The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted permission to Dr Reddy’s Laboratories to conduct the Phase III bridging trials of Sputnik Light on the Indian population. Sputnik Light is a single-dose version of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.

The nod comes after a recent study published in the medical journal The Lancet said that Sputnik Light showed 78.6 per cent to 83.7 per cent efficacy against COVID-19, significantly higher than most two-shot vaccines. A Subject Expert Committee (SEC) meeting held on August 5 recommended the trial condition based on the efficacy of the vaccine also to be evaluated on the 42nd, 90th, and 180th day following the second dose.