By Indiatimes.com and published by MSN News
INDIA’S Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)’s new anti-Covid oral drug, just approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), is effective against different variants of the coronavirus and helps in bringing patients out of oxygen support, said DRDO scientists yesterday (May 10).
Dr Anant Narayan Bhatt, a scientist at the DRDO’s Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS-DRDO) while speaking to ANI said, “In the Phase 3 trials for 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a large number of patients were tested and it was found that many patients are coming out of oxygen (support)… The mechanism of action is very unique and as per the basic principles of this drug, it will be very effective on different variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.”
The DCGI approved the emergency use of the 2-deoxy-D-glucose earlier in the day, as an adjunct therapy in moderate to severe COVID-19 cases.
Dr Sudhir Chandna, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) scientist, said the recently approved anti-Covid drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) is completely safe and will help patients recover faster.
On being asked about the price, he said: “It will depend on the production and those factors are with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories who are our industry partners. As per our information and understanding, Dr. Reddy’s is trying that it comes out in a few days.”
The drug, which comes in powder form in a sachet, is taken orally by dissolving it in water.
In an interview with News 18, Chandna said the drug will be out in a month.
“In a few weeks or within a month time, the medicine will be available for the patients,” he said.
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Top: An Indian woman getting a Covid jab. Photo: Indiatimes.com and published by MSN News
Home Page: An anti-Covid-19 therapeutic application of the drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) has been developed by INMAS, a lab of DRDO, in collaboration with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Hyderabad. The drug will help in faster recovery of Covid patients. Photo: Twitter/@DRDO_India and published by The Hindu
