U.S. appeals court revives private lawsuits linking Tylenol to autism
Health and Science
U.S. appeals court revives private lawsuits linking Tylenol to autism
Published Mon, Jul 13 2026 12:23 PM EDT
Updated Mon, Jul 13 2026 12:45 PM EDT
Reuters
Tylenol is displayed for sale at a CVS Pharmacy on Nov. 3, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images
A federal appeals court on Monday revived more than 500 private lawsuits against Tylenol maker Kenvue over the painkiller's alleged link to autism. ... The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said a district court judge improperly excluded expert testimony from three doctors offered by parents and guardians who tied Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
There is no firm scientific evidence of such a link. The issue drew greater attention after President Donald Trump and top U.S. health officials in September suggested a link to autism. ... In a 64-page decision for a three-judge panel, Circuit Judge Guido Calabresi said the testimony from the three doctors reflected methodologies used by other scientists, and "constitute acceptable interpretations of scientific evidence where scientists may, and in fact do, disagree."
Kenvue agreed to be acquired by Kleenex tissue maker Kimberly-Clark for more than $40 billion last November. ... In a statement to CNBC, Kenvue said, "We stand behind the safety of our product and will continue to defend these cases." ... Many retailers and pharmacy operators including CVS, Kroger, Target, Walgreens and Walmart were also named as defendants. ... Shares of Kenvue traded down 20 cents at $19.28 in morning trading.
Doctors and medical societies consider acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, the preferred means to treat pain and fever during pregnancy, and Kenvue has long maintained that Tylenol is safe. ... Kenvue's former parent Johnson & Johnson made Tylenol for more than 60 years, and has also defended its safety.
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Monday's decision returns the lawsuits to Cote for further proceedings.
CNBC contributed reporting.