[nudephil (OP)]

We got a couple questions in from listener Reg:

In June it was announced that the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone could potentially reduce 1 in 3 deaths among patients on ventilators. If this is being used then I would expect a fewer number of deaths, but nobody seems to have mentioned this - nor the progress in using plasma extracted from patients who have recovered - in months.  Do you know the current status of either treatment?

[evan_au]

the progress in using plasma extracted from patients who have recovered

I heard there was a trial of convalescent plasma run India, which didn't produce convincing results
- They didn't test the donors to see if they had high levels of antibodies
- Or what sort of antibodies
- Apparently there have been no high-quality trials
- I guess it is hard to standardise a treatment where the input is some individual's random response to a virus.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treatment_and_management_of_COVID-19#Convalescent_plasma

However, when Donald Trump caught COVID-19, he was given an antibody cocktail from Regeneron.
- Apparently, one of the antibodies in this cocktail were from a COVID-19 survivor.
- Presumably, this particular antibody had been tested for effectiveness against SARS-COV2, and it was provided in a known dose
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_COVID-19_outbreak#Airlift_to_Walter_Reed_and_experimental_treatments,_October_2

anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone could potentially reduce 1 in 3 deaths among patients on ventilators

There has been a trial of Dexamethosone (a steroid), and it is now included in WHO recommendations, for use with patients on ventilators.
But if the government cannot control COVID, and there are no ICU beds left, you may not be able to get a ventilator...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treatment_and_management_of_COVID-19#Systemic_corticosteroids