What’s going on?

• Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine demonstrated high efficacy and safety in trial, boosting its ambition to roll out the vaccine abroad and curb the pandemic home.

What does that mean?

Effectiveness

In the peer-review study, the vaccine showed:

• 91.6% effectiveness against symptomatic Covid
• 100% protection against severe cases
• 0 serious side effects

Commercial implication

The finding might:

• Offer Russia a strong stand in the developing world (with reference to the satellite launched by the Soviet Union ahead of the US in the Cold war space race) and the chance to tap into the lucrative global vaccine market.
• As the 4th worst-hit country by Covid, Russia could avoid costly lock-down with the plan to get 60% of domestic population vaccinated by the end of 2021
• Having been criticized for the lack of published trial data a.k.a transparency, Sputnik V is now cleared of doubts by the study.
• Targeting 30% market share in the countries buying Sputnik V, Russia aims to compete on price at less than $10/dose, lower than Pfizer and Moderna

New virus variants

• The study didn’t address the new virus variants (UK, Africa, …), that are rumored to be resistant against the vaccine => studies are still continuing

A little bit of technical ish

• Like other Covid-19 vaccines (by J&J & AstraZeneca PLC, Oxford Uni, …), the “viral vector” approach is used: a genetically altered form of a harmless virus (called adenovirus) is introduced to serve as a vehicle (or vector) for a fragment of genetic material from the coronavirus;
• Each of Sputnik V’s 2 shots is based on a different adenovirus vector, which is said to achieve a stronger immune response.
• Sputnik V also has simpler logistics requirements, with a storage & transportation of between 36 – 36°F (compared with the 94°F-requirement by Pfitzer)

Launching plan

• Clinical trials for a combined shot are expected soon in Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, …
• 15 countries (including Brazil, Mexico, India) already authorized Sputnik V and have ordered/expressed interests for 2.4 billion doses
• A one-dose vaccine with about 73-85% effectiveness would also be launched.
• Global supply chain: 
  • Manufacturing: Brazil, South Korea, India, China
  • PR campaigns abroad: posting weekly video updates in English, maintaining Twitter account

What’s waiting ahead?

• Russia is in talk with the European Medicines Agency for approval in the EU and have applied for WHO authorization
• The domestic rollout has faced challenges, including production delays and a skeptical populace.
• Manufacturing is being ramped up following initial equipment problems.  11m doses  are expected to be produced this month, up from 7m in January.

Content source: Georgi Kantchev (2021) Russian Covid-19 Vaccine Was Highly Effective in Trial, Boosting Moscow’s Rollout Ambitions. Wall Street Journal. Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-covid-19-vaccine-was-highly-effective-in-trial-study-finds-boosting-moscows-rollout-ambitions-11612269047[Accessed on February 4, 2021]