Kenvue Stock (KVUE) Plummets Amid Tylenol-Autism Report Concerns

Kenvue shares cratered 13% to a 52-week low after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. signaled an impending report suggesting potential links between prenatal Tylenol use and autism spectrum disorders. The consumer health giant, spun off from Johnson & Johnson last year, saw $4 billion evaporate from its market cap in a single trading session.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the forthcoming HHS findings, which may recommend folate-based alternatives for developmental disorder management. Kenvue's swift rebuttal emphasized four decades of acetaminophen safety data, but markets reacted with visceral skepticism - particularly given the company's existing operational challenges.

Interim CEO Kirk Perry now faces compounding crises: activist investor pressure, retailer inventory reductions, and softening demand for legacy OTC products. The timing couldn't be worse for a firm already conducting a strategic review of its business lines and capital allocation framework.