Sputnik V Vaccine Found Effective Against Coronavirus Variants

The Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Russian Direct Investment Fund announced today the study results on neutralizing sera activity from individuals vaccinated with the Sputnik V vaccine against new variants of SARS-CoV-2 betacoronavirus.

This study published by the journal Vaccines on July 12, 2021, found vaccination with Sputnik V produced protective neutralizing titers against new variants, including Alpha B.1.1.7 (UK), Beta B.1.351 (South Africa), Gamma P.1 (Brazil), Delta B.1.617.2 and B.1.617.3 (India) and Moscow endemic variants B.1.1.141 and B.1.1.317 with mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD).

The study compared neutralizing activity of Sputnik V induced sera to the internationally relevant variants with the neutralizing activity to the ancestral B.1.1.1 variant. The sera were obtained from individuals after vaccination with 2 doses of Sputnik V.

The data confirms that the Sputnik V vaccine remains protective against newly detected variants.

Furthermore, Sputnik V demonstrated significantly less of a reduction in its virus-neutralizing activity against several variants compared to data from other vaccine producers, which had earlier confirmed the efficacy of their vaccines against new variants of coronavirus.

The Gamaleya Center is actively studying emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 to access VNA, and the efficacy of Sputnik V against new strains as the virus is still evolving in various parts of the world. The Gamaleya Center and RDIF are also studying new opportunities to develop vaccine cocktails jointly with other leading COVID vaccine producers using the first component of Sputnik V.

Note: Virus neutralizing activity assay is not directly related to the effectiveness of a vaccine.