Mankind Pharma on Thursday announced that it has received the license from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to manufacture and market oral Covid-19 drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG).
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior, clinical trials were conducted by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a lab of DRDO, in association with Dr Reddy's Laboratories, the ministry of defence had said in a release last month.
The pharmateutical company will be manufacturing this drug at its facilities in Visakhapatnam and Himachal Pradesh.
According to the government release, clinical trial data shows that 2DG accumulates in virus-infected cells, and prevents the growth of the virus, helping in faster recovery of patients hospitalised with Covid-19, and reducing their dependence on supplemental oxygen. The anti-Covid drug from DRDO reduces the virus multiplication and alleviates cells from infection-induced cytopathic effect and cell death, the study conducted in June had found.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had permitted the emergency use of 2-DG as an adjunct treatment for moderate to severe Covid-19 infections on May 1, Mankind Pharma told news agency PTI.
The market price of 2-DG will be fixed at Rs 900 per sachet, and sold by the Hyderabad-based Dr. Reddy's Laboratories. DRDO would provide the drug for free to central and state governments.
The drug comes in powder form in a sachet, which is taken orally by dissolving it in water. It accumulates in the virus-infected cells and prevents virus growth by stopping viral synthesis and energy production. Its selective accumulation in virally infected cells makes this drug unique.
