The World Health Organization has rejected the first Canadian-made COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, despite its approval by Health Canada on Feb. 24.
Known as Covifenz, the vaccine was developed by Medicago, a biotechnology company based in Quebec City that uses — unlike mRNA technology — a plant host to make virus-like particles that help the body’s immune system make antibodies.
In 2020, the Trudeau government invested $173-million in Medicago’s development of the home-grown vaccine and a production facility in Quebec City. It also contracted to buy 20 million doses.
At issue is a 21 percent shareholder in Medicago: Philip Morris, the biggest tobacco company in the world.
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