Did Spies Steal the Data to Make Sputnik V from a Pharmaceutical Company Get Support From the Kremlin?
(Photo : ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP via Getty Images)
A nurse show vials of the Sputnik-V vaccine against COVID-19 at the Secretary of Foreign Affairs in Tegucigalpa, on August 19, 2021

An alleged theft by spies who stole the data to make Sputnik V under the auspices of the Kremlin the information acquired came from the multinational pharmaceutical company, Oxford/ AstraZeneca that served as the initial template.

The blueprint acquired by the spies is responsible for creating the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, which Moscow calls malarkey.

Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine information stolen by Kremlin

Sources informed ministers of the loss, as the vaccine blueprint was gotten through espionage by Kremlin affiliated spies, which allowed Russia to fast track its vaccine research to compete with the west, reported the Mirror UK.

Had it not been for the theft, it's a factor that allows the Kremlin to make its homegrown COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the Sun UK, it was a foreigner who got the valuable blueprint in person. Damian Hinds, Security Minister, did not confirm the report related to the theft of the formula but mention that cyber espionage was getting closer to home.

Hinds said that there is more activity at the state level, which supports cyber espionage to steal industrial and economic secrets, and these cyber-attacks are happening again and again. He will not comment on the case because it lacks details, and the threats have become more complex and on a larger scale than before.

Furthermore, he added that espionage has changed over the years and getting more complicated. There is a need to improve ways to protect against it. The spies who stole the data to make Sputnik V, he said, be faced with improved measures.

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Russian president get Sputnik V vaccine

Vladimir Putin remarked he was inoculated with Sputnik V and asked other Russians to get the vaccine for their protection. Although there has been no approval for use abroad, 70 countries have disregarded it, noted the DW.

In September 2020, data from two early clinical trials were done in Moscow, later published in The Lancet, a British Journal. The study demonstrates that the Russian vaccine is the same as the Oxford jab is safe and effective.

According to the vaccine developers who collected the necessary data, said the jab would assist in working on the immune to produce the antibodies. 

In the studies, all the subjects were okay and had no major health issues. Once the vaccine stimulated the generation of antibodies, this gave the impression it was effective enough to stop a COVID-19 infection.

Sputnik V vaccine trials remain unconclusive

Many western scientists called the findings okay, but the results did not entirely convince them if the vaccines would work. They cited the trials weren't conclusive enough to be used on Russians.

Allegedly, there were only 76 subjects tested, with half inoculated with volunteers who were in good health, and all in their 20's to 30's too.

Scientists did trials in two Moscow hospitals to evaluate the Sputnik V vaccine at the Burdenko Hospital and Sechenov University Hospital.

According to one official of the World Health Organization, last Friday, the agency was close to deciding on the problems of the Russian vaccine. But no date is set for emergency use.

Fadela Chaib said the issues are going to be resolved soon. The Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko noted a week ago, clearance for vaccine use is almost done.

The charge that spies who stole the data to make Sputnik V were in cahoots with the Kremlin is not proven, with the vaccine almost ready for distribution.

Related Article: Researchers Say the Unvaccinated Can Get Reinfection From COVID-19, Disregard Natural Immunity in Favor of Immunization