Court Reopens Tylenol Autism Cases

Hundreds of private lawsuits against Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, have been revived by a US appeals court. These cases allege unsubstantiated connections between the painkiller and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The previous dismissal of these lawsuits by a district judge was vacated by judges at Manhattan's second circuit of appeals.

The appellate judges ruled that the district judge had improperly excluded crucial expert witness testimony presented by the plaintiffs. As a result, the previously dismissed cases have been sent back to a lower court for additional proceedings. The plaintiffs contend that Tylenol use during pregnancy can lead to autism or ADHD in children.

However, current scientific research has not established a causal relationship between taking acetaminophen, the primary ingredient in Tylenol, and the development of these neurological conditions. Public health experts have noted the lack of scientific basis for claims linking Tylenol to autism, even as former President Donald Trump previously urged pregnant women to avoid the medication over this unproven association.

A Kenvue spokesperson stated that this procedural ruling does not alter the scientific consensus. The company emphasized that credible, independent science indicates no proven link between acetaminophen and autism or ADHD. Kenvue plans to demonstrate that the plaintiffs' expert opinions are unreliable in the upcoming proceedings. The company was spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023.