Russia is set to register world’s first coronavirus vaccine on August 12, clearing the way for what its backers say would be the world’s first official approval of an inoculation against the pandemic
Developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute and the Russian Direct Investment Fund, the drug may be approved for civilian use within three to seven days of registration by regulators, according to a person familiar with the process, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public.
However, the clinical trial data and other documents of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine are currently under expert review. The decision on registration will be made based on its results, according to the Russian health ministry.
“The documents that are needed to register the vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of the Health Ministry, including clinical trial data, are under expert review. The decision on registration will be made based on the results of the review.”
Russia’s Deputy Health Minister Oleg Gridnev said that Phase 3 clinical trial of the COVID-19 vaccine is already underway. Senior citizens and medical professionals, according to the official, will be the first to get vaccinated.
According to an article by Business Today, the clinical trials of the vaccine began on June 18 and included 38 volunteers. All of the participants developed immunity. The first group was discharged on July 15, and the second on July 20.
Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya National Research Centre, said the Russian technology is a vector vaccine based on the DNA of a SARS-CoV-2type adenovirus, a common cold virus. A team of Russian scientists has embedded genetic material from the coronavirus into the harmless carrier virus to deliver small parts of the pathogen into the human body and stimulate an immune response, as per Sputnik news.
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According to him, side effects include maximum discomfort, because when a foreign antigen is injected, the immune system of the individual being vaccinated receives a powerful boost. The temperature of some volunteers rose to 37- 38 degrees Celsius during the clinical trials, which can be tackled by paracetamol intake, says Gintsburg.
A robust partnership
Russia on Friday said it was ready to supply coronavirus vaccines to the Philippines. In a press briefing, Russian ambassador Igor Khovaev proposed conducting clinical trials and the setting up of a vaccine production hub in the country once approved by the Philippine government.
“We are ready to combine our efforts, we are ready to make the necessary investments with our Filipino partners and we are ready to share our technologies simply because we want to build a robust partnership between our two nations”
Khovaev said Russia’s proposals are “now under consideration” by the Philippine side.
“We don’t make promises. We make suggestions based on what we already know and what we have done. We are waiting for a feedback,” Khovaev said.