Russia isn't world's first to develop Covid-19 vaccine: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

"If launching a vaccine prior to completion of Phase 3 trials is acceptable to Russia, well so be it," Mazumdar-Shaw said

Biotechnology industry veteran Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has questioned Russian claims of developing the world's first safe coronavirus vaccine, citing absence of data on clinical trials and "more advanced" programmes elsewhere.

The world has not seen any data on Phase 1 or 2 clinical trials conducted by Moscow-based Gamaleya Research Institute, the Executive Chairperson of Bengaluru-headquartered Biocon Ltd said.

"If launching a vaccine prior to completion of Phase 3 trials is acceptable to Russia, well so be it," Mazumdar-Shaw told PTI.

"But it doesn't make them the world's first vaccine