The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia’s sovereign wealth fund has tied up with India's Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories to conduct the clinical trials and distribution of Sputnik V vaccine in India. As per the agreement RDIF will supply 100 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to Dr. Reddy’s, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of RDIF, was quoted as saying.
Dmitriev said if the trials succeed the vaccines will be available in India as early as November this year. The Sputnik V vaccine is based on the adenoviral vector platform.
"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 G. V. Prasad, CEO Dr Reddy's.
Earlier this month, Russia had shared comprehensive data on the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine with India, that would allow it to conduct human trials. The Russian government had also signed an agreement with a few Indian companies for manufacturing Sputnik V.
Efforts to establish a partnership between Russia and India for producing the vaccine are being overseen by Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, and by Indian Ambassador D.B. Venkatesh Varma.
