A new study conducted at the Italian Spallanzani Institute has provided evidence that two doses of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, produces significantly more antibodies against the highly transmissible omicron variant of the coronavirus, in comparison to two doses of Pfizer’s vaccine.

“A unique comparative study conducted at the Italian Spallanzani Institute, the leading Italian research institute for infectious diseases, by a joint Italian-Russian team of researchers representing the Institute and the Gamaleya Center shows that the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine demonstrates more than 2 times higher titers of virus neutralizing antibodies to Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant than 2 doses of Pfizer vaccine (2.1 times higher in total and 2.6 times higher 3 months after vaccination),” said the Gamaleya Center and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) on Thursday.

Also read | Five genome sequencing labs shut down in India due to lack of funds: Report

The Gamaleya Center also noted that boosting Sputnik Light through the “mix and match” approach may help with the documented lack of efficacy of mRNA vaccines against the omicron variant, as mixing adenoviral vaccines (like Sputnik V) with mRNA vaccines could provide a stronger antibody response against omicron and other variants.

Citing the study’s findings, Gamaleya Center Director Alexander Gintsburg said, “The hard scientific data proves Sputnik V has higher virus neutralizing activity against omicron as compared to other vaccines and will play a major role in the global fight against this new contagious variant.”

Also read | Maharashtra announces reopening of schools from January 24 amid dip in COVID cases

The study’s findings come at a time when the omicron variant is fast becoming the dominant strain of the coronavirus globally. As of Thursday, total COVID-19 infections in the world stood at 337,112,379, as per the Johns Hopkins University, while the global death toll stood at 5,563,776.

A total of 9,710,746,441 vaccine doses have been administered across the world thus far, and countries are ramping up efforts to provide booster shots to vulnerable groups to prevent further deaths and infections.