Sputnik V, Russia’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine, is 92% effective in protecting people from coronavirus, based on the results of the interim trial, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on Wednesday. Interim results are based on data from the first 16,000 trial participants who received both injections of the two-dose vaccine, the country’s sovereign wealth fund said.
Russia became the first country in the world to register a COVID-19 vaccine in August. Developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Ministry of Defense, the vaccine is currently undergoing testing in Moscow. The phase III trial will involve 40,000 volunteers in total, and a quarter will receive a placebo injection.
The chances of contracting COVID-19 were 92% lower among people vaccinated with Sputnik V than among those who received the placebo, the RDIF said. “We are showing, based on the data, that we have a very effective vaccine,” said RDIF Director Kirill Dmitriev.
Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya National Research Center, said the vaccine uses inanimate particles created from adenovirus, according to Sputnik News. He previously stated that there are no concerns that the vaccine could potentially cause harm to a person’s health.
The Russian Fund for Direct Investment signed an agreement with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories for a clinical trial and distribution of Sputnik V in India. Under the agreement, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund will supply 100 million doses of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine to the Indian pharmaceutical company. The Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company will conduct phase II and III clinical trials with around 100 and 1,400 participants respectively. Dr. Reddy’s previously said that the company aims to complete phase III testing by May.
Russia’s health ministry has claimed that the coronavirus vaccine offers long-lasting immunity against the virus. The vaccine is expected to provide immunity against the coronavirus for up to two years, according to the health ministry.
“The human adenoviral vector platform, which is the core of the Russian vaccine, has been tested in more than 250 clinical studies over decades, and has been found safe with no potential long-term negative consequences.” Dmitriev said. Early results from trials of Russia’s potential coronavirus vaccine show no major negative side effects, according to a study published in the peer-reviewed medical journal. The lancet revealed.
Russia’s announcement quickly follows results released Monday by vaccine developers Pfizer Inc and BioNTech. The pharmacist said his injection was also more than 90% effective.
.
