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Kenvue Shares Drop After Report RFK Jr May Link Prenatal Tylenol to Autism

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Kenvue Shares Drop After Report RFK Jr May Link Prenatal Tylenol to Autism

On , shares of Kenvue, maker of Tylenol (acetaminophen), fell sharply after reports that US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would suggest a link between prenatal acetaminophen use and autism; shares dropped about 14% intraday and closed down roughly 9.5% as the company defended the drug’s safety.

Key Takeaways

  • Kenvue shares fell ~14% intraday and ended the session down about 9.5% after media reports about an HHS autism report.
  • Kenvue and major medical bodies state no proven causal link between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and autism.
  • The US Department of Health and Human Services called early claims speculation and said it relies on ‘gold-standard’ science.
  • Published studies are mixed: an analysis of 46 epidemiological studies found varied results; a large 2024 Swedish study found no causal link.
  • Kenvue faces hundreds of lawsuits alleging a Tylenol–autism link; a federal judge dismissed those cases in August 2024 and they are under appeal.
  • Clinical guidance continues to advise pregnant people to consult clinicians before taking any medicine; acetaminophen is commonly recommended for fever and pain during pregnancy.

Verified Facts

Market reaction: Kenvue shares initially fell about 14% when the Wall Street Journal reported the contents of an anticipated HHS autism report, then settled down to close about 9.5% lower at Friday’s market close. The company issued a public statement defending acetaminophen’s safety in pregnancy.

Company and agency positions: Kenvue said it has ‘continuously evaluated the science’ and sees no causal relationship between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and autism. The US Department of Health and Human Services described media claims about the report as speculation and said it is relying on ‘gold-standard science’ to study rising autism rates.

Scientific evidence: A recent review by investigators affiliated with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health examined 46 epidemiological studies; 27 reported associations between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes, nine reported no significant association, and four reported possible protective effects. In contrast, a 2024 study of about 2.4 million Swedish children published in the Journal of the American Medical Association did not find evidence supporting a causal relationship.

Legal context: Kenvue has been the target of hundreds of civil lawsuits claiming prenatal Tylenol exposure causes autism. In August 2024 a US federal judge dismissed those cases on the basis that plaintiff expert testimony lacked sufficient scientific support; plaintiffs are appealing that decision in a US appeals court.

Context & Impact

Clinical guidance and practice: US clinicians typically recommend acetaminophen over ibuprofen for pain relief during pregnancy because of safety concerns with some anti-inflammatory drugs in certain stages of pregnancy. Medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), advise pregnant patients to consult their healthcare providers about medication use.

Public health and policy: The HHS report — and any high-profile statements by the health secretary — could shape public perceptions, clinical messaging, and litigation risk even before definitive peer-reviewed conclusions are reached. Market moves reflect investor concerns about regulatory, legal and reputational fallout for Kenvue.

Evidence gaps: Researchers cite limitations in observational epidemiology, including confounding factors and varying exposure measurements, which make establishing causation difficult. Scientists note that maternal fever and unmanaged pain can also harm fetal development, complicating risk–benefit calculations.

Official Statements

‘We are using gold-standard science to get to the bottom of America’s unprecedented rise in autism rates.’

US Department of Health and Human Services

‘We have continuously evaluated the science and continue to believe there is no causal link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism.’

Kenvue

Explainer

Unconfirmed

  • Whether the forthcoming HHS report will definitively assert acetaminophen is a cause of autism; early media accounts remain speculative.
  • Reports that the HHS will recommend a specific form of folate as an autism treatment — this has been reported but not confirmed by HHS.
  • It is unclear if the report will attribute any portion of autism rate changes to vaccination; RFK Jr.’s past vaccine skepticism is public, but the report’s final content is not yet released.

Bottom Line

Short-term market and media reactions reflect concern about potential regulatory and legal consequences rather than settled science. The evidence on acetaminophen and autism remains mixed: some observational studies report associations while large population analyses and expert bodies find insufficient proof of causation. Clinicians continue to recommend case-by-case decision making for pregnant patients, and the legal appeals process and the forthcoming HHS report are likely to shape the next phase of debate.

Sources

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