India Launches First Indigenous Anti-COVID-19 Therapeutic

India's Minister of Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh, and the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, today jointly launched the new COVID drug 2-DG.

The anti-COVID-19 therapeutic application of the drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) has been developed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, a Defence Research and Development lab Organisation, along with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, located in Hyderabad.

Dr. Vardhan remarked in a press statement issued on May 17, 2021, 'that today is a historic day in our fight against COVID and congratulated the scientific community and DRDO for their patience and perseverance in developing the first indigenous medicine.'

'He said that the drug has the potential to become a game-changer in our response against COVID pandemic as it reduces the dependence of patients on oxygen administration and has the potential of getting absorbed differentially and in a selected manner.'

'In the COVID infected cells, it inhibits virus synthesis and energy production for the process.'

Dr. Vardhan further stated 'that the drug will go to the selective cells and prevent the synthesis of virus and reduce recovery time.'