Dexamethasone Sees Spike in Demand Following Positive Trial Results

Demand for the corticosteroid dexamethasone has skyrocketed in the days since the University of Oxford published trial results suggesting the drug could be a game-changer for treating severely ill COVID-19 patients, hospital data shows.

Healthcare data company Vizient said that data from its member hospitals showed a 183 percent initial surge in demand on the day of Oxford’s announcement that the drug reduced deaths by one-third in ventilated patients and by one-fifth in patients on oxygen in its RECOVERY trial (DID, June 17).

In the week since the initial trial results were unveiled, there has been a 610 percent increase in demand for the coronavirus treatment, with aggregated fill rates dropping from 97 percent to 54 percent over a six-day period, the company said.

Shortly after Oxford released its results, the UK authorized the drug for use in COVID-19 patients requiring ventilation or oxygen, which accounts for the soaring demand (DID, June 19).

Vizient expressed confidence that drugmakers will be able to meet the increased demand, noting there are several firms that produce the drug. But it urged drugmakers to be prepared for continued increased demand. — James Miessler