How does DRDO's anti-COVID-19 drug 2-DG, cleared for emergency use, work?

The government on Saturday said it has approved the drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), developed by DRDO, for emergency use, amid a COVID-19 surge. The drug that comes in powder form and can be consumed orally after dissolving in water, reduces supplemental oxygen dependence in hospitalised patients, the Centre said. It accumulates in the virus-infected cells and prevents virus growth, it added.