Serum Institute of India to Produce 300 Million Sputnik V Vaccines

Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) announced cooperation to produce the Sputnik V vaccine in India.

With their import approved by the Drug Controller General of India, the vaccine cultivation process has begun. The first batch of Sputnik vaccines is expected to be produced at SII’s facilities in September 2021. The parties intend to produce over 300 million doses of the vaccine in India per year.

The RDIF previously reached agreements with a number of pharmaceutical companies in India (Gland Pharma, Hetero Biopharma, Panacea Biotec, Stelis Biopharma, Virchow Biotech, and Morepen) for the production of Sputnik.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of SII, commented in a press statement, “I am delighted to partner with RDIF to manufacture the Sputnik vaccine. We hope to make millions of doses in the coming months with trial batches starting in the month of September."

"With high efficacy and a good safety profile, it is critical that the Sputnik vaccine is accessible in full measure for people across India and the world."

"Given the uncertainty of the virus, it is important for international institutes, and governments to collaborate and further bolster up our fight against the pandemic.”

To date, the Sputnik V vaccine has been registered in 67 countries. The effectiveness data obtained by regulators from countries including Argentina, Serbia, Bahrain, Hungary, Mexico, San Marino, UAE, and others, demonstrates that Sputnik V is one of the safest and most effective vaccines against coronavirus.

The Sputnik Light vaccine is the first component (recombinant human adenovirus 26 serotype) of the Sputnik V vaccine.

The RDIF is Russia's sovereign wealth fund established in 2011 to make equity co-investments, primarily in Russia, alongside reputable international financial and strategic investors.