Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue, accusing the pharmaceutical giants of deceptively marketing Tylenol to pregnant women despite long-standing evidence that the drug’s active ingredient, acetaminophen, may increase the risk of autism and other developmental disorders in unborn children.
“Big Pharma betrayed America by profiting off of pain and pushing pills regardless of the risks. These corporations lied for decades, knowingly endangering millions to line their pockets,” said Paxton. “Additionally, seeing that the day of reckoning was coming, Johnson & Johnson attempted to escape responsibility by illegally offloading their liability onto a different company. By holding Big Pharma accountable for poisoning our people, we will help Make America Healthy Again.”
Paxton’s lawsuit alleges that Johnson & Johnson ignored decades of scientific evidence showing that prenatal and early-childhood exposure to acetaminophen products such as Tylenol can lead to Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Despite these risks, the company continued to market Tylenol as a completely safe pain-relief option for pregnant women—actions that the attorney general says violate Texas consumer protection laws.
The suit further claims Johnson & Johnson violated the Texas Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act by moving liabilities associated with Tylenol to its spinoff company, Kenvue, in an attempt to shield its assets from future lawsuits. The complaint argues that this maneuver was designed to evade accountability for the harm allegedly inflicted on children exposed to acetaminophen before birth.
Kenvue, the company now responsible for Tylenol, strongly disputed the lawsuit’s claims and defended the safety of acetaminophen.
In a statement, the company said, “Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of the people who use our products. We are deeply concerned by the perpetuation of misinformation on the safety of acetaminophen and the potential impact that could have on the health of American women and children.”
The company emphasized that acetaminophen is “the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women as needed throughout their entire pregnancy” and warned that untreated pain or high fevers during pregnancy can also endanger both mother and baby.
Kenvue pledged to “vigorously defend” itself in court and said the state’s claims lack legal and scientific support, urging women to consult healthcare professionals about any medication use during pregnancy.
A Johnson & Johnson spokesperson told Texas Scorecard that the company “divested its consumer health business years ago, and all rights and liabilities associated with the sale of its over-the-counter products, including Tylenol (acetaminophen), are owned by Kenvue.”
Paxton’s filing comes amid renewed attention from the Trump administration, which recently highlighted a growing body of evidence connecting acetaminophen use during pregnancy to developmental disorders.
Last month, President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced new research initiatives and federal funding to investigate the potential risks of using Tylenol during pregnancy. They highlighted emerging evidence suggesting a possible link between prenatal Tylenol exposure and increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, urging caution and updating guidance for expectant mothers.
HHS also emphasized the need for further studies to inform future public health recommendations.
According to Paxton’s office, the newly filed lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue seeks to hold the corporations accountable for decades of deceptive marketing that risked the health and safety of both mothers and their children.
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