Coronavirus TV Episode 27: Deciphering the dexamethasone result

The UK’s RECOVERY trial is the first to show a conclusive mortality benefit for a COVID-19 treatment, revealing the low-cost steroid dexamethasone to be a life-saving treatment for patients requiring ventilation and/or oxygen support. This result will change treatment practices and clinical trial design globally, and with the widespread availability of the steroid for other indications then this shift can happen overnight. It is also another example of the huge importance of central oversight into clinical trial design – one of the UK’s unique strengths – rather than rushing out small-scale academic research.