Dexamethasone not a ‘miracle pill’ to ward off COVID-19 -Palace

Dexamethasone is not yet the “miracle pill” that will curb the spread of COVID-19, Malacañang said Thursday, even as it welcomed studies that showed the steroid can help save critically ill patients.

Palace spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the steroid, which is used to reduce inflammation, was not the “miracle pill” President Rodrigo Duterte is hoping for.

“We don’t think it’s a miracle pill, kasi ang findings po, it can save about 30% of seriously ill patients. We want a cure that will save 100% if not a majority of those who fall seriously ill,” Roque said at a televised briefing.

“Ang mabuting balita naman po hindi ito bagong gamot, lumang gamot na ito. Commercially available at mura lamang. Pero nagagalak po kami na kahit papano mayroong pag-asa na 30% effective itong gamot na ito para maisalba iyong mga critically ill.”

The Department of Health also gave a similar assessment on Wednesday after UK researchers released the preliminary results of the clinical trial to test dexamethasone as a potential treatment for COVID-19, which has killed around 450,000 people worldwide.

“Hindi pa po ito peer-reviewed ng mga ka-level nilang experts, iyong isa sa mga proseso para masabi na ang ebidensiya ay study ay katanggap-tanggap. Aantayin po muna natin ang resulta ng peer review na ito bago natin masabi na puwede natin itong gawin,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

There is no cure or vaccine yet for COVID-19. -MDM, GMA News