Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute of Infectious Diseases named in Rome signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Gamalei National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, TASS reports. According to Professor Francesco Vaya, CEO of the Roman Institute, the agency will conduct research of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.
Scientific research of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, in combination with other coronavirus vaccines, will start after the approval of the protocol of studies by the Italian Medicines Agency (Aifa), Vaya said.
“Today we signed the most important memorandum of scientific cooperation with the Gamalei National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology. Russian colleagues will arrive after all bureaucratic procedures. We will submit a scientific research protocol to Aifa for approval soon,” Vaya said.
He added that he had received assurances from Aifa of interest in supporting the study.
“We have a double target. The exchange of biological materials to identify the effectiveness of Sputnik against different strains – the South African, British and Brazilian. The second goal is to study whether due to the second dose of another vaccine it will be possible to increase the effectiveness. Even if we can confidently say that all vaccines are safe, it is our duty to give a scientific answer, “Vaya said.
He noted that the scientific world should “overcome the logic of patents and geopolitics” and provide an opportunity to vaccinate the entire population.
