Russia’s “Sputnik V” coronavirus vaccine produced an antibody response in early trials, according to results published by The Lancet medical journal on Friday.
Results from two 42-day trials, including 38 healthy adults each, that were conducted in June and July found that all participants developed antibodies without any serious symptoms, according to The Lancet.
The medical journal found the Russian vaccine “has a good safety profile and induced strong humoral and cellular immune responses in participants. Further investigation is needed of the effectiveness of this vaccine for prevention of COVID-19.”
“The publication in The Lancet, one of the most reputable medical journals in the world confirms the high safety and efficacy of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V and demonstrates the recognition of Russian scientists by the global scientific community,” Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, said in a statement.
Russia’s government said last month that its coronavirus vaccine, which is the first to be registered worldwide, would be tested on more than 40,000 people as it looks to ramp up production.
So far more than 26 million people have tested positive for the coronavirus around the world, including more than 1 million in Russia, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University.