RDIF ties up with Dr. Reddy’s for supply of Sputnik V in India

RDIF ties up with Dr. Reddy’s for supply of Sputnik V in India

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia’s Sovereign wealth fund, whichis sponsoring the ‘Sputnik V’ COVID-19 Vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute, Has tied up with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories to conduct the clinical trials and distribution of the vaccine in India. Once the vaccine is approved by Indian regulators, Russia will supply 100 million doses, with deliveries beginning potentially as early as December. “India is among the most severely impacted countries from COVID-19, and we believe our human adenovirus dual vector platform will provide a safe and scientifi cally validated option to India in the battle against COVID-19,” RDIF’s CEO Mr. Kirill Dmitriev said  SURVEILLANCE & DISINFECTION in a statement. RDIF’s agreement with Dr. Reddy’s, unlike other foreign vaccine developers, covers only distribution, but the Russian sover- eign fund said it will also look for an Indian manufacturing partner. The agreement between RDIF and Dr. Reddy’s refl ects the growing awareness of countries and organisations to have a diversifi ed anti-COVID vaccine portfolio to protect their populations,” the fund said. It added that the platform of human adenoviral vectors has been tested in more than 250 clinical studies over decades, and it has been found safe with no potential negative long-term consequences. “The Phase I and II results have shown promise, and we will  be conducting Phase-III trials in India to meet the requirements of the Indian regulators. Sputnik V vaccine could provide a credible option in our fight against COVID-19 in India,” said Mr.G.V. Prasad, CEO Dr. eddy’s in a statement. A study published in Lancet in September this year showed that the vaccine as safe and produced cellular as well as antibody response to the vaccine based on the phase 1 and 2 data. The data from phase 3 studies is expected to be published by October-November. Responding to the criticism that Russia was jumping timelines to get its vaccine out without following all the protocols, Mr. Dmitriev said that the adenovirus platform is much safer than the mRNA vaccines which most western companies are manufacturing.