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# Study Shows Dexamethasone Survival Benefit in Covid
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/study-shows-dexamethasone-survival-benefit-in-covid/
- Published: 2020-06-16T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T16:18:27.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5147012

A UK National Institute for Health Research-funded and supported [study](https://www.nihr.ac.uk/news/first-drug-to-reduce-mortality-in-hospitalised-patients-with-respiratory-complications-of-covid-19-found/25061?ref=fdaweb.com) called RECOVERY (Randomized Evaluation of Covid-19 Therapy) has shown that the steroid dexamethasone can improve survival rates in certain coronavirus patients. The study, conducted at the University of Oxford, found that dexamethasone reduced the risk of dying by one-third in ventilated patients and by one fifth in other patients receiving oxygen only. There was no benefit among those who did not need respiratory intervention, the researchers say.

“It’s going to probably have an immediate impact on what doctors are doing in the ICU setting,” former FDA commissioner **Scott Gottlieb** said Tuesday on CNBC’s “[Squawk Box](https://www.cnbc.com/squawk-box-us/?ref=fdaweb.com)” in response to the news.“This is an important finding. It’s going to change dogma.”

Dexamethasone is a decades-old anti-inflammatory drug that has been used to treat arthritis, asthma, allergic reactions and other conditions. The drug can be administered orally or intravenously, the researchers said.