The World Health Organization (WHO) has rejected the Medicago vaccine, according to the Quebec pharmaceutical. The decision would be attributable to its links with the tobacco company Philip Morris, a minority shareholder, which is prompting Ottawa to evoke a change in the company’s shareholding.
“Officially, the WHO has confirmed to Medicago its decision, but has not yet sent the official letter explaining its decision,” a public relations firm hired by the company told The Canadian Press.
Medicago “understands, however, that by their recent statements” that the decision would be attributable to its links with the tobacco industry “and that it has nothing to do with the effectiveness or the quality of the vaccine”, added a carrier. word.
The Covifenz vaccine from Quebec-based Medicago was approved by Health Canada last month. It is the only COVID-19 vaccine made in Canada.
Canada has signed a contract to buy up to 76 million doses of Covifenz, but its vaccine strategy now relies solely on mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.
Canada had planned to donate any excess dose of vaccine to low-income countries through COVAX.
Since the WHO has denied Medicago’s request, Canada will not be able to donate doses of Covifenz to the COVAX vaccine sharing alliance.
Change in shareholding?
Questioned before question period on Friday, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, raised the idea that a change in the shareholding of Medicago could constitute a solution.
“It would obviously be up to the company to decide,” he said. The shareholding of these large groups often varies over time. If you even look at the evolution of Medicago, it has evolved over the years. I think it will evolve further. »
As for the ethical issue, the minister said that “there was something that was odd to see the type of capital or shareholder in that company”.
However, the minister pointed out that Mitsubishi is the majority shareholder.
In an email to The Canadian Press, the WHO says Medicago’s vaccine review is “suspended” in connection with “tobacco industry investments.”
“Medicago has been informed of this decision and has been briefed on WHO policies on tobacco,” writes the organization.
The WHO reiterates that it has a “strict policy” of keeping its distance from companies that promote tobacco.
A week ago, the WHO announced that Medicago’s application for an emergency use license for Covifenz had been suspended and would likely be denied.
COVAX can only use vaccines for which the WHO has granted an emergency use license, so a rejection from Medicago could limit the countries around the world where the vaccine can be used.