DRDO Developed Anti-COVID Drug: Current Affairs Special Series

Team Adda247 and BankersAdda are here with a Current Affairs Special Series. In this series, candidates will be introduced to current affairs topics daily, which will not only improve their general awareness but also will ensure that the candidates do not lack if any current affairs topic is asked in the interview. Today’s Current Affairs topic is DRDO Developed Anti-COVID Drug.

DRDO Developed Anti-COVID Drug

                Defence Research and Development Organisation has developed anti-COVID drug named 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) has given its approval for emergency use amid the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Drug will prove to be beneficial for the patients who are suffering from COVID-19 virus. The drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose comes in powder form in sachet, which can be taken orally by dissolving it in water. This drug control virus growth by stopping viral synthesis and energy production and accumulates in the virus infected cells. Its selection of accumulation in infected cells by virus sorts this drug uniquely.

                Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), Lab of DRDO has developed the drug in collaboration with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. Clinical trials have shown that the recovery of hospitalised patients speedily and decrease the supplemental oxygen dependence. DCGI has given permission for emergency use of this drug for moderate to severe Covid patients. It would be produced easily and made available in the country due to being a generic molecule and analogue of glucose.

 Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh, Director General of Life Sciences at DRDO headquarters said that, with the usage of 2-deoxy-D-glucose the dependency on oxygen for Covid patients significantly decreased and it also reduced the duration of hospitalisation of Covid patient.

DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation

Founded: 1958

HQ: DRDO Bhavan, New Delhi

Chairman: Dr. G. Sateesh Reddy

DCGI: Drugs Controller General of India

HQ: New Delhi

Chairman: Dr. V.G. Somani