Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a sweeping lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its consumer spin-off Kenvue, accusing the companies of deceiving the public about potential risks associated with the use of Tylenol during pregnancy. The complaint, filed on October 28, 2025, marks the first state-level action in the U.S. targeting the makers of acetaminophen over alleged links to autism and ADHD in children.
Paxton described the case as a battle against "Big Pharma that betrayed America," asserting that the corporations "lied for decades and profited from pain." He said the companies "knowingly endanger[ed] millions to line their pockets" and sought to "illegally offload liability" by transferring their consumer division into Kenvue.
The Texas lawsuit builds on a wave of nationwide class-action claims alleging that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen may be tied to neurodevelopmental disorders. While several peer-reviewed studies have reported possible associations, the scientific community remains sharply divided on whether the connection is causal.
According to Houston Public Media, the Texas complaint accuses the manufacturers of violating state consumer protection laws by "withholding evidence suggesting a possible link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism or ADHD." It further alleges deceptive marketing and failure to disclose internal data that might have indicated risks.
Both Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue have previously rejected similar accusations in other courts, insisting their products comply with federal safety standards. They maintain that existing evidence does not prove causation. Health regulators and medical groups-including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists-have said acetaminophen remains safe for use during pregnancy when taken as directed.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently called for a cautious approach, advising that "pregnant women limit use pending further research." Still, many experts warn that overstating uncertainty could discourage safe pain management, noting that "correlation does not imply causation."
The legal filing seeks financial penalties and injunctive relief to prevent what Paxton's office calls ongoing "misrepresentation." If the case succeeds, it could prompt federal regulators to revisit labeling requirements for over-the-counter pain relievers and potentially require warning statements specific to prenatal use.
Public reaction has been mixed. Consumer advocates have praised the lawsuit as an overdue challenge to corporate accountability, while medical professionals and pharmaceutical analysts caution that it risks politicizing science. Some industry observers say Paxton's move could deepen skepticism toward established medications and federal oversight processes.
Paxton, who has built a reputation for aggressive litigation against pharmaceutical and federal entities, faces renewed scrutiny over timing and motive. The lawsuit arrives amid recent federal reviews of drug labeling policies, leading some to question whether politics are shaping state health litigation.
