AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked a judge to block Tylenol manufacturer Kenvue from distributing $400 million in shareholder dividends as the state pursues a lawsuit alleging the company failed to warn that prenatal use of acetaminophen could increase autism risk.
Public health experts and major medical associations emphasize that no credible scientific evidence shows Tylenol causes autism. Multiple studies cited by Paxton have been disputed or found only weak correlations without causation, and major reviews conclude the evidence remains inconclusive.
Paxton’s filing claims Kenvue may need the funds to pay potential damages if Texas wins its case. Legal scholars called the request “extraordinary,” noting that corporations typically control dividend decisions unless near insolvency.
Kenvue, which spun off from Johnson & Johnson, said Paxton’s claims are “scientifically unsound” and politically motivated. “We will stand up for credible science,” the company said.
The case, filed in Panola County, will be heard by Judge LeAnn Rafferty. No hearing date has been set. Paxton, who is challenging U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in next year’s GOP primary, framed the lawsuit as holding “Big Pharma accountable.”
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