According to hindu.com, a new anti-COVID drug has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). The anti-COVID-19 drug is named the drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG). The drug has been made in collaboration with Hyderabad’s DRL (Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories).
The main laboratory to develop is the INMAS (Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences) of the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation). In a speech on Saturday, May 8, 2021, the Ministry of Defense has announced that the drug can be used to treat moderate to severe COVID cases and might also be easily produced since it is a generic molecule and an analog of glucose. It can also be produced in huge quantities and made available in plentiful amounts.
Way to consume the medicine:
2-DG comes in a sachet and is powder-based. It is dissolved in a glass of water and consumed. Thus, the drug is based on oral consumption. It stops the synthesis of the virus and energy production, helping in the viral growth, thus preventing complications. It is unique in its way of accumulation in the cells attacked by the coronavirus.
Research also proves the efficiency of the drug to turn a COVID positive patient into COVID negative real fast. The rtPCR tests and trials have shown several beneficial results for the drug. Thus, the recovery rates can be raised using this drug, and a better tomorrow might be expected soon.
The drug on the making:
The testing and trial for the drug began during the first wave in India. The INMAS, along with the CCMB (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology) of Hyderabad, conducted several studies to prove the drug’s effectiveness against the viral load. The second phase trial was also conducted from May to October.
One hundred ten patients were involved in the trial, and those receiving the dose showed at least 2.5 days of faster recovery than those going through the standard treatments. A third phase of the trial showed even better results, and the patients were seen to develop and better condition of their lungs and did not require an external supply of oxygen.
So, this drug, it comes into the market soon, might help handle the second-COVID wave and might even stop the third wave from happening.