Pfizer Reviews Registration of COVID-19 Vaccine in Russia

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] It has been reported that the U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer is considering registering the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine it developed together with the German company BioNTech in Russia.

Pfizer recently announced that its COVID-19 vaccine under development showed over 90% efficacy in the interim results of the final phase 3 clinical trial.

According to Interfax news agency on the 17th (local time), Pfizer's public relations office in Russia stated, "We are considering submitting an application for COVID-19 vaccine registration in Russia once the necessary clinical trial (final) results are available."

The Russian Ministry of Health expressed that there is no reason to refuse registration of the Pfizer vaccine. If the Pfizer vaccine obtains approval from the Russian government, supply to Russia will become possible.

Russia is currently actively pursuing the development of its own COVID-19 vaccine. On August 11, the Russian government officially approved (registered) the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology under the Russian Ministry of Health, making it the world's first approved vaccine. However, skipping the phase 3 clinical trial and granting national approval immediately after phases 1 and 2 raised concerns about its efficacy and safety.

After Pfizer announced its interim results on the 9th (local time), the Russian sovereign wealth fund 'Russian Direct Investment Fund' (RDIF), which supported the development of Russia's own COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, promoted on the 11th that "the efficacy of the Sputnik V vaccine reached 92%."

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