Huons Global Begins Pilot Production of Russian 'Sputnik V' Vaccine

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Huons Global (CEO Yoon Sung-tae) announced on the 17th that Prestige BioPharma, the manufacturer of the raw material for the Russian COVID-19 vaccine 'Sputnik V,' has started the validation process this week.

The Huons Global consortium, at the request of the Russian sovereign wealth fund (RDIF), includes Prestige BioPharma, Humedix, and Boran Pharma to produce Sputnik V.

Sputnik V is a COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology under the Russian Ministry of Health. It gained attention after results published in the international medical journal The Lancet showed a prevention efficacy of 91.6% against COVID-19.

Sputnik V is currently undergoing pilot and full-scale production at 24 manufacturing facilities across 18 countries. The vaccine has been approved in 71 countries worldwide, ranking third in the number of approvals after AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines.

A Huons Global official stated, "Regardless of World Health Organization (WHO) approval, we are conducting contract manufacturing (CMO) business under the condition of supplying to over 70 countries where prior approval has been obtained."