Russia expects to complete the registration process of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) without politicization and unnecessary bureaucracy, said Russian Ambassador to Italy Sergei Razov.
“We hope for the earliest completion of the consecutive examination procedure at the EMA without politicization and unnecessary bureaucracy. We are ready, in case of demand, for the supply of the Russian vaccine, and the organization of its production on the Italian territory, and for the development of cooperation in the field of joint research”, – Razov said during an international online conference dedicated to the spread of the Sputnik V vaccine and the prospects for its use in Italy.
At the same time, he stressed that Russia “does not impose anything on anyone”. According to the diplomat, the embassy receives numerous applications from Italian regions, private companies, individuals with requests for acquisition and proposals for the production of Sputnik V for Italian citizens.
“We are open to all mutually acceptable forms of cooperation, on the understanding that relevant requests should come through official government channels. We categorically would not like to introduce any elements of dissonance in the relationship between the central government and individual regions of Italy”, – the ambassador said.
Razov said that Moscow attaches particular importance to the development of cooperation between research centers in Russia and Italy to combat the pandemic, primarily between the Gamaleya Research Center and the Spallanzani National Institute of Infectious Diseases.
“These contacts continue, they are gradually turning into a practical plane. We, as an embassy, provide them with any assistance. We look forward to signing a memorandum of cooperation between institutions and intensifying interaction soon”, – the diplomat added.
The Russian vaccine against the Sputnik V coronavirus has been undergoing a gradual review procedure since March 4 at the European Medicines Agency EMA, which approves vaccines for use on the European market. Earlier in the EMA, hope was expressed that the assessment of “Sputnik V” will be held in an accelerated period, but there is no date for the approval of the vaccine. According to media reports, the approval of the Russian vaccine, if there are no difficulties, should be expected in May.
Sputnik V is registered in more than 50 countries around the world with a total population of over 1.4 billion people. The vaccine efficacy at 91.6% is confirmed by the publication of data in the leading medical journal The Lancet. Sputnik V is built on the proven and well-studied platform of human adenoviral vectors. The drug uses two different vectors for two shots during the vaccination process, which forms a stronger immunity compared to vaccines that use the same delivery mechanism for both shots.