A new study out of England found that the low-cost steroid dexamethasone showed promised in reducing COVID-19 deaths in severely ill patients:
BREAKING: Researchers in England say a steroid called dexamethasone reduced COVID-19 deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalized patients. It's the first evidence that a drug can improve survival. https://t.co/VTC1SWcmxM
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 16, 2020
“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”:
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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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