Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (Dr Reddy’s) on Monday said the drugs controller general of India (DCGI) has granted approval to the single-shot Sputnik Light vaccine for restricted use in emergency situation in India.

Sputnik Light is a one-dose vaccine and it is the second one for the Hyderabad-based drug firm after the two-shot Sputnik V vaccine. In September 2020, Dr Reddy’s had joined hands with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to conduct clinical trials of Sputnik V and distribute the vaccine in India.

Later in April 2021, the DCGI granted approval to the two-dose Sputnik V vaccine for restricted use in emergency situation in India.

Dr Reddy’s on Monday said that following its phase III clinical trial of the single-shot Sputnik Light vaccine in India, it had submitted an application for its approval to the DCGI in December 2021, in addition to data from clinical trials in Russia.

The standalone Sputnik Light vaccine is the latest vaccine to be approved by the DCGI as part of India’s national inoculation effort against Covid-19. It has been approved in over 30 countries globally that includes Argentina, the UAE, Philippines and Russia.

In a separate statement, RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev stated that the authorisation of Sputnik Light in India is another major step in successful cooperation between Russia and India in the fight against Covid.