The low-dose steroid treatment dexamethasone is a major breakthrough in the fight against the deadly virus, UK experts say. Dexamethasone is part of the world’s biggest trial testing existing treatments to see if they also work for coronavirus.
Studies found that it cut the risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators. For those on oxygen, it cut deaths by a fifth.
The drug is already used to reduce inflammation in a range of other conditions, including arthritis, asthma and some skin conditions. Dexamethasone also appears to help stop some of the damage that can happen when the body’s immune system goes into overdrive as it tries to fight off coronavirus.
Another good news is, it could potentially be of huge benefit in poorer countries with high numbers of Covid-19 patients as the UK government have this drug in its stockpile. Dexamethasone is also relatively affordable compared to ones that are just being developed.
