Tobacco firm Philip Morris Worldwide has divested all of its shares from Medicago, a Canadian vaccine collaborator whose plant-based COVID-19 vaccine, Covifenz, was initially rejected by the World Well being Group over its ties with Massive Tobacco.
In a press release on Thursday, Philip Morris spokesperson David Fraser mentioned the corporate determined to divest its stake in Medicago and that it is “essentially the most acceptable method ahead.”
“We’ve got lengthy believed within the public well being potential of Medicago’s revolutionary method for growing new plant-based vaccines and we hope this potential is realized for the advantage of world public well being,” Fraser mentioned in an e-mail.
Medicago, whose headquarters is in Quebec, is now 100 per cent owned by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma. Earlier than the choice, Philip Morris, which produces Marlboro cigarettes, owned 21 per cent of the corporate’s shares.
In an e-mail to CBC Information, the Quebec firm mentioned the divestment is “essentially the most acceptable method ahead.” A spokesperson for Medicago mentioned this ensures its “future development and skill to attain its mission,” which is to “create and ship efficient responses to rising world well being challenges.”
Covifenz can now attain worldwide markets
In 2020, the federal authorities gave Medicago $173 million to develop its vaccine, construct a brand new manufacturing facility and buy 76 million doses. In February, Well being Canada accredited Covifenz for adults 18 to 64 years outdated — making it the primary plant-based vaccine to be accredited to be used in Canada.
However in March, the World Well being Group (WHO) mentioned it is not accepting Medicago’s request for Covifenz’s emergency use, as a result of firm’s “linkage with the tobacco trade.”
WHO mentioned the choice was placed on maintain, which quickly stored Covifenz out of COVAX, a world COVID-19 vaccine-sharing initiative.
François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s minister of innovation, science and trade, mentioned the federal authorities has been working with Medicago and its shareholders to “discover a resolution that helps the expansion of the corporate.”
“This transaction is a step in the best route, and we’ll proceed to comply with this matter very intently,” Champagne mentioned in an e-mail.
Dr. Scott Halperin, director of the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology at Dalhousie College in Halifax, mentioned the choice now permits Medicago to distribute its vaccine internationally if it reapplies with WHO.
“It is necessary as a result of it permits Medicago to play on the worldwide stage … so I feel it could possibly be superb information,” Halperin mentioned.
“One must hypothesize that if Medicago was now not in a position to have any sort of world vaccine market that they might be a horrible funding for anyone.”
Public Providers and Procurement Canada did not reply CBC’s questions on when the 76 million doses of Covifenz are anticipated to be delivered from Medicago.
In a press release, the division mentioned negotiations between Ottawa and Medicago “are ongoing.”
Resolution applauded by tobacco critic
Les Hagen, government director of Motion on Smoking and Well being, a charity advocating for tobacco management, discount and prevention, mentioned he is “relieved” that Canada is now not collaborating with a multinational tobacco firm.
“It is excellent news,” he mentioned. “Hopefully this vaccine can get one other overview by the World Well being Group.”
Hagen criticized the federal government’s determination to collaborate with Medicago within the first place, stating that public funds may have been higher invested in different Canadian corporations that are not backed by Massive Tobacco, which he accuses of making an attempt to “whitewash” its picture.
“We felt that it was extremely unethical. It is truly a violation of a legally binding treaty: the Framework Conference on Tobacco Management,” he mentioned.
The framework, which is managed by WHO, commits to guard public well being insurance policies “from the business and different vested pursuits of the tobacco trade.” Canada signed it in 2005.
Earlier this 12 months, a spokesperson for the Public Well being Company of Canada mentioned the federal authorities “studied the matter of its funding in Medicago fastidiously” and believes it’s nonetheless “compliant with its treaty obligations associated to tobacco management” with WHO.
‘We want that capability in Canada’
Halperin of Dalhousie mentioned Medicago’s vaccine is produced within the leaf of a plant that is a relative of tobacco and that the plant itself acts as a “manufacturing unit” for producing viral particles which might be a part of the vaccine.
“It’s extremely novel expertise,” he mentioned, including that Covifenz is the primary vaccine that makes use of this expertise to battle COVID-19.
Canada lost the capability to produce its vaccines years in the past as a result of consolidation and buyout of many corporations, and the federal government has acknowledged that deficiency, Halperin mentioned.
“That is going to take time to rebuild…. The Medicago story is only one side of it,” he mentioned, including that it is vital to have home vaccine-supply skill as a result of borders have a tendency to shut throughout emergencies.
“Regardless of what all people says about world co-operation, borders nonetheless shut and we’d like that capability in Canada — each for our personal functionality but additionally to contribute to the worldwide scene.”
