The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia's sovereign wealth fund, has collaborated with Aurugulf Health Investment to carry out Phase III clinical trials of the adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccine in the UAE. The vaccine is being developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.

As per a WAM report, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi will conduct the third phase of the vaccine trials under the supervision of the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention. Furthermore, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, SEHA, will be reviewing all medical protocols during the trials. The UAE trials will be conducted in accordance with the highest international standards under which volunteers will be kept under medical supervision for 90 days after receiving the vaccine shot.

As per the results of the first two phases of the vaccine trials published in leading medical journal The Lancet, 100 percent of the volunteers achieved stable humoral and cellular immune response against the virus and no adverse complications were reported during the process.

Responding to the development, Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, stressed the UAE's commitment to the global fight against COVID-19.

"We are pleased to support this process and welcome partnerships between UAE organisations and international players to enable promising solutions and progress," Al Owais said.

Adding to his remarks, Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohamed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said that with hosting the second Phase III COVID-19 vaccine trials, the emirate has reaffirmed its continued commitment to integrating global solutions to address the challenges imposed by the pandemic crisis. He further expressed gratitude towards Abu Dhabi's world-class healthcare infrastructure, capabilities of the research ecosystem and volunteer spirit of the community that makes the emirate an attractive destination for those seeking to boost global scientific explorations.

Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev also hailed the UAE for demonstrating "one of the most advanced approaches in the world to combat the Coronavirus pandemic."

"We are pleased to commence the trials and we look forward to announcing in due course the registration process for volunteers. As part of the Phase III trials of the vaccine, we are planning to expand in several other countries over the coming months, and we are delighted that Abu Dhabi will be the first place in which we do so in the Middle East," Dmitriev said.

Significantly, the interim results of the trials will be published before November end, combining the trial results from Russia and other countries across the world where volunteers are participating in the process.

WAM