| (The Editor's Pick is a new newsletter from The Hindu that provides a snapshot of the most important stories from today's edition of our newspaper, along with a note from our top editors on why we chose to give prominence to these stories.)
The COVID-19 vaccine developed in Russia is set to be made available in India. The agreement for the distribution of 100 million doses of the SPUTNIK V vaccine has been signed between Russian Direct Investment Fund and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories. The vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute is currently undergoing Phase 3 trials, and its distribution in India is subject to regulatory approval. The Russians are now looking for local partners for manufacturing the vaccine. With SPUTNIK V, Russia became the first country to claim a breakthrough in developing a vaccine for COVD-19. While the Lancet paper on the results from the first two phases of the vaccine's tests showed immune response, there was criticism that the whole process had been rushed. The Phase 1 and 2 trials were conducted on just 76 subjects, while the other major vaccine under development, the Oxford-Astra Zeneca one, was tested on 1,100 people before moving to phase 3. Russia gave regulatory approval for the vaccine even before Phase 3 had started. While it is good to have options available on vaccines, it seems to have become a race with U.S., China and Russia vying to claim the credit for being the first to develop one. The name SPUTNIK V is the Russians thumbing their nose at the Americans, by recalling a phase in the Cold War-era Space Race when the erstwhile U.S.S.R. trumped them. Even in India, reports indicate there was pressure on Covaxin-developer Bharat Biotech to bring it out by Independence Day this year. The fact that a new vaccine option may be available to Indians, while it may be one that India's regulators will have to approach with caution, makes this story important. | 
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