Key facts
- A single patient received early access to Eli Lilly's experimental obesity drug retatrutide.
- The patient was 79 years old at the time of the request and suffered from refractory obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and pulmonary hypertension.
- The access was granted via the FDA's compassionate use program.
- Speculation suggests the patient may be President Donald Trump.
- White House and HHS officials declined to confirm or deny Trump's identity as the patient.
A highly unusual case involving a single 79-year-old patient receiving early access to Eli Lilly's experimental obesity drug retatrutide through the FDA's compassionate use program has sparked speculation that the patient could be President Donald Trump.
Retatrutide is a next-generation obesity drug currently in late-stage trials, with Phase 3 data showing significant weight loss. The compassionate use pathway is typically reserved for patients with serious or life-threatening conditions who cannot enroll in clinical trials.
The request for retatrutide was made in April by an NIH clinician on behalf of a patient with refractory obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and pulmonary hypertension, who had previously shown only moderate success with tirzepatide and was not a candidate for bariatric surgery.
Experts find it unusual for a drug company to grant expanded use to a single patient for common conditions, and the public notice for this access was notably sparse on details, leading to questions about its transparency and purpose. Both the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declined to confirm or deny if Trump is the patient in question, with HHS stating that each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.