SII ties up with Russia’s RDIF to produce Sputnik

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 13

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund) and the Serum Institute of India (SII) today announced cooperation to produce the Russian Sputnik vaccine against Covid.

The SII is the world’s largest company in terms of Covid vaccine production with over 500 million doses manufactured.

Through several strategic associations, the SII has been front-running India’s fight against the pandemic. In addition to developing its own vaccine, it is currently manufacturing Covishield (developed by AstraZeneca-Oxford), Covovax (by Novavax) and conducting trials of Codagenix in the UK.

The first batch of Sputnik vaccine is expected to be produced at SII’s facilities in September. The parties intend to produce over 300 million doses in India per year, a statement from RDIF said. As part of the technical transfer process, the SII has already received cell and vector samples from Gamaleya Center.