Covid vaccine: Dr Reddy’s to complete phase-II trials of Sputnik in December

Pharma major Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd will be completing phase two trials of Covid vaccine candidate Sputnik V in December.

When contacted a spokesperson of Dr Reddy’s told BusinessLine: “Phase-II clinical trials will start in a few weeks and expected to complete by December-end.’’

The vaccine, it is learnt, had already arrived in India for the trials from Russia.

Also read: RDIF, GL Rapha of S Korean biotech tie up to produce Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, has tied up with Dr Reddy’s to conduct the clinical trials and distribution of Sputnik V vaccine in India.

The Drug Control General of India (DCGI) had in October given approval to conduct an adaptive Phase 2/3 human clinical trial for the Russian vaccine in India.

As per the agreement, RDIF will supply 100 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to the Hyderabad-based company.

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Now Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, claims 92 per cent efficacy

The clinical trials by Dr Reddy’s assumes significance in view of an announcement made by Russian authorities a couple of days ago that the Sputnik V vaccine candidate has demonstrated “high efficacy” in interim data, as it reduced by 92 per cent the possibility that those inoculated would be clinically diagnosed with symptomatic Covid-19.

According to Dr Reddy’s, the phase-III trials of Sputnik are likely to be completed sometime by March–May, 2020.