MOSCOW - A top Russian official said his country could roll out a vaccine against Covid-19 as soon as September, while denying accusations that hackers working for the country's intelligence agency tried to steal sensitive data from rival researchers in Britain, the US and Canada.
If Russia proclaims success in the hunt for a vaccine before other candidates, it could create a world of duelling vaccines and geopolitical battles over who gets supplies. "Everything that is needed to produce the British vaccine has already been transferred to R-Pharm," he said."AstraZeneca has already signed commitments to transfer all production of the British vaccine to R-Pharm."It is not clear whether AstraZeneca would transfer all the technology needed for Russia to produce the vaccine or if the agreement involves the British pharma giant sending the vaccine seed stock to manufacturers needed to begin production.
While the negotiations with AstraZeneca offer Russia the chance for doses of the Oxford vaccine if it proves successful, the global battle to secure supplies could leave Russia struggling to access other potentially successful vaccines, increasing pressure to advance its own programme. It is similar to a vaccine China's CanSino Biologics intends to move into trials in Canada, one of the countries targeted by Russian hackers.
Russia could make 30 million doses domestically in 2020, and 170 million abroad, with five countries expressing interest in producing the vaccine and others willing to produce it, he said.
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