Russia: Coronavirus vaccine is 92% effective on early data

MOSCOW — Developers of Sputnik V, Russia’s experimental COVID19 vaccine, announced Wednesday that early, interim data from a large trial suggests the shot appears to be 92% effective.

The statement, which did not include detailed information about the trial, comes just two days after a similar one from Pfizer Inc., but is based on far fewer virus cases. Some experts suggest the data may have been rushed out in an effort to keep up with the worldwide race for a successful coronavirus vaccine.

Russia touted Sputnik V, a two- shot vaccine, as the world’s first to receive a government go- ahead after it was approved in early August without completing advanced testing. The move drew considerable criticism from experts who said data from tens of thousands of people were needed to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine before it is given widely.

Russian officials announced advanced studies among 40,000 volunteers two weeks after it received government approval. On Wednesday, Russia’s Direct Investment Fund that bankrolled the effort announced that an analysis of the early data of the study showed that the vaccine “had an efficacy rate of 92%.”

The interim analysis looked at 20 confirmed coronavirus infections registered so far among over 16,000 volunteers who received both of the two shots of either the vaccine or the placebo, the Fund’s statement said. More than 20,000 trial participants have so far received just one shot.

Some outside experts deemed the results of the interim analysis promising and consistent with what the studies of the Pfizer vaccine showed, but questioned the timing of its release.

“Whilst encouraging, I worry that these data have been rushed out on the back of the Pfizer/ BioNtech announcement earlier in the week. The Sputnik data are based on only 20 cases of COVID19 in the trial participants, compared to more than 90 cases in the earlier trial,” Eleanor Riley, professor of immunology and infectious disease at the University of Edinburgh, said in a statement.