UPDATE: RDIF agrees with Stelis Biopharma to make 200 mln Sputnik V in India

(Adds details in last paragraph)

MOSCOW, Mar 19 (PRIME) -- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has signed an agreement with Stelis Biopharma, affiliate of pharmaceutical group Strides, to produce 200 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine in India, the fund said in a statement on Friday.

"The RDIF… and Stelis Biopharma Pvt. Ltd… announce partnership to produce and supply at least 200 million doses of the Russian vaccine against the coronavirus Sputnik V, which will allow to vaccinate 100 million people," the statement read.

The agreement was signed with support from Enso Healthcare LLP.

The companies plan to start sales in July–September 2021. Stelis will continue works to produce additional vaccine.

CEO of the RDIF Kirill Dmitriev said that the fund is in talks with the Philippines in order to start producing Sputnik V there, and that the manufacturing can start in four to five months. "We think that we can start the production in four to five months if we agree with the partners in the Philippines," Dmitriev said.

End