According to RDIF (Russian Direct Investment Fund), a preliminary laboratory investigation done by the Gamaleya Center has shown that the Sputnik V vaccine and one-shot Sputnik Light booster were effective against the Omicron strain of Covid-19.
In an interview with Medically Speaking, CEO of RDIF, Kirill Dmitriev said that the vaccine
Tell us a little more about your findings the latest findings as far as sputnik’s ability to neutralize the Omicron variant is concerned.
Kirill Dmitriev: Well, we don’t know it is great news because Sputnik in reality is a Russian engine vaccine because so much production capacities and interviews are great Partners, Rome and Catherine, Kirill Dmitriev Rainey’s and many others. So the great news and again is preliminary in based on lab studies, but we showed our scientists is that this would think is quite efficient against Omicron and particularly if you also, Have a Sputnik light booster, which is a third shot, hundred percent of the people develop neutralizing the level of antibodies after 2-3 months of revaccination. So we believe that Sputnik light is a great booster and can boost by the way other vaccines. We have tested combinations with AstraZeneca with many other vaccines and Sputnik indeed has shown so far the best results out of any vaccine when neutralize your Omicron, so it’s really very welcome used and in Partnership is injured in Partnership results, in countries will be producing Sputnik and Sputnik like booster and fight or make run together height.
You speak about the efficacy you say it’s almost 100% effective, especially when it comes to the booster shot. Because most of us have got either Covishield or Covaxin shots, can they go for a Sputnik life booster?
Kirill Dmitriev: Yes, so I will not use hundred percent application number at all. Our scientists estimated efficacy is around 80% with the booster each other people developed neutralizing antibody hundred percent of the people. But still the application of the vaccine is currently estimated around 80% against Omicron. And yes, Sputnik light can be used as a booster with covishield or risk of exchange with other machines. In Indian we have done those is the emergency know we were tested Sputnik with seen a farm AstraZeneca Moderna with great results. So, the government has to approve such a boost in approach and Sputnik light has already been approved as universal booster in many countries, more than 25 countries, include, Philippines and many others. So, India government is now in the process of registering Sputnik and when it registers, which will hopefully happen in the next week or so and yes, we believe this court applied can be a great booster. And by the way, serum Institute is producing both covishield and Sputnik light. So serum can actually also provide this combination to India just with their production facilities.
Do you think that the need of the hour is to administer booster shots or to, at least comorbid at least those who are elderly?
Kirill Dmitriev: Well, I think Indian government over decide and I have to tell you, you have one of the best governments in fighting Corbett. So results of India on covid has been able to produce so quickly billion Doses and more is really unprecedented. So I think your government will make a determination and you have great people who are frankly, some of the most experienced Corbett, fighters in the world. But what we see in other countries is at Omicron cases, is increasing very fast, very important example is UK. Okay, where you have really huge surge of Omicron cases and some people are saying, well Omicron could be easier as a people saying, we don’t know yet. It actually could be causing lots of long term covid cases. So the jury’s still out how, you know, lethal Omicron is. But definitely in Russia, we will be using Sputnik lightest a booster, a lot. And we see many countries facing omicron cases, really believe in that booster is the best to address it, but of course, the Indian government will decide how they think is the right approach.
You also have compared to Sputnik to the mRNA vaccine and found it much more efficacious. Could you elaborate on that a little more?
Kirill Dmitriev: Yeah! So we really believe the world has to be open and honest about mRNA vaccine efficacy because it’s frankly, even in the interest of mRNA vaccines to really be honest about what’s going on and what we see is there are two issues. One issue mRNA vaccines have very significant meaning of efficacy after 45 months. So you have data from Sweden showing that after four- five months application of renovations goes to below, you know, 40% 30% You have most recent data from US. The first in all the people after four months, they have application of 20%. So we believe that they should be boosted. They can be boosted with coefficient. They can be boosted with Sputnik light, but they need to be boosted with machines that provide longer duration. And we believe that Whitney Clyde provides longer duration of protection. We showed efficacy of 80% up to six months. So I think it’s about that but also with four huge declines of mRNA vaccine efficacy against Omicron. So why is that data shows a decline 41 times. Moderna shows a decline 49 to 84 times and they need to have a partner and this part is booster shot by another vaccine and it can be covid shield that can be another booster shot but definitely other vaccines need to be combined with mRNA vaccines, but to have boosters every three months.
Right now to speak about the waving of efficacy where does Sputnik Stand? Once someone gets the Sputnik booster shot? What is the timeframe but show are looking at we speak of the veining of efficacy or the need to get another booster shot.
Kirill Dmitriev: Well, it’s actually both with Sputnik and also we believe is commercial. So we have shown that over four months. The efficacy is actually growing, and after six months, we showed real efficacy in San Marino, 80% against infections. And this is versus less than twenty nine percent of mRNA, vaccines up to six months. Scientists recommend a booster shot or Sputnik light, six months after the previous vaccine, and we believe that this will be enough, frankly for the next six months to a year of protection against Omicron. But once again, Indian government will have to make their own determination and Doctor radial great part in India. Provided lots of data on Sputnik light, and we’ve even done the clinical study Sputnik lights in India. So your government knows a lot about what to buy?
The health Ministry in press conference, said the cases have crossed 100. They are expecting the cases to double also or perhaps go up drastically in the coming few days or a month considering Omicron spread very fast to the delta variant. What is your assessment of the situation vision of India?
Kirill Dmitriev: Well, definitely we see Omicron has taken so far in South Africa and many other countries. Right now, there’s no question of Omicron taking over the delta but we see it’s spreading very fast than Delta. So if we see the equation of this before the research Omicron in many countries that’s why people need to act nowand that’s why the Booster shots are the best strategy for omicron.
So since you say that Sputnik Light is capable of neutralizing, the Omicron variants to a large extent. Are you looking at building and upgraded version of the vaccine or is it not required at this point of time?
Kirill Dmitriev: So, we have a vaccine, to launch it into production. It will take about two and a half months but so far. We see Sputnik Light is very efficient. So I believe we do not need this version, just as we had another version against Delta and we didn’t have to use that but we’ll test the specific version against Omicron. And if it shows significantly higher performance, then we’ll be in a position to deliver this also, by the end of February, also, that can be produced in India. But so far, our scientists believe that the existing vaccine with a booster shot works.
Just help us understand the timeline and once the Indian government, which you say it’s most likely to approve in a week or so. It’s a matter of days, approve, Sputnik life. Will it be immediately available considering we had seen earlier. So, you know, bottlenecks, when it came to the supply of Sputnik. Where do you stand on that front? And as far as is upgraded, version is concerned, once you have the upgraded vaccine ready, when can that be available to the world Sir?
Kirill Dmitriev: Yeah! So definitely all of the production issues have been stalled and we have great Partners like SYrome that are already producing lots of vaccine already. So that machine is ready to be delivered to India. Soon as approval comes, so no issues on production anymore. Again, thanks to Media production capacity and the new vaccine again only if it’s needed because it’s a big question of if it can also be available to India by the end of February and it also can be produced in India. But again so far we believe support should be honest with me, Sputin boosters and so far we have a great data, frankly. It’s great news not only for Russia and India because Whitaker’s Russian engines vaccine, but for the whole world because world needs the great protection against Omicron, that is taken over so many countries right now.
Since now you have a new study, which you see, prove the efficacy of the Sputnik card, booster shot against Omicron variant. Help us understand where do you stand when it comes to the W.H.O approval have you got the approval? If not, what is the timeline you looking on that front?
Kirill Dmitriev: Yeah, so I mean, Mr. Kelso flash is responsible for WHO approval couple of days ago. He had of who in Europe made actually very positive comments. You said that he expects approval a very shortly. So, once again, I think it’s a question of adjust, very short time. We don’t want to put time, pray because it’s up to who to decide. But I think with Omicron, we see acceleration of many all the processes are just generally and there is very good, very professional Corporation.
