“We are confident that Sputnik V will be providing long-term immunization defence against potential new coronavirus infections”

On December 14, 2020, Moscow’s National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named ‘Gamaleya Center’ and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) announced the efficacy of over 90 per cent of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine in Phase III post-registration clinical trials. RDIF joins partners and manufacturers in ramping up the production of Sputnik V. First batch of 300,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine has already been delivered to Argentina by RDIF on December 24, 2020. In an interview with BioSpectrum Asia Kirill Dmitriev, CEO, Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia shared more insight on the encouraging efficacy data of the Sputnik V with Biospectrum Asia.

- Hithaishi C Bhaskar

Sputnik V Phase 3 trial data are impressive. Can you brief interim efficacy at statistically significant control points justifying the safety and efficacy of this vaccine?

Sputnik V is 91.4 per cent effective in providing protection against COVID-19 based on the final control point analysis and has demonstrated 100 per cent efficacy against severe coronavirus cases. High efficacy rate of above 90 per cent was confirmed at each of the three control points of clinical trials - calculated at three statistically significant representative points - upon reaching 20, 39 and 78 cases of novel coronavirus infection among volunteers both in the placebo group and in the group that received the vaccine. The ratio of the placebo group to the vaccinated group is 1 to 3.

What are the production and distribution highlights of the vaccine and how cost-effective it is for LMIC countries? How quickly APAC countries will receive Sputnik V?

Over 50 countries have expressed interest in obtaining Sputnik V based on its currently known safety and efficacy profile, with preliminary applications already received for over 1.2 billion people (2.4 billion doses). The vaccine for the global market will be produced by RDIF’s international partners in India, Brazil, China, South Korea and four other countries.