Dr. Reddy's Laboratories has been denied permission by India's top regulatory body to conduct the Phase-3 trials for Sputnik Light vaccine in India, according to reports. The expert committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation refused to allow the Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company to conduct the third phase trials for the Russian-made vaccine because it did not find the "scientific rationale" behind the same.
Sputnik Light is a one-shot version of Sputnik V that the government was earlier looking at for a speedy launch in India.
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories had partnered with the Russian Direct Investment Fund last year in September to distribute up to 100 million doses of Sputnik V in India. The vaccine was approved for emergency use in the country in April this year.