks to a pregnancy if left untreated.
We will vigorously defend ourselves against these claims and respond per the legal process. We stand firmly with the global medical community that acknowledges the safety of acetaminophen and believe we will continue to be successful in litigation as these claims lack legal merit and scientific support.
We also encourage expecting mothers to speak to their health professional before taking any over-the-counter medication, including acetaminophen, as indicated on our product label for Tylenol®.”
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