Texas AG Paxton Sues J&J and Kenvue Over Prenatal Tylenol Claims

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday sued Johnson & Johnson and its consumer-health spinoff Kenvue, alleging the companies concealed evidence that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, can harm brain development when taken during pregnancy and that the firms deceptively marketed the drug as safe for pregnant women. The suit, filed in state court, is the first by a state attorney general to pursue such claims following high-profile federal officials’ warnings last month about a possible link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Paxton alleges that Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue hid scientific evidence connecting prenatal and early childhood exposure to acetaminophen with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, in violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act. The complaint also asserts that Johnson & Johnson fraudulently transferred Tylenol-related liabilities to Kenvue after spinning off its consumer business in 2023, in violation of Texas’s Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, and warns that the maneuver could limit funds available to compensate affected families.