Canada got green light for First plant-based vaccination against Covid-19

A unit of Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. and Philip Morris International has received approval to utilise the world’s first plant-derived Covid-19 vaccine in Canada, resulting in a novel immunisation to combat the virus.
Medicago Inc., a biopharmaceutical business established in Quebec City and owned by Mitsubishi Chemical and Philip Morris, and GlaxoSmithKline Plc collaborated on the Covifenz vaccine. Adults aged 18 to 64 will be allowed to use it, according to a statement released by Medicago and Glaxo on Thursday.

The approval gives people who are hesitant to take currently available vaccines made by Pfizer Inc., AstraZeneca Plc and Moderna Inc. another option. Many countries are struggling to raise vaccination rates and are requiring citizens to be immunized to get into restaurants, shopping malls trains and planes.

The company hopes Covifenz will generate about $1 billion a year eventually, Mitsubishi Chemical’s Chief Executive Officer Jean-Marc Gilson said in an interview last week. The vaccine is easier to transport and store than rival mRNA shots, such as those from Pfizer and Moderna, since it doesn’t need to be kept at ultra-low temperatures, he said.

Covifenz is made from proteins, grown in plants, that look like the virus that causes Covid-19 to the human immune system, according to Medicago’s website. The vaccine also uses Glaxo’s pandemic adjuvant, a substance that boosts the immune system’s response.

Medicago has a contract with the Canadian government to supply up to 76 million doses of the vaccine and is in talks with other countries about potential agreements, Chief Executive Officer Takashi Nagao has said. The immunization was granted fast-track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February 2021.

The vaccine demonstrated 71% efficacy against multiple variants of the virus in December, Medicago said. It was 75% effective against the highly-infectious delta variant and nearly 89% effective against the gamma variant first identified in Brazil. The omicron variant wasn’t circulating when the trial was conducted, and the company is planning future tests against that strain.

Medically Speaking

Recent Posts

ANTIBIOTIC MISUSE IN INDIA: HOW IT’S MAKING INFECTION TREATMENT MORE CHALLENGING

Antibiotic use has surged globally, leading to a rise in antibiotic resistance, especially concerning in…

9 hours ago

CHILD DIES FROM CHOKING ON CANDY: HOW TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST CHOKING HAZARDS IN YOUNG CHILDREN

Choking is a leading cause of injury and death in young children, particularly those under…

11 hours ago

Video: How Hard Water Leads to Hair Fall and Expert Tips to Combat It

Hard Water (Khara Pani) Leading To Hair Fall Hard water is rich in minerals and…

12 hours ago

“How High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Is Rising: What Every Expectant Mother Should Know”

Discover how the rise in high blood pressure during pregnancy is impacting maternal and fetal…

12 hours ago

“Revitalize Your Weight Loss Journey: 6 Powerful Homemade Drinks to Naturally Melt Away Fat!”

"Discover the transformative power of six delicious homemade drinks that can help you naturally melt…

13 hours ago

“Revitalize Your Weight Loss Journey: 8 Powerful Fat-Flushing Drinks to Boost Your Results!”

"Transform your weight loss routine with these eight delicious fat-flushing drinks that not only hydrate…

13 hours ago