Overview
- Filed in Panola County District Court on Oct. 28, Attorney General Ken Paxton accuses Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue of violating Texas consumer-protection laws.
- The complaint alleges the companies concealed risks, promoted Tylenol as the only safe painkiller in pregnancy, and improperly shifted liabilities to Kenvue; it seeks injunctions, destruction of certain marketing, and $10,000 per-violation penalties.
- Kenvue rejects the claims as scientifically unsupported, says acetaminophen is the safest option for pregnant patients when needed, and vows a vigorous defense, while Johnson & Johnson says Tylenol liabilities now reside with Kenvue.
- The filing follows Trump administration statements warning of a possible link between prenatal acetaminophen and autism and FDA steps to notify clinicians and review labeling language.
- Medical societies and recent rigorous studies report no proven causal link between prenatal acetaminophen and neurodevelopmental disorders, cautioning that discouraging use could endanger patients who need treatment for pain or fever.