Russia has shared comprehensive data on Sputnik V vaccine with Indian authorities. India had sought information from Moscow based Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. The vaccine’s trials in Phase 1 and 2 on 76 people gave encouraging results.
India and Russia are working jointly on the vaccine front with Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology in India and D B Venkatesh Varma, Indian ambassador in Russia coordinating for the same.
As this comprehensive data is being analysed by experts in India, one option could be a separate Phase 3 clinical trial after necessary approvals from regulators here. Russia is planning to conduct Phase 3 trials in many countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Brazil, and the Philippines.
Scientists from the west have however, expressed reservations about the vaccine due to the speed and secrecy with which Gamaleya Institute got the regulatory approval. Russian researchers have meanwhile published their preliminary findings of Phase 1 and 2 of their vaccine candidate.
