Dr Reddy's Labs' Covid-19 Drug Gets DCGI Nod

A potential cancer drug, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), that was reprocessed as medication for Covid-19 patients by pharma giant Dr Reddy's Laboratories in collaboration with the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a lab run by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has been okayed for emergency use by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).

2-DG, a powder that comes in individual sachets and has to be administered orally in a water-based solution, can help prevent the growth of coronavirus in an infected person besides reducing patients' dependence on artificial oxygen. This was seen during the trial phase last year. The tests also showed that persons who had tested positive for Covid-19, tested negative faster after using the wonder drug.

Talking about the medicine, officials of the two labs said that it was suitable for use on critical Covid-19 patients. Those with moderate symptoms will also benefit from its use.

The drug's ability to reduce patients' dependence on supplemental oxygen will be a great boon especially as the ongoing second wave of the pandemic has left many infected persons entirely reliant on medical oxygen. Where many states of the country have been severely affected by both the pandemic and a huge shortage of oxygen this new medication could help scores of patients recover despite the deficit of medical oxygen.

Since it has already been patented and has also been okayed for use by the DCGI, reports say that 2-DG is expected to hit the market in about a week.

Telangana's case figures meanwhile highlight exactly why such a drug will be a godsend - the state recorded 4,976 new positives after 55,358 samples were tested as well as 35 fresh fatalities in the last 24 hours.

Further, three patients passed away at King Koti Hospital due to lack of access to medical oxygen. The oxygen tanker which was supposed to reach the facility from Jadcherla got delayed as the driver of the tanker forgot the route.

The incident prompted the three bereaved families to stage a dharna outside the hospital. They demanded that the hospital authorities take action against those responsible for the lapse.