Sputnik V, AstraZeneca ‘mix & match’ vaccine dose expected by the end of July

Russian Direct Investment Fund will be releasing the results of Sputnik V and AstraZeneca mix and match vaccine by the end of July. CEO of RDIF Kirill Dmitriev has expressed expectation of high efficacy from the trials.

Dmitriev said, ‘We expect to release the results of Sputnik V and AstraZeneca mix and match by the end of July. 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 can produce Sputnik V and mix and match as well. It will be a true partnership.’

The CEO also added that RDIF was also considering mix and match for Covishield in India. RDIF, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, and SII have also promised cooperation to produce the Russian Sputnik Covid vaccine 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.

A statement issued by RDIF stated that 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, the cultivation process has begun.

India is the leading production hub for the Sputnik vaccine. RDIF had earlier reached agreements with a number of pharmaceutical companies in India – namely, Gland Pharma, Hetero Biopharma, Panacea Biotec, Stelis Biopharma, Virchow Biotech and Morepen – for the production of the Russian vaccine.

Talking about the partnership, Adar Poonawalla, CEO of SII said with high efficacy and a good safety profile, it is critical that the Sputnik vaccine is accessible in full measure for people across India and the world. Times Now