UAE to host trials of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine

Phase III clinical trials of a Russian COVID-19 vaccine will be held in the UAE.

The trials will be conducted by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, under the supervision of the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, with medical protocols handled by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, SEHA.

The vaccine, called Sputnik V has been developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Aurugulf Health Investment are partnering on these clinical trials, which are part of those taking place with volunteers in Russia and elsewhere globally.

Conducted in line with the highest international standards, volunteers for the UAE trial will be medically supervised for 90 days after taking the vaccine.

The interim results are expected to be released before the end of November.

Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, UAE Minister of Health and Prevention said: "The UAE is committed to the global fight against COVID-19. We are pleased to support this process and welcome partnerships between UAE organisations and international players to enable promising solutions and progress."

Results from the first two stages of the trial were published in the leading medical journal The Lancet and showed a stable humoral and cellular immune response had been achieved in 100 per cent of volunteers, with no serious adverse events recorded.

"The UAE has demonstrated one of the most advanced approaches in the world to combat the coronavirus pandemic," said Russian Direct Investment Fund's CEO Kirill Dmitriev.

"We are pleased to commence the trials and we look forward to announcing in due course the registration process for volunteers," he added.

Phase III trials for the #Russian adenovirus-based vaccine are to commence in #UAE. The UAE clinical trials will be conducted by @DoHSocial, supervised by @mohapuae
, with medical protocols handled by @SEHAHealth.#WamNews pic.twitter.com/3jTuo5mep8

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) October 12, 2020