Russia's Gamaleya Center adapts Sputnik V to fight Delta, Omicron variants

The Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) have announced the development of another version of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, tailored to combat the Delta and Omicron strains, according to a RDIF statement.

"Since the onset of the pandemic, the Gamaleya Research Center has been actively studying newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 strains, accordingly adapting the Sputnik V vaccine. The new variant of the vaccine was created based on the special features of the Delta strain and those of the Omicron strain, which has been dominating the world in recent months. The medication is designed to combat the L-452-R mutation that is present in the Omicron BA.5 strain but cannot be found in the BA.1 one," the statement reads.

"The current version of the Sputnik V vaccine continues to prove its high effectiveness in preventing hospitalizations and deaths. According to research published by a team of experts from the Vorokhobov City Clinical Hospital Number 67 and the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in the Vaccines medical journal in June 2022, the Sputnik V vaccine’s efficacy in preventing hospitalizations among Omicron patients stands at 97% and at 99.4% in preventing severe forms of the disease among patients who received Sputnik Light or Sputnik V booster shots," the RDIF explained.

The jab’s adapted version will also make it possible to successfully prevent new cases, the fund pointed out, adding that Sputnik V had become the most exported medication in Russian history.