ISTANBUL — Russia has signed an agreement with a Turkish biopharmaceutical company to begin producing its Sputnik V vaccine in Turkey.

In a joint statement, the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Viscoran Ilac announced the deal. Viscoran aims to start production in the coming months in several facilities, according to the statement.

Sputnik V is Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine using the viral vector technology. The vaccine can be stored in refrigerators and is administered in two-doses.

“We are very pleased to have contributed to such a valuable product that is discussed in the international arena,” Viscoran CEO Ozturk Oran said.

Turkey is currently using the Sinovac and Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccines and has administered around 21.4 million doses. But the speed of vaccinations has slowed and infections have soared. A partial lockdown was reimposed earlier this month to fight the spread.