Turkey to produce Russian virus vaccine Sputnik V

Turkish pharmaceuticals company Viscoran İlaç and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) have agreed to cooperate on the production of the coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V in Turkey.

Viscoran has carried out necessary studies for localization of the product to date and aims to launch the product in the country in the upcoming months at several facilities, the RDIF said in a statement on April 26.

As part of the agreement with RDIF, Viscoran İlaç provides assistance in establishing partnerships with other leading local pharmaceutical producers.

Technology transfer is currently being finalized with Turkish company CinnaGen İlaç, while negotiations with two other production facilities are in process in order to increase the overall capacity, the statement added.

Sputnik V, which demonstrated efficacy of 97.6 percent, has been registered in 61 countries globally, covering a total population of over 3 billion people, according to the RDIF.

Last week, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said Turkey would soon begin administering the Russian vaccine.

Turkey is also carrying out studies on several vaccines against COVID-19, including one in the form of nasal spray.