Russia has already administered an experimental coronavirus vaccine to executives, billionaires and military personnel

Internal sources reported by Bloomberg report that the clinical trial of the Russian vaccine is at an advanced stage and that phase 3 could begin in August, although no results have been published so far

(image: Getty Images) In Russia The Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology has given billionaires, business leaders, politicians and government officials as well as military personnel an experimental coronavirus vaccine. The clinical trial started as early as April, reports Bloomberg citing anonymous internal sources, is heading towards the conclusion of phase 2, although no results have yet been disclosed. There is not much public information, but the news has been confirmed by Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Fund of Direct Investments which finances the project.

Little has been said about it (perhaps because little is known) about the projects from other countries such as China and the United States, but Russia's potential Sars-Cov-2 vaccines are also running fast. In particular, according to internal sources interviewed by Bloomberg, who preferred to remain anonymous, the vaccine based on a viral vector (an adenovirus) modified to express the spike protein of the new coronavirus would be the one on which the main efforts are focusing.

This device would resemble that tested by the Chinese CanSino and which should also be tested in Canada - which among other things a few days ago accused (together with the United Kingdom and the US) Russian hackers of having attempted to steal confidential information right on the vaccine project.

The trial of the Russian commenced in April with 40 volunteers for phase 1, then continue with step 2 and post results. However, we can assume they have been positive, since it seems that in addition to the volunteers of the trial official the vaccine has been offered to hundreds of members of the political elite and the business of the Country. These people would not fall in the studio official, of course, but would still be monitored and would be kept of the records of any side effects .

According to the institute Gamaleya, you need 2 injections of vaccine to produce an adequate immune response, which may last for a couple of years . Last week Kirill Dmitriev , head of the Russian Fund of Direct Investments, which finances the project, which has also claimed to have been vaccinated along with his family – has reported that the phase 2 trial will end on August 3 and will start directly from phase 3 , including thousands of people in Russia , Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates . If all goes as it should the national distribution will begin in September , with the production of 200 million doses by the end of 2020 .