Business
Trump admin draws unproven link between autism and Tylenol ingredient use during pregnancy
In this photo illustration, Tylenol caplets are displayed on Sept. 22, 2025 in San Anselmo, California.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
The Trump administration on Monday drew an unproven link between autism and pregnant women’s use of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in one of the world’s most common over-the-counter pain relievers, Kenvue‘s Tylenol.
President Donald Trump said the Food and Drug Administration will issue a physician’s notice about the risk of patients using acetaminophen during pregnancy unless they have a fever. The agency will also start the process of changing the safety label for acetaminophen on Tylenol and similar products.
The moves clash with a bulk of scientific literature suggesting no causal link between autism and exposure to acetaminophen in the womb.
Many over-the-counter drugs contain acetaminophen, but Tylenol is widely considered the safest treatment to take during pregnancy to relieve pain and fever, as long as patients use the recommended dose.
“Taking Tylenol is not good,” Trump said during a press conference on Monday. “They are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary. That’s for instance, in cases of extremely high fever, that you feel you can’t tough it out, you can’t do it.”
The Health and Human Services Department will encourage clinicians to “exercise their best judgment” around the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy by “prescribing the lowest effective dose with the shortest necessary duration and only when treatment is required,” the department’s Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said during the press briefing.
HHS will launch a nationwide campaign to inform patients about the alleged risk, Kennedy said.
In a statement Monday, Kenvue said it believes in “independent, sound science” that shows taking acetaminophen does not cause autism, and “we strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers.” Without the drug as an option, women may have to experience conditions like fever that are potentially harmful to both them and their babies, or use riskier alternatives, Kenvue said.
Untreated fever and pain during pregnancy can carry risks for both mother and infant, such as miscarriage, birth defects and high blood pressure, according to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary suggested that treating a fever “can prolong the duration of illness in a young kid,” citing a study from Johns Hopkins, without further details.
“Maybe that’s because a fever is a body’s natural way of ridding an infection,” Makary said.
Trump, several times during the briefing, said “there’s no downside” to not taking Tylenol during pregnancy or in a baby’s early life.
FDA clears lesser-known drug
Also on Monday, the FDA approved a lesser-known drug, leucovorin, as a treatment for autism, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said during the briefing.
The agency is specifically updating leucovorin’s label for cerebral folate deficiency, which HHS said has been associated with autism. The change will allow children with autism to be treated with the drug, with continued use if kids show language, social or adaptive gains, according to an HHS release.
But HHS said leucovorin is not a cure for autism and may only lead to improvements in speech-related deficits for a subset of children with the disorder. State Medicaid programs will be able to cover the drug for autism after the label update. The NIH will also start trials to confirm the effects of leucovorin on the disorder, including studies into the medicine’s safety.
While promising, it is important to note that leucovorin is not a cure for ASD and may only lead to improvements in speech-related deficits for a subset of children with ASD. Furthermore, this treatment must be administered under close medical supervision and in conjunction with other non-pharmacological approaches for children with ASD (e.g., behavioral therapy).
Leucovorin is a form of folate, a B vitamin, that is typically prescribed to counteract some medications’ side effects, including chemotherapy, and to treat vitamin B9 deficiency. Some early placebo-controlled clinical trials have shown that oral leucovorin, also known as folinic acid, has the potential to improve symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder.
The Food and Drug Administration early Monday published a notice saying it is approving a version of leucovorin that was previously made by GSK, the Wall Street Journal reported. But as of Monday afternoon, the Federal Register’s website said it has received an “agency letter” asking to withdraw the notice.
In a statement, a GSK spokesperson said it does not intend to market leucovorin. The company marketed the drug from 1983 to 1999 under the name Wellcovorin, but the product was withdrawn from the market and has since been available as a generic drug. The spokesperson said label changes made to Wellcovorin will help allow generics already on the market to add this new approval for autism to their labeling.
Acetaminophen is the latest widely used and accepted treatment that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has undermined at the helm of the Health and Human Services department, which oversees federal health agencies that regulate drugs and other therapies. Kennedy has also taken steps to change vaccine policy in the U.S., and has amplified false claims about safe and effective shots that use mRNA technology.
Kennedy has made autism a key focus of HHS, pledging in April that the agency will “know what has caused the autism epidemic” by September and eliminate exposures. He also said that month that the agency has launched a “massive testing and research effort” involving hundreds of scientists worldwide that will determine the cause.
Much of the scientific community agrees that autism results from a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors, making it unlikely that rising rates of the disorder are due to a single cause.
Kennedy said HHS expects several announcements over the coming years that inform parents about the underlying cause of autism and “potential paths for prevention and reversal.” He acknowledged that autism is a complex disorder caused by a combination of factors and said HHS is continuing to investigate other factors, such as vaccines.
“One area that we are closely examining … some 40% to 70% of mothers with autism believes that her child was injured by a vaccine,” Kennedy said. “President Trump believes that we should be listening to these mothers instead of gaslighting like prior administrations.”
Extensive research has debunked longstanding concerns that vaccines are linked to autism, a claim that Kennedy and other immunization critics have pushed for several years.
Research on acetaminophen use and autism
The Washington Post on Friday reported that Trump administration officials have been reviewing previous research that suggests a link between the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism. The Post said that includes an August review by Mount Sinai and Harvard researchers on 46 earlier studies that suggest a link between prenatal exposure to the drug and increased risks of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
The review found the association is strongest when acetaminophen is taken for four weeks or longer, Dr. Andrea Baccarelli, one of its authors and dean of the faculty at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said in a statement. The review was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.
“This biological evidence lends support to the possibility of a causal relationship between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism,” Baccarelli said, adding that further research is needed to “confirm the association and determine causality.”
He said based on existing evidence, he believes that “caution about acetaminophen use during pregnancy—especially heavy or prolonged use—is warranted.” But Baccarelli said acetaminophen remains a critical tool for pregnant women and their physicians, as the drug is the only approved medication for pain and fever relief during pregnancy.
He said he and his colleagues recommend a “balanced approach based on the precautionary principle:” patients who need fever or pain reduction during pregnancy should take the lowest effective dose of the drug for the shortest possible duration, after consulting their physician about their individual risks and benefits of doing so. Baccarelli said he discussed that recommendation and the review’s findings with NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya and Kennedy in recent weeks.
The findings of the studies reviewed by the researchers are at odds with other robust studies, including one published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association that found acetaminophen use during pregnancy was not linked to autism, ADHD or intellectual disability. Researchers analyzed health records of 2.5 million children in Sweden.
When researchers looked at the general population initially, there was a very small increased risk of the disorder in children whose mothers took the drug while pregnant. But researchers found no link after comparing siblings within the same family: one exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy, and the other not.
As of Monday before the announcement, the FDA website said the agency had not found “clear evidence” that appropriate use of acetaminophen during pregnancy causes “adverse pregnancy, birth, neurobehavioral, or developmental outcomes.” The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists maintains that acetaminophen is safe during pregnancy when taken as directed and after consulting a health-care provider.
Some parents have brought lawsuits claiming that they gave birth to children with autism after using the painkiller.
But a federal judge in Manhattan ruled in 2023 that some of those lawsuits lacked scientific evidence and later ended the litigation in 2024.
— CNBC’s Angelica Peebles contributed to this report
Business
Shyam Dhani Industries IPO Allotment Today: GMP At 100%; A Step-By-Step Guide To Check Status
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Unlisted shares of Shyam Dhani Industries are trading at Rs 140 apiece in the grey market, indicating 100% grey market premium (GMP) against the IPO issue price of Rs 70.
Shyam Dhani Industries IPO.
Shyam Dhani Industries IPO Allotment Date & Latest GMP: The allotment of the Shyam Dhani Industries IPO, which closed on Wednesday with a whopping 988.29x subscription, is scheduled to be finalised today, December 26. Investors will receive a bank debit or an unblock message once the allotment is finalised in the evening. They can also check the allotment status on the websites of the BSE, the NSE, and registrar Bigshare Services Pvt Ltd.
The Shyam Dhani Industries IPO received a blockbuster 988.29x subscription, garnering bids for 3,61,51,72,000 shares as against the 36,58,000 shares on offer. Its retail category got a 1,137.92x subscription, while its non-institutional investor (NII) quota got a 1,612.65x subscription. The QIB category received a 256.24x subscription.
Shyam Dhani Industries IPO GMP Today
According to market observers, unlisted shares of Shyam Dhani Industries Ltd are currently trading at Rs 140 apiece in the grey market, against the upper IPO price of Rs 70. It means 100% grey market premium (GMP), indicating blockbuster listing potential. Its listing will take place on December 30.
The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. ‘Grey market premium’ indicates investors’ readiness to pay more than the issue price.
Shyam Dhani Industries IPO Allotment Today: A Step-By-Step Guide To Check Status Online
The Shyam Dhani Industries IPO allotment is expected to be finalised today, December 26, in the evening. The allotment status can be checked online by following these steps:
1) Visit registrar Bigshare Services’ portal – https://ipo.bigshareonline.com/ipo_status.html.
2) Under ‘Select Company’, select ‘Shyam Dhani Industries Ltd’ from the drop-box.
3) Enter your application number, demat account, or permanent account number (PAN).
4) Enter Captcha
5) Then, click on the ‘Search’ button.
Your share application status will appear on your screen.
Via the BSE
1) Go to the official BSE website via the URL — https://www.bseindia.com/investors/appli_check.aspx.
2) Under ‘Issue Type’, select ‘Equity’.
3) Under ‘Issue Name’, select ‘Shyam Dhani Industries Ltd’ in the drop box.
4) Enter your application number, or the Permanent Account Number (PAN). Those who want to check their allotment status via PAN can select the ‘Permanent Account Number’ option.
5) Then, click on the ‘I am not a robot’ to verify yourself and hit the ‘Search’ option.
Your share application status will appear on your screen.
Via NSE’s Website
The allotment status can also be checked on the NSE’s website at https://www.nseindia.com/invest/check-trades-bids-verify-ipo-bids.
Shyam Dhani Industries IPO: More Details
Shyam Dhani Industries aimed to raise Rs 38.49 crore through a book-built IPO, comprising a fresh issue of 0.55 crore equity shares. The public issue opened for subscription on December 22, 2025, and closed on December 24, 2025, with allotment likely to be finalised on December 26. The company is scheduled to debut on the NSE SME platform, with a tentative listing date of December 30, 2025.
The IPO was priced in the range of Rs 65–70 per share.
Founded in 1995, Shyam Dhani Industries Limited is an ISO-certified company engaged in the manufacturing, exporting, wholesale trading, and supply of premium spices. Its product portfolio includes spice powders and whole spices, along with grocery items such as black salt, rock salt, rice, poha and kasuri methi. The company also deals in herbs and seasonings like oregano, peri peri, chilli flakes, mixed herbs, onion flakes and tomato powder.
Financially, the company reported a 16 per cent rise in revenue and a 28 per cent increase in profit after tax in FY25 compared with the previous financial year.
Holani Consultants Pvt. Ltd. is acting as the book running lead manager as well as the market maker for the issue, while Bigshare Services Pvt. Ltd. has been appointed as the registrar.
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December 26, 2025, 11:22 IST
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New Delhi: Indian Railways has rationalised its passenger fare structure with effect from December 26, to balance affordability for passengers and sustainability of its operations, the Ministry of Railways said in a statement on Thursday. The ministry clarified that under the revised fare structure, there is no change in fares for suburban services and season tickets, including both suburban and non-suburban routes.
For Ordinary Non-AC (Non-Suburban) services, fares have been rationalised in a graded manner across Second Class Ordinary, Sleeper Class Ordinary, and First Class Ordinary. In Second Class Ordinary, there is no increase in fare for journeys up to 215 km, ensuring that short-distance and daily commuters are not impacted.
For distances from 216 km to 750 km, the fare increases by Rs 5. For longer journeys, the increase is applied in steps — Rs 10 for distances between 751 km and 1250 km, Rs 15 for distances between 1251 km and 1750 km, and Rs 20 for distances between 1751 km and 2250 km, the statement explained.
In Sleeper Class Ordinary and First Class Ordinary, fares have been revised uniformly at the rate of 1 paise per kilometre for non-suburban journeys, ensuring a gradual and limited increase in fares.
In Mail and Express trains, the fare increase has been rationalised at 2 paise per kilometre across Non-AC and AC classes. This includes Sleeper Class, First Class, AC Chair Car, AC 3-Tier, AC 2-Tier, and AC First Class. As an illustration, for a 500 km journey in non-AC Mail and Express coaches, passengers will pay only about Rs 10 extra, the statement further explains.
The existing basic fares of major train services, including Tejas Rajdhani, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Tejas, Mahamana, Gatimaan, Antyodaya, Garib Rath, Jan Shatabdi, Yuva Express, Namo Bharat Rapid Rail, and Ordinary non-suburban services (excluding AC MEMU/DEMU, where applicable), have been revised in line with the approved class-wise basic fare increases. The revision has been carried out uniformly and in a calibrated manner across applicable classes, the statement said.
Notably, no changes have been made in reservation fees, superfast surcharges, or other ancillary charges, which will continue to be levied as per existing rules. GST applicability remains unchanged, and fares will continue to be rounded off according to prevailing norms, the statement pointed out.
The revised fares are applicable only on tickets booked on or after 26 December 2025. Tickets booked before this date will not attract any additional charges, even if the journey is undertaken after the effective date, the statement further explained.
The fare list displayed at stations will also be updated to reflect the new fares effective from December 26, the statement added.
Business
Stock market today: Nifty50 above 26,100; BSE Sensex down over 140 points – The Times of India
Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark Indies, opened in red on Friday on lacklustre global and domestic cues. While Nifty50 was just above 26,100, BSE Sensex was down over 140 points. At 9:16 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 26,101.30, down 41 points or 0.16%. BSE Sensex was at 85,267.87, down 141 points or 0.16%.Indian equity markets are expected to move in a narrow range as investors remain cautious in the absence of any major domestic economy triggers.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “With only four more trading days left for the year 2025, what looked like a Santa rally, appears to be running out of steam. In the absence of fresh triggers like a US-India trade deal, the market is likely to consolidate around the present levels. Higher US GDP growth of 4.3% for the third quarter of 2025 is imparting resilience to the US market. The high and rising profitability of US companies, including the AI ones, might nudge other FIIs, particularly the fleet footed hedge funds, to increase selling in India in the near-term.” “The sustained buying by the cash rich DIIs will support the market and prevent a sharp pull back. The ideal investment strategy for investors now is to remain invested in high quality large caps and slowly accumulate them on declines. A rally in the market in the early stage of 2026 is on the cards. Investors should give high weightage to value while deciding to invest. Irrational valuations in some of the IPOs and the willingness of the newbie investors to buy stocks at excessive valuations are reflections of exuberance in the market.”Asian markets saw modest gains on Friday amid thin trading conditions. Japanese and South Korean equities advanced, while several other regional markets remained closed for holidays. In the commodities market, silver surged to a record high, while gold traded close to its all-time peak.Oil prices edged higher on Friday after the United States stepped up economic pressure on Venezuelan oil exports and carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of the Nigerian government.On the institutional front, foreign portfolio investors were net sellers of Indian equities worth Rs 1,721 crore on Wednesday, while domestic institutional investors provided support by purchasing shares worth Rs 2,381 crore.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)
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Shyam Dhani Industries IPO Allotment Today: GMP At 100%; A Step-By-Step Guide To Check Status
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