Anti-COVID drug 2-DG: Madras High Court asks Centre when pharma approval process is likely to be complete to enable large-scale manufacture

The Madras High Court on Friday asked the Central government to disclose how long it would take to process the applications of companies that have expressed interest in manufacturing the 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (2-DG) anti-COVID-19 therapeutic drug so that it may be manufactured on a large scale (D Saravanan v. The Secretary and ors). .Pertinently, Additional Solicitor General R Sankaranarayanan informed the Bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and TV Thamilselvi that as of June 17, 2021, 40 companies have expressed interest in manufacturing the 2-DG drug. These applications are being processed, the Court was told. .The Court has now asked the ASG to clarify the time that would be required to process the applications and issue final orders for the Transfer of Technology (ToT) to selected companies "so that the drug could be manufactured on a large scale and made available in markets to the benefit of the general public.".2-DG is an anti-COVID-19 therapeutic drug developed jointly by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Science (INMAS), a lab of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (DRL), Hyderabad. .As per reports, it is meant to be administered to patients suffering from moderate to severe forms of COVID-19 and comes in a powdered form to be made available in sachets. Authorization has also been reportedly given for emergency use of the 2-DG drug by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on June 1. .The ASG informed the Madras High Court that clinical trial results demonstrated that the modified glucose molecule (2-DG) aided in the faster recovery of hospitalised COVID-19 patients and reduced their dependence on supplemental oxygen. As such, the Court noted that the drug would be of immense benefit to people suffering from COVID-19. .Additionally, the Court's attention was also drawn to a medicine developed by Nellore-based doctor, Dr Anandayya of Krishnapatnam, which was stated to have proved effective in treating COVID-19 patients within half an hour of applying it to the eyes and nose. .On directions issued by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, the ASG told the Madras High Court that the medicine is now being analysed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The Court has asked the ASG to get instructions on when the said analysis process would be completed so that the medicine can be made available to COVID-19 patients in India and globally. .Before adjourning the matter for further hearing next week, the Court also lauded the efforts of Dr. Anandayya in developing the medicine.."... it would be a great service to the humanity as a whole. The efforts of Dr. Anandayya, who prepares the medicine and offers it to a large number of people every day, free of cost, especially, when hospitals and doctors are minting money even out of this pandemic situation, need to be lauded and this Court appreciates the yeoman service rendered by him. There is an urgent need to identify, encourage and appreciate inventors like Dr. Anandayya in the interest of the society", the Court said.