Results of an interim analysis of phase-3 trial of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine show the vaccine is safe and has 91.6% efficacy. The efficacy against severe disease increased to 100% after 21 days. Although the study was not designed to assess the efficacy of a single dose regimen, the researchers were able to observe a … Continue reading Interim phase-3 trial results show Sputnik V vaccine has 91.6% efficacy
Russia
With hasty approval, India squanders an opportunity to build trust in COVID-19 vaccine
With the approval to Covaxin even in the absence of efficacy data, the Indian regulator has joined the ranks of China and Russia. What good is a vaccine that is safe but the efficacy is unknown. Transparency in the approval process is vital for gaining the trust of people to avoid vaccine hesitancy and increase … Continue reading With hasty approval, India squanders an opportunity to build trust in COVID-19 vaccine
Scientists alert Lancet to ‘data inconsistencies’ in the Russian vaccine trial paper
A group of 16 scientists has written an open letter to Dr Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet and authors of the Russia's Sputnik V novel coronavirus vaccine trial paper, raising questions about the integrity of the data published in The Lancet on September 4. Just four days after the results of the Phase-1/2 trials … Continue reading Scientists alert Lancet to ‘data inconsistencies’ in the Russian vaccine trial paper
Russia’s coronavirus vaccine is safe, elicits immune responses in Phase-1/2 trials
Russia’s Sputnik V vaccines for novel coronavirus have been found to be safe for a period of 42 days and capable of inducing antibody responses in all the 42 participants within 21 days. But the Phase-1/2 trials were open, not randomised, did not have a control group, and included totally 76 participants. Russia’s Sputnik V … Continue reading Russia’s coronavirus vaccine is safe, elicits immune responses in Phase-1/2 trials
Why Russia’s rushed-up coronavirus vaccine is mired in ethical, safety landmine
Russia registering a vaccine for novel coronavirus even before beginning a Phase-3 trial and promising to begin full-scale production of the vaccine in September to make it available by November is riddled with safety and ethical issues. But virologist Dr Jacob John feels a vaccine using a recombinant adenovirus construct to ferry the synthetic genetic … Continue reading Why Russia’s rushed-up coronavirus vaccine is mired in ethical, safety landmine
Editorial: Celestial fireball
Published in The Hindu on March 2, 2013 The 2012 DA14 asteroid tracked in advance did not harm us; it skimmed past nearly 27,600 km from the Earth on February 15. But the same day, a meteor, unconnected with 2012 DA14, came out of the blue and exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia at 9.25 am local … Continue reading Editorial: Celestial fireball
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