No clear evidence to establish paracetamol-autism link: Dolo maker Dilip Surana counters Trump’s claim

Dolo-650, the flagship brand of Micro Labs, is the top-selling paracetamol in India with sales of over Rs 300 crore in the moving annual total (MAT) for July 2025, as per IQVIA data.

Hours after a World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson said that evidence of a link between the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism remained inconsistent, Dilip Surana, chairman and managing director of Micro Labs — the company behind the brand Dolo – maintained that the global scientific consensus does not support the alleged link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism.

During an exclusive interaction with News18, Suran said that claims must be weighed against established research. He added: “While recent claims linking paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism have emerged, it’s crucial to recognise that the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the evidence remains inconsistent and lacks replicability." He stressed that the most rigorous studies have not found a link.

Suran comments was preceded by a detailed clarification from WHO after President Donald Trump on Monday linked autism to childhood vaccine use and the taking of popular pain medication Tylenol by women when pregnant, elevating claims not backed by scientific evidence to the forefront of US health policy.

Additionally, Surana pointed out that avoiding treatment altogether could carry its own dangers. “Untreated fever during pregnancy can pose risks to both the mother and the foetus, making it essential to manage such symptoms appropriately."

Dolo-650, the flagship brand of Micro Labs, is the top-selling paracetamol in India with sales of over Rs 300 crore in the moving annual total (MAT) for July 2025, as per IQVIA data. The brand is also the most prescribed, accounting for 0.66% of total prescriptions in the country between November 2024 and February 2025.

Surana also highlighted the Indian context, describing how expectant mothers in this country are especially cautious. “In India, expectant mothers are known for their vigilance and care during pregnancy. Our medical professionals are well-equipped to provide guidance on safe medication use," he said.

Also, on Tuesday night, the UK’s drug regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), stepped in with a clarification, stating: “There is no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children." It reaffirmed that paracetamol remains the first-choice painkiller for expectant mothers when used at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest possible duration.