In August 2020, Russia approved its homegrown coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, months ahead of rival programs in the west.
But despite the bleak pandemic outlook, there was no clamour in Europe or the USA to place orders, as scientists criticized a lack of transparency over the development process and the available clinical data.
Many seemed to regard the seemingly premature approval as an attempt to bolster national prestige, an impression confirmed by the release of a slickly-designed promotional website.
The political context of the program is echoed by the involvement of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, or RDIF, the country’s sovereign wealth fund.
RDIF is currently under US sanctions as part of an Obama-era executive order punishing Russia for its activities in Ukraine.
While the group has dismissed the idea of so-called vaccine diplomacy, RDIF has engaged global PR agencies to enthusiastically chart the product’s successes.
And success there has been, with subsequent large-scale trials demonstrating a high level of safety and efficacy, underscoring the scientific bona fides of researchers at Moscow’s Gamaleya institute.
Many smaller countries around the world have since placed orders.
Despite this, and despite supply issues in Europe and elsewhere, no country in the west has shown an interest, again underscoring the political aspect of coronavirus vaccine development.
Discussing these issues in Episode 8 of The Pharma Letter Podcast is the chief executive of RDIF, Kirill Dmitriev.