Of course they fucking did. Like the tobacco companies knew their products caused cancer. Like the asbestos companies knew their products caused cancer. Like the fossil fuel companies knew their products caused climate change. Like the food companies know their processed products are the cause of the obesity epidemic.
The CEO’s earned their bonuses the share holders earned their dividends and the bean counters and lawyers worked out hiding the truth would cost pennies to the dollars they made in profits in the eventual lawsuits and they’d have already cashed out anyway leaving others to hold the bag.