2-Deoxy-D-Glucose
Information about 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose
2-deoxy-d-glucose uses
2-Deoxy-D-Glucose is used in the treatment of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
How 2-deoxy-d-glucose works
2-Deoxy-D-Glucose is a medicine that resembles glucose structurally and is used to kill the virus causing Covid-19. The virus utilizes glucose to produce energy, and this energy is used by it to make copies of itself. Once given, 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose is readily absorbed by the ‘virus-infected cells’ as the virus takes it up just like glucose. On reaching the infected cells, the medicine stops energy production, inhibits further multiplication of the virus, and kills it. This helps in clearing the infection, even if it has spread to the lungs, and reduces the requirement of supplemental oxygen in moderate to severely infected Covid-19 patients.
Common side effects of 2-deoxy-d-glucose
No common side effects seen
Available Medicine for 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose
Expert advice for 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose
- 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose helps in faster recovery of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and reduces supplemental oxygen dependence.
- This medicine is to be used only in moderate to severe COVID-19 cases.
- The medicine comes in powder form in a sachet, which is taken orally by dissolving it in water twice a day. However, it should be consumed only on the advice of a doctor.
- A COVID-19 patient may have to take this drug for five to seven days to get completely cured.
- 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose currently is not meant to be given to children as safety and efficacy are not yet established.
Frequently asked questions for 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose
2-Deoxy-D-Glucose
Q. What is 2-DG
2-DG is the short-form of DRDO's new anti-Covid oral medicine, 2-deoxy-D-glucose. It has been recently granted emergency use approval by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) as an adjunct therapy in moderate to severely infected cases of COVID-19. As per the clinical trials conducted so far, this medicine has reduced the supplemental oxygen dependence in even the hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Such patients showed faster recovery when treated with 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose.
Q. Why is 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose being considered unique?
2-Deoxy-D-Glucose is being considered unique as it has shown faster recovery in moderate to severe cases of Covid-19. This is because the medicine accumulates in the virus infected cells, and kills the virus. It can even kill the virus infection in the lungs. This helps the patients to recover faster.
Q. Where is 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose developed?
2-Deoxy-D-Glucose has been developed jointly by Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, a lab of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Hyderabad.