New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Health Minister Dr Harshvardhan on 17 May in association with Dr. Reddy’s lab has launched the first batch of the Anti-COVID drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose(2DG) curated by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Dr Reddy’s lab revealed its pricing per sachet at Rs 990 on Friday. However, the civic and state-run hospitals have been allotted a special price after discount. Union Minister Rajnath Singh revealed,” currently 10,000 sachets of the anti-COVID-19 drug will be available in the market.”
The INMAS-DRDO scientists in April 2020, conducted lab experiments with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad. The research yielded an effective result against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and inhibition of viral growth. Based on these results, the DCGI and CDSCO permitted a Phase II clinical trial of 2-DG in COVID-19 patients.
As per the sources, in Phase II trials conducted during May-October 2020, the drug was found to be safe and presented significant development in the infected patients. These trials were conducted on 110 patients in six hospitals. The drug is reported to ward off severe oxygen dependency issues faced by critically ill COVID patients.
On a lighter note, Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar, issuing his views about the 2DG drug said,” it could be a game-changer in the fight against the COVID-19 virus.”
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