This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
June 16, 2020, marked a significant milestone in the fight against COVID-19 as UK experts announced the discovery of a cheap and widely available dexamethasone drug that can help save lives of COVID-19 patients.
According to the experts, low-dose steroid treatment dexamethasone has been found to treat the respiratory disease effectively, making it a great breakthrough in the battle against the novel coronavirus.
The drug has been shown to lower the chances of death in patients using ventilators by a third and reduce the risks of death by a fifth in patients on oxygen.
Researchers estimate that up to 5,000 lives could have been saved if dexamethasone had been used to treat patients from the beginning.
The UK has announced that it has 200,000 courses of the drug in its stores and has confirmed that the National Health Service (NHS) will give the drug to patients.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the discovery as a 'remarkable British scientific achievement,' adding that the government had taken steps to ensure enough supplies, even in the event of a second peak.
Chief investigator Prof Peter Horby described the drug as 'the only one so far that has been shown to reduce mortality – and it reduces it significantly. It's a major breakthrough.'
Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, tweeted, 'This is the most important trial result for COVID-19 so far. Significant 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.'
