Moscow: Russia has given regulatory approval to a second Covid-19 vaccine, called ‘EpiVacCorona’, after early-stage studies. The new coronavirus vaccine comes two months after a similar move for Russia’s first vaccine, Sputnik V, drew widespread criticism from scientists both at home and abroad. Also Read – Latest COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Who will be the first to be cured of the coronavirus in India? Meet here
Russia became the first country to give regulatory approval to a Covid-19 vaccine in August, when Sputnik V was officially registered ahead of a large-scale clinical trial. Also read – COVID-19 vaccine expected soon in India, experts formulate strategies for distribution: Minister of Health
During a televised meeting with government officials on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the country has registered the second Covid-19 vaccine. Also Read: Latest COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Johnson & Johnson Stops Vaccine Trials Due To ‘Unexplained Illness’ In Participant
Putin said that a third Russian vaccine against Covid-19, developed by the Chumakov Center, would also be registered in the near future, the Sputnik news agency reported.
Now we need to increase the production of the first vaccine and the second vaccine, Putin said. The president added that the priority was to supply the Russian vaccine market.
Based in Novosibirsk #Vektor The center has registered a second coronavirus vaccine, #EpiVacCorona. Unlike the first Russian vaccine, Sputnik V, which is an adenovirus vector-based vaccine, the new one is a promising peptide-based synthetic vaccine. Https://t.co/lkekKNUxsO pic.twitter.com/39Md8jLsP2
– Russia in India (@RusEmbIndia) October 14, 2020
The second Russian vaccine to receive regulatory approval was developed by Vector’s State Research Center for Virology and Biotechnology.
The two-injection vaccine, ‘EpiVacCorona’, was tested among 100 volunteers in early-stage, placebo-controlled human trials, lasting more than two months and completed two weeks ago. The volunteers were between 18 and 60 years old.
Vector’s EpiVacCorona vaccine is based on chemically synthesized peptide antigens from SARS-CoV-2 proteins, conjugated to a carrier protein and adsorbed in an aluminum-containing adjuvant, according to details published in ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of clinical studies conducted with public and private funds. worldwide.
Scientists have not yet published the results of the study. In comments to the media, the scientists who developed the vaccine said that it produced enough antibodies to protect the person who had it from the virus and that the immunity it creates could last up to six months.
An advanced study involving tens of thousands of volunteers that is necessary to establish the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine is scheduled to begin in November or December.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said she tested the EpiVacCorona vaccine herself and experienced no side effects, according to a press report.
“The Vector center is also initiating post-registration clinical trials in the various regions of Russia that would include 40,000 volunteers,” he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
.
