I Wonder Who the Patient Was

A new drug, Retatrutide is awaiting regulatory approval. and is purported to have weight loss effects similar to those of bariatric surgery.

It has now been revealed an unnamed 79 year old with obesity, obstyructive sleep apnea, and pulmonary hypertension was given the drug as a part of the FDA’s “compassionate use” program. (Alternate link)

Gee, a 79 year old fat f%$#er with political connections necessary to get the drug before approval?

I wonder who it could be.

Clearly, it is not Donald Trump, as they have denied this, and we know that this administration never lies.

Millions of Americans with obesity are eagerly awaiting a powerful new drug from Eli Lilly called retatrutide, which has demonstrated bariatric-surgery levels of weight loss. Some aren’t even waiting for approval from the Food and Drug Administration, instead racing to acquire it through sketchy means. 

But STAT has learned that Eli Lilly and the FDA have allowed one person to gain access to the drug through the FDA’s “compassionate use” program, a pathway that gives patients with serious and immediately life-threatening medical issues access to experimental treatments. 

This person was a 79-year-old man at the time the request was made in April, accordig to three sources familiar with the matter. Those sources, who requested anonymity due to fear of reprisals, said it drew the interest of top health officials, suggesting the person receiving this drug was well connected.

………

STAT does not know who the patient is. But given the patient demographics and the unusual nature of the application, STAT asked the White House multiple times whether the patient was President Trump, who turned 80 a week ago, is overweight, and has expressed interest in obesity drugs. 

White House spokesperson Kush Desai directed STAT’s inquiry to the Health and Human Services Department. In response to STAT’s question about whether Trump has obstructive sleep apnea and pulmonary hypertension, Desai said a White House memo detailing Trump’s most recent medical evaluation “covers this.” The memo makes no mention of obstructive sleep apnea or pulmonary hypertension.

Mandy Rice-Davies applies, "Well, they would say that, wouldn't they?"

H/T Atrios