WHO welcomes trial results of dexamethasone, congratulates UK govt and Oxford

World Health Organisation (WHO) on June 16 welcomed preliminary clinical trial results from United Kingdom that show dexamethasone, a steroid, can be lifesaving for coronavirus patients under ventilator or oxygen support. WHO Director-General Tedros ham congratulated government of United Kingdom, which partially funded trials that were led by Oxford University. 

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"This is first treatment to be shown to reduce mortality in patients with COVID-19 requiring oxygen or ventilator support. This is great news and I congratulate Government of UK, University of Oxford, and many hospitals and patients in UK who have contributed to this lifesaving scientific breakthrough," Dr. Tedros ham Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General was quoted as saying on its official website.

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recent trial conducted by scientists suggests that dexamethasone, a cheap and easily available drug can be used in treatment of coronavirus patients. According to study, 2,100 patients who were given dexamethasone were compared with over 4,000 ors who did t receive drug. results showed that one-third of deaths were prevented in patients under ventilator support and one fifth for patients under oxygen support. 

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United Kingdom government is planning to deliver 2,00,000 courses of drug to hospitals across country, said Matt Hancock, British Health Minister on Tuesday. United Kingdom was reportedly stockpiling  drug since March when trials of dexamethasone and hydroxychloroquine started in country.

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Dexamethasone

According to WHO, dexamethasone is a steroid that has been used since 1960s to reduce inflammation in a range of conditions, including inflammatory disorders and certain cancers. It has been listed on WHO Model List of Essential Medicines since 1977 in multiple formulations and is currently off-patent and affordably available in most countries.