Johnson & Johnson & Kenvue

Johnson & Johnson: Johnson & Johnson is being sued by United States — Texas for allegedly hiding Tylenol's risks and deceptively marketing it. The lawsuit also claims Johnson & Johnson fraudulently transferred liabilities to Kenvue.

Kenvue: Kenvue, a spin-off of Johnson & Johnson, is a primary defendant in the United States — Texas lawsuit, accused of deceptively marketing Tylenol and facing claims of liability transfer from Johnson & Johnson. Kenvue's shares fell following the news.

Johnson & Johnson: Johnson & Johnson is facing a mass class-action lawsuit in the United Kingdom and ongoing litigation in the United States over allegations that its talc-based products caused cancer due to asbestos contamination. The company has been ordered to pay significant damages in US cases and faces a potential £1 billion liability in the UK.

Kenvue: Kenvue, formerly Johnson & Johnson's consumer health unit, retained responsibility for talc-related litigation outside the United States and Canada after its spin-off in 2023. It is named as a defendant in the UK lawsuit and maintains that its talc products are safe and asbestos-free.

Johnson & Johnson: Johnson & Johnson spun off Kenvue two years prior to this acquisition, aiming to make its pharmaceutical and medical device divisions more nimble.

Kenvue: Kenvue is being acquired by Kimberly-Clark for $48.7 billion, providing a significant premium to its shareholders. Kenvue's stock surged after the announcement, despite facing scrutiny over Tylenol and activist investor pressure.