This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
Breakthrough in COVID-19 Treatment: Dexamethasone Saves Lives ¶
Published on June 16, 2020, a groundbreaking study by researchers at the University of Oxford has revealed that the steroid dexamethasone can significantly reduce the risk of death among severe COVID-19 cases.
The trial, led by the RECOVERY research group, involved over 2,000 severely ill COVID-19 patients and found that dexamethasone reduced deaths by one-third in ventilated patients and by one-fifth in those receiving oxygen only.
According to the study, daily doses of dexamethasone could prevent one in eight ventilated patient deaths and save one out of every 25 patients requiring oxygen alone.
British officials have announced that patients will start receiving the drug immediately, citing its potential to save lives worldwide.
Professor Peter Horby, a leading researcher on the project, hailed the results as a 'major breakthrough' and emphasized the drug's affordability and accessibility.
While the trial showed dexamethasone to be ineffective in treating patients with milder forms of COVID-19, experts believe that the findings offer 'tremendous importance' in the fight against the disease.
