Endocrine Society Issues Statement on Dexamethasone & COVID-19

  • Jun 2020

On June 17, the Endocrine Society issued a statement on the efficacy of using dexamethasone in COVID-19 patients.

Here is the statement in full:

A new clinical trial out of the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, reports that dexamethasone reduced deaths in patients with severe COVID-19.

It is imperative that our patients and the public understand that use of dexamethasone for COVID-19 patients is for those who are hospitalized with acute respiratory distress and on respiratory support. The drug did not help moderately ill patients who were not receiving oxygen and does not prevent symptoms of the virus. It may reduce the amount of time patients are on ventilators and may reduce deaths. Data and the study have not been peer-reviewed or published at this time.

Dexamethasone has been around for more than 50 years; it is inexpensive and commonly available. It is widely used to treat diseases like lupus, arthritis, allergies, and cancer. Though it may cause side effects, it is generally safe. The hope is that the drug’s ability to reduce inflammation could be a treatment to reduce mortality in severely ill patients with COVID-19, but it is critical that we not rush to judgement and review the complete study.

Additional information about COVID-19 can be found on our COVID-19 Member Resources Page.

You may also like

  • Endocrine Society Endorses Bipartisan Bill to Address Insulin Affordability 

    INSULIN Act would expand insulin co-pay cap to commercial market and encourage competition. The Endocrine Society today endorsed the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act, a bipartisan bill to address insulin affordability introduced by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and John Kennedy (R-LA).   This historic legislation would cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 per month for people on private insurance, protecting access to this life-saving medication for millions of people with diabetes. The legislation also would create a program to…

  • In Memoriam: Martin Savage 1941-2026

    By Richard Ross, Emeritus Professor of Endocrinology, University of Sheffield, UK, and Helen Storr, Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology, Queen Mary University London

    Martin O. Savage, Emeritus Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, passed away on February 24, 2026. Martin Savage was a kind, generous, quietly spoken man, an inspirational pediatrician and an internationally renowned clinician scientist. He was passionate about teaching…

Find more in