What is Sputnik V worth, and will it soon arrive in Europe?

While a study published by The Lancet announces an effectiveness of 91%, and that Europe lacks doses of other vaccines already approved, Europe 1 asked the European Medicines Agency and immunologist Brigitte Autran to find out what 'it is.

DECRYPTION

The Russian vaccine Sputnik V was "dubbed" by

The Lancet on

Tuesday: the prestigious medical journal published a study which estimates the Russian vaccine effective at more than 91%, a figure almost identical to the effectiveness of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines distributed in the European Union.

So faced with the supply problem, voices are rising in Europe to vaccinate with Sputnik.

President Macron even announced that he had sent a scientific mission to Russia to discuss with the teams there.

But what is this vaccine really worth, and will it be used in Europe?

Europe 1 asked the European Medicines Agency and Brigitte Autran, immunologist, member of the scientific committee on Covid-19 vaccines.

"Comparable results"

 "This is a result which is quite interesting and quite comparable to what is observed with the messenger RNA vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, and with an efficacy rate which is higher than what has been reported for the vaccine. at AstraZeneca ", begins Brigitte Autran.

However, the immunologist points to "some small differences in these Russian vaccine trials" compared to those already approved.

"In particular, all volunteers who had an infection with HIV or the hepatitis B or C virus were excluded, when these patients were not excluded from the Pfizer trials. But basically, these are results which are comparable. And the subtlety of the Russian vaccine is that it uses two different vectors. This could possibly explain, it remains to be demonstrated, but it may explain some of these very good results ".

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No homologation request filed yet

With this observation, is Europe going to buy it?

For this, it would first be necessary for the European Medicines Agency to authorize it.

However, the Russians did not file a case, contrary to what Moscow claims.

The agency explains in an email sent to the correspondent of Europe 1 in Brussels that it was just asked for scientific advice, that is to say to explain what to do to submit a case.

A meeting was held two weeks ago, but European experts have not received any data to review.

So if there is a green light one day, it is not for now!

The European Commission has no contact with the Russians, no European contract in the pipeline.

We would have to produce in Europe and it's actually a bit late in the process.

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Buy vaccines directly

Should Europeans have taken an interest in this vaccine earlier?

Brussels defends itself by pointing out the lack of transparency of the manufacturer.

Besides, we must not forget, the poisoning and then the arrest of the opponent Alexei Navalny have created strong tensions with Moscow since last August.

The fact remains that today, nothing prevents a European country, if it wishes, to buy Russian vaccines directly, which Hungary did for example, and a door that Germany leaves open.