COVID-19: India declines proposal to test Russia's Sputnik-V vaccine in a large scale

Drugs Controller General of India has denied permission to Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd to conduct large scale study in country for testing Russia's Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccine and asked it to first examine vaccine in a smaller trial.

An expert panel of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) remarked that safety and immugenicity data from early-st studies conducted overseas is small, with inputs are available on Indian participants.

Indian pharma giant has collaborated with Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to conduct clinical trials of Sputnik V as well as its distribution. India's move comes as a setback for Russia's plan to roll-out vaccine even before full trials prove its effectiveness. decision pushes back its efforts to win approval for Sputnik-V in country that leads world on aver number of daily positive cases. India is expected to overtake United States over next several weeks with world's largest number of cases.

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Coronavirus vaccine update

Russia was first country to approve a vaccine for vel coronavirus even before large-scale trials were complete, raising concerns among scientists and doctors about safety and efficacy of shot. phase-3 trial of Sputnik-V is underway in Russia since September 1 on around 40,000 subjects. vaccine has been developed by Gamaleya National Research Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology and RDIF. 

Currently, two vaccine candidates, indigeusly developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR and one developed by Zydus Cadila Ltd, are in phase 2 of human clinical trials. Pune-based Serum Institute of India, which has partnered with AstraZeneca for manufacturing Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate, is also conducting phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials in India. 

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India's COVID-19 cases top 68 Lakh

India saw a single-day rise of 78,524 COVID-19 cases taking virus caseload to over 68 lakh, while number of people who have recuperated surged to 58,27,704,  according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. national recovery stands at 85.25%

total coronavirus cases mounted to  68,35,655, while  death toll climbed to  1,05,526  with 971 people succumbing to disease in a span of 24 hours, data updated at 8 am showed.  total recoveries have surged to  58,27,704 while re are 9,02,425 active cases of coronavirus infection in country which comprises 13.20% of total caseload, data stated. COVID-19 case fatality rate due to coronavirus infection has dropped to 1.54%

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