Those results feel like definitive advances, but we need to realize their limitations and need for confirmation despite everyone's #pandemic fatigue
1/
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfObo1jXoAIC4lI.jpg)
The hardliners wanted less deaths for sure, but the study was not designed that way.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfOf3qSWsAAgQFi.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfOgikPWAAABnIc.jpg)
- In #RECOVERY, #dexamethasone helped nicely those on #ventilators, but #remdesivir had no effect.
- those on supplemental oxygen, #remdesiver worked beautifully, but the #dexamethasone effect was small
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfOhDofXYAEXy_O.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfOhNVHX0AA1weI.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfOidChWoAQ_7AH.jpg)
First a look at the #design of the #clinicaltrials (trying some #emoji scales here)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfOjmybX0AQnVgv.jpg)
Given the number of patients who had finished at the time of their preliminary report, I don't expect sizable changes in their final report, so I decided to compare the mortalities head-to-head with #RECOVERY.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfOll7gWAAUO2a0.jpg)
The absolute overall death difference is ~3% in both trials, not too exciting if reading from afar.
For patients on #ventilators, dex worked nicely
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfOmLnYWkAAlTLl.jpg)
Many doctors are already giving both to patients, but are we helping them by doing this? Is the combination synergistic, indifferent, antagonistic?
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfOmuK8WsAMzmdb.jpg)
- would remdesivir benefit patients on the ventilator further if used with dexamethasone?
- would dexamethasone antagonize the benefit of remdesivir in those on O2?
- For the optimists, may call it the #CoVfirm trial
- For the pessimists, may call it the #CoVince-ME trial
But here is the proposal for the #ReDexCoVer trial
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfOpgq2XoAEcGxT.jpg)