Richmond lab to produce Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 in Argentina

Almost a year after the WHO declared the global pandemic due to the SARS-COV-2 virus, Argentina adds positive news for the country and the region: The Argentinian laboratory Richmond will be the local producer of the Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19, undertaking for this purpose the construction of a factory in Pilar with a minimum period of one year to have the development in hand.

As he could confirm Infobae, Richmond has signed a preliminary and scientific cooperation agreement with the Russian Sovereign Investment Fund and with the participation of Hetero Labs Limited, a company established in the Republic of India and with which Richmond has a strategic alliance for more than 25 years.

The Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19, created and produced by the Gamaleya Scientific Institute, was the first to be available in Argentina.

The construction of the new high-tech vaccine production plant in Argentina will include the Sputnik V vaccine against COVID -19 and other formulations. It should not be forgotten that Richmond also has very advanced scientific studies, developments and applied research in the research of treatment for HIV and hepatitis.

News of the deal between Richmond and the Russian Sovereign Fund (RDIF) gained momentum because the preliminary agreement established by transparency rules and cconformity between companies pharma has been disclosed to the Stock Exchange and the Securities Commission (BYMA).

The transcendent scientific agreement for Argentina and the region for the large-scale production of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V will include the participation of Hetero Labs Limited , the laboratory located in the Republic of India and with which Richmond has maintained a strategic alliance for more than 25 years.

In dialogue with Infobae from Moscow, Marcelo Figueiras, president of Richmond Laboratories explained: “We are very confident in the completion of this project and in increasing the vaccine production capacity in our country in the medium term.“.

New plant and formulations

The project includes the immediate construction of a specialized and high-tech factory in the Pilar region – where the Richmond plant is currently located – in the country for the production of vaccines in general and against Covid in particular, among which Finds first on the list, Sputnik V. Plant construction will include the formulation and filling processes.

As he could know Infobae, work will begin immediately. and the maximum period fixed by Richmond to complete the project will be one year for the plant to be completed. The investment is between 70 and 100 million dollars.

To meet deadlines and streamline development, Richmond will need to integrate its strategic partners in India to advance work already developed by them and save time. The Gamaleya Institute is dedicated to the surveillance of viral mutations with all its scientific capacity and at the same time engaged in increasing production, due to the success of the vaccine, 100% effective in severe cases, and the increase in the global demand. .

Sputnik V does not contain any element of the coronavirus in its composition, it is in lyophilized form, that is to say in the form of powder mixed with an excipient to dissolve it and then administer it by the intramuscular route.

The drug uses human adenovirus technology from two different vectors, Ad5 and Ad26, for a first and second injection. However, Sputnik V does not contain live human adenoviruses, but human adenoviral vectors which are not able to multiply and are completely safe for health.

“Vectors” are vehicles that can introduce genetic material from another virus into a cell. The adenovirus gene, which is the cause of the infection, is removed and a gene encoding the protein of another virus is inserted in its place. The inserted element is safe for the body and helps the immune system to respond and produce antibodies that protect us from infection.

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