Dexamethasone<\/strong>, a cheap and widely available drug, can help save the lives of patients seriously ill with coronavirus COVID-19<\/strong>, UK experts led by a team at Oxford University<\/strong> have announced today. The drug works, trials show – and the drug costs about \u00a35 ($7) for each patient.<\/p>\n

In a major breakthrough in the fight against the novel coronavirus COVID-19,\u00a0the low-dose steroid treatment cut the risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators and, cut deaths by a fifth among\u00a0those on oxygen.<\/p>\n

Experts accompanied their news of the breakthrough with a warning: people should not go out and buy the drug for home use.\u00a0Dexamethasone does not appear to help people with milder symptoms of coronavirus and for those who do not need help with their breathing.<\/p>\n

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COVID-19 breakthrough -Photo Courtesy: The Recovery Trial<\/p><\/div>\n
The BBC reported today that the UK Government has 200,000 courses of dexamethasone in its stockpile. The National health Service will now make dexamethasone available to patients.<\/p>\n
The drug is widely available across the world and is used as an anti-inflammatory. Trials also appear to show that Dexamethasone can\u00a0<\/strong>stop some of the damage that can happen when the body’s immune system goes into overdrive as it tries to fight off coronavirus. The\u00a0over-reaction, a cytokine storm<\/a>, can be deadly.<\/p>\n
In the\u00a0Dexamethasone\u00a0trial, about 2,000 hospital patients were given the drug and the outcomes compared to more than 4,000 who were not.<\/p>\n
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For patients on ventilators, it cut the risk of death from 40% to 28%.<\/li>\n
For patients needing oxygen, it cut the risk of death from 25% to 20%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Chief investigator Prof Peter Horby<\/strong> told the BBC:<\/p>\n
“This is the only drug so far that has been shown to reduce mortality – and it reduces it significantly. It’s a major breakthrough.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Lead researcher Prof Martin Landray<\/strong> said the findings suggested one life could be saved for every eight patients on a ventilator and every 20-25 treated with oxygen. He said:<\/p>\n
“There is a clear, clear benefit.\u00a0The treatment is up to 10 days of dexamethasone and it costs about \u00a35 per patient.\u00a0So essentially it costs \u00a335 to save a life.\u00a0This is a drug that is globally available.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
He added that, when appropriate, hospital patients should now be given it without delay.<\/p>\n
Prof. Chris Whitty<\/strong>, the\u00a0Chief Medical Officer for England said it would save lives around the world. He tweeted:<\/p>\n
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This is the most important trial result for COVID-19 so far. Significiant reduction in mortality in those requiring oxygen or ventilation from a widely available, safe and well known drug. Many thanks to those who took part and made it happen. It will save lives around the world. https:\/\/t.co\/zRIaHulHOe<\/a><\/p>\n
— Professor Chris Whitty (@CMO_England) June 16, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n