First lot of Sputnik V to arrive in India by May end

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, which has received approval from the Indian drug regulator for restricted emergency use of COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, on Tuesday said it expects the first lot of stock from Russian Direct Investment Fund by May end.

Hyderabad:Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, which has received approval from the Indian drug regulator for restricted emergency use of COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, on Tuesday said it expects the first lot of stock from Russian Direct Investment Fund by May end.

In September 2020, Dr. Reddys and RDIF entered into a partnership to conduct clinical trials of SputnikV, developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the rights for distribution of the first 100 million doses in India.

Later, it was enhanced to 125 million.

READ:All You Need To Know About The Sputnik V COVID Jab

"We are targeting to have the first batches imported by Q1, and are trying our best to have them by end-May," Dr. Reddy's spokesperson said in an email reply.

RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev in a virtual press conference recently said he expected over 50 million doses of sputnik vaccine to be manufactured in India by this summer.

He had said RDIF has tied up with five drug companies for the vaccine and is looking at a couple of more firms for the possible production pacts.

READ:India to produce 850 million Sputnik V doses annually

Once available, SputnikV will be the third vaccine to be used in India against coronavirus.

In January, DCGI had given the emergency use authorisation for two COVID-19 vaccines -- Covaxin of Bharat Biotech and Covishield of Oxford-AstraZeneca manufactured by Serum Institute of India in Pune.

"We expect Domestic Manufacturing to ramp up from Q2.

READ:DCGI gives nod for restricted emergency use of Sputnik V vaccine in India

We are not able to confirm the first lot size at this time," Dr. Reddy's official further said.

A senior official of Dr. Reddy's said the vaccine will be imported in a frozen condition from RDIF maintaining -18 to -22 degree celsius.

PTI REPORT