Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on Monday released the first batch of Anti-Covid drug 2-DG.
The Anti-Covid drug was officially launched by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Central Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.
The approval of the drug has come at a time when the nation is struggling with a deadly second wave of coronavirus disease.
The new drug by DRDO will be the first indigenous research-based outcome to fight against Covid 19. It is also likely to reduce the recovery time and dependency on oxygen.
This comes after the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) approved the oral drug for emergency use as an adjunct therapy in moderate to severe coronavirus patients.
Earlier on May 8, the defence ministry said the clinical trials of the drug, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), showed that it helps in a faster recovery of hospitalized patients and reduces supplemental oxygen dependence.
The first batch of anti Covid-19 drug, 2-DG is being released. Sharing my thoughts on the occasion. https://t.co/1dAM91jttg
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) May 17, 2021
The 2-DG (2-deoxy-D-glucose) is an Anti-COVID-19 therapeutic application of the drug. It has been developed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a lab of DRDO in collaboration with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories.
The drug comes in powder form in a sachet and is taken orally by dissolving it in water.
As per recent studies, patients treated with 2-DG showed a faster symptomatic cure than the Standard of Care (SoC) on various endpoints.
Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan release first batch of Anti-COVID drug 2DG developed by DRDO pic.twitter.com/gUu6IuYlrT
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the official launch stated:
“Under the leadership of the PM, the issue of oxygen production has been resolved with collective effort.
We will not be at ease and will not be tired but will keep fighting and will win against Covid-19. Now medicine issue is also not there much.”
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