MOSCOW, July 18 (NNN-TASS) — The final, phase 3, trials of a Russian vaccine against coronavirus developed by the Gamalei National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology may be completed quicker than in other countries, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, told the Vesti news program on Rossiya-1television.
“This is the final phase that is necessary to put the vaccine into active use. And we believe that Russia will possibly go through this phase quicker than other countries,” Dmitriev said.
He noted that phase 3 trials implied switching over to large-scale human trials. Human trials will involve thousands of people in Moscow, “and we will also start conducting phase 3 in other countries,” the head of the Direct Investment Fund said.
Phase 2 trials of this vaccine will be completed on Aug 3, Dmitriev said. According to him, regulatory approval of the Russian vaccine for the use is expected in August-September.
According to forecasts from the Direct Investment Fund, 30 million doses of the vaccine will be produced in Russia in 2020, or even 50 million if necessary. The vaccination of Russian nationals may be completed early in 2021.
To date, 752,797 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 531,692 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 11,937 fatalities nationwide. — NNN-AGENCIES