Kenvue's Study Finds No Autism Link with Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 17 2026
0mins
Should l Buy JNJ?
Source: seekingalpha
- Study Findings: An analysis of 43 studies indicates no clinically significant increase in the risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability from acetaminophen use during pregnancy, alleviating public concerns regarding Kenvue's (KVUE) painkiller.
- Data Sources: The research team utilized databases like ClinicalTrials.gov to gather comprehensive data, ensuring the reliability of findings that contribute to discussions about the drug's impact on fetal development.
- Legal Context: Following President Trump's association of the medication with autism, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued J&J (JNJ) and Kenvue (KVUE) for failing to warn about potential risks in their marketing literature, heightening public scrutiny of the drug.
- M&A Activity: Kenvue (KVUE) has entered into a $48.7 billion cash and stock acquisition agreement with Kimberly-Clark (KMB), demonstrating the company's pursuit of growth opportunities despite ongoing legal challenges.
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Analyst Views on JNJ
Wall Street analysts forecast JNJ stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for JNJ is 218.50 USD with a low forecast of 190.00 USD and a high forecast of 240.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
20 Analyst Rating
13 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 238.350
Low
190.00
Averages
218.50
High
240.00
Current: 238.350
Low
190.00
Averages
218.50
High
240.00
About JNJ
Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries are engaged in the research and development, manufacture, and sale of a range of products in the healthcare field. The Company’s segments include Innovative Medicine and MedTech. The Innovative Medicine segment is focused on various therapeutic areas, including immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, pulmonary hypertension, cardiovascular and metabolism. Its products include REMICADE (infliximab), SIMPONI (golimumab), SIMPONI ARIA (golimumab), STELARA (ustekinumab), TREMFYA (guselkumab), EDURANT (rilpivirine), and INVEGA SUSTENNA/XEPLION (paliperidone palmitate). The MedTech segment includes a portfolio of products used in cardiovascular, orthopedics, surgery, and vision categories. The Cardiovascular portfolio includes electrophysiology products to treat heart rhythm disorders and circulatory restoration products (Shockwave) for the treatment of calcified coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD).
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Massive Market Potential: The global neuropsychiatric drug market is projected to exceed $150 billion by the end of the decade, and as awareness and acceptance of new serotonin-based therapies increase, NSAs are poised to secure a meaningful slice of this market, driving long-term growth for the company.
- Leadership Transition: Helus Pharma has appointed Michael Cola as CEO, whose extensive experience in neuroscience and global commercialization is expected to accelerate the development of next-generation mental health therapies and expedite the release of clinical data and market entry.
- Intellectual Property Strategy: Helus Pharma has filed over 350 patent applications globally, with more than 100 patents granted, and as the company transitions from early clinical development to later-stage execution, its robust intellectual property portfolio will provide a competitive edge and support future commercialization efforts.
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- Live Webcast Information: The presentation will be accessible via Johnson & Johnson's Investor Relations website, ensuring global investors can receive real-time updates on the company's activities, thereby enhancing transparency and investor confidence.
- Replay Availability: An archived version of the session will be available later that day, with the audio webcast replay expected to be accessible approximately 48 hours after the live event, allowing investors who missed the live session to catch up on key insights.
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