In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V), developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, has demonstrated to be highly effective in preventing contagion, according to new clinical data.
As published in the peer-reviewed journal the Lancet, Phase III trial data involving nearly 20,000 participants yielded an overall efficacy rate above 91 percent. Clinicians claim the vaccine could be up to 100 percent effective at preventing infection.
Among the elderly, the efficacy rate is also above 91 percent, a much higher rate in comparison to nearly all other competing Western-made vaccines for this age group.
“A heterologous recombinant adenovirus (rAd)-based vaccine, Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V), showed a good safety profile and induced strong humoral and cellular immune responses in participants in phase 1/2 clinical trials,” the Lancet findings state.
“Here, we report preliminary results on the efficacy and safety of Gam-COVID-Vac from the interim analysis of this phase 3 trial.”
Sputnik V was touted as such a success that other pharmaceutical giants working on their own vaccine, including one led by Oxford University, had experimented on combining with Russia’s creation to boost efficacy.
As of Q1 2021, Western vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Lilly, have been the only efficacious ones approved to take on the COVID-19 pandemic. Indian and Chinese vaccinations have also been approved to combat the virus for their populants, however, its clinical trial data remains scarce.
In January 2021, Merck discontinued the development of its vaccine. Oxford’s creation, also developed by AstraZeneca, has shown to be ineffective for many adults, particularly the elderly, and possibly for those of younger age. Researchers at Oxford have reportedly engaged in medical misinformation during the height of the pandemic, as clinical data estimates about 60 percent efficacy rate after two doses of their anti-viral vaccine.
With Sputnik V having been distributed throughout the Russian Federation, other nations in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe have already received Russia’s breakthrough vaccine.
Sputnik V, though, has yet to be approved in North America.
