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Russia seeks to make Sputnik V in Italy as overseas demand surges

Moscow sets up manufacturing deals abroad while domestic appeal of its Covid vaccine remains muted

Russia’s move to produce its Sputnik V vaccine in Italy has underlined Moscow’s efforts to meet a surge in overseas contracts for the jab while many Russians snub it at home.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund, which oversees the Covid-19 vaccine’s distribution, on Tuesday said it had signed an agreement with Swiss-based pharmaceutical company Adienne for its Italy-based unit to produce the two-injection jab, the Italian-Russian Chamber of Commerce said in a statement.

Production first requires approval from local regulators, according to Italian officials, and the region of Lombardy, where the factory is based, said it was not involved in an “exclusively private-law agreement”. Adienne did not return calls for comments. But if it comes to fruition, the Italy manufacturing plan would be the first such partnership inside the EU, where the bloc’s medical agency is reviewing the Russian vaccine for authorisation. RDIF head Kirill Dmitriev told Russian state television that the state investment fund had also signed deals with producers in Germany, Spain and France.

https://www.ft.com/content/905ee381-...8-a8b2bb2df16f