The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) announces that the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan has issued a permit on February 8 to conduct clinical trials in the country of a combined use of Sputnik V and the vaccine developed jointly by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. Clinical trials will begin till the end of February. 

The world’s first combined vaccine use will be conducted in line with clinical trials protocol registered on December 24, 2020.

The study will allow evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of the combined use of Sputnik V and the vaccine jointly developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. 

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO, Russian Direct Investment Fund, said, “The partnership for the clinical study of the combination of the AZD1222 vaccine with the adenoviral vector Ad26 of the Sputnik V vaccine has become the first and very important example of such cooperation in the world.”

Alexey Repik, Chairman of the Board of Directors, R-Pharm, said, “This pilot study is vital for developing of a new approach to the prevention of COVID-19, moreover the leading scientific and clinical centres of Azerbaijan will be able to make their own important contribution in this direction.”