Hyderabad drives innovation for Covid therapies

The latest therapy with links to the city is the glucose molecule 2-DG and its anti-Covid-19 therapeutic application that was given a green signal by Indian drug regulatory authorities

Hyderabad: Hyderabad continues to remain a preferred innovation hub for researchers and scientists involved in developing vaccines and anti-viral therapies for Covid-19. The latest therapy that has links to Hyderabad is the glucose molecule 2-deozy-D-glucose (2-DG) and its anti-Covid-19 therapeutic application that was given a green signal by the Indian drug regulatory authorities.

The anti-Covid-19 therapeutic application was developed by Delhi-based Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a lab of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with city-based pharma giant Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB).

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The INMAS has worked with Dr Reddy’s to develop the anti-Covid therapeutic application while at CCMB, the successful testing of the 2-deozy-D-glucose (2-DG) in coronavirus cell culture was take-up. “From testing of DRDO and Dr Reddy Lab’s 2-DG (2-deoxy-D-glucose) on coronavirus in cell culture at CCMB to successfully clearing the phase 3 trials, it will now be used on moderate to severe Covid-19 patients. DCGI approval has come,” the CCMB had tweeted on May 7.

Former Director and present advisor of CCMB Dr Rakesh Mishra said the anti-Covid-19 therapeutic application of 2-DG was the first drug tested in CCMB against the virus. The top geneticist congratulated the DRDO, Dr Reddy’s and the CCMB for bringing out such an innovative product.

According to INMAS, the clinical trial results of the molecule showed that it helps ‘in faster recovery of hospitalised patients and reduces supplemental oxygen dependence. Higher proportion of patients treated with 2-DG showed RT-PCR negative conversion in Covid patients’.

The Phase-III clinical trial was conducted on 220 patients between December 2020 to March 2021 at 27 Covid hospitals in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Researchers familiar with the development said that Dr Reddy’s is expected to mass produce the molecule, which will be in the form of a powder. The drug will be prescribed as an adjunct or only as add-on to the already existing therapies.

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