KUALA LUMPUR: Russia's vaccine against the coronavirus, Sputnik V, will enter a multi-centre clinical study on 40,000 people next week.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said this randomised, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical study would examine Sputnik V's efficacy, immunogenicity and safety.
"(The multi-centre clinical study) will begin in Russia, simultaneously with the vaccination of volunteers from risk groups.
"More than 40,000 people will take part in the study in more than 45 medical centres," the RDIF said in a statement tonight.
It also said the RDIF, together with the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology had launched an information section about the human adenovirus vaccine platform at sputnikvaccine.com.
This information section, it added, contained links to scientific publications on the history of vaccines based on human adenoviruses and human adenoviral vectors, their clinical trial and the technological platform.
It will also address the proven safety of their approach, as well as its application in the fight against various diseases.
RDIF chief executive officer Kirill Dmitriev said RDIF and the Gamaleya Institute strived for maximum transparency on the details of Sputnik V's development.
"This is why we post all information about adenovirus vaccines at sputnikvaccine.com," he said.
On Aug 11, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had developed the first vaccine offering "sustainable immunity" against the coronavirus.
According to the Sputnik V website, the vaccine's phase three clinical trial had began on Aug 12, involving more than 2,000 people in Russia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Mexico.
It also said mass production of the vaccine is expected to start in September this year.