A legal echo bounced through a Manhattan courtroom this week, shaking loose a controversy many thought had been sealed shut. More than 500 private lawsuits—once swept aside—may be clawing their way back into the spotlight, all centered on the allegation that Tylenol use during pregnancy is linked to autism and ADHD.
The cases were previously dismissed after a federal judge tore into the scientific approach of the plaintiffs’ experts. Yet two appellate judges now appear unconvinced that the evidence was beyond saving. During the hearing, they questioned whether critical testimony was unfairly tossed out before a jury ever had the chance to weigh its worth.
The market reacted swiftly. Kenvue—Tylenol’s manufacturer—saw its stock slip as the judges signaled that at least some expert analysis might have deserved a day in court.
The timing is particularly charged. In recent months, top U.S. officials have publicly floated the idea of a possible connection between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism, though major medical organizations continue to stress that no reliable evidence supports such a link. For decades, acetaminophen has been the standard recommendation for pain and fever in pregnancy, provided doses remain minimal.
Kenvue’s stance hasn’t budged: the company insists the science remains steady and the product safe.
Inside the courtroom, the debate over evidence took center stage. One appellate judge noted that the plaintiffs’ lead expert—an academic heavyweight—appeared to justify every step of his methodology, even if critics found it flawed. Another judge suggested that sorting out imperfect science is exactly what juries are built for.
A ruling is still pending.
A Corporate Mega-Deal Paused in Mid-Air
Beyond the courtroom drama looms a massive corporate acquisition: Kimberly-Clark’s more than $40 billion plan to buy Kenvue. Whether the potential rebirth of these lawsuits could nudge that deal off balance remains a mystery.
Both companies previously assured regulators that the Tylenol-autism debate wouldn’t derail their plans. They still aim to seal the transaction in 2026.
Meanwhile, Kenvue continues to fend off challenges elsewhere. In Texas, a court recently refused to halt the company’s upcoming shareholder dividend or force marketing changes tied to similar allegations.
The legal saga around a household painkiller—one tucked into cabinets across America—now sits at the crossroads of science, commerce, and courtroom scrutiny, waiting for the next move from the appellate bench.
