<p>British scientists will be studying whether higher doses of a cheap and widely used steroid called dexamethasone could work better for patients with severe Covid-19 compared to the standard low doses, they said on Thursday.</p>.<p>Last year, the same scientists conducting the large trial, dubbed RECOVERY, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-steroid-idUSKBN23N1VP">showed </a>that dexamethasone was able to save the lives of Covid-19 patients in what was called a "major breakthrough" in the coronavirus pandemic.</p>.<p>They had found that a 6 mg daily dose of dexamethasone, which is used to reduce inflammation in diseases such as arthritis, cut death rates by around a third among the most severely ill Covid-19 patients in hospitals.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/centre-says-precautionary-covid-19-dose-to-cut-hospitalisation-risk-choice-of-vaccine-yet-to-be-decided-1066311.html">Centre says precautionary Covid-19 dose to cut hospitalisation risk, choice of vaccine yet to be decided</a></strong></p>.<p>"Given how quickly the Omicron variant is spreading, we can expect to see patients admitted to hospital with severe Covid-19 for a while to come," said Peter Horby, an Oxford University professor co-leading the trial.</p>.<p>"This makes it very important that we continue to explore ways to further improve the care of patients with severe Covid-19."</p>.<p>RECOVERY will compare a higher dose of 20 mg of dexamethasone given once daily for five days, followed by 10mg once-daily for a another five days, to the usual low dose treatment given for up to ten days, the trial's website <a href="https://www.recoverytrial.net/news/recovery-trial-to-investigate-whether-higher-doses-of-dexamethasone-deliver-greater-benefit-for-patients-with-severe-covid-19?ref=image">showed</a>.</p>.<p>The trial is backed by the UK government and Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates and former wife Melinda French's charity.</p>.<p>Last week, the scientists began studying GSK and Vir Biotechnology's antibody-based Covid-19 drug as a possible treatment for hospitalised patients.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>British scientists will be studying whether higher doses of a cheap and widely used steroid called dexamethasone could work better for patients with severe Covid-19 compared to the standard low doses, they said on Thursday.</p>.<p>Last year, the same scientists conducting the large trial, dubbed RECOVERY, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-steroid-idUSKBN23N1VP">showed </a>that dexamethasone was able to save the lives of Covid-19 patients in what was called a "major breakthrough" in the coronavirus pandemic.</p>.<p>They had found that a 6 mg daily dose of dexamethasone, which is used to reduce inflammation in diseases such as arthritis, cut death rates by around a third among the most severely ill Covid-19 patients in hospitals.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/centre-says-precautionary-covid-19-dose-to-cut-hospitalisation-risk-choice-of-vaccine-yet-to-be-decided-1066311.html">Centre says precautionary Covid-19 dose to cut hospitalisation risk, choice of vaccine yet to be decided</a></strong></p>.<p>"Given how quickly the Omicron variant is spreading, we can expect to see patients admitted to hospital with severe Covid-19 for a while to come," said Peter Horby, an Oxford University professor co-leading the trial.</p>.<p>"This makes it very important that we continue to explore ways to further improve the care of patients with severe Covid-19."</p>.<p>RECOVERY will compare a higher dose of 20 mg of dexamethasone given once daily for five days, followed by 10mg once-daily for a another five days, to the usual low dose treatment given for up to ten days, the trial's website <a href="https://www.recoverytrial.net/news/recovery-trial-to-investigate-whether-higher-doses-of-dexamethasone-deliver-greater-benefit-for-patients-with-severe-covid-19?ref=image">showed</a>.</p>.<p>The trial is backed by the UK government and Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates and former wife Melinda French's charity.</p>.<p>Last week, the scientists began studying GSK and Vir Biotechnology's antibody-based Covid-19 drug as a possible treatment for hospitalised patients.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>