COVID-19 VACCINE: SPUTNIK V TO UNDERGO TRIAL IN INDIA, DR REDDY'S TO UPDATE ON DISTRIBUTION SOON: DETAILS HERE  

As a big development to the coronavirus vaccine, the Drug controller General of India has finally allowed Dr Reddy’s to conduct phase 2/3 clinical human trial of Sputnik V. 

This development makes Russia the first country to have come up with a vaccine. 

As per NDTV reports, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd have received renewed approval to conduct the clinical trials in India of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine.

After a new agreement, India will now carry out an adaptive phase II and III human clinical trial that involves 1,500 participants, RDIF, which is marketing the vaccine abroad.

Meanwhile, Dr Reddy's will conduct the clinical trials and, subject to approval, distribute the finished vaccine in India. RDIF will supply 100 million doses to Dr Reddy's.

So far, Russia is the first country to grant regulatory approval for a novel coronavirus vaccine, and is also conducting Phase III trials of Sputnik V in Belarus, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates.

RDIF has reached agreements with Indian manufacturers to produce 300 million doses of the shot, NDTV sports further reported. 

While the interim results of these trials are expected to be published in early November.

Russia has also reached an agreement with the biotechnology department of India's Science and Technology Ministry to use its laboratories as a base for the Indian clinical trial, a source said.