First batch of anti-Covid-19 drug 2DG rolled out

The first batch of antiCovid19 oral drug 2DG developed by the DRDO was rolled out on Monday as a severe wave of the coronavirus pandemic continued to ravage large parts of IndiaReleasing the drug along with Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said 2deoxyDglucose 2DG has brought a new ray of hope in the treatment of Covid19 patients and exuded confidence that it would be effectiveThe Drugs Controller General of India DGCI approved 2DG for emergency use as an adjunct therapy in moderate to severe coronavirus patients earlier this monthThis is a great example of the scientific prowess of our country Singh said in his brief remarksThe defence minister also listed the efforts of the armed forces in helping the civilian authorities deal with the pandemic across the country but asserted that their deployment has not impacted the militarys operational preparedness at the bordersEven after going through all these difficulties we have ensured that our preparedness at the border does not have any impact There is no shortage of enthusiasm of our forces anywhere We know this very well no matter how big the difficulty is we will overcome it he saidAbout the coronavirus crisis Singh said it is not the time to relax and get tired as there is nothing definitive about the course of the pandemicWe do not need to be relaxed nor should we get tired because this wave has come for the second time and there is nothing definite about this We have to take steps with full caution he said at the event at the DRDO headquarters hereSingh said the government has taken the overall situation seriously whether it is the matter of oxygen supply or ensuring ICU beds or the arrangement of cryogenic tankers for the transportation of liquid oxygenI am happy to say that the Medical Corps has also decided to take back its retired doctors so that our health system can be strengthened further I heartily commend such physicians who are joining this campaign even after their service he saidThe antiCovid19 therapeutic application of 2DG has been developed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences INMAS a leading laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation DRDO in collaboration with Dr Reddys Laboratories DRL in HyderabadI was told that by using it 2DG people have recovered twoandahalf days earlier than the usual treatment period Oxygen dependency has also been reduced by about 40 per cent in the patients Its powder form is also a major feature as people will be able to use it very easily like the ORS solution Singh saidUrging all the institutions concerned to walk shouldertoshoulder he said the country will come out victorious in facing any crisis if everyone works unitedThe defence ministry on May 8 said the clinical trials of 2DG showed that it helps in a faster recovery of hospitalised patients and reduces the supplemental oxygen dependenceThe approval of the drug has come at a time when India is grappling with a recordbreaking wave of the coronavirus pandemic that has stretched the countrys healthcare infrastructure to its limitThe drug comes in a powder form in a sachet and is taken orally by dissolving it in water the ministry saidIn efficacy trends it said the patients treated with 2DG showed a faster symptomatic cure than the standard of care SoC on various endpointsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever