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Is Regeneron a 'cure' for Covid-19? Trump slammed for endorsing drug with 'infomercial' and having ties with firm

POTUS in a video repeatedly said that he was given Regeneron among other drugs and that immediately made him feel better while recovering from Covid-19

President Donald Trump is back at the White House and in a new video posted on Twitter, he spoke about his experience at the Walter Reed medical facility. He was taken there after he tested positive for Covid-19 on October 2.

In the video, POTUS said, "I spent four days there (Walter Reed). I went in and I wasn't feeling so hot. And within a very short period of time, they gave me Regeneron. It's called Regeneron. And other things too, but I think this was the key." Trump continued, "They gave me Regeneron, and it was like unbelievable. I felt good immediately. I felt as good three days ago as I do now. So I just want to say, we have Regeneron. We have a similar drug from Eli Lilly. And they're coming out, and we're trying to get them on an emergency basis." He added, "We've authorized it. I've authorized it. And if you're in the hospital and you're feeling really bad, I think we're going to work it to where you're going to get them and you're going to get them free. And especially if you're a senior, we're going to get you in there quick."

He also said, "So, we have these drugs Eli Lilly and the others that are so good.. but they are, in my opinion.. remember this – they are going to say they are therapeutic. I guess they are therapeutic – some people don’t know how to define therapeutic. I view it differently, it is a cure for me. I walked in, I didn’t feel good.. 24 hours later I was feeling great, I wanted to get out of the hospital." Trump also stated, "I think this was a blessing from God, that I caught it. This was a blessing in disguise. I caught it, I heard about this drug, I said let me take it. It was my suggestion." He also said that he is going to make the drug free and said it was China’s fault and they are going to pay for it.  

According to CNN, Trump was given a high dose of an experimental antibody cocktail from Regeneron as part of his Covid-19 treatment. As per the report, Trump's team said that the president received the drug, called REGN-COV2, which is being used to alleviate symptoms and reduce viral load. CNN report further states the ties between POTUS and Regeneron CEO Dr Leonard Schleifer. The CEO has been a member at Trump's golf club in Westchester, New York. The company also received $450M in government funding in July as part of the president's Operation Warp Speed plan to quickly develop a vaccine and other treatments for Covid-19.

The report claims that Trump also recently owned shares of Regeneron (REGN) as well as Gilead Sciences (GILD), maker of the antiviral drug remdesivir which POTUS is also taking. Both stocks were listed as assets on Trump's 2017 filing with the US Office of Government Ethics, though neither were holdings on the president's most recent filing for 2020.

Regeneron told CNN Business in a statement, “Len and President Trump are acquaintances from both living in the Westchester area for many years but didn't have any regular contact until this year, when they've discussed matters around Covid on occasion."

POTUS’ recent video was discussed on Twitter. One user said, "Do your damn job and protect the citizens you were elected to lead. More than 210,000 of your citizens have died now. Stop saying you know more than the doctors and overriding what they say to promote your friend's company Regeneron for blood money." One commented, "Trump’s taxes show he was $450 million in debt. He suddenly starts pushing Regeneron, including repeating the name like an infomercial in today’s video. Government contract to Regeneron worth about $450 million in July. Trump has ties to the CEO, a member of his Golf Club."

Another said, “The therapeutic is not called Regeneron, that's the name of the company. The CEO is a Trump golfing buddy. I wonder what Trump's stake is in this company? Why do I feel like I am watching a product placement from the days of The Apprentice?” One said, "So trump just did an infomercial for Regeneron, basically calling it a cure, that must have broken so many laws because millions of people believe him, this s**t is bonkers."

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