Moscow [Russia], September 13 (ANI): The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund) has announced the publication of a study in EClinicalMedicine (an open access peer-reviewed clinical journal published by The Lancet, one of the world's most respected medical journals) on the efficacy of Russian Sputnik Light coronavirus vaccine (the first component of Sputnik V vaccine) among the elderly in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The study is available at https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(21)00406-5/fulltext%20According to RDIF statement, Sputnik Light is the first component of Sputnik V based on human adenovirus serotype 26. According to the study in the Province of Buenos Aires, the first component of Sputnik V has demonstrated 78.6-83.7 per cent general efficacy against COVID-19 in high-risk elderly subjects aged 60-79 years old, which is significantly higher than efficacy demonstrated by most two-component vaccines.

Sputnik Light has also demonstrated efficacy against hospitalizations at 82.1-87.6 per cent. The calculations are based on data from over 40,000 people collected by the Ministry of Health of the Province of Buenos Aires.

"There are 15 authors of the study: Soledad Gonzalez, Santiago Olszevicki, Martin Salazar, Ana Calabria, Lorena Regairaz, Lupe Marin, Patricia Campos, Teresa Varela, Veronica Gonzalez Martinez, Leticia Ceriani, Enio Garcia, NicolasKreplak, Marina Pifano, Elisa Estenssoro and Franco Marsico. They represent Ministry of Health of the Province of Buenos Aires, Faculty of Medical Sciences at National University of La Plata, Immunology Unit, Children's Hospital Sor Maria Ludovica, La Plata, Buenos Aires and Calculus Institute, University of Buenos Aires," the statement read.

Sputnik Light is the first component (recombinant human adenovirus serotype number 26 (rAd26) of Sputnik V - the world's first registered vaccine against coronavirus. It has proven effective against all new strains of coronavirus, as demonstrated by the Gamaleya Center during laboratory tests. It is also compatible with standard vaccine storage and logistics requirements.

"The Sputnik Light vaccine is based on a well-studied human adenoviral vector platform that has proven to be safe and effective, with no long-term side effects, as confirmed in over 250 clinical trials conducted globally over the past two decades (while the history of use of human adenoviruses in vaccine development started in 1953)," the release read.

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is Russia's sovereign wealth fund established in 2011 to make equity co-investments, primarily in Russia, alongside reputable international financial and strategic investors. RDIF acts as a catalyst for direct investment in the Russian economy. RDIF's management company is based in Moscow.

At present, RDIF has experience of the successful joint implementation of more than 80 projects with foreign partners totalling more than RUB 2tn and covering 95 per cent of the regions of the Russian Federation. RDIF portfolio companies employ more than 800,000 people and generate revenues which equate to more than 6 per cent of Russia's GDP.

RDIF has established joint strategic partnerships with leading international co-investors from more than 18 countries that total more than 40 billion dollars, the statement read. (ANI)