Shutterstock
In stunning news from England, researchers are using a cheap, widely available drug to treat COVID-19 patients.
The drug, dexamethasone, reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third. The drug could have saved some 5,000 lives in England alone had researchers known of its COVID efficacy. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the discovery “cause to celebrate”.
Johnson called the finding “a remarkable British scientific achievement”. He added, “We have taken steps to ensure we have enough supplies, even in the event of a second peak”. The British government has stated they have some 200,000 courses of the medicine already available.
The vast majority of patients who contract COVID-19 never need to be admitted to a hospital. Roughly one in twenty people affected by the virus need to visit the emergency room. Among them, some fall into critical, life-threatening condition due to the virus. Those high-risk patients, typically put on ventilators, are the ones dexamethasone may help the most.
The drug, which is a low-dose steroid regimen, has shown effectiveness in helping the body fight off the virus. Importantly, it can also help to stave off cytokine storms, which occur when the immune system goes into high-gear fighting off invaders. Cytokine storms can be life-threatening, making this a huge breakthrough in saving lives.
Promising results from the study, headed by Oxford scientists, are cause for celebration. According to lead researcher Martin Landray, one in every eight patients on a ventilator could be saved by the drug. Similarly, one for every twenty to twenty-five treated with oxygen could be saved by the medication.
What’s more, the drug is very affordable. The researchers noted that the drug costs around five pounds sterling per patient. As such, it could be a huge help to poorer countries struggling with high numbers of cases. Researchers insist that doctors treating patients with COVID-19 should give those patients dexamethasone as soon as possible.
While this is excellent news, COVID-19 remains a major public health threat. Patients are searching the internet for Humira coupons, people are out of work and struggling, and widespread closures are affecting local economies.
While many states in the US have gradually rolled back restrictions, growing case numbers in some parts of the country worry experts. There’s even been speculation that the US could weather a second round of widespread lockdown, like was seen in March, if numbers jump back up.
