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Paxton Moves to Block Kenvue’s $400 Million Dividend, Seeks Curbs on Tylenol Ads

He argues the payout would improperly deplete funds needed to cover potential penalties in a pending Panola County case over prenatal acetaminophen warnings.

Overview

  • Texas asked the court to halt a Nov. 26 dividend of roughly $398–$400 million and to temporarily stop Kenvue and Johnson & Johnson from advertising Tylenol as safe for pregnant women and young children.
  • The filings follow Paxton’s lawsuit alleging deceptive marketing for failing to warn that prenatal acetaminophen use may be linked to autism and ADHD, claims the companies dispute.
  • Kenvue says the state’s theories lack legal merit and scientific support and vows to defend the safety of its products and the underlying science.
  • The requests cite recent federal guidance urging caution during pregnancy without establishing causation, while major medical groups criticized that guidance as premature.
  • No hearing has been set on the injunctions, and the effort to block the payout adds uncertainty to Kimberly-Clark’s planned acquisition as Kenvue shares trade well below the announced deal price.