The Director-General of the group Saidal, Fatoum Akacem has announced the start soon, of training for the benefit of the teams in charge of producing the Russian anti-Covid-19 vaccine “Sputnik V”.
Akacem highlighted, in this respect, the accuracy of the epidemiological field, which requires special training, adding that “all efforts will be directed towards overcoming the challenge, which is to complete it in September 2021, which is the date announced by the Minister.”
Akacem expressed her satisfaction at choosing her group to manufacture the vaccine, which, in her opinion, is related to “sovereignty.”
She went on to say, “Sputnik V will be produced at the Constantine factory, which specializes in the manufacture of packed insulin and which is ready on the technical, technological and qualification levels.”
According to the same official, there is nothing left but to end the factory’s suitability for some aspects related to the specificity of the vaccine, and negotiations have started with all equipment suppliers, ”adding that confidentiality and technological transfer agreements have been signed.
Akacem confirmed that the Russian partner is keen to satisfy Saidal’s needs.
However, Akacem explains, the “Sputnik V” vaccine will not be fully produced as of next September, but Saidal will be able to achieve on this date, “the pre-packaging phase of distribution.”
The aforementioned phase relates to distributing the diluent called the dose in small vials and monitoring them, which constitutes an “important” part of the technology transfer, according to Saidal’s CEO, who adds that the most difficult and longest part starts with the strain that will be undertaken “at the same time”.
While delving into more details in this regard, the same official indicated that Saidal prefers to achieve the third and fourth stages of the production process, “in order to produce the vaccine as soon as possible.”
In parallel, the spokeswoman adds, the first and second phases that will be launched consist of two phases that represent the pre-production phases, which are the longest and which require, in the best-case scenario, from 12 to 18 months, which are not extendable.
Akacem stated that the production of vaccines differs from the production of drugs, as it requires some technologies, monitoring and control imposed on vaccines and not necessarily on drugs.
