According to a joint statement released on Tuesday, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and the Serum Institute of India (SII) will begin manufacturing of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine in September.
“The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, and Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, today announced cooperation to produce the Russian Sputnik vaccine against coronavirus,” according to the statement, adding that the first batch of the Russian vaccine “is expected to be produced at SII’s facilities in September.”
The parties intend to manufacture more than 300 million doses of Sputnik Vaccine in India each year.
SII has already received “cell and vector samples” of the vaccine from its creator, the Gamaleya Research Center, and the importation has been approved by India’s Drug Controller General (DCGI).
Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, according to RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev, is “delighted” to collaborate with the SII.
“This strategic alliance is a significant step toward significantly increasing our manufacturing capacities, exemplifying a great example of combining forces and knowledge to save lives in India and throughout the world. With technology transfer underway, we anticipate that the first batches of the vaccine will be manufactured in collaboration with SII in the coming months “The release cited Dmitriev as adding.
SII CEO Adar Poonawalla also stated that the institute is excited to collaborate with the RDIF and aims to produce “millions of doses” in the near future, “with trial batches beginning in September.”
“With strong effectiveness and a favorable safety profile, it is important that the Sputnik vaccine be widely available in India and throughout the world. Given the virus’s unpredictability, it is critical for worldwide institutes and countries to coordinate and strengthen our battle against the pandemic “Poonawalla went on to say.
