Hyderabad-based pharma major, Dr Reddy’s has received emergency use authorization for the marketing and production of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V in India in the month of April. While the company has already progressed with a soft launch after the initial shipment of doses from Russia came through, it is expected that production of the same would be scaled up in the coming weeks. The vaccine uses inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus, which cannot replicate in human cells, to stimulate an immune response. Interim results have shown that the vaccine is extremely effective, and carries an efficacy rate of over 90%.
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Dr Reddy’s is also reported to seek authorisation on the sale and production of Sputnik Light, which is a novel one-dose variant of the same vaccine. The company has also inked deals with DRDO to manufacture and supply doses of the innovative COVID medicine launched recently, the 2DG drug.
Hetero Biopharma will also be a major producer working to supply millions of doses of the Sputnik V vaccine in the coming months.