By Kelly Cloonan

Shares of Kenvue, a unit of which owns the Tylenol brand, declined amid plans from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to announce that pregnant women's use of the over-the-counter medication is potentially linked to autism.

The stock fell 7.7%, to $18.98, midday Friday from trading near flat. Shares are down 11% this year.

The Department of Health and Human Services is expected to share a report this month citing Tylenol taken during pregnancy among potential causes of autism, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Tylenol, whose active ingredient is acetaminophen, is a widely used pain reliever, including by pregnant women. The brand is owned by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a division of Kenvue.

Some previous studies have indicated Tylenol's risks to fetal development when used by pregnant women, but others have found no association.

"Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of the people who use our products," a Kenvue spokeswoman said. "We have continuously evaluated the science and continue to believe there is no causal link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism."

Write to Kelly Cloonan at kelly.cloonan@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 05, 2025 13:52 ET (17:52 GMT)

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