MyPillow Creator Touts Use Of Oleandrin To Trump As Therapeutic For COVID-19

MyPillow creator Mike Lindell, who has touted the use of oleandrin as a possible therapeutic for the coronavirus, has met with President Trump to discuss the use of the plant extract, CNN reported.

The meeting, which was held at the White House in July, had Lindell reporting that Trump’s response to the use of oleandrin for the coronavirus was “enthusiastic,” CNN said. Lindell also said that Trump wanted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to “do its course.”

Trump confirmed Monday to reporters, when asked about oleandrin, that he’s “heard about” it, saying, “We'll look at it, we'll look at it, we're looking at a lot of different things. I will say the FDA has been great. They are very close. We're very close to a vaccine. Very close to a therapeutic. I have heard that name mentioned, we'll find out.”

Oleandrin, which is toxic if consumed, has not been approved by the FDA. The use of the plant extract and COVID-19 has not been written about in any peer-reviewed or published medical journals, and no research exists to show testing of oleandrin with COVID-19 patients, CNN said. Reportedly two pre-print studies exist from authors who are employed by Phoenix Biotechnology, which makes oleandrin.

Lindell, who is on the board of Phoenix Biotechnology, said that he joined the company because “I want this to get to the public so bad and I want to get it out there to help people,” CNN said.

Lindell is an avid supporter of Trump and chairman of the Minnesota Trump campaign. He has reportedly taken oleandrin as prophylactic himself and has encouraged others to also use the plant extract.

The U.S. has reported over 5.4 million positive cases of the coroanvirus, with over 170,000 COVID-19 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.