Testing of the Russian vaccine will begin in Italy
The Rome National Institute of Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani will begin a joint study with the National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after N. F. Gamaleya to study the effectiveness of Russian anti-Covid vaccines.
This was announced at a conference at TASS by the director of the Spallanzani Institute, Professor Francesco Vaia, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“(We decided to conduct) an exchange of researchers and biological material immediately after the signing of the memorandum of understanding between our institutes. This is the first time in Europe that two such important research institutes have organized such an exchange, which does not end here and will continue over time.
We emphasize that science is neutral, science must be removed from industrial interests and geopolitical interests. One way or another, the interests of citizens and patients should always be at the center of science. Both we and the Gamaleya Institute have put absolutely undiscussed topics at the center, namely the need for supplies of vaccines and effective vaccines.
We proceeded from publications that spoke of 91,6% vaccine effectiveness. We believe this is absolutely effective.
The exchange of biological materials is a very important point because in Spallanzani we isolated and sequenced both the English and South African and Brazilian stamps. Public opinion is very concerned - we have seen that vaccines often do not cover these variants.
But the exchange of biological materials that Russian colleagues have undertaken to bring here to Spallanzani will allow us to verify, on the basis of laboratory studies that we will conduct together, to what extent Sputnik V will be able (and it seems to be encouraging so far) to produce neutralizing antibodies against the mutated virus with the English, Brazilian or South African variant.
An even more interesting point, which relates to a topic that is most important for the international medical community, is that these studies will allow us to test, organize experiments that will allow us to vaccinate or re-vaccinate the volunteers whom we vaccinated in Italy at the first stage in August.
Or check cases where different vaccines led to failure - in this case, the satellite, on the contrary, may be able to cover these shortcomings.
We are proud and glad that we have found very good colleagues in Gamaleya who are ready to cooperate. This is proof that science can overcome barriers and, when it wants to lead a dialogue, it can guide political discussion,” the scientist said.
Research will begin in April.
“Literally one of these days we will sign our memorandum with our colleague Ginzburg and send it to the minister, who is now here, for approval. I hope we can sort out all the bureaucratic issues. I am convinced that if we work intensively and with enthusiasm (I am confident in us and in Gamaleya), that in April we will be ready to make our contribution,” Vaiya said.
Russian vaccine trials to begin in Italy