In the ongoing second COVID-19 wave, a large number of patients are facing severe oxygen dependency and need hospitalisation. The first batch of Anti-COVID drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). was released on Monday. The drug is expected to save precious lives due to the mechanism of operation of the drug in infected cells. This also reduces the hospital stay of COVID-19 patients.
The DRDO's new anti-COVID drug, 2-DG, reduces a patient's average recovery time by two and a half days and oxygen demand by upto 40 per cent, the Union Health Ministry had informed on Monday.
DRDO Chairperson Dr G Satheesh Reddy had earlier informed that the first batch of 2-DG would only be available only to AIIMS, Armed Forces Hospitals, DRDO hospitals and other places in need. It will be made available to other hospitals in June.
Dr Reddy's on Wednesday shared a few important information regarding the drug:
- Emergency use approval has been granted in India for anti-Covid-19 therapeutic application of the drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) developed by INMAS, a lab of the DRDO, in collaboration with Dr Reddy's Laboratories.
- 2DG is an oral anti-viral drug that can be administered only upon prescription to hospitalised moderate to severe Covid-19 patients as adjunct (add on) therapy along with existing standard of care.
- 2DG has not yet been launched into the market. Price per sachet has not yet been announced.
- Commercial launch and supply of 2DG to major Government and private hospitals is expected to commence in mid-June. Price is being determined with a view to making it accessible and affordable to as many patients as possible, and will be announced soon.
- Please beware of agents selling spurious or illegal products in the name of 2DG.
- Please beware of unverified messages relating to 2DG circulating on social media and on WhatsApp.