Trump Administration Prepares "Historic" Autism Announcement, Tying Tylenol Use to Risk

US President Donald Trump's administration is preparing to make a "historic" medical announcement, warning pregnant women against early use of acetaminophen (Tylenol's active ingredient) due to a possible link between prenatal exposure to the drug and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Health and Human Services Department will roll out a warning to pregnant women against taking Tylenol early in pregnancy unless they have a fever, to avoid the potential risk of their child developing autism. In addition, the administration will highlight research into leucovorin as a possible treatment for autism.

According to officials familiar with the plans, the administration will be promoting leucovorin, a lesser-known drug usually prescribed for vitamin B9 deficiency or to offset the side effects of chemotherapy, as a potential treatment for autism. Early clinical trials involving autistic children have shown "remarkable improvements" in speech and social communication. The Food and Drug Administration has been reviewing draft language around leucovorin, though no formal approval for autism treatment has been given.

Trump has long kept autism as a top priority, often advocating action to combat it amid rising cases in the US. The initiative involves Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, and other senior officials. Trump teased the move over the weekend, telling mourners that "Tomorrow we're going to have one of the biggest announcements medically in the history of our country. I think we found an answer to autism."

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration is planning to make a "historic" medical announcement warning pregnant women against early use of acetaminophen (Tylenol's active ingredient) due to a possible link between prenatal exposure to the drug and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Pregnant women will be warned against taking Tylenol early in pregnancy unless they have a fever, to avoid the potential risk of their child developing autism.
• The administration will highlight research into leucovorin as a possible treatment for autism, citing early clinical trials that showed "remarkable improvements" in speech and social communication.
• The Food and Drug Administration has been reviewing draft language around leucovorin, though no formal approval for autism treatment has been given.
• Trump has long kept autism as a top priority, often advocating action to combat it amid rising cases in the US.
• The initiative involves Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, and other senior officials.

Statistics:

• Acetaminophen is one of the world's most commonly used medicines.
• Recent studies, including one from Mount Sinai and Harvard, flagged a possible link between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Early clinical trials involving autistic children have shown "remarkable improvements" in speech and social communication.
• 13 research teams will be awarded grants to study causes and treatments of autism as part of the NIH's new autism data science initiative.
• The NIH is also expected to announce a new autism data science initiative, awarding grants to 13 research teams to study causes and treatments.

Sources:

• WSJ
• Mount Sinai
• Harvard
• Health and Human Services Department
• Food and Drug Administration
• National Institutes of Health
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