Dexamethasone has proven to be the first drug that could possibly save lives in the case of those suffering from coronavirus. This cheap and widely available pill could potentially cut the risk of death by one third for patients on ventilators, while it is one fifth for those on oxygen.
The low-dose steroid treatment drug has been called the biggest breakthrough in the fight against the virus that is tormenting the world, as it is part of the world’s biggest clinical trial experiment. In a trial led by Oxford University, about 2000 patients were given dexamethasone. In this trial, it cut the risk of death up to 40% for patients on ventilators while for those on oxygen, the risk was cut to 25%.
Chief investigator Prof Peter Horby said: “This is the only drug so far that has been shown to reduce mortality – and it reduces it significantly. It’s a major breakthrough.”
Researchers have called it the wonder drug, since at least 5000 lives could have been saved if it had been used for treatment from the beginning. This could also be of huge benefit to the developing and underdeveloped countries who have high numbers of COVID-19 positive patients. The UK has 200,000 courses in its inventory currently and plans to manufacture more.