DRDO’s 2-DG Drug To Be Launched Next Week; Know How It Will Help In Covid-19 Treatment, Reduce Oxygen Dependence & More

New Delhi: The first batch of DRDO drug ‘2-DG’ will be given its initial launch with 10,000 doses next week. Informing about this, DRDO officials said that they ramping up production for its future use in the treatment of Covid patients. This drug has been made by a team of DRDO scientists, including Dr. Anant Narayan Bhatt.

“The first batch of 10,000 doses of 2-DG medicine for the treatment of Covid-19 infected patients would be launched early next week and will be given to patients,” a DRDO official was quoted as saying.

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Yesterday, the Health Minister of Karnataka Dr. K Sudhakar visited the DRDO campus. DRDO scientists briefed the minister about the 2DG drug that could be a “game-changer” in the battle of Covid.

“The 2-DG drug developed by DRDO is a big breakthrough and could be a game-changer in the battle against pandemic as it helps in faster recovery of hospitalised patients and reduces oxygen dependence,” Sudhakar was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office.

Scientists briefed Dr. K Sudhakar about the ongoing efforts at the premier research organisation to find solutions to tackle the pandemic.

What is the 2-DG & Which institute has developed it?

The 2-DG is a 2-deoxy-D-glucose drug that will be given as an anti-Covid-19 therapeutic application. It will be given as an adjunct therapy or an alternative treatment, and its purpose is to assist the primary treatment. It comes in powder form in sachets, which is to be taken orally by dissolving in water.

It has been developed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a lab of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with Dr Reddys Laboratories (DRL), Hyderabad.

How does 2DG help in the treatment of Covid patients?

The Clinical trial results of the 2-DG drug have shown that this molecule helps in faster recovery of hospitalised patients and reduces supplemental oxygen dependence. A higher proportion of patients treated with 2-DG showed RT-PCR negative conversion in Covid patients. DRDO has stated that the drug would be of benefit to the people suffering from Covid-19.

“The drug is expected to save precious lives due to the mechanism of operation of the drug in infected cells. This also reduces the hospital stay of COVID-19 patients,” the defence ministry had stated.

How does 2DG reduce Oxygen dependence?

The 2 DG drug is said to work on virus infection spread into lungs which can help doctors to decrease patients dependability on oxygen.

“It accumulates in the virus-infected cells and prevents virus growth by stopping viral synthesis and energy production. Its selective accumulation in virally infected cells makes this drug unique,” the ministry had said upon approval.

When and how did testing of 2DG drug take place?

In April 2020, during the first wave of the Coronavirus pandemic, INMAS-DRDO scientists conducted laboratory experiments with the help of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, and found that this molecule works effectively against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and inhibits the viral growth.

Based on these results, the Drugs Controller General of Indias (DCGI) Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is said to have permitted Phase-2 clinical trial of 2-DG in Covid-19 patients in May 2020.

The DRDO, along with its industry partner DRL in Hyderabad, started clinical trials to test the safety and efficacy of the drug in Covid-19 patients.

Phase-2 trials which included dose-ranging were conducted during May-October 2020 and the drug was found to be safe in Coronavirus patients. It showed significant improvement in their recovery, Phase-2 was conducted in six hospitals on 110 patients and Phase 2b (dose-ranging) clinical trial was conducted at 11 hospitals across the country.

What have Phase 3 trials concluded?

Based on successful results, DCGI allowed Phase-3 clinical trials in November 2020. Phase-3 clinical trials were conducted on 220 patients between December 2020 to March 2021 in 27 Covid hospitals in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Detailed data of Phase 3 clinical trial were presented to DCGI. A significant improvement was witnessed in symptoms experienced by patients. A similar trend was seen in patients older than 65 years.

Besides the 2DG, DRDO has come up with another innovative solution called the Oxycare System which optimises the consumption of oxygen and reduces the workload and exposure of healthcare providers by eliminating the need to routinely measure and make manual adjustments to oxygen flow.

Karnataka Health Minister Dr. K Sudhakar has informed that the PM-CARES Fund would procure 1.5 lakh units of Oxycare System at a cost of Rs 322.5 crore.

(With Agency Inputs)