India Authorizes Emergency Use of Russia’s Sputnik V Vaccine

India has authorized Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine for emergency use, making it the country’s third authorized COVID-19 shot.

The authorization was supported by positive phase 3 data from Russian trials and from additional phase 3 trials conducted in India in partnership with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories.

The Indian government and the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which funded Sputnik V’s development, reached an agreement allowing several Indian companies to produce 850 million doses of the vaccine per year.

India previously authorized the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine — manufactured by the Serum Institute and sold in the country as Covishield — and Covaxin, which was developed by Ocugen and Bharat Biotech.