DRDOs' anti-COVID drug gets approval for emergency Use
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New Delhi: A Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) lab and Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy's Laboratories has developed anti-COVID therapeutic application which reduces supplemental oxygen dependence.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved emergency use of the drug, says a NDTV report, as the drug was found to be safe in COVID-19 patients and showed significant improvement in their recovery in second and third round of trials.
According to clinical trial results, a molecule present in the drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) also helps in faster recovery of hospitalised patients
The second round of trials was conducted between May and October in 110 patients last year and while the third round ,"dose ranging" was conducted in 11 hospitals across India, says the report.
The drug comes in powder form in a sachet and is taken orally by dissolving it in water. A higher proportion of patients treated with the drug tested negative for Covid in RT-PCR tests.
Massive international help has been pouring in as India reports shortage of essential drugs, medical oxygen and other supplies needed for Covid patients after the the sudden surge in COVID-19 cases crippled the country's healthcare system.