Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the oral drug recently
The 2-DG oral drug developed by Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), New Delhi, a lab of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with Hyderabad-based pharma company Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) is showing a lot of promise.
Clinical trial data show that the molecule helps in faster recovery of patients hospitalised with Covid-19, and reduces their dependence on supplemental oxygen. The drug accumulates in virus-infected cells, and prevents the growth of the virus by stopping viral synthesis and energy production.
Its selective accumulation in virally-infected cells makes this drug unique, the release said. During the first wave of the pandemic in April 2020, laboratory experiments carried out by scientists of INMAS-DRDO in collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, found that this molecule works effectively against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the Covid-19 disease, and inhibits viral growth.
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