Mankind Pharma-RDIF ink pact for marketing and distribution of Sputnik V vaccine

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RIDF) has partnered with Indian pharmaceutical company Mankind Pharma for sale and distribution of its Sputnik V vaccine in India, two sources aware of matter were quoted as saying by state media reports. Apart from India, RDIF also has pacts with Russian and Korean manufactures for over 50 million doses of Sputnik's COVID-19 vaccine. Mankind is expected to receive vaccine doses after it gets approval. 

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RDIF signs an agreement with Mankind for COVID-19 vaccine

As per state media reports, recent pact signed between RDIF and Mankind is expected to supplement deal between Dr Reddy's Laboratories. However, unlike Dr Reddy's, Mankind will t be conducting any clinical trials for Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. Last month in September, Dr Reddy's had signed a contract with RDIF according to which it will conduct clinical trials of Sputnik V vaccine and its sales in country. Under this contract, RDIF will give over 100 million doses of vaccine to Dr Reddy's. 

anuncement of new partnership came after anuncement made by Dr Reddy's on Saturday regarding approval received by Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) VG Somgai for conducting an adaptive phase II and III clinical trials for Sputnik V vaccine. phase III clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V will be multi-centre, observer-blind and randomised controlled study. CEO of RDIF Kirill Dmitriev said that Russia is in discussion with Indian government for localised production of Sputnik V in country.

READ | COVID-19 Vaccine: DCGI Allows Dr Reddy's Lab To Conduct Trials Of Sputnik V

results of phase I-II trials of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine were published by a medical journal Lancet. On August 11, Sputnik V vaccine which was developed jointly by RDIF and Gamaleya National Research Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology became world's first registered vaccine for Coronavirus. According to researchers, Sputnik V is a human adeviral vector vaccine which fights against COVID-19 disease. 

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Furr, DCGI had directed Dr Reddy's to conduct proper monitoring for a humoral and cell-mediated immune response during trial. While humoral immune response includes immunity provided by antibodies, cell-mediated response refers to that provided by T-cells.

READ | Dr Reddy's Laboratories Seeks DCGI d To Conduct Phase III Trials Of Sputnik V Vaccine

(Im: PTI | Representative)