What is Kenvue? The Tylenol maker facing RFK Jr. scrutiny over autism claims

Kenvue stock plummeted Friday, Sept. 5 amid reports Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will suggest a link between autism and the use of the company’s Tylenol medication by pregnant women.

Tylenol, a popular over-the-counter pain reliever whose active ingredient is acetaminophen, is made by Kenvue, a spinoff of Johnson & Johnson. In early spring, the company moved its global headquarters to New Jersey, cutting the ribbon on the new location with Gov. Phil Murphy and then-Kenvue CEO Thibaut Mongon.

RFK Jr.’s autism report, touted by President Donald Trump‘s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, is expected to release this month, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

In a statement, Kenvue told the WSJ the company has “continuously evaluated the science and [continues] to believe there is no causal link” between acetaminophen, pregnancy and autism. Kenvue added that the FDA and leading medical organization “agree on the safety” of the drug, its use for pregnancy and information provided on the Tylenol label. The FDA website says the agency has not found “clear evidence” that appropriate use of acetaminophen during pregnancy causes adverse pregnancy, birth, neurobehavioral, or developmental outcomes.”

Who is Kenvue, where are they located and what is their history with Tylenol?

Tylenol is made by Kenvue, a company spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023. The brand, however was first introduced in 1955 by McNeil Laboratories. In 1959, Johnson & Johnson bought McNeil, and one year later, Tylenol was available over the counter.

Kenvue is an American consumer health company, and formerly the Consumer Healthcare division of Johnson & Johnson. It is the maker of dozens of brands of consumers products such as Band-Aid, Neutrogena, Listerine, Aveeno and Benadryl.

Kenvue moved its global headquarters to Summit this year, opening a 290,000-square-foot facility on March 19, 2025. Located on a sprawling 46-acre Union County campus, the Summit headquarters is a hub for scientists, research and development, marketing, artificial intelligence, high tech and data, legal, communications and operation.

Kenvue’s prior global headquarters were in Skillman. Kenvue has a 135-year history in New Jersey.

Kirk Perry was appointed interim CEO of Kenvue on July 14, 2025. Perry replaced Thibaut Mongon, who stepped down as the company’s chief executive and departed the board of directors amid an internal review of the company’s operations.