The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), The Gamaleya National Center, AstraZeneca and R-Pharm have signed an agreement aimed at the development and implementation of a clinical research programme to assess the immunogenicity and safety of the combined use of one of the components of the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Center, and one of the components of the AZD1222 vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford.

The agreement was announced on a video-conference with Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia.

The parties have also agreed to develop scientific and business relations and explore the possibilities for joint use of the Sputnik V vaccine and the AZD1222 vaccine in order to create more effective and long-term immunisation against potential new coronavirus infections.

Clinical trials of the combination of AZD1222 vaccine with Sputnik V's human adenoviral vector type Ad26 will begin soon. R-Pharm will be among the organisations funding the trial.