MEGA DEAL

Tylenol-Maker Bought for $40B Despite RFK Jr.’s Autism Claims

The deal comes just days after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. admitted there wasn’t “sufficient” evidence to link Tylenol as a cause of autism.

Kimberly-Clark, which owns brands like Kleenex and Huggies, is set to acquire Kenvue, the consumer health company that owns Tylenol, through an almost $49 billion deal. The deal comes after Kenvue faced financial and legal struggles—even parting ways with its CEO in July after its stock sharply dropped—thanks to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump’s claims that pregnant women ingesting Tylenol increased the risk of autism for their children—opinions that angered many doctors. A few days ago, Kennedy admitted there wasn’t “sufficient” evidence that proved Tylenol caused autism, although he held fast in his repeated claims that there’s a “very suggestive” link between Tylenol and autism without backing it up factually. Kimberly-Clark’s Chairman and CEO Mike Hsu said in a statement that the company is “excited to bring together two iconic companies to create a global health and wellness leader,” referencing Kenvue’s other products, which include Neutrogena skincare products, Listerine mouthwash and Johnson’s baby oil. Kenvue’s Chairman Larry Merlo agreed, stating that the deal would form a “uniquely positioned global leader in consumer health with a broader range of new growth opportunities ahead.”