Topline
Donald Trump went after Tylenol again in a Truth Social post Friday, urging pregnant women to avoid the drug, causing parent company Kenvue’s shares to slip.
Key Facts
President Trump warned women to avoid Tylenol “unless absolutely necessary” in a post on Truth Social Friday.
The president also said that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccines should be taken in three separate shots, and the hepatitis B vaccine should only be taken when the children are 12 years or older, contradicting CDC claims there was no scientific evidence showing it was beneficial to separate the vaccines.
The president made similar statements during a press conference at the White House on September 22nd, after which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it was changing the labels on Tylenol bottles to suggest that it may cause autism and ADHD in children whose mothers took the drug when they were pregnant.
Most studies, including a 2024 study by the Journal of the American Medical Association have found no link between acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, and autism.
Shares of Kenvue, the company that produces Tylenol, fell close to 2% to $16.17 after the post, but have since recovered.
Kenvue’s shares are down more than 20% this month amid multiple comments from the Trump administration linking usage of Tylenol by pregnant women with an increased risk of autism in infants.
Key Background
Tylenol is owned by Kenvue’s subsidiary McNeil Consumer Healthcare. More than 52 million people in the United States use the over-the-counter medicine every week, according to the nonprofit Consumer Healthcare Products Association. While some studies have shown a connection between acetaminophen and autism, they have not proven a causal link, despite claims from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy that acetaminophen is a possible cause.
Kennedy’s focus on Tylenol began after a meeting with Kenvue’s CEO earlier this month, after which he and his team sounded a warning to physicians on the issue. Trump’s warnings have resurfaced a barrage of litigation over the issue – a federal court dismissed lawsuits alleging a link between Tylenol and developmental disorder in December.
Further Reading
