Texas AG Ken Paxton Sues Tylenol Makers, Citing Autism Risks Despite Lack of Evidence
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its spinoff company Kenvue, accusing them of misleading pregnant women about the safety of Tylenol despite alleged links to autism and other developmental disorders.
“Big Pharma betrayed America by profiting off pain and ignoring the risks,” Paxton said in a statement Tuesday. “These corporations lied for decades, endangering millions just to fill their pockets. By holding them accountable for poisoning our people, we will help Make America Healthy Again.”
The lawsuit marks the first filed by a state government since former President Donald Trump claimed in September that using Tylenol during pregnancy increases the risk of autism—a statement medical authorities have strongly disputed. Major health organizations maintain that there is no evidence Tylenol causes autism and only limited evidence suggesting a potential association.
Johnson & Johnson had manufactured Tylenol for decades before Kenvue began selling it in 2023 following its spinoff. In response to Paxton’s suit, Kenvue issued a statement rejecting the allegations, saying it was “deeply concerned by the spread of misinformation about acetaminophen’s safety.”
“Acetaminophen remains the safest pain reliever for pregnant women when used as directed,” the company said. “Without it, women face serious risks—untreated pain and fever can both harm mother and baby. We intend to vigorously defend ourselves against these baseless claims and stand with the medical community in affirming acetaminophen’s safety.”
Research on acetaminophen use during pregnancy has produced mixed results. While some studies have noted a potential link between prenatal exposure and conditions such as ADHD or autism, no research has found direct evidence of causation. Most medical experts, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), continue to recommend acetaminophen as safe in moderation for expectant mothers.
Federal officials last month pointed to an August 2025 meta-analysis by researchers from institutions including Mount Sinai, Harvard, UCLA, and UMass Lowell, which suggested a possible association between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the study’s authors clarified that their findings do not prove causation and did not recommend that pregnant women stop taking Tylenol.
Another large-scale study published in JAMA in April 2024, funded by the National Institutes of Health, found no connection between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities in children.
Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of ACOG, said last month that claims Tylenol causes autism are “highly concerning and irresponsible,” warning they could frighten pregnant women away from safe treatments.
Paxton’s lawsuit comes as he prepares for a heated Republican primary challenge against Sen. John Cornyn. The attorney general has aligned himself closely with former President Trump, previously backing Trump’s false claims of election fraud and supporting efforts to penalize Democratic lawmakers who opposed GOP redistricting plans.
A similar civil case against Kenvue was dismissed earlier this year by a New York judge who cited a lack of evidence, though that ruling is currently under appeal, with hearings expected in November.