First batch of Anti-COVID drug 2-DG realised, an oral drug which will help mild & moderate covid patients
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan released the first batch of Anti-COVID drug 2-DG (2-deoxy-D-glucose) on 17 May 2021.
During the launch, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan praised the scientists for the achievement of the 2-DG drug. He said, “today is a very special day, as scientists have shown patience in the field of research. The drug took almost a year and during this period, the scientists showed an immense amount of patience. And today it has paid off, as we have the 2-DG drug, which can fight the ongoing pandemic.”
Developed by INMAS (Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences), a lab of DRDO, in collaboration with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL), the main work of the drug is to reduce the medical oxygen dependency and hospitalization stay of a covid patient. Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) granted emergency use of the 2-DG drug last week.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh talked about the scientific capabilities of the nation and how DRDO & scientists have come up to help the nation in the Covid pandemic. He said that “developed by DRDO & DRL, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) will prove effective against Covid-19. This is a great example of the scientific prowess of our country. I congratulate DRDO & all the institutions involved in the R&D of this drug, on my behalf.”
He further added, “We have handled every situation quite seriously. Be it the matter of Oxygen supply, or the matter of medicines, the matter of ICU beds, or the arrangement of cryogenic tankers, a collective effort has been made which has yielded good results.”
The release of the 2-DG drug can bring a significant amount of relaxation in the present condition, but it cannot completely eradicate the virus. The oral drug will reduce the medical oxygen dependency of a covid patient, hence it will help the mild and moderate covid patients.
Rajnath Singh added, “This drug is a new ray of hope. But we do not need to relax, nor do we need to get tired, and stop. Because this wave has come for the second time, and there is nothing definite about this even further. We have to take steps with full caution.”
The 2-DG drug, the ongoing vaccination drive, and the efforts to supply liquid medical oxygen across the nation are providing a firm base to covid patients and citizens of the nation in the fight against COVID-19.
