Eli Lilly to offer retatrutide access given earlier to just one patient

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Following a report by STAT six weeks ago that Eli Lilly had granted a 79-year-old patient special access to retatrutide, an unapproved obesity medication, the company announced on Monday that it will now allow other patients to apply for early access to the drug.

This announcement was prompted by STAT’s inquiries to Lilly regarding requests for expanded access from several doctors who were awaiting responses. This represents a significant shift in Eli Lilly’s approach, as the company had previously been reticent about its special access program.

“For a limited number of patients who meet specific medical criteria and cannot enroll in a clinical trial, we believe it is medically appropriate to make authentic retatrutide available before FDA approval, consistent with FDA’s guidance,” a Lilly spokesperson told STAT. The company said it is actively reviewing requests from health care providers.

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