Eli Lilly and the Food and Drug Administration granted a single, 79-year-old patient access to Retatrutide, an unapproved obesity drug comparable to bariatric surgery, through a “compassionate use” program typically reserved for patients with serious, life-threatening conditions.
STAT’s reporter Lizzy Lawrence said the application drew interest from top health officials.
Senior clinician Ranganath Muniyappa at the National Institutes of Health requested the drug for an unidentified patient with refractory obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and pulmonary hypertension.
The unusual request drew high-level attention, suggesting the patient is well-connected.
“White House spokesperson Kush Desai directed STAT’s inquiry to the Health and Human Services Department,” Lawrence reported.
When STAT asked the White House if the patient was President Donald Trump, who turned 80 on June 14, no direct answer was provided.
A White House memo on Trump’s medical evaluation makes no mention of obstructive sleep apnea or pulmonary hypertension. Social media users speculated the patient’s identity, noting the White House’s non-denial responses.
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