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<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://pictures.reuters.com/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&amp;VBID=2C0BXZ0709S1F&amp;SMLS=1&amp;RW=1492&amp;RH=855#/SearchResult&amp;VBID=2C0BXZ0709S1F&amp;SMLS=1&amp;RW=1492&amp;RH=855&amp;POPUPPN=13&amp;POPUPIID=2C04080MT8QG0">REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin</a>Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during the X International Investment Forum Sochi-2011 in Sochi September 16, 2011. Heads of leading sovereign wealth and private equity funds will advise a $10 billion state fund set up to attract foreign investment into Russia, Putin said on Friday.</div></div></div>The U.S. Treasury has <a href="http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20150730.aspx">added a bunch of entities to its Russia sanctions list</a>, including a sovereign wealth fund that used to be connected to some pretty high-profile U.S. billionaires.The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assistance Control on Thursday added The Russian Direct Investment Fund to the list, along with a number of entities linked to energy giant Rosneft and bank Vnesheconombank.Private equity moguls Steve Schwarzman of Blackstone, David Bonderman of TPG, and Leon Black of Apollo Global Management all served as board members for RDIF when it was established in 2011, <a href="http://www.rdif.ru/Eng_fullNews/53/">according to a press release</a> at the time.At some point, those names were removed from the RDIF website.<a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/names-of-u-s-billionaires-vanish-from-russian-funds-website-1409747234">The Wall Street Journal</a> first reported that the investors' names had disappeared from the site in September 2014, but said that they still served on the board at that time. There are currently no names listed on <a href="http://www.rdif.ru/Eng_Exp-Sovet/">the international advisory board on RDIF's website</a>.Back in 2011, each board member issued statements about joining the board. Here are some highlights:"We believe there are many attractive investment opportunities in Russia - the RDIF will provide the strong and experienced local partnership needed for investors to realize those opportunities." - David Bonderman"Russia has strong fundamentals that will continue to fuel its growth trajectory and offer attractive investment opportunities. We believe the Russia Direct Investment Fund will help further align U.S. and Russian objectives in terms of identifying paths toward partnership in the private sector." - Leon Black"It's always good to have friends when you are going to a place that you are not as familiar with." - Stephen SchwarzmanBonderman has spoken publicly about investing in the country in recent months, telling an audience at the Milken Global Conference this year that the <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2015/05/01/investing/investing-in-russia-bonderman/">Russian market remains attractive</a>, according to a report by CNN Money. He is quoted as saying: "Sanctions are perfectly set up not to work at all but to make a political statement."Spokespeople for Blackstone and TPG declined to comment. We have reached out to Apollo and the RDIF for comment and will update if we hear back. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/facts-about-russia-compared-other-countries-putin-2015-7">11 facts that show how different Russia is from the rest of the world</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="RtbDU1bDra7DfSubgs0WuD4Pg0DTxjxx" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

The US just sanctioned a fund that was connected to some of the biggest names in finance

<ul><li>India may receive the first batch of Russia’s <keyword id="9739267" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sputnik-V">Sputnik V</keyword> COVID-19 vaccine is time for it to open up vaccinations for everyone above the age of 18 years.</li><li>The head of the <keyword id="1397612" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Russian-Direct-Investment-Fund">Russian Direct Investment Fund</keyword> (RDIF) told Reuters that the vaccine will reach India by May 1.</li><li>The company plans to manufacture 850 million doses of Sputnik V annually in India, but a lot of that will depend on the momentum of technology transfer.</li></ul>India will receive the first batch of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine by May 1. This is just in time for the country to open up vaccinations for everyone above the age of 18 years. “The first doses will be delivered on May 1,” the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Kirill Dmitriev, told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/india-receive-first-batch-russias-covid-19-vaccine-may-1-interfax-2021-04-26/">Reuters</a>. However, he did not disclose the number of doses that will be a part of the first batch or where they will be manufactured. Sputnik V, developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, is the third vaccine after the Serum Institute of India’s (SII) Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin to get approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). <div type="ExtQuote" text="“Following approval in India, it [Sputnik V] will be approved for use in 60 countries with a total population of over 3 billion people.”" auname="Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) told reporters on April 14 after Sputnik V got the Drug Controller General of India’s (DCGI) approval"></div> RDIF is in charge of marketing the Sputnik V vaccine globally and has already signed agreements with six leading Indian manufacturers — Hetero Biopharma, Gland Pharma, Stelis Biopharma, Panacea Biotech, Virchow Biotech, and Shilpa Medicare. In this collaboration, RDIF hopes to manufacture over 850 million doses of the vaccine annually. By summer, it plans to hit 50 million doses a month and continue increasing output from there. A lot of this will depend on the momentum of technology transfer to allow Indian manufacturers to produce the vaccine. Virchow Biotech, for instance, is expected to complete its technology transfer between April to June, according to RDIF. Only then will it be able to commence full-scale commercial production of Sputnik V. The vaccine has also been approved by many of India’s neighbours including Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Pakistan. Russia is also lending a helping hand when it comes to Remdesivir. Pharmasyntez, a Russian company, announced that it is ready to ship up to 1 million packs of Remdesivir by the end of May, once it receives the prerequisite approval from the Russian government. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="82210121" title="Inside the treacherous black market for Remdesivir in India— from private hospitals to distributors" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> In India, the stocks of Remdesivir have been in short supply as demand for the anti-viral drug increased alongside the surge in cases. This is despite the fact that the <keyword id="6356311" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Health-Organisation">World Health Organisation</keyword> (WHO) has reiterated that there is no conclusive evidence to support the fact that Remdesivir is effective in the treatment of COVID-19. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/the-pace-of-infections-and-test-positivity-in-maharashtra-is-slowing-down-but-it-is-too-soon-to-celebrate/articleshow/82256149.cms">The pace of infections and test positivity in Maharashtra is slowing down — but it is too soon to celebrate</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-covid-19-first-wave-versus-second-wave/articleshow/82216963.cms">'We're in a much better situation' claims India's Principal Scientific Advisor as COVID-19 claims more lives than ever before</a>

India will receive the first batch of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine by May 1 — in time for the third phase of its vaccination drive

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6358826" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Russia">Russia</keyword> has demanded <keyword id="72851" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Slovakia">Slovakia</keyword> hand back 200,000 doses of the <keyword id="9739267" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sputnik-V">Sputnik V</keyword> COVID-19 <keyword id="24209" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="vaccine">vaccine</keyword>.</li><li>It followed Slovakia questioning the quality of the shots and saying they were not the same as those tested in trials.</li><li>The Russia Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) accused Slovakia of an "act of sabotage."</li></ul>Russia and Slovakia are arguing over the quality of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-4-covid-vaccines-not-available-in-us-stack-up-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Sputnik V vaccine.</a>Russia on Thursday demanded Slovakia give back 200,000 doses of its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine so they could be "used in other countries," citing a breach of contractual obligations, after the Slovak drug agency raised concerns about the shot.Slovakia's State Institute for Drug Control said earlier Thursday that about 80% of the data required to evaluate Sputnik V's safety and effectiveness was missing, despite multiple requests. It was worried about the quality of 200,000 doses that the country had received, it said. The agency said that Slovakia's Sputnik V doses were not the same as those tested in clinical trials published in the<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-coronavirus-vaccine-phase-3-interim-results-lancet-2021-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Lancet medical journal in February</a>, which showed the vaccine was 91.6% effective at preventing COVID-19.Zuzana Batova, head of Slovakia's Institute for Drug control (SUKL), told <a href="https://www.tasr.sk/tasr-clanok/TASR:20210409TBB00055" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Slovak news agency TASR</a> that the Sputnik vaccine doses imported to Slovakia could not be compared with those used abroad. "They are connected only by name," she said. The Russia Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which has funded the shot, denied the agency's claims, calling it a "disinformation campaign against Sputnik V" and an "act of sabotage" <a href="https://twitter.com/sputnikvaccine/status/1380158704704761861" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on Twitter.</a>"All Sputnik V batches are of the same quality and undergo rigorous quality controls," it said, adding that the RDIF requested on Tuesday that the Slovak government returned the vaccine doses due to "multiple contract violations so that it can be used in other countries." SUKL denied any contract breaches.Igor Matovic, Slovakia's finance minister, flew to Moskow Thursday to meet with Kirill Dmitriev, head of RDIF, to sort out "technical matters related to supplying Slovakia with the vaccine," per <a href="https://www.tasr.sk/tasr-clanok/TASR:20210409TBB00055" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TASR</a>. Matovic said that he'll present more details Friday,<a href="https://www.tasr.sk/tasr-clanok/TASR:20210409TBB00055" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> TASR reported.</a> Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker-top-covid-shots-to-watch-in-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker: AstraZeneca's shot proves safe and effective, and is headed to the FDA</a>Roughly 14% of Slovakia's 5 million population have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Oxford University's Our World in Data.</a> By comparison, at least 46% of Brits and 33% of Americans have had a single dose.Sputnik V is under review for use in <keyword id="28249" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="europe">Europe</keyword> by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), but hasn't yet been approved. Individual countries in the EU can make their own decisions regarding which vaccines to roll out.Sputnik V is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-sputnik-vaccine-40-countries-west-hoards-shots-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved for use</a> in 59 countries globally, <a href="https://rdif.ru/Eng_fullNews/6685/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to RDIF</a>. Slovakia is on the list, but nobody in Slovakia has been given a Sputnik V vaccine yet because SUKL is still looking at its data. Slovakia was the second European country, after Hungary, to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eu-vaccine-rollout-failing-russia-and-china-are-stepping-in-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">look to Russia to </a>speed up <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-europe-failed-covid-vaccine-rollout-lockdown-france-germany-eu-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">its slow vaccine rollout.</a>Igor Matovic, who was prime minister at the time, secured a secret deal for 2 million vaccines in early March, a divisive decision that cast doubt on allegiances to the West. Matovic and Marek Krajci, former <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> minister, stepped down from their positions in March.

Russia demanded 200,000 Sputnik V vaccines back after officials in Europe questioned the quality of the shot

<ul><li>Russia is likely to sell 100 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine — Sputnik-V — to Indian pharmaceutical Dr Reddy’s Laboratories</li><li>According to the Russian Direct Investment Fund, the deliveries can begin in the late 2020.</li><li>Sputnik V is under Phase III trials in Russia. Gamaleya Research Institute — a part of Russia’s Health Ministry — is testing the vaccine on over 40,000 people.</li></ul>Russia is likely to sell 100 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine — Sputnik-V — to Indian pharmaceutical Dr Reddy’s Laboratories as soon as it receives regulatory approval in India,<a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-russia-reddys/russia-to-sell-covid-19-vaccine-to-indias-dr-reddys-laboratories-idINKBN2671DY?il=0"> reported Reuters. </a> "On regulatory approval in India, RDIF (Russian Direct Investment Fund) shall supply to Dr Reddy's 100 million doses of the vaccine. The Sputnik V vaccine, which is based on well-studied human adenoviral vector platform with proven safety, is undergoing clinical trials for the coronavirus pandemic," said a statement from the fund. The development comes after the Russian government sought India’s help, earlier this month, in manufacturing the Sputnik V vaccine and also to conduct Phase III trials in India. According to the Russian Direct Investment Fund, the deliveries can begin in the late 2020. "The agreement between RDIF and Dr Reddy's reflects the growing awareness of countries and organisations to have a diversified anti-COVID vaccine portfolio to protect their populations," RDIF added. Sputnik V is under Phase III trials in Russia. Gamaleya Research Institute — a part of Russia’s Health Ministry — is testing the vaccine on over 40,000 people. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/brinton-pharma-which-recently-got-dcgi-approval-to-launch-covid-19-drug-favipiravir-in-india-gets-10-crore-in-debt-funding/articleshow/78145260.cms">Brinton Pharma, which recently got DCGI approval to launch COVID-19 drug Favipiravir in India, gets ₹10 crore in debt funding</a>

India’s Dr Reddy’s Lab to get 100 million doses of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine after regulatory approval

Thomson ReutersScaramucci attends the WEF annual meeting in DavosTwo Democratic senators asked the Treasury Department earlier this year to investigate whether <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sean-spicer-resigns-press-secretary-scaramucci-2017-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the White House's new communications director, Anthony Scaramucci</a>, attempted to violate US sanctions on Russia.Scaramucci is a cofounder of SkyBridge Capital, an investment firm that manages some $12 billion. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-17/in-davos-trump-aide-talks-deals-with-sanctioned-kremlin-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bloomberg </a>reported in January that Scaramucci met with Kirill Dmitriev to discuss possible joint investments between SkyBridge and Dmitriev's firm, the Russian Direct Investment Fund - a $10 billion state-run investment company."The idea was, many months ago, to have more outreach with Russia," Scaramucci told Bloomberg at the time.Scaramucci said in January that he <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ron-transatlantic-hna-group-buying-skybridge-2017-1">would sell the firm</a> in preparation for his role as White House director of engagement and intergovernmental affairs. That job ultimately fell through, though Scaramucci sold the hedge fund business.Scaramucci was at the center of another recent firestorm <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cnn-russia-retraction-staffers-resign-anthony-scaramucci-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">involving a retracted CNN story</a>, which falsely said that the Senate Intelligence Committee was scrutinizing him over the meeting. CNN apologized to Scaramucci.Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/senators-seek-investigation-of-scaramucci-russia-meeting-2017-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">first raised the issue</a> of Scaramucci's business dealings with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin during his confirmation hearing in January. Cardin asked about Scaramucci after Mnuchin said he was "100%" committed to upholding the sanctions against Russia. In a letter to Mnuchin <a href="https://www.warren.senate.gov/files/documents/2017-01-19Letter_to_Mnuchin.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">dated January 19,</a> Cardin and fellow Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren asked him to investigate whether Scaramucci violated current US sanctions law in his contact with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), "and whether he may have facilitated, or otherwise promoted, prohibited transactions between the RDIF, or any other sanctioned entity." They also asked Mnuchin to examine whether Scaramucci or any other member of the Trump administration "has any financial interest in the RDIF," and if Trump or anyone on the transition team was "aware of, directed, or approved Mr. Scaramucci's contact with the RDIF."Mnuchin replied on January 30 that if confirmed he would "continue the Treasury Department's history of taking reported sanctions violations seriously" and "assess whether further investigation of this matter is warranted."Warren <a href="https://www.warren.senate.gov/files/documents/20170222_Warren_Letter_To_Mnuchin.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">requested an update</a> on February 22, after Mnuchin was confirmed, asking him to follow through on his "commitment" to investigate Scaramucci. Mnuchin does not yet appear to have issued a publicly available response. The Treasury Department didn't respond to a request for comment. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/divided-family-donald-trump-election-undividing-america-2017-7">A mother and daughter stopped speaking after Trump was elected - here's their emotional first conversation 6 months later</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

The White House's new communications director has been in senators' crosshairs

<ul><li>Russia has signed up with four large manufacturers in India to produce 300 million doses of the <keyword id="9739267" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sputnik-V">Sputnik V</keyword> vaccine in 2021.</li><li>This triples the amount of the vaccine that Russia has initially contracted to be manufactured in India. </li><li>According to the Russian Embassy, the first samples of the COVID-19 vaccine produced in India are already being tested by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).</li></ul>Russia has signed on four large manufacturers to produce a whopping 300 million doses of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine in India. This is a three-fold increase in the manufacturing of Sputnik V doses from before. "In India, we have agreements with four large manufacturers. ... India will produce about 300 mln doses or more of the vaccine for us next year," said Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) chief <a href="https://tass.com/world/1236777/amp">Kirill Dmitriev</a>. One of the manufacturers is Hetero Biopharma, which <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/hetero-drugs-to-produce-over-100-million-doses-year-of-sputnik-v-vaccine-11606459369285.html">announced</a> its deal with the RDIF to make more than 100 million doses of the vaccine in November, earlier this year. Dmitriev did not disclose who the three new vendors are. It’s possible that Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories may be roped in since it is already conducting the clinical trials of Sputnik V in India and will also distribute doses, once approval comes in from the DCGA. So far, only three COVID-19 vaccines from Oxford-AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech and homegrown pharmaceutical company Bharat Biotech, have sought approval for emergency use in the coming weeks. Sputnik V may not be in the running but according to the <a href="https://twitter.com/RusEmbIndia/status/1339813294647902208">Russian Embassy</a>, testing of the first samples of the vaccine that were produced in India is already underway. In trials done outside the country, the Russian vaccine has been found to be more than 91% effective. Like Oxford-AstraZeneca, Stupink V can survive at refrigerated temperatures of between two to five degrees Celsius, which gives it an edge over its competitors. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/fda-says-it-will-rapidly-work-toward-authorizing-modernas-covid-19-vaccine/articleshow/79789544.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">FDA says it will 'rapidly work toward' authorizing Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/facebook-and-google-have-been-accused-of-striking-a-secret-illegal-advertising-deal/articleshow/79778780.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Facebook and Google have been accused of striking a secret, illegal advertising deal</a>

India will produce 300 million doses of the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine next year

AP Photo/Evan Vucci, FileAnthony Scaramucci.A CNN reporter and two editors have resigned over a story the news network retracted days ago.The article written by Thomas Frank claimed that the Senate Intelligence Committee was looking into Anthony Scaramucci, a former Goldman Sachs executive and key member of President Donald Trump's transition team, over a meeting he had with Kirill Dmitriev, an executive from the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), during the transition.Frank, editor Eric Lichtblau, and the editor-in-chief of "CNN Investigates," Lex Haris, have resigned from CNN.Frank's story, which cited only one source, alleged that RDIF was linked to the Russian state bank, Venesheconombank, an institution that has previously been subject to US sanctions. Several Russia-linked media outlets denied the connection, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2017/06/26/three-cnn-employees-resign-over-retracted-story-on-russia-ties/?utm_term=.1609689028ad">according to The Washington Post</a>.CNN's story also said that the Senate Intelligence Committee's alleged inquiry into Scaramucci's meeting with RDIF was being done in concert with a separate investigation of Jared Kushner's December meeting with Venesheconombank CEO Sergey Gorkov, a matter that has gained increased scrutiny as the Russia investigation focused more closely on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jared-kushner-trump-russia-financial-investigation-2017-6">Kusher's business dealings</a> in recent weeks.<h3>Scaramucci <a href="https://twitter.com/Scaramucci/status/877977151483465728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Ferik-wemple%2Fwp%2F2017%2F06%2F26%2Fthree-cnn-employees-resign-over-retracted-story-on-russia-ties%2F">denied any wrongdoing</a>, and later <a href="https://twitter.com/Scaramucci/status/878568965471186944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Ferik-wemple%2Fwp%2F2017%2F06%2F26%2Fthree-cnn-employees-resign-over-retracted-story-on-russia-ties%2F">applauded CNN</a> for doing "the right thing" by retracting the story:</h3><h3>Here is <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/23/politics/editors-note/index.html">the retraction CNN posted</a> on Friday:</h3> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/listen-leaked-audio-australia-prime-minister-malcolm-turnbull-mocking-trump-2017-6">Listen to the leaked audio of Australia's prime minister mocking Trump</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

3 CNN staffers are out over retracted Russia investigation story

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> has authorized <keyword id="6358826" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Russia">Russia</keyword>'s <keyword id="9739267" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sputnik-V">Sputnik V</keyword> COVID-19 vaccine for use on its population.</li><li>Russia says this means the vaccine has been approved for use in 40% of the world's population.</li><li>India is currently battling record cases of the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword>.</li></ul>India has authorized Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.The news was confirmed by the <a href="https://rdif.ru/Eng_fullNews/6708/">Russian Direct Investment Fund</a> (RDIF), which is responsible for marketing the vaccine abroad, announced that India approved the vaccine for use.The RDIF says this means that Sputnik V is now authorized for use for 3 billion people, or 40% of the world's population. India's population is the second largest in the world, with about 1.4 billion people.India is already using two vaccines: the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and another made by Indian firm Bharat Biotech.Interim <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-coronavirus-vaccine-phase-3-interim-results-lancet-2021-2">analysis</a> of phase-3 data published in The Lancet in February found that Russia's vaccine is 91.6% effective. Russia has been giving it to its population since December.India's coronavirus cases have been reaching record highs - the country has recorded <a href="https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/india/">more than 100,000 daily cases</a> since April 7 - and the country is looking to increase its vaccination rate as it battles the surge.

India has authorized the Sputnik V shot. Russia says this mean its COVID-19 vaccine is now approved for 40% of the world's population.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="8904563" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine</keyword> being developed by <keyword id="6409874" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="astrazeneca">AstraZeneca</keyword> and the University of Oxford will be combined with Russia's <keyword id="9739267" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sputnik-V">Sputnik V</keyword> shot, which the country has already authorized for emergency use.</li><li>In a press release on Friday, AstraZeneca said that it would "soon begin exploring" combining its shot with one made by Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute, which developed Sputnik V. </li><li>It did not specifically say that it was combining its vaccine with the Russian shot — but Russia's sovereign wealth fund, which is financing the country's vaccine development, confirmed the vaccine in question is one of two vectors that make up Sputnik V.</li><li>Trials will start by the end of 2020, the wealth fund said.</li><li>Combining two different vaccines could improve their accessibility as well as providing better protection against <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword>, AstraZeneca said.</li></ul>AstraZeneca, the British drugmaker working with the University of Oxford to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, plans to work with the developers of Russia's Sputnik V to explore a combined shot, it said.AstraZeneca "will soon begin exploring with Gamaleya Research Institute in Russia to understand whether two adenovirus-based vaccines can be successfully combined," the drugmaker said in a statement Friday, naming the developer of the Sputnik V vaccine, but not the specific shot.The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia's sovereign wealth fund, <a href="https://rdif.ru/Eng_fullNews/6151/">confirmed</a> the vaccine in question was one of two vectors that make up Sputnik V.Clinical trials are slated to begin by the end of December, the RDIF, which is financing the development of Sputnik V, added.This is the second time AstraZeneca's vaccine is being used in a "mix and match" trial. On Tuesday, the head of the UK's vaccine taskforce <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pfizer-astrazeneca-oxford-covid-vaccine-combined-trial-covid-19-coronavirus-2020-12">said it would combine the shot with Pfizer's vaccine</a> to see if the two vaccines together produce a stronger immune response.Combining different COVID-19 vaccines "may be helpful to improved protection and/or to improve vaccine accessibility," AstraZeneca said Friday, adding that it "is also likely that combining vaccines may lead to improved immunity over a longer-period of time."The RDIF welcomed the cooperation between vaccine producers, its CEO Kirill Dmitriev said Friday, and said it hoped other vaccine producers will follow the example. The RDIF and the Gamaleya Institute approached AstraZeneca in November to suggest combining vaccines."The decision by AstraZeneca to carry out clinical trials using one of two vectors of Sputnik V in order to increase its own vaccine's efficacy is an important step towards uniting efforts in the fight against the pandemic," Dmitriev added.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-pharmacies-hospitals-could-profit-from-covid-19-vaccine-2020-11?r=gd-sub">Pharmacies, doctor's offices, and hospitals are gearing up to give coronavirus vaccines to millions of Americans. Here's how they're preparing and how much they stand to profit along the way.</a>AstraZeneca's vaccine has not been authorized for use anywhere in the world. In November, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/astrazeneca-second-covid-19-vaccine-trial-2020-11">AstraZeneca said it would retest its vaccine</a> after <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/astrazeneca-oxford-covid-19-vaccine-trial-error-half-dose-experts-2020-11">admitting that the most positive results in its first trial</a> came from a dosing error.Russia gave Sputnik V emergency-use authorization on August 11, making it <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-coronavirus-vaccine-putin-wont-take-until-approved-2020-11">the world's first vaccine to be approved</a>. The country has been giving it to frontline <keyword id="6354525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="healthcare">healthcare</keyword> workers, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-coronavirus-vaccine-putin-wont-take-until-approved-2020-11">though it hasn't started mass vaccination yet because it's still in trial stages</a>.<a href="https://rdif.ru/Eng_fullNews/6151/">Russia says</a> the vaccine is more than 90% effective.<h2>Why are drugmakers combining different vaccines?</h2>Vaccines often require multiple doses. Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca's vaccines each require two shots given two to four weeks apart. The first dose is an initial prime, followed by a boost."Homologous boosting" is when all shots are the same vaccine, but what AstraZeneca is testing is "heterologous boosting," where two different vaccines are given."It is ... likely that combining vaccines may lead to improved immunity over a longer-period of time," AstraZeneca said in <a href="https://www.astrazeneca.com/content/astraz/media-centre/articles/2020/developing-versatile-immunisation-programmes-against-covid-19-through-potential-vaccine-combinations.html">its statement</a>.The practice could also improve vaccine accessibility, it said, by making immunization programs more flexible.Sputnik V itself uses two different adenoviral vectors for its two shots, which <a href="https://rdif.ru/Eng_fullNews/6151/">it says</a> produces a stronger and longer-term immune response.

AstraZeneca will work with the makers of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine to test a combined shot. This could make people more immune, and for a longer period of time, it said.

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