DRDO's anti-Covid drug 2-DG will reduce oxygen dependency: Harsh Vardhan
'I hope that this drug will serve the world and not just India in the fight against COVID-19 in the coming days,' Harsh Vardhan said
New Delhi: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today said that the recovery time from Covid-19 infection and oxygen dependency will be reduced by anti-COVID drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
While speaking at the release ceremony of the first batch of the 2-DG drug, Vardhan said, "With the support of DRDO and in the leadership of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, this (anti-COVID drug 2DG) may be our first indigenous research-based outcome to fight against COVID-19. It will reduce recovery time and oxygen dependency."
"I hope that this drug will serve the world and not just India in the fight against COVID-19 in the coming days," he further said.
DRDO's anti-Covid drug 2-DG
The drug comes in powder form in a sachet, which is taken orally by dissolving it in water. It accumulates in the virus-infected cells and prevents virus growth by stopping viral synthesis and energy production. Its selective accumulation in virally infected cells makes this drug unique.
India Covid-19 tally
India's daily spike of coronavirus cases remained below the 3 lakh mark for the first time in nearly 26 days as only 2,81,386 fresh infections were recorded in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry's data on Monday.
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