A Malta-based pharmaceutical firm has offered some 60 million doses of the Russian Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine to a state in India, Indian media has reported.
A number of Indian news portals have reported how Malta-based Pharma Regulatory Services Limited had given an expression of interest to authorities of the state of Haryana in India for the provision of up to 60 million doses of the Russian jab.
The company was set up in Malta in 2015. Pharmacist Christian Cuschieri and lawyer Nikita Cuschieri are listed as its directors.
The expression of interest came a day after a global tender which invited companies to provide 10 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to the state expired.
However, Haryana health officials said on Saturday that they had received the offer and that it was being carefully analysed to see if it meets the tender’s criteria.
The state government added that the cost of each dose will be nearly ₹1,120 – equivalent to €12.60.
The firm has given a timeline of 30 days to supply the first batch of 500,000 doses of the vaccine, which will be followed by the supply of one million doses every 20 days till the supply is completed, against a letter of credit issued in its name.
The doses would be manufactured by the Gamaleya Institute and the Russian Direct Investment Fund, the reports state.
The state’s cabinet will take a final decision on whether to accept the offer or not, the state’s Health Minister Anil Vij said on Sunday.
Sputnik V is one of the three vaccines approved by India's drug controller for use in the country, in addition to Covishield - being manufactured by Serum Institute of India - and home-grown Covaxin - produced by Bharat Biotech.
Situated towards the north-western corner of India, Haryana is one of the country’s 28 states, and has a population of around 25 million people as per the most recent census in 2011.