Dr Reddy’s may distribute Sputnik Light too

Hyderabad: The single-shot Russian Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik Light, which was approved for use by Russia on Thursday, will be distributed by Dr Reddy’s Labs in India.

It already has a distribution tie-up with Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) for Sputnik V.

“Sputnik Light too will be distributed by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories in India but after the necessary approvals,” a source told TOI. Dr Reddy’s officials refused to comment on the development as the company is in the silent period ahead of its quarterly financial results announcement next week.

The single-shot Sputnik Light could prove to be a major booster for India’s vaccination drive, which has run into a major shortage of vaccine for even the second dose, as it could cut down on logistical challenges, said experts.

Sputnik Light has shown a 79.4% efficacy after 28 days of administration, as against the 92% efficacy demonstrated by the two-dose Sputnik, and will be priced below $10 per dose, RDIF had said.

Meanwhile, the 1.5 lakh doses of the Sputnik V first dose that arrived in Hyderabad on May 1 are undergoing testing at the Central Drugs Laboratory at Kasauli after which they are expected to be ready for rollout around mid-May.

Dr Reddy’s is using the first shipment to test out the cold chain, both in the rural as well as urban settings, to ensure that the supply chain is in place. The company is yet to announce the pricing for Sputnik V, which has a global uniform price of $10 per dose.