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The top legal official in Texas Ken Paxton is taking legal action against the makers of acetaminophen, claiming the firms hid safety concerns that the medication posed to pediatric neurological development.

This legal action comes a month after President Donald Trump promoted an unproven link between using Tylenol - referred to as acetaminophen - while pregnant and autism spectrum disorder in offspring.

Paxton is taking legal action against J&J, which previously sold the medication, the exclusive pain medication suggested for expectant mothers, and Kenvue, which now manufacturers it.

In a statement, he said they "betrayed America by making money from discomfort and marketing drugs regardless of the risks."

Kenvue asserts there is lacking scientific proof tying Tylenol to autism.

"These corporations lied for decades, deliberately risking numerous people to line their pockets," the attorney general, a Republican, declared.

The company commented that it was "seriously troubled by the perpetuation of misinformation on the safety of acetaminophen and the likely effects that could have on the health of American women and children."

On its official site, the company also stated it had "continuously evaluated the relevant science and there is no credible data that shows a proven link between consuming acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder."

Groups acting on behalf of medical professionals and healthcare providers concur.

ACOG has said paracetamol - the key substance in Tylenol - is among limited choices for pregnant women to treat pain and fever, which can present serious health risks if not addressed.

"In over twenty years of research on the use of paracetamol in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has conclusively proven that the use of paracetamol in any trimester of pregnancy causes neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring," the organization said.

The lawsuit mentions current declarations from the previous government in asserting the medication is potentially dangerous.

Last month, the former president generated worry from public health officials when he advised women during pregnancy to "fight like hell" not to take acetaminophen when sick.

The FDA then published an announcement that physicians should contemplate reducing the use of acetaminophen, while also stating that "a proven link" between the medication and autism spectrum disorder in minors has not been proven.

Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who oversees the Food and Drug Administration, had pledged in April to initiate "a massive testing and research effort" that would establish the source of autism spectrum disorder in a matter of months.

But specialists warned that discovering a single cause of autism spectrum disorder - believed by scientists to be the outcome of a complex mix of inherited and environmental factors - would be difficult.

Autism is a type of permanent neurological difference and condition that affects how individuals perceive and engage with the environment, and is diagnosed using medical professional evaluations.

In his legal document, Paxton - a Trump ally who is seeking US Senate - alleges Kenvue and J&J "deliberately disregarded and attempted to silence the evidence" around acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder.

This legal action aims to force the corporations "destroy any marketing or advertising" that states Tylenol is reliable for women during pregnancy.

The court case parallels the concerns of a group of guardians of minors with autism and ADHD who sued the manufacturers of Tylenol in 2022.

Judicial authorities rejected the case, stating research from the parents' expert witnesses was not conclusive.