Drug Executive Collapses During Oval Office Press Conference
A press conference in the Oval Office was abruptly interrupted when a drug executive fainted while President Donald Trump was announcing a new deal with pharmaceutical companies to reduce obesity drug prices.
Incident Details
The event, held on Thursday, focused on an agreement with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to expand insurance coverage and lower costs for obesity medications Zepbound and Wegovy. During the CEO remarks, David Ricks of Eli Lilly noticed a man collapsing and asked,
"Are you okay? Gordon, are you okay?"
The collapsed individual was identified as Gordon Findlay, the global brand director for Novo Nordisk. As he fell to his knees, Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, quickly came to assist him.
Response and Follow-up
- The press were asked to leave the room immediately after the collapse.
- Health and Human Services Secretary was present during the incident.
- About 30 minutes later, the press conference resumed, and President Trump provided an update on Findlay's condition.
President Trump gave a brief statement on the executive's health after the break in the event.
Summary
During a high-profile press event on drug pricing, a Novo Nordisk executive fainted but received prompt attention, causing a brief pause in proceedings.
Author's summary: A Novo Nordisk executive collapsed mid-press conference about obesity drug price cuts, with Dr. Oz assisting, leading to a brief event pause before President Trump updated on his condition.