A US federal appeals court on Monday reversed a trial judge’s decision to dismiss lawsuits against Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol. This judgment effectively revived hundreds of cases that were filed by families who claim that their children developed autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after the women took Tylenol during pregnancy. 

The 64-page decision from the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit concluded that the district court exceeded its discretion by excluding expert testimony. It also noted that since the decision, “numerous relevant studies on this issue have been published,” and it would only make sense to “invite the parties and their experts to address those new studies.”

The lawsuits claiming that Tylenol causes autism or ADHD when taken during pregnancy were filed in 2022. However, the White House only issued an official statement on the matter in September 2025. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated:

The Trump Administration does not believe popping more pills is always the answer for better health. There is mounting evidence finding a connection between acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy and autism—and that’s why the Administration is courageously issuing this new health guidance.

President Trump has also spoken on this issue personally, saying that there is “no downside” to avoiding Tylenol while pregnant, and that “Tylenol is not good.”

Tylenol is considered one of the safest drugs to take during pregnancy if taken properly, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Even with additional studies, there continues to be no firm scientific evidence of a link between autism and taking Tylenol during pregnancy.  

The decision will return to Judge Denise Cote in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.