Russia confirms deal with India to supply 100 Million Doses of 'Sputnik V' COVID Vaccine

Russia on Wednesday agreed to supply 100 million doses of first COVID-19 vaccine, ‘Sputnik-V’, to Indian pharmaceutical major Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories as soon as it receives regulatory approval.  Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is collaborating with Dr. Reddy's Laboratories to conduct clinical trials of Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 as well as its distribution, RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev said.

“ RDIF and Dr Reddy''s Laboratories Ltd, a global pharmaceutical company with headquarters in India, have agreed to supply 100 million doses of Russian Sputnik V vaccine and collaborate on clinical trials and distribution of vaccine in India,” Dmitriev told PTI .

RDIF is in talks with Indian regulators to ensure that all requirements for clinical trials are being met, Dmitriev said.

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'Deliveries to begin after registration of vaccine in India'

deliveries of COVID-19 vaccine could begin as early as vember 2020 after registration of vaccine by regulatory authorities in India, RDIF chief said, adding furr that it is subject to successful trials and regulator’s approval. An RDIF official said Phase 3 trials will be conducted in India and an anuncement on this is expected soon.

Sputnik V vaccine has been developed by Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology and RDIF. vaccine uses a two-vector techlogy and it does t contain live human adeviruses, but human adeviral vectors, or genetically modified viruses, which are unable to reproduce and are completely safe, RDIF said.

Through use of two different vectors - based on human adevirus serotypes Ad5 and Ad26 - in two separate shots, it is possible to achieve a more effective immune response, Dmitriev said. He said additional clinical studies of Sputnik V will be conducted in several countries, including Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Belarus. 

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Moreover, Union Health Ministry had earlier ted that Russian government reached out to India for partnership in production of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Indian embassy in Moscow has already been engaging with Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology, which developed cure for deadly virus.

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(With inputs from PTI)