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<\/a><\/p>\nDexamethasone is a steroid that has been used since the 1960s to reduce inflammation in a range of conditions, including inflammatory disorders and certain cancers.<\/p>\n
It has been listed on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines since 1977 in multiple formulations and is currently off-patent and affordably available in most countries.<\/p>\n
For patients on ventilators, the treatment was shown to reduce mortality by about one third, and for patients requiring only oxygen, mortality was cut by about one fifth.<\/p>\n
“This is the first treatment to be shown to reduce mortality in patients with Covid-19 requiring oxygen or ventilator support,\u201d said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is great news and I congratulate the Government of the UK, the University of Oxford, and the many hospitals and patients in the UK who have contributed to this lifesaving scientific breakthrough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize said in a statement early on Wednesday morning (17 June), that the drug had seen a\u00a0successful trial<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>in the UK and will likely be used in South Africa.<\/p>\n While the full findings of the trial are still required, South Africa\u2019s Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) said that use of the drug may be considered for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 who are being mechanically ventilated.<\/p>\n Investments\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n In a post-Covid world, research investments could prove particularly lucrative for some companies.<\/p>\n South African Investment group Sygnia says that it could pour as much as \u00a3550 million (R12.4 billion) into Oxford-based businesses over the next few years.<\/p>\n In a presentation to clients of wealth management firm Brenthurst, seen by The Telegraph<\/a><\/strong>, Syngia’s OSI Fund suggested it could deploy around \u00a3150 million (R2.75 billion) in cash to Oxford Sciences Innovation, the university spin-out arm, and its portfolio companies next year.<\/p>\n It could invest a further \u00a3400 million (R7.4 billion) the following year, it said.<\/p>\n Of this cash, Syngia is thought to already have raised \u00a3200 million. Syngia OSI Fund owns around a 16% stake in Oxford Sciences Innovation (OSI), the university spin-out arm, and is its largest shareholder.<\/p>\n
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