(Bloomberg) – As per the reports, Trump administration authorities are getting ready to issue new guidance connecting the main ingredient in Tylenol (acetaminophen) to autism. “Trump administration officials plan to link the active ingredient in Tylenol to autism Monday, the Washington Post reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.”

The new advisory is anticipated to warn pregnant women against using acetaminophen unless it is required to treat a fever, even though the drug is one of the world’s most prevalent over-the-counter pain relievers.

Market Influence

News of the potential declaration has already shaken the pharmaceutical marketplace. Shares of Tylenol-maker Kenvue Inc. dropped as much as 4.6% in premarket trading Monday, adding to a decline that has made the stock down 14% this year. A previous report on the administration’s investigation into acetaminophen and autism had also sparked a sell-off.

Kenvue Pushes Back

In response, Kenvue released a company rebuttal, mentioning that “independent, sound science” shows no connection between acetaminophen and autism.
The company added: “We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers. The facts are that over a decade of rigorous research, endorsed by leading medical professionals and global health regulators, confirms there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism.”

Administration’s Autism Initiative

Beyond caution in regard to acetaminophen, the administration is also anticipated to initiate leucovorin as a possible treatment for autism. Leucovorin, long employed in cancer therapy to minimize harmful side effects of chemotherapy drugs, has exhibited preliminary promise in small studies of autism treatment.

President Trump has signaled the significance he attaches on this issue, stating supporters during a memorial occasion for conservative advocate Charlie Kirk:
“We think we found an answer to autism. There’s obviously something really wrong, we think we know what that is.”
He further explained the upcoming announcement as “one of the most important news conferences” of his administration.

Conflicting Evidence

Legal and scientific disagreements over acetaminophen’s safety in pregnancy have persisted. In late 2023, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote dismissed lawsuits that alleged prenatal Tylenol exposure elevated autism risk, ruling that claimants had depended on flawed science.

Further challenging the issues, a large 2024 Swedish study examining the health records of approximately 2.5 million siblings discovered no increased risk of autism among children whose mothers ingested acetaminophen in pregnancy.

FAQs:

Q1. What is acetaminophen?
Acetaminophen is a commonly used over-the-counter pain reliever and fever minimizer. It is usually sold under the brand called Tylenol.

Q2 . What is leucovorin?
Leucovorin is a pharmaceutical usually used in cancer treatments. The administration may initiate it as a possible autism therapy.