Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue, accusing the pharmaceutical companies of deceptively marketing Tylenol to pregnant women while allegedly concealing evidence linking prenatal exposure to acetaminophen, the drug's active ingredient, to higher risks of autism and other developmental disorders.
"Big Pharma betrayed America by profiting off of pain and pushing pills regardless of the risks," stated Paxton. "These corporations lied for decades, knowingly endangering millions to line their pockets."
According to the lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson allegedly ignored and sought to suppress scientific research suggesting that prenatal and early-childhood exposure to acetaminophen could contribute to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children.
Despite these concerns, the company continued to market Tylenol as safe for pregnant women, which Paxton's office contends violates Texas consumer protection laws.
"Additionally, seeing that the day of reckoning was coming, Johnson & Johnson attempted to escape responsibility by illegally offloading their liability onto a different company," said Paxton. "By holding Big Pharma accountable for poisoning our people, we will help Make America Healthy Again."
The suit also accuses Johnson & Johnson of violating the Texas Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act by transferring its liabilities related to Tylenol to Kenvue, a seperate company spun off in 2023. Paxton's office claims this was an effort to shield assets and evate accountability for harm allegedly caused by the product.
