Potential Cancer Drug That Kills Infected Cells by Stopping Glucose Supply Shows Promise Against COVID-19

A potential cancer drug that works by preventing the supply of glucose molecules to the cancerous cells has shown efficacy on COVID-19 patients in clinical trials.

The drug, 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose oral powder, also called 2-DG, prevents the supply of glucose molecules to the cancerous cells, which are dependent on glucose for survival. The cancerous cells begin to die after the drug stops the glucose supply. 2-DG is not yet approved for cancer treatment but demonstrated efficacy on COVID-19 patients in the Phase 2 trial.


The results of the Phase 2 trials of the drug were presented by drugmaker Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (Hyderabad, India) to the Indian government’s expert panel which has asked the company to conduct Phase 3 clinical trial of 2-DG. The three-month Phase 2 trial of 2-DG involving 40 patients aged between 18 to 65 years was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy for acute treatment of moderate to severe COVID-19 patients. However, the expert panel found the sample size of the Phase 2 trial to be inadequate for granting the drug market authorization and has asked Dr. Reddy’s to submit a protocol for Phase 3 trial.

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Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories