Is it true that Reddy Labs is going to be testing the Russian COVID vaccine?
Answer
Answer
That is absolutely correct. Russia's COVID vaccine candidate, Sputnik V, will be brought to India for testing by Reddy Labs. This vaccine is based on human adenovirus platform and will be available in India subject to the approval of the DCGI.
An agreement has already been signed by the Russian Direct Investment Fund or RDIF, a sovereign wealth fund, with the Hyderabad-based pharma major Dr Reddy's Laboratories for conducting clinical trials and distribution of 100 million doses of Sputnik V in India.
Russia is also in talks with other Indian pharma companies to produce the vaccine in bulk subject to approval by the DCGI. The manufacturing of vaccines will not only be for India but for the world. The costs are expected to be among the most economical in the world.