The parent company of the Quebec biopharmaceutical company Medicago announced Thursday that it has decided to end all activities of its subsidiary.
Mitsubishi Chemical Group explains that it made this decision “in view of the significant changes that have occurred in the vaccine scene against COVID-19 since the authorization of the [Covifenz] (the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Medicago)”.
“Following a comprehensive analysis of the current global demand, the economic context for COVID-19 vaccines and the challenges Medicago faces in its transition to commercial production, the group has decided not to continue marketing [du Covifenz] “, We continue in a press release issued Thursday evening.
Remember that Medicago, whose head office is based in the Capitale-Nationale, had developed a vaccine during the pandemic using plant-based particle technology.
However, the vaccine was later rejected by the World Health Organization (WHO) since the tobacco company Philip Morris is a minority shareholder in Medicago and the United Nations agency has a strict policy in terms of engagement with the tobacco industry.
The Covifenz vaccine was licensed by Health Canada last February for adults aged 18 to 64, and the federal government has signed a contract to purchase up to 76 million doses with plans to donate vaccines to low-income countries. income.
However, donations are not permitted without WHO approval.
More details to come..