Daijiworld Media Network - Moscow (SHP)
Moscow, Sep 17: Russia's sovereign wealth fund has maintained that it would supply 100 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik-V, to Indian drug company Dr Reddy's Laboratories. The deal comes after the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) reached agreements with Indian manufacturers to produce 300 million doses of the vaccine in India, which is a major consumer of Russian oil and arms.
Dr Reddy's, one of India's top pharmaceutical companies, will carry out Phase III clinical trials of the vaccine in India, pending regulatory approval, RDIF said in a statement.
The possible date for the deliveries of the vaccine doses is believed to be carried out towards the end of 2020. Russia was the first country to license a novel coronavirus vaccine before large-scale Phase III trials were complete, stirring concern among scientists and doctors about the safety and efficacy of the shot.
The Phase I and II results had shown promise, G V Prasad, co-chairman of Dr Reddy's, was cited in the RDIF statement as saying.
"Sputnik V vaccine could provide a credible option in our fight against COVID-19 in India," he said.
There was no information regarding the price of the vaccine but RDIF has maintained that it was not aiming at making a profit, just covering costs.
Meanwhile, the coronavirus cases in India are increasing at an alarming rate, stretching the already vulnerable health infrastructure of the country.
India is also considering an emergency authorisation for a vaccine, particularly for the elderly and those in high-risk workplaces.
The RDIF has already reached vaccine supply deals with Kazakhstan, Brazil and Mexico. It has also signed a memorandum with the Saudi Chemical company.
Russia has billed Sputnik-V as the first vaccine against the coronavirus to be registered in the world. Phase III trials, involving at least 40,000 people, were launched in Russia on Aug. 26 but have yet to be completed. Meanwhile, 14 per cent of the volunteers who were received shot of Sputnik-V have complained of side effects such as muscle pain, weakness and fever. However, Russia's health minister Mikhail Murashko said that these were predicted side effects and they usually disappear after a day or day and a half.