Dexamethasone more effective in treating Covid-19, says Health DG

PETALING JAYA: Dexamethasone, which is used for pneumonia patients, is more effective in treating Covid-19 than remdesivir and the HIV/AIDS drugs lopinavir or ritonavir, says Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

“Dexamethasone, which is used to treat pneumonia, is more effective. That’s all from the report for now, ” he said, referring to the World Health Organisation (WHO) findings, from the “Solidarity Trial” which also involved 190 Malaysians.

According to Dr Noor Hisham, findings from the “Solidarity Trial” found that remdisivir does not decrease death toll, hospital admissions as well as the progression of Covid-19 in a patient.

“We were also informed that results from the ‘Solidarity Trial’ found that hydroxychloroquine isn’t effective to treat Covid-19, neither is lopinavir and ritonavir.”

Last week, the WHO reported that data from its “Solidarity Trial” on remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon regimens had little effect on Covid-19.

The WHO report also said that dexamethasone is the only effective drug used to treat Covid-19 severe patients.