The German state of Bavaria has negotiated a "preliminary contract" to receive 2.5 million doses of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, the regional leader announced on Wednesday.
Sputnik V is still subject to approval by the European Medicines Agency.
This "preliminary contract is signed today" said the Minister-President Markus Söder, a conservative politician.
He added that "if Sputnik is approved in Europe, then the state of Bavaria will receive additional doses of vaccine", 2.5 million, in the coming months.
R-Pharm Germany, a subsidiary of Russian drug manufacturing giant R-Pharm, has a production line in the Bavarian town of Illertissen, and is in a position to manufacture the Russian vaccine, according to several German media outlets.
Söder, a possible candidate to succeed Angela Merkel, had already asked the EMA in March to “speed up” its approval process for Sputnik V.
