2-deoxy-D-glucose approved by DGCI

2-deoxy-D-glucose approved by DGCI

Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – Health; GS- III – Sci & tech

In news

• Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approved anti-COVID drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose  for emergency use.
• Developed by: Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a lab of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL), Hyderabad.

Key takeaways

• Clinical trial results have shown that this molecule helps in faster recovery of hospitalised patients and reduces supplemental oxygen dependence.
• Higher proportion of patients treated with 2-DG showed RT-PCR negative conversion in COVID patients. 
• The drug will be of immense benefit to the people suffering from COVID-19.
• The drug comes in powder form in sachet, which is taken orally by dissolving it in water. 
• 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.