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Texas Attorney General Paxton is suing the makers of acetaminophen, asserting the firms withheld potential risks that the pain reliever presented to pediatric brain development.

The court filing arrives four weeks after President Donald Trump advocated an unsubstantiated connection between using Tylenol - referred to as acetaminophen - during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in offspring.

Paxton is suing J&J, which previously sold the medication, the exclusive pain medication suggested for women during pregnancy, and Kenvue, which now manufacturers it.

In a declaration, he said they "deceived the public by gaining financially from suffering and pushing pills without regard for the risks."

The manufacturer asserts there is insufficient reliable data connecting Tylenol to autism spectrum disorder.

"These companies deceived for years, knowingly endangering countless individuals to line their pockets," the attorney general, a Republican, stated.

The company stated officially that it was "seriously troubled by the dissemination of inaccurate information on the reliability of acetaminophen and the possible consequences that could have on the well-being of women and children in America."

On its website, Kenvue also mentioned it had "continuously evaluated the pertinent research and there is no credible data that demonstrates a proven link between consuming acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder."

Groups acting on behalf of doctors and medical practitioners agree.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said paracetamol - the key substance in Tylenol - is among limited choices for women during pregnancy to treat discomfort and fever, which can present significant medical dangers if ignored.

"In over twenty years of studies on the use of paracetamol in gestation, zero credible investigations has successfully concluded that the use of paracetamol in any stage of pregnancy results in neurodevelopmental disorders in young ones," the organization stated.

The court filing references recent announcements from the previous government in arguing the drug is allegedly unsafe.

Last month, Trump raised alarms from public health officials when he instructed women during pregnancy to "fight like hell" not to use Tylenol when unwell.

The FDA then published an announcement that doctors should think about restricting the usage of Tylenol, while also stating that "a causal relationship" between the drug and autism spectrum disorder in children has not been established.

Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who supervises the FDA, had promised in April to undertake "extensive scientific investigation" that would determine the source of autism in a matter of months.

But specialists cautioned that identifying a sole reason of autism spectrum disorder - considered by experts to be the outcome of a intricate combination of inherited and environmental factors - would prove challenging.

Autism is a category of lifelong neurodivergence and disability that affects how persons encounter and relate to the surroundings, and is diagnosed using physician assessments.

In his lawsuit, Paxton - who supports Trump who is campaigning for US Senate - asserts the manufacturer and J&J "deliberately disregarded and sought to suppress the research" around paracetamol and autism.

The case attempts to require the firms "destroy any marketing or advertising" that states acetaminophen is reliable for expectant mothers.

The court case echoes the complaints of a collection of mothers and fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD who took legal action against the manufacturers of Tylenol in two years ago.

A federal judge threw out the lawsuit, saying research from the plaintiffs' authorities was inconclusive.