Regulator nod to DRDO’s Covid drug; trials show fast recovery, less Oxygen need

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 8

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted emergency use approval to DRDO-developed oral drug to treat Covid, the Ministry of Defence said today.

The drug, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), has been cleared for adjunct therapy in moderate to severe patients. A generic molecule and analogue of glucose, it can be easily produced and made available in plenty in the country.

How it works

• The drug comes in powder form and is taken orally by dissolving it in water
• It accumulates in virus-infected cells and prevents virus growth
• It stops viral synthesis and energy production; ensures faster recovery

The drug has been developed by DRDO’s Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences in collaboration with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Hyderabad. It comes in powder form and is taken orally by dissolving it in water. The drug accumulates in virus-infected cells and prevents virus growth by stopping viral synthesis and energy production.

Covid hospitals can accept over Rs2L cash

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued an order to allow hospitals and nursing homes treating Covid patients to accept over Rs2 lakh in cash. The provision will be effective from April 1 to May 31, 2021. TNS

Clinical trial results have shown that this molecule helps in faster recovery of hospitalised patients and reduces supplementary oxygen dependence. “Higher proportion of patients treated with 2-DG showed RT-PCR negative conversion in patients,” the MoD said. It was found that 42 per cent patients, who were administered two sachets of the drug daily, were off oxygen support by the third day. The medicine has been found effective even in patients above 65 years of age.

Company-wise Remdesivir supply plan

The Centre on Friday issued a company-wise supply plan of Remdesivir for states/UTs up to May 16. The plan has been prepared in consultation with various marketing companies.

In April last year, DRDO scientists conducted experiments with the help of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, and found that this molecule worked effectively against SARS-CoV-2 virus. Based on these results, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) permitted Phase II trials in May-October and the drug was found to be safe and effective.

Congress for nationwide lockdown

The Congress on Saturday accused the Centre of abject failure in protecting the lives of people and urged a nationwide lockdown. Rahul Gandhi hit out at the PM for ‘not utilising the vax budget’. TNS