Representatives of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which has been involved in the development of Sputnik V, has reached out to the city’s major vaccine manufacturers, according to industry sources.
Hyderabad, which accounts for more than a third of the world’s vaccine capacity, is home to such players as Biological Evans, Shantha Biotechnics, Indian Immunologicals Ltd and Bharat Biotech.
According to sources, a couple of companies are considering making the Russian vaccine. However, companies like Shantha Biotechnics and Bio E have shown no interest because they have their own candidate vaccines for which they would require manufacturing capabilities.
“RDIF representatives shared some information about the collaboration that we are studying,” said the top leader of a Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer.
Scientists doubt the efficacy of Sputnik V
They want both full finisher ability and bulk drug substance capacity. All vaccine manufacturers want to see if the technology the Russians are using fits their capabilities. ”
Shantha Biotechnics, part of the French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis, is awaiting the candidate for a vaccine based on recombinant DNA technology that is being developed jointly by Sanofi and GSK. On the other hand, Biological E has already signed a technology transfer agreement with Johnson & Johnson for the latter’s Ad26.COV2.S candidate vaccine that is currently in Phase 1 / 2a clinical trials and has also signed a license agreement. with Baylor College of Medicine, Texas, for the development and commercialization of the latter’s Covid-19 recombinant protein vaccine.
Russia has already been in parliaments with the Indian government on the issue and is reportedly considering manufacturing Rs.30 million doses of Sputnik V in India.
Sputnik V, a human adenoviral vector vaccine candidate, is the world’s first registered Vaccine for COVID-19. It is reportedly going to enter phase 3 trials in various countries starting this month. Scientists have raised questions about the effectiveness of Sputnik V as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced its development to the world without his data being released. Recently, the ‘Lancet’ said that two vaccine trials in June and July involving 76 participants showed that all participants developed antibodies to the new coronavirus without serious side effects.
On Video: Russia Approached India For Manufacturing, Covid-19 Vaccine Phase 3 Studies: NITI Aayog
.
