The European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Friday endorsed the use of the steroid dexamethasone to treat oxygen-starved patients of Covid-19, AFP reports.

The EU drug watchdog said in a statement that dexamethasone can be a treatment option for patients who require oxygen therapy.

“Based on the review of available data, EMA is endorsing the use of dexamethasone in adults and adolescents (from 12 years of age and weighing at least 40 kilograms) who require supplemental oxygen therapy,” it said.

A UK study showed in July that 29 percent of coronavirus patients on ventilators who received dexamethasone died within 28 days of starting the treatment, compared to 41 percent of those not given it.

In patients who received oxygen without ventilation, the figures were 23 per cent with dexamethasone and 26pc without.