Pharma executive collapses mid-speech during Trump’s White House drug price event

WASHINGTON, DC: A White House press event on Thursday, November 6, to announce a landmark deal lowering the cost of popular weight-loss drugs was interrupted by a health emergency when a pharmaceutical executive appeared to faint mid-telecast.

President Donald Trump had just detailed sweeping price cuts for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound when an executive collapsed during the event. The incident prompted quick action in the Oval Office as aides and security rushed to assist.

Media evacuated after executive faints mid-event

Fox News, which was broadcasting live, quickly cut away as White House staff ushered reporters out of the room. The man was later identified as Novo Nordisk's executive Gordon Findlay.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed in a statement that “a representative with one of the companies fainted.”

She added, “The White House Medical Unit quickly jumped into action, and the gentleman is okay. The press conference will resume shortly.”

Trump was joined at the event by several top administration officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, and senior executives from Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Novartis.

Sweeping price cuts for weight-loss drugs

Before the disruption, Trump announced a new agreement to slash prices on GLP-1 weight-loss drugs that have become wildly popular but often prohibitively expensive.

Under the deal, Wegovy’s monthly price will reportedly drop from over $1,000 to approximately $250, while Zepbound’s cost is expected to fall to around $346. Prices can vary by platform and dosage. 

The administration said prices could go even lower for patients buying through TrumpRx, the government’s cash-discount platform.

Trump said Medicare and Medicaid would “finally cover the cost of the weight loss drugs for millions of patients suffering from obesity.”

Administration officials alleged that Medicare patients would pay no more than $50 in copays, while those on Medicaid typically pay nothing.

The drugmakers also agreed to cut government purchase prices for GLP-1 drugs already approved for diabetes and other conditions to $245 a month.

Both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk will reportedly receive temporary tariff relief for three years under the deal.

Trump revives ‘most favored nation’ policy

The move is part of Trump’s revived 'Most Favored Nation' initiative, a push to align US prescription drug prices with those in other developed nations.

The president reintroduced the policy through an executive order in May after first pursuing it unsuccessfully during his first term. 

Direct-to-consumer pricing on TrumpRx is expected to roll out by the end of the year, with Medicare coverage allegedly available by mid-2026.

Experts have pointed out that because Medicare is legally barred from covering drugs prescribed for weight loss alone, many older Americans may not immediately benefit from the new pricing structure.

Still, the agreement could open access to millions struggling to afford the sought-after GLP-1 treatments, particularly if private insurers follow the government’s lead.