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Kenvue Tylenol Lawsuits Return—Could They Threaten Kimberly-Clark’s $48.7 Billion Deal?

Kenvue is facing a renewed legal overhang just as Kimberly-Clark works toward completing its $48.7 billion acquisition. On July 13, a federal appeals court revived more than 500 private lawsuits alleging that prenatal acetaminophen use is associated with autism or ADHD. The decision immediately brought Tylenol back into the spotlight, but it did not establish that the medicine causes either condition. Instead, the judges concluded that three previously excluded expert witnesses should be permitted to return to the litigation, while the exclusion of two others remained intact. That distinction matters because the ruling changes the procedural path without resolving the central scientific question. Even so, the timing is difficult. Shareholders approved the transaction in January, and the companies still expect closing during the second half of 2026. The revived cases could raise legal expenses, complicate integration planning, and renew scrutiny of one of Kenvue’s most important brands.