GOOD NEWS: The low-cost steroid dexamethasone shows promise in reducing COVID-19 deaths

“Probably the best news we have had so far in this pandemic”:

Breakig: biggest advance yet in Covid treatment announced by Oxford scientists.

Death rate cut by a third in patients on ventilator when given dexamethasone, a cheap steroid.

Probably the best news we have had so far in this pandemic.

— Chris Smyth (@Smyth_Chris) June 16, 2020

“The steroid reduced deaths by 35% in COVID-19 patients who needed treatment with breathing machines and by 20% in those only needing supplemental oxygen” but it did not help “less ill patients”:

The steroid reduced deaths by 35% in COVID-19 patients who needed treatment with breathing machines and by 20% in those only needing supplemental oxygen, researchers say. It did not appear to help less ill patients.https://t.co/4NZduplvOH

— The Associated Press (@AP) June 16, 2020

“For patients on ventilators it cut death risk from 40% to 28%. For patients needing oxygen it cut death risk from 25% to 20%”:

For patients on ventilators it cut death risk from 40% to 28%. For patients needing oxygen it cut death risk from 25% to 20%.

Chief Prof 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."

— Julian Röpcke (@JulianRoepcke) June 16, 2020

We’ll note that the WHO has some explaining to do. Again:

Another successful steroid trial. As I said with medrol, WHO recommendation against steroids consistent with their perfect record of being wrong. https://t.co/nz2gJxe4ZW

— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) June 16, 2020

And there are other steroid drugs being tested now:

And I now even more eagerly await read out on the Japanese and Korean Alvesco trials. Inhaled steroid that is also an effective antiviral in vitro.

— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) June 16, 2020

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