Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories launches DRDO’s anti-Covid-19 drug 2-DG

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has announced the commercial launch of the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) anti-Covid-19 drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG).

The Indian pharma giant said that it will supply the 2-DG drug to major government and private hospitals in India. In the initial weeks, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories will make 2-DG available in hospitals in metros and Tier 1 cities, and later on, expand coverage to the rest of the country.

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories said that 2-DG manufactured by it has a purity of 99.5% and is being commercially sold under the brand name 2DG with the price of each sachet being INR 990.

2-DG was developed by DRDO’s laboratory – Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS) in collaboration with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories.

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories launches DRDO’s anti-Covid-19 drug 2-DG. Photo courtesy of Arichuvadi/Wikipedia.org.

Satish Reddy – Chairman of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories said: “2-DG is yet another addition to our COVID-19 portfolio that already covers the full spectrum of mild to moderate and severe conditions and includes a vaccine. We are extremely pleased to have partnered with DRDO in our collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The oral drug is available only on prescription and administered under the supervision of a qualified physician to hospitalized moderate to severe patients with Covid-19 as an adjunct therapy to the existing standard of care.

Emergency use approval for 2-DG for the treatment of Covid-19 was given in early May 2021.

Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy – Secretary Department of Defence (R&D) and Chairman of DRDO said: “We are pleased to have worked closely with our long-term industry partner Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Hyderabad, for testing 2-DG as therapeutic application in treatment of COVID-19 patients. DRDO has been contributing in fight against COVID-19 pandemic with its spin off technologies.”