The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) certified 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) for emergency use in persons with moderate and severe COVID-19 on May 1 to support disease prevention. Researchers from the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories collaborated on this medicine.
The DCGI approved 2-DG based on insufficient data, similar to the approvals of favipiravir, itolizumab, and Verafin.
2-DG is a modified glucose molecule that has discovered to have specific anti-cancer and anti-viral properties. 2-DG has studied since 1956, but it has yet to be licenced for use in treating other disorders. It is presently mostly utilised for diagnostic testing and research purposes.
The Wire Science was unable to locate any preprints or peer-reviewed research papers on 2-DG clinical trials concerning COVID-19 that had posted by the DRDO and Dr Reddy’s team. Instead, we forced to rely on publicly available data, such as a press release — from the Ministry of Defence! – and clinical trial registrations to assess the evidence’s quality.
According to news agency ANI, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has set DRDO’s 2DG anti-COVID 19 medication pricing at Rs 990 per sachet. Officials told ANI that the medicine would be offered at a reduced cost by government facilities.
For Covid-19 patients, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) is an anti-viral drug oral. After the Ministry of Defence announced the medicine on May 17, it sparked a lot of interest. It was created in partnership with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) in Hyderabad by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), which is a prominent laboratory of the DRDO.
The medicine will introduce commercially in mid-June, according to Dr Reddy’s Laboratories.
Meanwhile, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories issued the second batch of 2-DG on Thursday. In the first week of June, we will see the start of mass manufacturing.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) authorised the oral medication for emergency use as an additional treatment for severe Covid patients earlier this month. According to the Ministry of Defence, medicine has been shown in clinical trials to help hospitalised. Covid patients recover faster and minimise their reliance on supplementary oxygen. In COVID patients, a higher number of patients treated with 2-DG had RT-PCR negative conversion.
According to the government, clinical research findings demonstrate that the chemical aids in the speedier recovery of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 and lowers their need for supplemental oxygen.
The medication builds up in virus-infected cells and stops viral manufacturing and energy generation, preventing the virus from spreading. According to a government announcement, this medicine is unique because it only accumulates in virally infected cells.
It went on to say, “The medicine will be of enormous value to patients suffering from Covid-19.”
The medicine will come in powder form in a packet and may be used orally after being dissolved in water.
2-DG, an anti-COVID drug developed by the DRDO
DRDO and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories collaborated on the development of this drug.
Essentially, 2-DG stands for 2-deoxy-D glucose. It is modified glucose that has employed in treatments as an anti-cancer and anti-viral agent in the past. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said that it should only use as an adjuvant in COVID patients with moderate to severe disease, not mild cases.
This drug was manufactured in partnership with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) in Hyderabad by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The company claims that the medicine can easily mass-produce in large numbers.
The medicine comes in powder form in a packet and must be taken twice a day for at least a week by dissolving it in water.
How can DRODO medicine assist COVID-19 patients?
So far, the claims have been that it helps COVID patients who hospitalised recover faster. It also promises to lessen patients’ reliance on oxygen supplements and fight against all cancer types of the virus’s variants.
What is the technology behind the 2-DG COVID drug developed by the DRDO?
The virus needs glucose for energy to grow quickly in the body. The argument is that if the virus feeds on this modified glucose for energy, it will halt. That is, it will cease to multiply at the same rate.
What Is The Evidence For The DRDO’s 2-DG COVID Drug’s Effectiveness?
Following preliminary clinical evidence that the chemical is effective against SARS-COV2, DRDO and DRL performed phase 2 clinical studies on 110 individuals. A total of 220 participants enrolled in phase 3 lessons. They determined that by Day 3 of the trials, the patients no longer required supplementary oxygen.
According to the DRDO, they should only administer 2-DG medication under the direction of a physician. Oral medication used as an additional therapy in the treatment of severe Covid patients. It lessens the need for supplementary oxygen.
2-DG Use Instructions
- Doctors should prescribe 2DG as soon as possible. This medicine can be taken for up to ten days, and individuals with COVID can range from mild to severe.
- This medicine is licenced for ‘Emergency Use,’ which can supplement the standard method for treating a Covid patient.
- Patients with uncontrolled diabetes, significant cardiac issues, ARDS, severe hepatic and renal impairment have not yet evaluated with 2DG. As a result, greater vigilance required.
- Prescriptions for 2DG should be avoided by lactating and pregnant women and children under the age of 18.
- Patients/attendees interested in purchasing 2DG medicine can send an email to 2DG@drreddys.com. Dr Reddy’s Lab in Hyderabad has provided the email address.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) gave permission to the medicine for emergency supplementary treatment in moderate to severe Covid-19 patients. On May 17, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan distributed the first batch of the indigenously manufactured anti-Covid-19 medication.
Pharma company Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has set DRDO’s 2DG anti-COVID 19 medication pricing at Rs 990 per sachet. Government hospitals, on the other hand, will give the medicine at a reduced cost. The medicine will commercially be introduced in mid-June, according to Dr Reddy’s Laboratories.
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