How 2DG by DRDO act as a Corona medicine? -A Review-
If you have the basics, Scroll down to read How 2DG by DRDO fight Covid infection?
The COVID 19 pandemic has hit the second wave in different parts of the world and is reporting disastrous in India. The DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India) approved emergency use of drug, 2-DG (2-deoxy-D-glucose), the new medicine for Covid 19 by DRDO, for the adjuvant treatment in moderate to severe case of Covid 19 patients, dated 08 April, 2021.
The INMAS (Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences) lab of DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) in collaboration with DRL (Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories), Hyderabad developed a drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose for which the clinical trials have been found to be effective in treatment of Covid 19 Pandemic. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has been reported as the Industrial partner of DRDO in the production and distribution of 2DG.
2DG (2 deoxy-D-gliucose), the new anti-Covid drug by DRDO, is an analogue of glucose molecule, in which the second hydroxyl group (OH) has been replaced by hydrogen (H). As a biomolecule it cannot undergo further glycolysis or any other metabolic process inside the human cell.
DRDO has carried out the clinical trials of its new anti covid medicine, 2DG. The three phase trials waved a positive result of 2-DG as a safe and effective medicine in treating moderate and severe cases of covid patients.
2-DG in its true sense isn’t a brand new molecule in medical science. A lot of research has been done with the molecule and found to be effective against many clinical and medical conditions. It has also been found to be inhibiting the growth of many other viruses. Now the trials by DRDO in India has resulted it as an effective adjuvant drug in the treatment of covid 19.
As per DRDO, at the times of first wave of COVID 19 pandemic in India, scientists at the INMAS-DRDO laboratories worked with CCMB (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology), Hyderabad to conduct the experiments on 2DG.
The positive result concluded 2DG to be effective against Covid causing SARS-CoV-2 viruses disrupting the viral replication, invitro.
As per the statement by DRDO on 2DG, the phase 2 clinical trials has been conducted from May 2020 lasted till October 2020 in 110 patients as two sub phases. Phase 2 (a) participated six hospitals. The dosage ranging has also been included in the experiments as phase 2 b in 11 hospitals across the country. The trials reported the drug to be effective and improved the recovery and hospital time of patients to 2.5 days.
Phase 3 trials of 2DG were conducted on December, 2020 to March, 2021 at 27 hospitals across the country, among 220 participants. The results showed reduced dependency of tested patients on supplement oxygen. This include patients of moderate cases and even those aged 65 and above.
Hence act as a “medicine for the public health system” of India, facing the worst effect of second wave.
As per DRDO, the initial trials itself showed faster recovery, and RT-PCR negative conversions. As per the official statement by GoI, “2-DG accumulates in the virus infected cells and prevents viral growth by stopping viral synthesis and energy production”.
Read simple explanation of viral infection method below for more clarity.
The phase 3 trial results by DRDO read reduced supplement oxygen demand by moderate case patients and even those aged 65 and above.
Read simple explanation of viral infection method below for more clarity.
In its statement DRDO says phase 2 trials show improvement in vital signs of symptomatic patients, who were administered the drug, a difference of 2.5 days was seen compared to standard of care (Soc).
Clinical trial evidences for both by DRDO, using 2DG as an adjuvant will relax the health facilities in a nation like India, where the daily test positivity is surging above 4 lakhs.
Read simple explanation of viral infection method below for more clarity.
Simple explanation with viral infection method.
The SAARS-CoV2 virus that cause Covid 19 is a RNA virus, which multiplies in the infected human body by following steps:
Glycolysis: process of breakdown of normal glucose for metabolic energy (ATP) generation.
Glycosylation: process of making glycans to form glycoproteins (viral spike proteins).
Both process requires metabolism of normal glucose.
So why? We can target this basic necessity to destroy the viral life cycle, right?
When 2DG by DRDO is given as an adjuvant medicine for corona virus,
Thus, 2DG fights covid infection.
Thus, it reduces supplement oxygen demand.
Since DRDO has stated clinical trial evidences of both, 2DG as an adjuvant will make the health facilities accessible to all.
Anti covid drug of DRDO, 2-DG can be administered as a powder form, dissolved in water and taken orally. As per the statements, the phase 2 of clinical trials of 2-DG has included the experiments for making dosage plans.
As per DRDO who conducted clinical trials of 2D-G in India, since it’s an analogue of glucose and a generic molecule, it is easy to produce, and consume. As well as DRDO claims it can be produced and made plentily available in the country.
DRDO claims the new covid medicine 2-DG will be made available by 11th of May, 2021. The DRDO anti covid drug may come with an affordable and subsidy price of INR 500 to INR 600, which will finally depend on production, headed by Dr. Reddy’s Laborataries.
No harmful effect has been reported for 2DG, and it’s safe to use under the supervision of qualified doctors. DRDO also states the trials were done on Covid patients of all stages, and they got only benefits, no side effects were noticed.
Since many research has been done on this molecule, the data about the molecule is vast and many studies support the safety and tolerability of 2-DG in humans.