India launches first batch of anti-COVID drug 2 DG

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan have launched the first batch of the DRDO-developed anti-COVID oral drug 2-DG on Monday.

Earlier this month, the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) approved the 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) medication for use as an adjunct therapy in moderate to serious coronavirus patients.

Singh said in his brief remarks that the medication has provided a new ray of hope for COVID-19 patients.

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"This is a excellence example of our country's scientific prowess," he added.

At the same time, the defence minister said that now is not the time to relax and get tired because the pandemic's trajectory is unknown.

“We don't need to be calm and we certainly don't need to be tired. Since this is the second time this wave has arrived, and there is nothing certain about it. We must proceed with extreme caution," he added.

Singh stated that the government has taken the overall situation seriously, whether it is a matter of ensuring oxygen supply, ensuring ICU beds or arranging cryogenic tankers for liquid oxygen transportation.

"I am pleased to report that the Medical Corps has agreed to rehire its retired doctors in order to improve our health-care system even further. I applaud physicians who are participating in this movement even after their service," Singh remarked.

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The defence minister also mentioned the military's efforts to assist civilian authorities in dealing with the situation throughout the region.

The drug's approval comes at a time when India is dealing with a coronavirus pandemic that has strained the country's healthcare system to its breaking point.

The anti-COVID-19 therapeutic application of 2-DG drug was developed in collaboration with Dr Reddy's Laboratories (DRL) in Hyderabad by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a leading DRDO laboratory.

According to the ministry, the medicine comes in powder form in a sachet and is taken orally by dissolving it in water.

According to ministry, patients treated with 2-DG had a quicker symptomatic cure than those treated with the standard of care (SoC) on different endpoints.

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