New Delhi (NVI): After Russia successfully launched the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine, the clinical trials of a second COVID-19 vaccine is due to be completed in September, the country’s healthcare watchdog has said.
This COVID-19 vaccine is being developed by the Siberian Vektor research centre in the country.
“14 persons were vaccinated during the first phase, and 43 more during the second phase. Forty-three more volunteers from the placebo control group received a placebo,” Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s consumer rights protection and human well-being watchdog said, the Sputnik News reported.
He also said all the volunteers taking part in the clinical trials of the second COVID-19 vaccine are feeling fine.
The watchdog added that the volunteers only experienced sensitivity at the injection site, but other than that did not have any side effects.
On August 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin successfully launched world’s first COVID-19 vaccine named ‘Sputnik V’, developed by the Gamaleya Institute. However, the Phase 3 of the vaccine trial, involving around 2,000 people is currently underway.
Moreover, mass testing of the country’s first potential COVID-19 vaccine to get domestic regulatory approval will involve more than 40,000 people and will be overseen by a foreign research body when it starts next week, according to media reports.
These were the first details on the shape and size of the upcoming late-stage trial of the vaccine given by its developers, who are aiming to allay concerns among some scientists about the lack of data provided by Russia so far.
The vaccine, called ‘Sputnik V’ in homage to the world’s first satellite launched by the Soviet Union, has been acclaimed as safe and effective by Russian authorities following two months of small-scale human trials. It has not been tested in Phase 3 or larger clinical trials.
Meanwhile, Russia has also received requests for up to a billion doses of the vaccine from around the world and has capacity to produce 500 million doses per year via manufacturing partnerships.
The country is also looking for a partnership with India for producing Sputnik V, Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said, as per the reports.
Addressing a media briefing, Dmitriev said several nations are interested in the production of the vaccine from Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.
“The production of the vaccine is a very important issue. Currently, we are looking for a partnership with India. We believe that they are capable of producing the Gamaleya vaccine and it is very important to say that these partnerships to produce the vaccine will enable us to cover the demand that we have,” he added.
-RJV
