The Russian Ministry of Health has granted the Gamaleya Research Institute permission to conduct the third phase of clinical trials for its new COVID-19 vaccine, “Gam-VLP-Multivac.” The trials are expected to conclude by the end of 2025, according to Tatyana Grebennikova, head of the institute’s molecular vaccinology and immunodiagnostics department.
The vaccine will be tested in two forms: injectable and nasal, with each being evaluated on 3,000 volunteers. “The vaccine demonstrated a good safety profile and immunogenicity during the first and second phases of clinical trials. Now, we are moving forward with more extensive testing,” Grebennikova explained.
“Gam-VLP-Multivac” differs from other COVID-19 vaccines developed by the Gamaleya Center, such as “Sputnik V” and “Sputnik Light,” by incorporating multiple antigens. This design aims to generate a broad spectrum of antibodies after immunization, offering protection against multiple clades of the coronavirus, including Omicron.
Unlike previous vaccines, which contained a single protein, this vaccine features four proteins. “We assemble particles from four coronavirus proteins that mimic the virion—essentially forming a coronavirus virion without the nucleic acid inside. When this virus-like particle enters the body, the immune system perceives it as the coronavirus and begins producing antibodies,” Grebennikova added.