Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its consumer health spinoff Kenvue, accusing the companies of misleadingly promoting Tylenol as safe for pregnant women despite unproven claims that acetaminophen exposure may increase the risk of autism and other developmental disorders.
The case, filed Tuesday in Panola County state court, marks the latest challenge to the scientific and legal debate over one of America’s most widely used painkillers. It comes just weeks after former President Donald Trump and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly echoed unverified assertions linking acetaminophen to autism while announcing a new federal initiative to research the disorder’s causes.
Allegations of deceptive marketing and liability transfer
Paxton, a Republican and U.S. Senate candidate, alleged that Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue violated Texas consumer protection laws by “deceptively marketing Tylenol as the only safe painkiller for pregnant women.” The lawsuit contends that the companies failed to warn consumers of alleged risks to fetuses and young children and sought to shield corporate assets through “fraudulent transfers” of liabilities.
According to the complaint, Johnson & Johnson improperly transferred legal responsibility for Tylenol-related claims to Kenvue following the 2021 corporate restructuring that separated its consumer health division. The new entity, based in Summit, New Jersey, now owns household brands such as Tylenol, Listerine, and Band-Aid.
“Big Pharma betrayed America by profiting off of pain and pushing pills regardless of the risks,” Paxton said in a statement. “These corporations lied for decades, knowingly endangering millions to line their pockets.”
The Texas Attorney General’s Office is seeking financial penalties of $10,000 per violation under the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices–Consumer Protection Act, as well as the destruction of marketing materials suggesting that Tylenol is safe during pregnancy or for children.
Companies reject claims, cite scientific consensus
Both Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue have rejected the allegations, emphasizing that acetaminophen remains widely recognized as a safe and essential medicine when used as directed.
In a statement, Kenvue said, “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.”
The company added that untreated high fevers and pain themselves pose risks to pregnant women and fetuses, underscoring that acetaminophen is still the recommended pain reliever for pregnancy according to leading health organizations.
Johnson & Johnson, based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, pointed to its 2021 corporate separation in its response. “All rights and liabilities associated with the sale of over-the-counter products, including Tylenol (acetaminophen), are owned by Kenvue,” the company said.
Scientific uncertainty and ongoing litigation
Acetaminophen, commonly sold under the Tylenol brand, is used by more than 100 million Americans each year to relieve pain and reduce fever. While some studies have explored potential links between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and developmental disorders such as autism or ADHD, major health agencies—including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—have found no conclusive evidence supporting those claims.
Several lawsuits asserting that acetaminophen use during pregnancy causes autism have already been dismissed in federal court, though appeals remain pending. In its latest annual report, Kenvue disclosed that it continues to face related litigation, most of which it expects to prevail in due to the lack of scientific consensus.
Political backdrop and local venue
The lawsuit was filed in rural Panola County, a Republican-leaning area of roughly 23,000 residents in East Texas. Legal analysts note that filing in a conservative venue could signal a strategic choice by Paxton’s office to seek a sympathetic jury pool.
Paxton, who remains a close ally of Donald Trump, has used his office to pursue several high-profile cases targeting major corporations and federal policies. His lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue aligns with broader political rhetoric around pharmaceutical accountability and consumer protection.
However, medical experts caution that amplifying unproven links between Tylenol and autism risks spreading misinformation that could harm public trust and lead to unsafe pain management during pregnancy.
Dr. Emily Carter, a maternal health specialist at Baylor College of Medicine, said, “Acetaminophen remains the safest over-the-counter pain reliever for pregnant women when used properly. Misrepresenting scientific uncertainty could cause confusion and fear among expecting mothers.”
Public health and regulatory response
The FDA has long maintained that acetaminophen is safe when used as directed but has also called for more research into potential long-term developmental effects. Global health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have not identified any causal relationship between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and autism.
As litigation proceeds, public health experts emphasize the importance of relying on peer-reviewed evidence and established medical guidance. The outcome of the Texas case could influence broader state-level actions and pharmaceutical marketing practices nationwide.
Source: AP News – Texas lawsuit against companies behind Tylenol asserts unproven claims of autism risk
