Russian vaccine candidate obtains positive peer reviews

Russia's Covid-19 vaccine candidate generated an immune response without any adverse side effects, according to a peer-reviewed study.

The preliminary results of the phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, which were published in The Lancet, showed that the vaccine produced both antibodies and a response in human T-cells.

Kirill Dmitriev, the chief executive officer of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said publication of the results marked a "turning point" after "attacks" against the project.

Vaccine development programmes are currently under way in most developed countries, including in China, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US, each of which are considered to have candidates that are in the vanguard of attempts to find a successful vaccine as speedily as possible.

But there have been accusations that both Chinese and Russian intelligence have attempted to hack western research.

There has also been criticism of Russian officials' push to accelerate approval of the new vaccine before a wide phase three clinical has been successfully completed.

Moscow has already announced plans that it will go ahead inoculations for medical personnel and teachers over the following weeks, with a broader programme due to kick-off later in 2020.

Trials however involved only 76 health adults with ages ranging from 18 to 60, and with the focus on younger patients.

A phase three trial that was to be conducted with 40,000 volunteers was approved on 26 August.