Russia considers Saudi Arabia as trial site for COVID-19 vaccine

Al-Monitor Staff

Employees wearing protective equipment work at the production line of Russia's biotech company BIOCAD, which is developing its own vaccine against the new coronavirus and working on another one in cooperation with the country's virus research centre in Siberia, Vektor, in Strelna on May 20, 2020. (Photo by OLGA MALTSEVA / AFP) (Photo by OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images) — Employees wearing protective equipment work at the production line of Russia's biotech company BIOCAD, which is developing its own vaccine against the new coronavirus and working on another one in cooperation with the country's virus research center in Siberia, Vektor, in Strelna on May 20, 2020. — OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images

Russia may use Saudi Arabia as a trial site for its experimental coronavirus vaccine, the head of Moscow’s sovereign wealth fund said this week.

A 100-person trial of a Russian-manufactured vaccine is currently underway in Russia, with a previous month-long trial involving 38 people having wrapped up this week. CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev said Saudi Arabia could be part of the next phase of testing in August, reports Arab News.

In addition to the trial, Dmitriev said the two countries are also discussing having Saudi Arabia manufacture the drug.

“We consider that we have very good cooperation regarding the vaccine, and these clinical trials and drugs can be made in Saudi Arabia,” Dmitriev told the outlet.

Russia considers Saudi Arabia as trial site for COVID-19 vaccine

The two countries are also discussing having Saudi Arabia manufacture the drug.

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