Aspen notes results of Covid-19 trial using a drug it has rights to

Drug maker Aspen Pharmacare said yesterday it had noted media reports regarding a Covid-19 trial using dexamethasone, a drug it has rights to.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday a trial had shown that dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, could be life-saving for patients who were critically ill with Covid-19.

For patients on ventilators, the treatment was shown to reduce mortality by about one third, and for patients requiring only oxygen, mortality was cut by about one fifth, according to preliminary findings shared with WHO.

Aspen confirmed yesterday that it owned rights to the producer, and distributed it in a number of countries, including in SA, where it is manufactured locally by a third party.

In morning trade yesterday, Aspen’s share price was up 6% to R148.40, putting it on track for its best one-day performance in almost three months.