Drugmaker Dr Reddy's Laboratories has announced that it will distribute 100 million (10 crore) doses of Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine in India after conducting final-stage human trials and receiving regulatory clearances in India.
Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of RDIF, (Russian Direct Investment Fund ) - Russia's sovereign wealth fund that has been involved with developing the vaccine - says they are hopeful the approvals will come soon and the vaccine may be available this year itself in India. They are also in talks with 5 other companies to produce the vaccine once it's cleared.
Should India's top drug regulatory body sign off on phase 3 trials in the country, Sputnik V will replace Serum Institute of India's (SII's) 'Covishield' as the frontrunner in the race to produce a Covid-19 vaccine for India.
