Tylenol maker Kenvue plunges on reports that the White House planned to link the drug to autism

• Reports on Monday say the White House is planning to link Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism.

• This news spurred an 8% sell-off in shares for Kenvue, the company behind the pain relief drug.

• Drug companies have been under pressure amid the administration’s push to reshape public health initiatives.

The move: Shares of Tylenol maker Kenvue fell over 7% on Monday, extending the company’s year-to-date loss to 21%, before rebounding by more than 4% in after-hours trading.

The Chart:

This chart reflects the plunge during daytime trading hours only and does not represent the rebound in extended trading.

Why: Reports on Monday indicated that White House officials were planning to link autism to Tylenol use during pregnancy. The over-the-counter pain drug, also known as acetaminophen, is manufactured by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a subsidiary of Kenvue.

On Monday evening, the White House made the announcement official with a press conference.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, has been focused on determining the causes of autism, framing it as a critical public health issue.

“Today, the FDA is taking action to update the label on acetaminophen and sending a letter to all US doctors, letting them know about the risks in pregnancy,” said Marty Makary, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, during the Monday press conference.

During the press appearance, Kennedy added that the department will urge clinicians to use their “best judgment” when prescribing acetaminophen during pregnancy, recommending it only when necessary, at the lowest effective dose, and for the shortest possible duration.

An additional report from the administration will focus on the use of Tylenol for pregnant women and is expected to be released this month.

This isn’t the first time that risks posed by Tylenol use during pregnancy have been raised. In 2021, a study published by the medical journal Nature Reviews Endocrinology presented evidence that pregnant women should avoid acetaminophen unless medically prescribed.

What it means: Kenvue has said it strongly disagrees with claims that Tylenol is linked to autism, stating it believes science has shown there’s no causal link to acetaminophen use.

The stock joins the ranks of other pharmaceutical shares that have struggled in 2025 as Kennedy and the Trump administration try to reshape discussions around public health. Vaccine makers in particular have been under pressure amid changes to vaccine guidance proposed by the government.