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This is an archive article published on May 17, 2021

DRDO’s 1st batch of anti-Covid drug 2DG launched

The drug will be the “first indigenous research-based outcome” to fight the virus, and will “reduce recovery time and oxygen dependency” in the country, Vardhan said at the launch.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan at the launch today. (ANI)Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan at the launch today. (ANI)

The first batch of anti-COVID drug 2-DG, developed by the DRDO was released on Monday by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

The drug will be the “first indigenous research-based outcome” to fight the virus, and will “reduce recovery time and oxygen dependency” in the country, Vardhan said at the launch.

The approval comes as India continues to grapple with a continuous surge in a deadly second wave. The healthcare system has stretched and there are huge gaps in the supply and demand of medical oxygen.

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The Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) earlier this month approved the oral drug for emergency use as an adjunct therapy in moderate to severe coronavirus patients.

The clinical trials of the drug, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) showed that it hastens the recovery process and supplemental oxygen dependence, the health ministry said.

The anti-COVID therapeutic application of the drug has been developed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) in collaboration with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) in Hyderabad.

The drug comes in powder form in a sachet and is taken orally by dissolving it in water, the ministry said.

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“In the ongoing second COVID-19 wave, a large number of patients are facing severe oxygen dependency and need hospitalisation. The drug is expected to save precious lives due to the mechanism of its operation in the infected cells. This also reduces the hospital stay of COVID-19 patients,” the ministry had said.

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