Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences

The ATAL Faculty Development Programme deliberated on novel ideas in the field of drug design and engineering thus paving future strategies on innovation in pharmaceutical sciences. The programme was jointly organized by Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (DIPSAR) and Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University (DPSRU) in which lectures were delivered by prominent scientists from around the country in the field of pharmaceutical sciences. The first day of the programme was graced by the presence of Chief Guest Prof. Rajendra Kakde, Advisor, AICTE, patron of the program, Prof. R.K. Goyal, honourable Vice Chancellor, DPSRU, Dr. O.P Shukla, Registrar, DPSRU, Dr. P. K. Sahoo, Director, DIPSAR, and Dr. Harvinder Popli, Director, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, as well as the faculty and participants from the academia, and industry. Three scientific sessions were held on crucial topics of Drug Engineering, coordinated well by Dr. Saurabh Dahiya, Coordinator and Organising Secretary, AICTE ATAL FDP on Drug Engineering. The themes for the day aimed at accumulation of novel ideas in the field of drug design and engineering. Professor Rajendra B. Kakde, encouraged the learners regarding the importance of continuous learning being offered by way of this FDP being sponsored by AICTE ATAL Academy and being conducted in online mode at DIPSAR. He also briefed the 200 participants about various initiatives being taken up by AICTE for faculty development and ATAL FDP programme being one of the flag bearer scheme which has already gained national and international popularity and made its place in World Book of Records, London. In opening remarks, Professor R.K. Goyal opined that pharmacy is unique to have different combinations of studies, including medicine, science, management and the most important being engineering. For instance, large scale manufacturing of vaccines and compilation of medical devices require the knowledge of engineering domains too. He suggested that today’s NEP has a holistic, multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approach. Professor Goyal also took the first session and spoke on Novel Formulation development by Drug Engineering: Success story at University. The next session was taken by Dr. JB Gupta, who presided as a Consultant in Contract Research Organization. A lecture on Personalized Medicine was delivered by him. The final session was taken by Dr. Shubra Chaturvedi, Scientist E, Division of cyclotron and radiopharmaceutical sciences, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) who spoke on development and quality control of radiopharmaceuticals. Each lecture was followed by a Q & A session by the listeners.

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd announced the commercial launch of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG). Dr Reddy’s will supply to major government as well as 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. 2-DG manufactured by Dr Reddy’s has a purity of 99.5% and is being sold commercially under the brand name 2DG. The maximum retail price (MRP) of each sachet has been fixed at Rs. 990, with a subsidized rate offered to government institutions. 2-DG was developed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS), a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with Dr Reddy’s. 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. Emergency use approval for anti-Covid-19 therapeutic application of the drug was granted on May 1, 2021. Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, secretary Department of Defence (R&D) and chairman, DRDO said: “We are pleased to have worked closely with our long-term industry partner Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Hyderabad, for testing 2-DG as therapeutic application in treatment of Covid-19 patients. DRDO has been contributing in fight against Covid-19 pandemic with its spin off technologies." Satish Reddy, chairman, D Reddy’s said: “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.”

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which developed 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (2-DG), a drug used for treatment of Covid-19 patients, has called for Expression of Interest (EoI) to transfer the technology to Indian pharmaceutical industries for production. 2-DG was developed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a lab of DRDO, in collaboration with Dr Reddy's Laboratories. Clinical trial results have shown that this molecule helps in faster recovery of hospitalised patients and reduces supplemental oxygen dependence. Higher proportion of patients treated with 2-DG showed RT-PCR negative conversion in Covid patients. According to the EoI document, applications should be submitted before June 17 through email. “The EoI submitted by industries will be scrutinised by a Technical Assessment Committee (TAC). “Only up to 15 industries will be given ToT on their capabilities, technical hand holding capability of DRDO and on first come first served basis," it said. The bidders should have a Drug licence to manufacture Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) from Drug Licensing Authorities and WHO GMP (Good manufacturing Practices) certification among others. Laboratory synthesis process for 2-DG has been developed using D-Glucose as starting material. The synthesis process consists of conversion of D-Glucose to 2-DG through five chemical reaction steps followed by purification. The process has been established at batch scale (100g) and pilot plant scale (500g) and necessary patents have been filed by DRDO in this regard, the Defence body said.