DCGI approves emergency use of Russia's Sputnik V; 3rd vaccine to get nod in India

The Drugs Controller General of India has granted approval to Russia's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik-V for restricted use in India. Developed by Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Sputnik V is the third COVID-19 vaccine approved by the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) and the DCGI after Covishield and Covaxin vaccines. As per the Russian fund, the price of Sputnik V is less than $10 per shot but it is yet to come up with the final price specifically for India. Limited doses of the Russian vaccines could be available by month-end only.

The decision was taken after the SEC held a meeting on Monday to consider Sputnik V's application for emergency use authorisation (EUA) in India. With this approval, India has become the 60th country to approve Sputnik V vaccine. Hyderabad-based pharma giant Dr Reddy's Laboratories had last week sought the Centre's nod for the vaccine to be used in India. The RDIF joined hands with Dr Reddy's in September 2020 to carry out clinical trials of Sputnik V in India.

The Russian jab has an efficacy rate of 91.6 per cent and is carrying out its phase-3 clinical trials in Belarus, UAE, India, and Venezuela, according to Sputnik-V's website. As more and more states flag shortages of coronavirus vaccine doses, the Centre has pressed the accelerator to expand vaccine production manifold. With a manufacturing capacity of 850 million doses in India, Sputnik V will prove to be a major shot in the arm in the fight against coronavirus, suggest experts.

Apart from India, Sputnik V has also been approved in Russia, Argentina, Venezuela, UAE, Iran, Mexico, Pakistan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Kenya, Morocco, Jordan, Azerbaijan, Philippines, Mauritius, Vietnam, among others.