Russia’s R-Pharm, the company which produces the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, intends to launch jab production in Germany in summer 2021, TASS reports citing the DPA agency reports, which refered to Alexander Bykov, the company’s health economics director.
According to DPA, the production can be set up in June or July in Bavaria’s Illertissen. "We are making every effort to start the production in summer. We already have equipment and staff there," Bykov noted.
On March 4, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) reported that the rolling review of the Russian jab had begun. The process is expected to be completed by mid-May, clearing the path for the shot developers to apply for a registration certificate. "We are expecting a decision of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) because it will be a legal basis for us to start the production," the R-Pharm top manager underlined. Vaccine doses produced in Illertissen can be shipped to EU countries.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) hopes that the EU will consider the application exclusively through the scientific prism rather than a political agenda. According to RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian side expected other EU members to follow Hungary’s suit and authorize the use of Sputnik V irrespective of the EMA conclusion.
