The news that Russia could approve a coronavirus vaccine for use in August has caused an international stir – but experts are not surprised the country is moving ahead fast.
Moscow officials hope their vaccine will gain approval for widespread use in the next two weeks with manufacturing to begin the following month, it was revealed in an interview with The National.
Development of the vaccine at the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in the Russian capital has been financed by the government-controlled Russian Direct Investment Fund.
Prof John Oxford, co-author of the textbook Human Virology, said he was "impressed but not surprised" at how advanced the programme was.
“This is coming from the Gamaleya institute – a pretty big research institute in Moscow … They will make sure the testing is of international standards so it can be cross-licensed abroad as well as in Russia,” he said.
Like many others, the Russian vaccine programme uses existing vaccine technology tweaked for the new coronavirus.
It is based on versions of a common cold virus, called an adenovirus, genetically engineered to produce a surface protein or spike protein from the new coronavirus. This spike protein stimulates an immune response that should protect against the coronavirus.
Ian Jones, a professor of virology at the University of Reading in the UK, said the fact that the Russian vaccine was based on well-understood technology meant it was not likely to present a hazard.
“Because of all the work done on the [adenovirus] vectors, I think it’s probably safe,” he said. “I don’t see why it shouldn’t work.”
In an interview with The National, the Russian Direct Investment Fund's chief executive, Kirill Dmitriev, said he expected the vaccine to be the first of the more than 100 under development around the globe to be approved.
Mr Dmitriev said the vaccine, which he himself has been injected with, stimulated antibody production in all those it was tested on in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials.
The World Health Organisation’s latest update – released this week – indicates there are 25 potential vaccines undergoing clinical trials, plus 139 in preclinical evaluation.
Of those already in clinical trials, just four – one American, one British and two Chinese – are listed as already having reached stage 3 trials, which analyse real-world effectiveness.
One, developed by the University of Oxford, began phase 3 clinical trials in the UK in May, while an American vaccine, from the Massachusetts-based biotechnology company Moderna, started them this week.
One of the two Chinese vaccines, developed by the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products and the pharmaceutical company Sinopharm, is due to undergo phase 3 clinical trials in the Emirates through a tie-up with the UAE technology company Group 42. If the trials are successful, this vaccine could be manufactured in the UAE.
Phase 3 clinical trials of the Gamaleya institute’s vaccine are starting soon in Russia, the UAE and other nations, and reports indicate the aim is to secure approval by as early as August 10, allowing thousands of medical staff to be vaccinated. Large-scale vaccinations of the population could begin the following month.
Phase 3 trials are typically carried out in a few countries is to ensure testing is carried out on a genetically diverse range of people. Authorities in the UAE have said the Emirates is an ideal location for trials due to its diverse population.
As many as 30 million doses could reportedly be produced in Russia by the end of this year, with manufacturing capacity abroad reaching 170m thanks to agreements with five countries.
Another Russian-developed vaccine, from Siberia’s Vector institute, began clinical trials this week when the first volunteer was injected with the medicine.
Availability of coronavirus vaccines will vary from country to country depending in part on investments made by national governments or institutions such as the European Union.
Hundreds of millions of doses of as-yet-unapproved vaccines have already been bought up by authorities in developed countries, which have also funded research and invested in biotechnology companies to maximise their access to stocks as soon as manufacturing begins.
Production of the Gamaleya institute vaccine could take place in the UAE as well as Russia.
“One of the things Russia does have, and a number of ex-Soviet countries have, are things like manufacturing facilities. They’ve not been prioritised in recent years, but nevertheless, they exist,” said Prof Jones.
Whichever vaccine ends up as the first to be approved and manufactured at scale, observers are pleased at the speed at which the scientific community has reacted to the pandemic.
“You can imagine things happening quite quickly with some of these [vaccines],” said Prof Oxford, an emeritus professor of virology at the University of London.
“You can say … ‘We’ve got some immune response, let’s get moving.’ I would be content to have any of them. I’ve been very pleased and impressed at the speed at which things have been moving.”
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
Racecard
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Results
57kg quarter-finals
Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.
60kg quarter-finals
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.
63.5kg quarter-finals
Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.
67kg quarter-finals
Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.
71kg quarter-finals
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.
Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.
81kg quarter-finals
Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
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INDIA SQUAD
Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami
Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Fireball
Moscow claimed it hit the largest military fuel storage facility in Ukraine, triggering a huge fireball at the site.
A plume of black smoke rose from a fuel storage facility in the village of Kalynivka outside Kyiv on Friday after Russia said it had destroyed the military site with Kalibr cruise missiles.
"On the evening of March 24, Kalibr high-precision sea-based cruise missiles attacked a fuel base in the village of Kalynivka near Kyiv," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine confirmed the strike, saying the village some 40 kilometres south-west of Kyiv was targeted.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
