Pennsylvania produces the drug at the center of President Donald Trump’s announcement Monday suggesting a potential link to rising autism rates.
Kenvue, a global drug manufacturer whose brands include Tylenol — the drug in question — has plants in Fort Washington outside of Philadelphia and in Lancaster County, where it is one of the top 50 employers.
Trump said that women should not take acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, “during the entire pregnancy” — a claim strongly rebuked by major medical professional groups and the drugmaker.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s secretary of health and human services, has long promoted debunked theories that vaccines are behind higher rates of autism. Now the administration has turned to a medication that has eased pain in countless pregnant women — often an early indicator of life-threatening conditions — as the culprit.
Experts say the rise in autism cases is mainly due to a new definition for the disorder that now includes mild cases on a “spectrum” and better diagnoses, the Associated Press reported.
They say there is no single cause to the disorder and say the rhetoric appears to ignore and undermine decades of science into the genetic and environmental factors that can play a role.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists swiftly fired back against the Trump administration, saying the agency’s advice would threaten the health of pregnant women and was not supported by any reliable data.
“Suggestions that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism are not only highly concerning to clinicians but also irresponsible when considering the harmful and confusing message they send to pregnant patients, including those who may need to rely on this beneficial medicine during pregnancy,” said Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
“Today’s announcement by HHS is not backed by the full body of scientific evidence and dangerously simplifies the many and complex causes of neurologic challenges in children. It is highly unsettling that our federal health agencies are willing to make an announcement that will affect the health and well-being of millions of people without the backing of reliable data.”
Fleischman said: “The conditions people use acetaminophen to treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks and can create severe morbidity and mortality for the pregnant person and the fetus.”
Kenvue pointed to acetaminophen as one of the most studied medications in history and the best pain relief option for women during pregnancy.
“We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers,” the company said in a statement.
“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. We stand with the many public health and medical professionals who have reviewed this science and agree. We will continue to explore all options to protect the health interests of American women and children.”
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