The results of Sputnik V and Astra-Zeneca ‘mix and match’ vaccine is expected to be released by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) by the end of July.
In a press briefing, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO, RDIF informed that high efficacy is expected from the trials.
“This approach has been really pioneered by Sputnik V in the beginning. So we are open for mix and match a Covishield in India. We believe there will be a great result. Covishield is the same vaccine as AstraZeneca so we believe that trials will show high efficacy. We hope that the Serum Institute of India (SII) can produce Sputnik V and mix and match as well. It will be a true partnership,” said Dmitriev.
RDIF, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, and SII have also announced cooperation to produce the Russian Sputnik vaccine against coronavirus in India.
The first batch of Sputnik vaccines is expected to be produced at SII’s facilities in September, and both parties intend to produce over 300 million doses of the vaccine in India per year.
“As part of the technology transfer process, SII has already received cell and vector samples from the Gamaleya Center. With their import approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), the cultivation process has begun,” Dmitriev said in a statement issued by RDIF.