Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launches DRDO’s anti Covid drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG)

Minister of Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh and Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan today jointly launched the new COVID drug 2-DG at DRDO Bhawan. The anti-COVID-19 therapeutic application of the drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) has been developed by Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a lab of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), along with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL), Hyderabad. Over 10,000 doses of the drug are likely to be made available starting this week.

One box each of the sachets of the drug was handed over to Dr Randeep Guleria. Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi and Lt Gen Shri Sunil Kant of Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS). Speaking at the launch, Dr Harsh Vardhan remarked that today is a historic day in our fight against COVID and congratulated the scientific community and DRDO for their patience and perseverance for developing first indigenous medicine. He said that the drug has the potential to become a game changer in our response against COVID pandemic as it reduces the dependence of patients on oxygen administration and has the potential of getting absorbed differentially and in a selected manner. In the COVID infected cells, it inhibits virus synthesis and energy production for the process. Since viruses require glucose to multiply and thrive, the drug molecules attach themselves to Covid 19 virus and prevent it from multiplying.

Dr Harsh Vardhan further stated that around thirty hospitals were involved in the clinical trials of this drug. He said that the drug will go to the selective cells and prevent synthesis of virus and reduce recovery time. Expressing his gratitude towards the Defence Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that due to the efforts of Defence Ministry and DRDO, several PSA plants have been successfully installed in Delhi and across the country. Dr Harsh Vardhan also cautioned against complacency and said that we will win over the war against COVID by collective efforts and by following COVID Appropriate Behaviour.

Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy expressed confidence that the anti-COVID drug will help the patients recover from the deadly virus, hoping that DRL, Hyderabad will take it forward and soon make the drug available for the patients. Joining the event virtually, Chairman, DRL Shri Kallam Satish Reddy said, “Dr. Reddy’s is glad to have partnered with DRDO and INMAS in the development of 2-DG. This is a re-affirmation of our company’s efforts to address COVID through a host of therapeutics and vaccine.” Shri Rajesh Bhushan, Union Secretary (Health & Family Welfare), Dr Sunil Kumar, DG (Health Services), Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS New Delhi were present at the launch event. Besides Chairman, DRL, Director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology Dr Rakesh Mishra and many doctors, hospitals & labs across the country joined the event virtually.

Remdesivir

Department of Pharmaceuticals intensified monitoring of availability, production and supply of drugs used for Covid-19 Treatment in early April, 2021 as number of cases of Covid-19 started increasing steeply. Remdesivir is a patented drug, manufactured in India under voluntary licenses granted by Gilead Life Sciences USA, the patent holder, to 7 Indian pharmaceutical companies (Cipla, Dr Reddy’s Lab., Hetero, Jubilant Pharma, Mylan, Syngene and Zydus Cadila).

To augment the domestic production capacity, all the seven domestic licensed manufacturers of Remdesivir were asked to ramp up production quickly. With combined efforts of the central government and the manufacturing companies, the production capacity of the licensed manufacturers has increased unprecedentedly from 38 lakh vials per month to nearly 119 lakh vials per month. With accelerated approval of 38 additional manufacturing sites, the number of  approved manufacturing sites of Remdesivir in country has increased from 22 sites to  60 sites. With the help of Ministry of External Affairs, the manufacturers of Remdesivir are being facilitated for getting supplies of requisite raw materials and equipments from foreign countries. All the seven Indian manufacturers have been making supplies to States as per the allocation both against government purchase orders and also through their private distribution channels in States. Total 54.15 lakh vials of Remdesivir have been supplied across the country by the Drug companies during 21^st April-15^th May, 2021 period.

PIB: Release ID: 1719393 & 1719307