Sputnik V demonstrated an efficiency of 91.6%, validating the claims made by developers last year.
Photographer: Andrey Rudakov / Bloomberg
Photographer: Andrey Rudakov / Bloomberg
Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine provided strong protection against Covid-19 in an interim analysis of an advanced clinical trial, while its proponents said it appears to work against new strains of the virus.
The vaccine was well tolerated and also worked in the elderly, according to the results analyzed by colleagues, which were published on Tuesday in the medical journal The Lancet. Sputnik V showed an efficiency of 91.6%, validating the statements of developers last year.
The findings confirm the credibility of the vaccine after it was accused of being rushed to the market before critical scientific data became available. Sputnik V is approved for use in 16 countries, from Argentina to Iran.
“The development of the Sputnik V vaccine has been criticized for inappropriate haste,” said Ian Jones, a professor of virology at the University of Reading, England, in an accompanying comment in The Lancet. But the result reported here is clear and the scientific principle of vaccination is demonstrated, which means that another vaccine can now join the fight to reduce the incidence of Covid-19.
Although the results are not definitive, the vaccine joins only a few others, including those developed by Moderna Inc., AstraZeneca Plc and Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, showing that it works in an advanced clinical trial. It differs from the others in that the two doses respond to different viral vectors, which gives it an advantage over new strains, said Kirill Dmitriev, chief co-developer of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.
“We have no doubt that the vaccine will be approved by the World Health Organization,” Dmitriev said in an interview. “It has a high efficiency and is one of the most affordable due to its price and the ease of its logistics and storage.”
The developers last met with the public health organization in Geneva on January 22 to discuss their request and no deadline was given for approval. The vaccine has not yet been sent for review to Western regulators.
Initial tests conducted by RDIF partner, Gamaleya Epidemiology and Microbiology Research Institute, show that the vaccine remains effective against new strains of Covid-19, according to Dmitriev.
How vaccine nationalism ignites on rare consumables: QuickTake
Covid-19 variants in South Africa and the United Kingdom appear to be more transmissible than the original virus and have raised fears that they could affect the effectiveness of existing vaccines or require booster dose.
Dmitriev said testing for a combination of AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines is scheduled to begin next week, with the first studies in Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates. The mixture may prove more effective against new strains, he said. RDIF intends to offer inoculation as a second dose to manufacturers who have vaccines less than 90% effective.
Complete protection
The vaccine provided complete protection against severe cases of Covid-19, while demonstrating virtually the same effectiveness for volunteers over the age of 60, according to published data. Dmitriev said researchers are preparing to study its use for children.
The peer-reviewed publication may help Russia’s efforts to vaccinate 60 percent of its adult population in the first half of the year after a slow period Initial release. The house blow faced doubts at home. Only 38% of Russians are ready to take Sputnik V, according to a December 21-23 poll conducted by the Levada Center.
Many vaccination centers in Moscow, where the campaign is largest, are not operating at capacity even after Vladimir Putin ordered universal access to inoculation in mid-January. The Russian president has not yet said when he will be vaccinated.
Sputnik V should provide protection against Covid-19 for over a year and can be used again for re-vaccination, according to Dmitriev. He said he had a booster stroke seven months after the first test of his cellular immune response, which produced antibodies faster than after the initial vaccination.