Russia says Sputnik V virus vaccine 95% effective

In the first interim analysis, which was done after 20 people contracting COVID-19, the vaccine had shown 92 percent efficacy.

Of these, only 18,794 got both doses of the trial vaccine that are being administered 21 days apart. The ratio of the placebo group to the vaccinated group is 1 to 3. These states have been either reporting a rise in the number of active cases - those who are hospitalised or are in home isolation under medical supervision, or demonstrating a rise in the daily new cases of coronavirus infections, the Union Health Ministry said.

Sputnik V is what Russian Federation claims to be the world's first coronavirus vaccine, but experts have not yet given nod to the drug.

The worldwide market price for Sputnik V unveiled on Tuesday is cheaper than some other Western rivals such as a vaccine produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, which costs 15.5 euros per shot, but more expensive that a vaccine produced by AstraZeneca which will be sold in Europe for around 2.5 euros per shot.

"Translating pharma lingo: the announced price of Pfizer of $19.50 and Moderna of $25-$37 per dose actually means their price of $39 and $50-$74 per person".

The two-dose vaccine will be available on worldwide markets for less than $10 (8.40 euros) per dose, they said, and will be free for Russian citizens.

Russian authorities said the interim research data will be published by the Gamaleya Center team in one of the leading global peer-reviewed medical journals.

Sputnik V has been developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology and is being funded and promoted by the RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund.

According to second interim results, an analysis of 18,794 participants in Russian Federation a week after receiving the second dose revealed an efficacy rate of 91.4%, marginally lower than the 92% calculated in the first interim analysis. "Monitoring of the participants is ongoing", a statement from makers of Sputnik V said.

He said the centre expects the efficacy rate to be "even higher" three weeks after the second dose.

"We plan to conduct the third interim data analysis after 78 confirmed coronavirus cases among volunteers and we have every reason to believe that the results will exceed our initial expectations. The drug's final efficacy assessment will be made available after Phase III clinical trials are concluded", Gintsburg added.

The vaccine candidate is also being tested on human volunteers in India and will cost "less than $10 [₹700] for worldwide markets", the RDIF said in a statement.

In India, RDIF has partnered with Dr Reddy's Laboratories for clinical development and sale of the vaccine.