Prime Minister hails drug ‘breakthrough’

Political Editor

PRIME Minister Boris Johnson has hailed “the biggest breakthrough yet” in the search for a coronavirus treatment, after researchers at Oxford University confirmed that a widely-available drug can save lives.

Dexamethasone is a steroid drug which was first developed 60 years ago. Researchers have confirmed that it can reduce the symptoms of the Covid-19 virus for people with breathing difficulties, at a cost of around £5 per patient.

Oxford University said the results of a trial revealed that dexamethasone “reduces death by up to one third in hospitalised patients with severe respiratory complications of Covid-19.”

Speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference yesterday, Mr Johnson said: “This drug, dexamethasone, can now be made available across the NHS.

“And we’ve taken steps to ensure we have enough supplies even in the event of a second peak.”

Mr Johnson added: “There is genuine cause to celebrate a remarkable British scientific achievement.”

The clinical trial, which involved more than 11,500 patients across 175 NHS hospitals found that it “reduced deaths by one-third in ventilated patients ... and by one fifth in other patients receiving oxygen only”.

The drug does not stop Covid-19 spreading or prevent people from catching it.

Research into the drug was led Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at University of Oxford. He also took part in the press conference, saying: “It’s available throughout the world and it’s extremely cheap.”

Prof Horby added: “It is really good news that we’ve now got a treatment that almost every patient can take.”

Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government’s

Chief Scientific Adviser, said dexamethasone was the first drug that’s been shown to reduce death and other drugs would be found that reduced the death rate further.

He said: “This is the start of something important.”

Mr Johnson also referred to an ongoing government review of the two-metre rule, which requires people from different households to remain at least two metres apart.

Some businesses in the hospitality sector, such as pubs and restaurants, have said this will make it difficult for them to re-open.

The Prime Minister made it clear he hoped to reduce the two-metre instruction, but also that it would not be changed yet.

He said: “I am all too aware that the two metre rule has big implications for schools and for many other sectors. I absolutely hear those concerns and will do everything in my power to get us back to normal as soon as possible.

“But we must proceed carefully and according to our plan.”