Speculation swirled around a report that a single patient " a 79-year-old man " was given access to a powerful new obesity drug that's still awaiting federal approval. STAT has learned that Eli Lilly and the Food and Drug Administration allowed one individual to gain access to retatrutide, which has demonstrated the ability to cut weight at comparable levels to bariatric surgery, through a "compassionate use" program typically reserved for patients with serious and immediately life-threatening medical issues.