Today, on Monday, May 17, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh unveiled the anti-COVID drug, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and handed it over to Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Science & Tech, and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan in New Delhi. This anti- COVID-19 drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) has been developed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a lab of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), along with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL), Hyderabad.

“2-DG drug is a new ray of hope in these challenging times and the drug is a perfect example of the country’s scientific prowess and a milestone in the efforts towards self-reliance, said Raksha Mantri. He congratulated DRDO and DRL, Hyderabad for manufacturing the drug that will play a crucial role in winning the fight against COVID-19.

The Raksha Mantri commended DRDO for setting up medical oxygen plants at various hospitals across the country under PM Cares Fund, besides constructing COVID hospitals, and appreciated AFMS retired doctors who joined the medical fraternity in providing medical care to the needy.

One box drug was handed over to Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Dr. Randeep Guleria, and Lt Gen Sunil Kant of Armed Forces Medical Services(AFMS).