Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 Vaccine Could Be Made In Europe
Russian developed vaccine against Covid-19, Sputnik V, could be first time produced in Europe as Moscow-based RDIF Sovereign Wealth Fund and Swiss-based pharmaceutical company Adienne has signed a commercial deal for the vaccine's production in Italy.
The deal has been confirmed by the RDIF and the Italian-Russian Chamber of Commerce but cited that the Italian regulators ' approval is still required before the production is launched.
In a statement on Monday, Italian-Russian Chamber of Commerce said that the creation of the first production facility of Sputnik V in Europe could be possible because of the deal.
For the production to be done immediately, some European Union (EU) members are not willing to wait for the European Medicines Agencies (EMA), the regulator of the EU, to grant Sputnik V's approval.
It can be recalled that "The Lancet," a medical journal, published a peer-review on the late-stage trial results of the said Russian vaccine, citing that the vaccine was almost 92 percent effective.
EU officials had expressed their approval for Brussels to negotiate with the vaccine maker only if there are at least four member countries that request it.
The Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine has undergone approval and assessment to be approved by three of the member states of EU, including Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of the RDIF sovereign wealth fund, said in an interview that a number of Italian regions are willing to produce Sputnik V. That's why the RDIF has made an agreement with "Adienne" to produce the said vaccine in Italy.
"What we are offering is a true production partnership that will create jobs in Italy, and you can control the product, because it will be produced in Italy, and this product can not only save many lives in Italy, but it can be exported," Dmitriev added.
European Medicines Agencies (EMA) is still reviewing the effectiveness of the vaccine before it will finally start its production in Europe.
