Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, just took a financial nosedive with shares dropping more than 10% on Friday.
According to CNBC, news broke via the Wall Street Journal that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to release a report this month, potentially tying autism to Tylenol use during pregnancy, while also hinting at a folate-based treatment for some autism symptoms.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a stock market hiccup; it’s a cultural lightning rod. Kennedy, who’s made autism a centerpiece of his HHS agenda, has been pushing hard to uncover what he calls the root of an “epidemic.” His April pledge to identify causes by September is now bearing fruit—or at least controversy.
Back in April, Kennedy announced a massive global research push involving hundreds of scientists to pinpoint autism’s origins. Now, with this report looming, the focus on Tylenol—a household name for pain relief—has sent shockwaves through the market. Is this science, or a political sledgehammer aimed at Big Pharma?
An HHS spokesperson crowed, “We are using gold-standard science.” Fine, but let’s not pop the champagne just yet—promises of groundbreaking research often outrun the messy reality of causation. Until the report drops, skepticism is the name of the game.
That same spokesperson added, “Until we release the final report, any claims about its contents are nothing more than speculation.” Fair enough, but when a 10% stock drop follows a leak, speculation isn’t just idle chatter—it’s a wrecking ball. The public deserves clarity, not cliffhangers.
Kenvue isn’t taking this lying down, asserting they’ve “continuously evaluated the science” and see no link between acetaminophen, Tylenol’s generic name, and autism. They’re leaning on the FDA and top medical groups that back the drug’s safety during pregnancy. Sounds reasonable, but public trust isn’t won with press releases.
The FDA itself notes there’s no “clear evidence” of harm from proper acetaminophen use in pregnancy. That’s a reassuring pat on the back for Kenvue, but the fine print—urging pregnant women to consult doctors—leaves room for doubt. When even regulators hedge, folks start to wonder.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists echoes this, calling acetaminophen safe when used as directed after medical advice. Yet, past studies and lawsuits from parents claiming autism links after Tylenol use keep the pot boiling. Science may say one thing, but a worried mom’s gut says another.
Some research has flagged acetaminophen as a risk to fetal development, fueling legal battles that ended in 2023 when a Manhattan federal judge tossed out claims for lack of evidence. By 2024, the litigation was kaput. Still, the ghost of those cases haunts Kenvue’s reputation.
Other studies, however, find no connection between the drug and autism, muddying the waters further. BNP Paribas analyst Navann Ty pointed out that the “hurdle to proving causation” is steep, especially with past lawsuits fizzling out. It’s a fair bet that hard proof will remain elusive.
Kennedy’s track record doesn’t help calm the storm—he’s already rattled cages with vaccine policy shifts and questionable takes on mRNA technology. Tylenol could be his next target in a crusade against mainstream medicine. While passion for answers is admirable, rewriting health policy on a hunch is a gamble.
Let’s not forget the human side—parents navigating autism diagnoses are desperate for explanations, not political theater. If Kennedy’s report offers real data on folate-derived treatments for symptoms, that’s a win worth cheering. But pinning blame on a common drug without ironclad proof risks panic over progress.
The clash here isn’t just about Tylenol; it’s about trust in institutions versus a growing skepticism of the medical establishment’s one-size-fits-all answers. Kennedy’s push might resonate with those fed up with bureaucratic groupthink, but it’s a tightrope walk between reform and recklessness. America needs solutions, not scapegoats.