Hyderabad: Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, which is in a pact with Russian Direct Investment Fund to sell 12.5 crore people doses (25 crore vials) of COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V in India, is holding parleys with RDIF for acquiring rights for more countries, a senior official of the Indian drug maker said.
Dr Reddy's which had received over two lakh vaccines from RDIF, recently soft-launched Sputnik V and tied up with Apollo Hospitals for piloting the vaccine.
".. we are also in discussions with them (RDIF) about quantities and rights, assets permit for other countries. So this is the overall view that we have at this stage of Sputnik," Chief Executive Officer of Dr Reddys, Erez Israeli said in a recent Earnings Conference Call.
In August 2020, Russia became the world's first country to register a coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V.
Subsequently, in September, Dr Reddy's and RDIF entered into a partnership to conduct clinical trials of Sputnik V, which is developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.
Dr Reddy's Laboratories has received approval from the Indian drug regulator for restricted emergency use of Sputnik V.
In addition, there are discussions with RDIF for Sputnik Light, a single dose vaccine for COVID-19 being developed in Russia as well as additional engagement for the future for India, Israeli further said.
Read More: Apollo begins administering Sputnik V, priced at Rs 1,250 per dose on CoWIN
RDIF has tied up with six Indian drug makers to manufacture Sputnik V and their supplies are expected to roll out by August or September, he said.
Replying to a query, Israeli said they hope that the supply of 12.5 crore doses would be accomplished within 12 months, if everything is in place.
On Tuesday, Shilpa Medicare said its subsidiary signed an agreement with Dr Reddy's Laboratories for manufacturing of the vaccines. These vaccines will be produced at Dharwad in Karnataka.
The targeted production of the dual vector Sputnik V for the first 12 months is 5 crore doses (5 crore of component 1 and 5 crore of component 2), from the date of start of commercial production, the company added.
A senior official of Dr Reddy's had earlier said they expect to receive about 3.6 crore doses of Sputnik V in a couple of months.
In an interaction with ETV Bharat on Monday, a senior official of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories had said they are awaiting clinical trial data related to Sputnik Light from the Russian agencies.
“Sputnik Light has already got the approval in Russia. Once we receive the documents related to its clinical trials from Russia, we will approach the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI),” said M V Ramana, Dr Reddy's Laboratories CEO – Branded Markets (India & Emerging Markets).
(With PTI Inputs)
