Russian health ministry registers Gamaleya center's nasal vaccine against Covid-19

MOSCOW. April 1 (Interfax) - The Russian Health Ministry has registered the world's first nasal coronavirus vaccine, its press service stated on Friday.

"The Health Ministry of Russia has registered a nasal form of the Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V) vaccine, developed by the Health Ministry's Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, for the prevention of the novel coronavirus infection," the statement said.

Like Sputnik V, the vaccine consists of two components based on adenovirus vectors injected with a spray nozzle into the nose with a three-week interval, i.e. in the prime-boost regimen, it said.

At present, the vaccine can be used by medical organizations immunizing adults (aged 18 and over). The nasal vaccine can be used for over-60s, the health ministry said.

"The intranasal prime-boost immunization forms mucosal immunity to the coronavirus infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the surface of the mucus of the respiratory tract," the ministry stated.

"The nasal injection of the vaccine forms in patients a humoral (an increase in titers of IgA antibodies in blood and nose secretions, IgG antibodies, virus-neutralizing antibodies in blood) and cellular immune repose to the infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus," the statement said.

Earlier, the Gamaleya center applied to the health ministry for registration of its nasal vaccine, the relevant information appeared in the state register of medications and was later confirmed by the director of the center, Alexander Gintsburg.

The clinical trials of the vaccine began on January 26. It was reported that the health ministry had tasked the Gamaleya center with carrying out all work as quickly as possible.