In light of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Scrip looks at data to gauge if manufacturing partners for COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V or Light, in India, China and Korea could be left holding unsold inventory earmarked for exports

COVID pill’s EUA fact sheet includes the politically potent term ‘accessible,’ and the question of availability could be among the most important for the product – unless more clinical data turns it into a winner in its own right.

The vaccines segment continues to draw the interest of participants beyond those firms with a traditional core presence, with new players largely building partnered capabilities around COVID-19 inoculations. Are these merely opportunistic forays or will the competitive landscape for vaccines stand altered more widely?

While an mRNA vaccine is still missing, 2021 saw Indian companies strike alliances, battle legal action and gain funding while the regulator played a crucial enabling role in the run up to the approval of eight COVID-19 vaccines from zero in 2020.