OREANDA-NEWS. As reported by RIA Novosti, the South Korean company GL Rapha will so far produce the Russian Sputnik V vaccine only for export, not for domestic use, but upon request, it is ready to discuss other options.

Earlier it became known that the Russian Direct Investment Fund and one of the leading companies in South Korea in the field of biotechnology GL Rapha agreed on the production of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in South Korea. The parties intend to start production in December of this year and begin deliveries of the vaccine for export in January 2021. The global market will receive more than 150 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine per year, produced in South Korea.

According to the head of the public relations department of GL Rapha Kim Gi Young, the Russian side has transferred all the technologies to the South Korean partners, a test production has already begun, after which a full-fledged mass production of the drug will begin.

Kim Gi Young clarifies that, at the same time, the use of the vaccine in South Korea itself is not yet planned, because this contract has nothing to do with the Korean government. This is a custom production. Distribution in South Korea or any agreements with the South Korean government are not even mentioned in the contract. According to him, the RDIF side has not yet expressed any intentions or requests to organize the sale of the Russian vaccine in South Korea. He added that if there is a request to produce a coronavirus vaccine for domestic use in South Korea, the company is ready to consider the matter.