U.S. President Donald Trump announced that taking Tylenol (active ingredient: acetaminophen) during pregnancy has been found to increase the risk of autism, leading to a 7% plunge in the stock price of Kenvue, the manufacturer of Tylenol.
On September 22 (local time) at the New York Stock Exchange, Kenvue shares closed at $16.97, down 7.47% from the previous session. In after-hours trading, the stock rebounded by 4.42% to close at $17.72. Since early this month, after foreign media reported that the Trump administration would release a report linking Tylenol use during pregnancy to an increased risk of giving birth to a child with autism, Kenvue’s stock price has dropped by 16% as of this day.
Kenvue was established in 2023 as a spin-off from Johnson & Johnson’s consumer health division. Kenvue owns brands such as Tylenol, Listerine, Neutrogena, and Johnson’s Baby Shampoo.
On this day, President Trump held a press conference at the White House, stating that taking Tylenol during pregnancy has been found to increase the risk of autism. He said, “The FDA will strongly recommend restricting Tylenol use during pregnancy unless it is medically necessary.” He cited “unbearably high fever” as an example of a medically necessary situation.
In a statement released the same day, Kenvue said, “Independent and sound science clearly shows that acetaminophen use does not cause autism,” and added, “Acetaminophen remains the safest pain relief option for pregnant women when needed throughout pregnancy.” Acetaminophen has been prescribed by doctors for pain or fever in pregnant women. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen (known as Advil) or naproxen are generally not recommended, as they may be harmful to the fetus.
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