While the Russian Sputnik V vaccine follows a similar path as the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine of being based on the human adenovirus, a common cold virus fused with the spike protein of Sars-Cov-2 to stimulate an immune response, its approval and registration without the crucial Phase III trial and consequent tie-up with Dr Reddy's Laboratories has made headlines. Manu Balachandran, author of this fortnight's cover story delves into GV Prasad and Dr Reddy's long-standing relationship with Russia, the country's apparent transparency with the pharma company, and why it bet on the controversial vaccine