India will account for up to 70% of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine produced outside Russia claimed Datla Bala Venkatesh Varma, the Indian Ambassador to the Russia.
“(About) 65-70% of the Sputnik V vaccine, which is produced outside the Russian Federation, will be produced in India,” the ambassador told the press.
As per the Ambassador, the use of the Russian vaccine in India includes three stages. The first stage involves the supply of ready-made kits of the vaccine. The second stage will involve the supply of the vaccine, which is subsequently “packaged” in doses. In the third stage, the organization in India will manufacture the Sputnik V vaccine using Russian technology.
Ambassador Varma also claimed that these three steps involve about 850 million doses of Sputnik V but did not specify the step-by-step breakdown.
Dr Reddy’s laboratories is expected to begin the domestic production of Sputnik V vaccine in July. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has registered the vaccine under the emergency use authorisation procedure. This is based on the results of clinical trials in Russia as well as positive data of additional Phase III local clinical trials in India conducted in partnership with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories. Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has said that India has become the 60th country to approve the use of Sputnik V against coronavirus and more than 850 million doses of the vaccine are going to be produced in the country annually. For vaccine production in India, RFID has pacts with Gland Pharma, Hetero Biopharma, Panacea Biotec, Stelis Biopharma and Virchow Biotech. Sputnik V is now available as an option in the much criticised CoWin platform made by the Modi Government.
The cost of the imported Sputnik V Vaccine is Rs 995.40 per dose including 5% GST. The price may be lesser after the vaccine is produced locally.