Kenvue’s shares dropped over 10% on Friday after reports emerged that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., plans to release a report linking prenatal use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) to autism.
The Wall Street Journal indicated the report is expected this month and may also propose a folate-based treatment for some autism symptoms.
An HHS spokesperson said, “We are using gold-standard science to get to the bottom of America’s unprecedented rise in autism rates,” adding that “any claims about its contents are nothing more than speculation” before the report’s release.
Kennedy’s time at HHS has included efforts to challenge established medical treatments and vaccine policies, focusing heavily on autism research. He pledged in April that by September the agency would “know what has caused the autism epidemic” after mobilising a global scientific effort.
Kenvue rejected the link, stating it “continues to believe there is no causal link” between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism. They pointed to the FDA and medical organisations, which support acetaminophen’s safety when used as directed in pregnancy.
The FDA website notes no clear evidence connecting acetaminophen to adverse developmental outcomes but advises pregnant women to consult healthcare providers before use. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists agrees acetaminophen is safe under medical supervision.
Some past studies have raised concerns about risks, and parents have filed lawsuits alleging Tylenol caused autism. However, a 2023 federal ruling dismissed several claims for lacking scientific proof, ending much litigation by 2024. Some research also found no association between acetaminophen and autism.