2-DG Anti-COVID Drug: DRDO explains how and when to use the medicine

DRDO’s new anti-Covid oral drug, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), was recently granted emergency use approval by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) as an adjunct therapy in moderate cases of COVID-19.

The medicine was developed at the DRDO lab at the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), New Delhi, in collaboration with Hyderabad-based pharma company Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL).

The anti-COVID drug 2-DG has been developed in powder form and is ingested orally by dissolving it in water.

The DRDO said that 2-DG medicine should be used under the supervision of a doctor.

2-DG medicine should be prescribed early on by the doctors. It can be prescribed for up to 10 days and the recipients can be both moderate to severe COVID patients.

It is an adjunct therapy to go side-by-side with standard treatment of COVID-19 patients in hospital settings.

The drug should not be given to patients with uncontrolled diabetes, severe cardiac problem, ARDS, severe hepatic and renal impairment patients.

Also, Lactating and pregnant women and people below the age of 18 should not be prescribed with 2DG.

The DRDO also asked patients and attendants in need of the 2-DG drug to request the hospital to contact Dr Reddy’s Lab, Hyderabad for emergency medicine supply.