The backer of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine said Monday it had signed an agreement with an India-based pharmaceuticals giant for the production of up to 200 million doses of the jab a year.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the country’s sovereign wealth fund, said in a statement it has partnered with the Virchow Group to produce up to 200 million doses of the two-dose vaccine in India every year.
Virchow Biotech, a subsidiary of the Virchow Group, is expected to start full-scale commercial production in the first half of 2021, it said.
RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev said the agreement was «an important step to facilitate the full-scale local production» of the two-dose Sputnik V vaccine in India and to supply partners around the world.
In a separate statement, RDIF said that over the past week it had secured production agreements with two other Indian manufacturers: Stelis Biopharma and Gland Pharma.
The companies will produce enough doses for 300 million people a year, RDIF said.
It added that Sputnik V has «production capacity for more than 700 million people secured in 10 countries», without providing further details.
According to RDIF, Russia’s vaccine, which is named after the Soviet-era satellite, has been registered in 54 countries.
Moscow registered the vaccine in August before large-scale clinical trials, but leading medical journal The Lancet has since said it is safe and over 90% effective.
Some western countries have been wary of Sputnik over concerns the Kremlin is using it as a soft power tool to advance its interests.
Indian Drugmaker to Produce 200M Doses of Russia’s Sputnik V
The developer of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine said Friday it had signed a partnership with an India-based drugmaker for the production of 200 million doses of the two-dose jab.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which backed the development of Sputnik V, said in a statement it had partnered with Stelis Biopharma «to produce and supply a minimum of 200 million doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.»
Stelis Biopharma is expected to be able to start supplying the vaccine from the second half of the year.
RDIF, added that Stelis — the biopharma unit of global pharmaceutical company Strides — will work with the Russian wealth fund to provide supplies «beyond the initial agreement.»
RDIF head Kirill Dmitriev said that the «significant vaccine volumes» produced with Stelis «will help widen access to the vaccine on a global scale.»
RDIF said Friday that 52 countries have approved the use of Russia’s Sputnik V, named after the Soviet-era satellite.
Moscow registered the jab in August before large-scale clinical trials, but leading medical journal The Lancet has since said it is safe and over 90% effective.
Some Western countries have been wary of Sputnik over concerns the Kremlin would use it as a soft power tool to advance its interests.
