WHO wants stepped up production of drug to fight virus after UK study

The World Health Organization (WHO)  has called for increased production of dexamethasone, identified in an Oxford University study to be effective in treating those most seriously ill with COVID-19.

The WHO” wants  the potent steroid rapidly distributed worldwide.”

“The next challenge is to increase production and distribute dexamethasone quickly and equitably around the world, focusing on where it is most needed,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during a telematic press conference from the organization’s headquarters in Geneva.

“Fortunately, it is a cheap drug and there are numerous manufacturers of dexamethasone worldwide, which can accelerate production,” he added.

According to the first results of the Oxford clinical trial published last week, dexamethasone reduces mortality by one third among the most serious COVID-19 patients.

The drug is the first to show improvement among coronavirus sufferers, at a time when there is no vaccine yet. It is already used in many indications for its powerful anti-inflammatory effect. The British study has also shown that mortality is reduced by up to a fifth among less severe patients,

who were administered oxygen with a mask, without the need to be intubated?

On the other hand, the treatment has not shown any benefit for patients who do not need any respiratory assistance.

The WHO Director-General said that “dexamethasone should only be used in COVID-19 patients in serious or critical condition, under close medical supervision.”

“There is no evidence that this drug works for patients with benign conditions or as a preventive measure, and could cause harm,” he insisted.

Following the publication of the trial results, the UK government announced that it would use the treatment immediately to treat affected patients.

A drug from another family, the antiviral redeliver, showed some effectiveness in speeding up the recovery of patients hospitalized for COVID-19,  but it has not been shown that it can prevent deaths.

 Drugs routed by US President Trump have been widely disavowed and withdrawn from use in Panama and other countries.