New Delhi, PTI: India is considering Russia's request for conducting phase-3 clinical trial and manufacturing of its Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V by Indian firms, officials said Tuesday. There has been "significant movement" on both these fronts and specific outcomes are expected soon.
Dr V K Paul, Member (Health) Niti Aayog, who also chairs the national expert group on Covid-19 vaccine administration, said the government attaches "great importance to this offer of partnership from a very special friend to this nation".
He said that Indian scientists have looked at the data on Sputnik V, which is in the public domain now, and there would be a need for the phase -3 trial.
“We are paving way for such a phase-3 trial or bridging studies, as per requirements of the regulatory system, to be facilitated by the government of India," he told a press conference here.
The Russian government has approached the government of India through appropriate channels to consider the manufacturing of Sputnik V through Indian companies and also conducting its phase-3 clinical trials here, Paul said.
"On both the tracks there has been significant movement,” he said.
Several Indian companies are currently studying the proposal, he said.
"The outreach has been extended to several companies in India and a few of them have come forward while others are in discussions with the Russian counterparts and the government is facilitating that process of how that connect can be made. And there may be specific outcomes very soon in that regard," Paul said.
It is a "win-win situation" for India and the world, he said, underlining the county's ability to manufacture high quality vaccine in large and significant quantities.
It is good for Russia, good for India, and also excess capacities or specific part of the capacities can be offered to the rest of the world, he said.
Sputnik V has been developed by Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, along with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). The vaccine has not been tested in phase-3 or larger clinical trials.
