Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Monday commercially launched 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (2-DG) medicine in the market to treat Covid-19 patients. The medicine will now be available in government and private hospitals.

The drug, developed by DRDO and Dr Reddy's Laboratories, has been found to help speed up recovery and reduce oxygen dependence. The medicine has been launched in the form of sachets with the maximum price capped at Rs 990.  However, it will be supplied at a discounted price to government hospitals. 

"Dr Reddy's will supply the medicine to major government and private hospitals across India. In the initial weeks, the company will make the drug available in hospitals across metros and Tier 1 cities, and subsequently expand coverage to the rest of India," the company said in a statement.

"2-DG is an oral drug. It can be administered only upon prescription and under the supervision of a qualified physician to hospitalised moderate to severe COVID-19 patients as an adjunct therapy to the existing standard of care," the company added.

Also read:  DRDO-developed oral medicine 2-DG approved for treatment of Covid patients

The drug was approved for emergency use in COVID-19 patients on May. 

"2-DG is yet another addition to our COVID-19 portfolio that already covers the full spectrum of mild to moderate and severe conditions and includes a vaccine. We are extremely pleased to have partnered with DRDO in our collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic," Satish Reddy, Chairman, Dr Reddy's, said.