Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue, alleging the companies deceptively marketed Tylenol to pregnant women “despite known dangers to unborn children,” according to an Oct. 26 press release.
The lawsuit claims the companies promoted acetaminophen as safe during pregnancy while ignoring studies linking prenatal use to autism and ADHD. It also accuses Johnson & Johnson of violating Texas law by transferring liabilities to Kenvue in an effort to shield assets from litigation.
Johnson & Johnson spun off its consumer health business in Kenvue in 2022. The independent company is now responsible for Tylenol-related products and liabilities.
In response to the lawsuit, a Kenvue spokesperson told Becker’s that the company is “deeply concerned by the perpetuation of misinformation on the safety of acetaminophen,” and emphasized that acetaminophen remains “the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women” when medically necessary. Kenvue will “vigorously defend” against the claims, which it says lack legal and scientific merit, the spokesperson said.
The suit follows a Sept. 22 press conference in which President Donald Trump urged pregnant women to avoid Tylenol unless necessary. Federal officials have since announced plans to update acetaminophen warning labels, though major medical organizations maintain the drug is safe during pregnancy.
A 2024 Swedish study spanning more than 2 million children found that the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy was not associated with a risk of a child developing autism, ADHD or intellectual disability.
