Tylenol maker Kenvue faces crisis after Trump raises unproven autism link

Tylenol

Tylenol, America's best-known pain reliever, is again at the centre of a storm. This week, President Trump declared pregnant women should not take the drug, suggesting an autism connection that remains to be confirmed. The remarks prompted a public relations debacle for Kenvue, the Johnson & Johnson spinoff that now controls Tylenol. Within hours, Kenvue shares dropped 7 percent, after slumping 17 percent last month, the New York Times reported.

Kenvue pushes back

Kenvue, a manufacturer of Band-Aid, Neutrogena and Johnson's Baby Shampoo as well, explained that its flagship brand remains safe. "Independent, sound science clearly shows that consuming acetaminophen does not result in autism," company representative Melissa Witt said. Executives such as interim CEO Kirk Perry have lobbied Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to highlight the scientific consensus. The company also updated its website with consumer reassurances, warning that misinformation puts expecting mothers at risk by depriving them of fever treatment.

Long history, new challenges

Tylenol has faced crises previously. Cyanide-filled capsules in 1982 killed seven people, and a nationwide panic broke out. Johnson & Johnson, which was the parent company at the time, salvaged Tylenol's image by introducing tamper-proof packaging, which is now the standard for crisis management. But in 2023, J&J split off its consumer health business into Kenvue to concentrate on more lucrative medical devices and drugs. That left the new firm to deal with a billion-dollar brand that was then in the midst of political, legal, and financial upheaval.

Scientific controversy and litigation

The argument linking acetaminophen, Tylenol's active ingredient, to autism isn't new. Scientists have researched potential connections for over a decade, but findings are inconclusive. Some studies find correlations, and others find no connection after adjusting for genetics and illness during pregnancy. In 2024, a federal judge dismissed lawsuits by families claiming that Tylenol caused autism or ADHD in their children on grounds of a lack of scientific basis. Plaintiffs are appealing, and the new political spotlight may spur further litigation.

Financial stakes are high

Tylenol still generates about $1 billion in annual revenue, according to Morningstar estimates, even after it has been beset by generic alternatives. Nearly a quarter of American adults ingest an acetaminophen product each week. Any sharp decline in consumer confidence would cut deeply into Kenvue's earnings potential. Analysts warn that even mere rumblings about health issues can hurt over-the-counter brands quickly, particularly when they are fuelled by presidential statements and social media viral chatter.

A company in transition

Kenvue is already grappling with poor sales and leadership turmoil. Former CEO Thibaut Mongon was ousted in July, replaced by Perry, a consumer goods veteran. Activist investors have pressured the company to restructure, spin off assets, or pursue an acquisition. In this

context, the Tylenol scandal adds another layer of uncertainty that threatens not just brand reputation but also corporate strategy.

A history of risk and resilience

Acetaminophen has been on the market since the 1950s as aspirin's safer alternative. Liver injury from excessive use has prompted alarm over the years for regulators, leading to dose messages and packaging changes. Johnson & Johnson was accused in a 2013 ProPublica investigation of fighting tighter protections, although the company insisted it had always behaved responsibly. In spite of periodic recalls and scandals, Tylenol remained a family favourite, demonstrating strength in adversity.

Looking ahead

Kenvue's work is to reassure consumers in the face of political firestorms, lawsuits, and investor scepticism. Science verifies Tylenol's safety, the company insists, but reputation risk is all too real. Trump and Kennedy will continue to make assertions that autism is a public health crisis brought about by pregnancy medications, and Kenvue may be forced into another contentious fight to protect its brand-one that will decide not just the fate of Tylenol but possibly even that of the two-year-old company itself.