India may not alter cornavirus treatment protocol to add drug hailed in UK

Trial results in Britain showed dexamethasone reduced death rates by around a third among the most severely ill Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital

India may not immediately alter its Covid-19 treatment protocol to include the steroid dexamethasone, given it already uses steroids on patients. Meanwhile, the Covid-19 task force in Mumbai has asked the government to make Gilead drug Remdesivir available at the earliest, as it could save many lives.

Dexamethasone, an inexpensive steroid available widely in India, is the latest drug touted to reduce the risk of death. The drug has been manufactured by Zydus Cadila and Wockhardt, with market size of Rs 100 crore — which is mostly stagnant.

A government source said: “The drug is easily available here. We can use it if we need to. However, we are already using steroids on patients, which are giving good results. There is no plan to immediately alter the treatment protocol.”

Sanjay Oak, who heads the Covid-19 task force in Mumbai, said: “We are already using a steroid methyl prednisolone, which is showing good results. There is no plan to alter the treatment protocol now. We request the government to make Remdesivir available as it may save lives.”

Doctors in India feel methyl prednisolone is a better and well-tolerated steroid, compared to dexamethasone.

Oxford University scientists have identified dexamethasone to reduce the risk of death. This drug is used to treat asthma, different kinds of allergies, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Investigators of Oxford University’s randomised controlled trial — the Recovery Trial — said this steroid reduces death by up to one-third among those hospitalised with severe respiratory complications of Covid-19.

The steroid was given orally and through the intravenous route to patients. After 28 days, it had reduced deaths by 35 per cent in patients who needed treatment with breathing support machines, and by 20 per cent in those who required oxygen support.