The COVID-19 Sputnik V, developed by Russia’s Gamaleya Institute, was found to be effective in 91.6% of cases in late-stage clinical trials.
The jab was safe and offered complete protection against hospitalisation and death after tests on nearly 22,000 adults, according to an article published on scientific journal The Lancet.
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Russia had been criticised in the summer because it started a rollout of Sputnik V though the scientific community didn’t consider the available data sufficient to assess its safety and efficacy.
Experts warned the Russian data, albeit encouraging, was based on a small number of participants compared to other companies’ clinical trials.
Argentina, Palestinian territories, Venezuela, Hungary, the UAE and Iran have also issued authorisations for use.
Just like the vaccines developed by AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), Sputnik V is based on the traditional method of using a genetically modified version of the common cold virus (adenovirus) to stimulate an immune response.
By providing the body’s defence mechanisms with advanced warning of the virus, the inoculation triggers production of the antibodies required to fight the real thing when it is contracted.
However, the two doses contain different formulas in the hope to cause a long-lasting effect.
Moreover, it can be stored at 2-8°C, so it’s compatible with standard distribution channel without the need for extra infrastructure.