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Donald Trump's weight loss press conference was cut short after a guest shockingly collapsed behind his desk in the Oval Office.
When the US president, 79, announced his weight loss drug cost reduction plan on Thursday (6 November), a man stood nearby appeared to faint.
“Are you OK? Gordon, you OK?” asked Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks as the man began to fall over.
The individual who was caught as he started to fall to the floor was later confirmed to be one of Eli Lilly’s guests, the company that manufactures Mounjaro.
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Trump had little expression on his face when medical staff rushed to the man's aid.
Dr Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, treated the guest as the press were ushered out of the room.
Thankfully, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the 'representative' is now 'okay'.
“The White House Medical Unit quickly jumped into action, and the gentleman is okay,” Leavitt said.
Once the conference restarted and the journalists were let back in, Trump explained that the attendee got a 'little bit lightheaded'.
“You saw he went down, and he’s fine. We just sent him out and he’s got doctor’s care, but he’s fine,” he said.
“So we had a little bit of an interruption.”
David Ricks, Eli Lilly chair and CEO, said that the guest is now doing 'great'.
“If you've ever been in the Oval Office, you stand a long time and it's warm,” Ricks said.
“I'm pleased to say that the White House medical staff did a great job, and he's doing great, so nothing to be concerned about. Thanks for your concern.”
It comes after a deal between Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to lower prices of obesity drugs for some Medicare enrollees was announced during the conference.
Medicare is a health insurance program in the US for people age 65 or older and younger people with disabilities.
The agreement means that Wegovy and Zepbound will now be available to some Medicare enrollees for $245 (£187) per month. And, once approved, starter doses of pill versions will cost around $149 (£113) monthly.
“This is a triumph for American patients that will save lives and improve the health of millions and millions of Americans,” Trump said.
He claimed: “Until now, neither of these two popular drugs have been covered by Medicare for weight loss and they've only rarely been covered by Medicaid.
“They've often cost consumers more than $1,000 per month and some a lot more than that. Americans have been spending as much as 520 percent for Zepbound and 1,400 percent more for Wegovy than patients in Europe.”
Topics: Health, Mounjaro, Donald Trump, US News
Anish Vij