Sputnik V Vaccine to begin trials with Indian volunteers

Russia has requested India for conducting phase 3 human trials of coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V. India is, however, working to facilitate the request.

India has accepted Russia’s request for conducting phase 3 human trials and manufacturing the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine. It said that the country is working to prepare and respond to Russia’s request.

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According to Dr. VK Paul, the vaccine has successfully completed phase 1 and phase 2 of the vaccine trial which was also published in The Lancet. In addition to this, he also stated that Russia has asked for permission to conduct phase 3 trials which is needed for regulatory clearance.

“India attaches great importance to Russia’s offer. It is an offer from a friend and one who has been a very special friend of the country. We reached out to several companies in India and three-four have responded well,” Mr Paul said.

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Once they have short-listed a company and the regulatory clearance are in place, trials will then begin with the help of Indian volunteers. This project can help both countries to reconcile and share friendly relations once again.

The first vaccine against coronavirus was registered by the Russian health ministry on August 11. Developed by Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, a Moscow-based institute, has given promising results by triggering a significant immune response in the first two phases of trial. The trial was conducted on 76 people.

The vaccine is undergoing its final phase (3^rd phase) in Russia and it is said that mass inoculation will begin between November and December. The main focus for immunization shots will be on high-risk groups.

India is already facilitating other vaccines trials for example, Astra Zeneca, developed in Oxford University. The vaccine’s trials will begin across India and so far 1,600 people have volunteered.

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India, however, is also undergoing vaccine trials for two indigenous vaccines, namely, Covaxin and Zydus Cadilla. While one vaccine is about to begin phase 2, the other is already in the second phase.