Sputnik trials on children, as booster shot soon

Dr Reddy’s to approach DCGI for permission to conduct trials

Pharma major Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories plans to approach Drugs Controller General of India seeking permission to conduct trials of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik in children as well as a booster shot for vaccinated adults.

“Planning to do this soon and expect we will be able to commence the trials in November,” CEO-API and Services Deepak Sapra said. Next month is also when the marketing partner and brand custodian of Sputnik V in India expects to submit results of clinical trials for Sputnik Light, the single dose vaccine, to the regulator.

Asserting that the vaccine — DCGI had accorded EUA for the two-dose Sputnik V in April — continues to be relevant for India’s inoculation programme, he said 1.1 million doses had been administered thus far. He, however, admitted that a mismatch in the availability of the two different components of the vaccine and also supplies from Russia getting impacted posed challenges previously. However, with a clutch of firms in the country getting into manufacturing of the vaccine, majority of products will be made in India, he said during a virtual media interaction on Friday.