The man was identified as Gordon Findlay, the global brand director for Novo Nordisk.
Dr. Mehmet Oz jumped in as the drug executive fell to his knees and collapsed. The press were then ushered out and asked to leave.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, was also in the room when the incident happened.
What they’re saying:
About 30 minutes later, when the press conference resumed, Trump gave an update on the executive’s health.
“One of the representatives of the companies, of one of these companies, got a little bit lightheaded,” he told the press. “We saw he went down, and he’s fine. They just sent him out, and he’s got doctors here. But he’s fine.” –
Dr. Oz jumps in as drug exec collapses during Oval Office press conference
Meanwhile over on the EMS1 website for Emergency Medical Services Personel:
“You saw he went down, and he’s fine,” Trump said. “We just sent him out and he’s got doctor’s care, but he’s fine. So we had a little bit of an interruption.”
Novo Nordisk, whose executives were among those present, clarified that none of its representatives were involved, adding, “We hope the gentleman who suffered a medical incident today is okay.”
The cause of the fainting was not immediately disclosed. It’s not the first medical scare Oz has experienced at a White House event — earlier this year, his 11-year-old granddaughter fainted during a separate ceremony where he had just been sworn into his current role. –
Dr. Oz renders aid after guest collapses in front of Trump in Oval Office
A man fainted during an event on obesity medications, drawing immediate response from Dr. Oz, who is the Trump administration’s CMS administrator, and medical staff
November 06, 2025 05:41 PM •
EMS1 Staff
Wikipedia says this about the Gila Monster Venom
More than a dozen peptides and other substances have been isolated from the Gila monster’s venom, including hyaluronidase, serotonin, phospholipase A2, and several kallikrein-like glycoproteins responsible for the pain and edema caused by a bite, without producing a compartment syndrome. Four potentially lethal toxins have been isolated from the Gila monster’s venom, which cause hemorrhage in internal organs and exophthalmos (bulging of the eyes),[38] and helothermine, which causes lethargy, partial paralysis of the limbs, and hypothermia in rats. Some are similar in action of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), which relaxes smooth muscle and regulates water and electrolyte secretion between the small and large intestines. These bioactive peptides are able to bind to VIP receptors in many different human tissues. One of these, helodermin, has been shown to inhibit the growth of lung cancer.[39][40] In February 2024, a Colorado man died after sustaining a 4 minute long bite from a pet Gila monster. Autopsy reports determined cause of death to come from the animal bite/venom.[41]
Relationship to GLP-1 agonists
The constituents of H. suspectum venom that have received the most attention from researchers are the bioactive peptides, including helodermin, helospectin, exendin-3, and exendin-4.[42] Exendin-4, which is specific for H. suspectum, has formed the basis of a class of medications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity/metabolic syndrome, known as the GLP-1 receptor agonists.
In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug exenatide (marketed as Byetta) for the management of type 2 diabetes. It is a synthetic modification of the protein exendin-4, that was originally isolated from the Gila monster’s venom.[43][44] In a 3-year study with people with type 2 diabetes, exenatide showed healthy sustained glucose levels. The effectiveness is because the lizard protein is 53% identical to glucagon-like peptide-1 analog (GLP-1), a hormone released from the human digestive tract that helps to regulate insulin and glucagon. GLP-1 not only increases insulin secretion but increases β-cell proliferation and survival.[45] Using a sophisticated injection formula with sustained release of the drug, the lizard protein remains effective much longer than the human hormone. This helps diabetics keep their blood glucose levels under control for a week by a single injection. Exenatide also slows the emptying of the stomach and causes a decrease in appetite, contributing to weight loss.[46]