A federal appeals court has revived more than 500 private lawsuits against Tylenol maker Kenvue. The lawsuits claim the company hid risks that the over-the-counter pain medication could cause autism in children whose mothers took the drug while pregnant.
The three-judge panel overruled a district court judge who had previously dismissed the lawsuits, citing unreliable scientific evidence. The appeals court stated that the lower court overstepped its gatekeeping function by excluding three experts.
This controversy has roiled the medical community, although there is no firm scientific evidence linking Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.