The world’s first plant-based COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Canadian biotechnology company Medicago, has been found to be 70% effective against symptomatic patients caused by five types of coronavirus.
The vaccine, called Covifenz, contains plant-borne coronavirus-like particles (CoVLP) that are combined with an adjuvant (ASO3) to help the vaccines work better.
The vaccine efficacy against moderate-to-severe disease was 78.8 and 74%, respectively, for those who were initially seronegative, the researchers said.
Phase 3 Testing vaccine was conducted at 85 centers involving 24,141 adults who were randomly assigned to receive two intramuscular injections of CoVLP AS03 vaccine or placebo 21 days apart.
The researchers noted that the vaccine’s effectiveness in adults 65 years of age or older could not be determined due to limited enrollment of participants in this age group.
However, previous evidence suggests that the CoVLP AS03 vaccine-induced similar immune response occurs in both young and older adults.
Although in March this year World Health Organization (WHO) rejected Medicago Inc’s Kovid vaccine due to links to cigarette maker Philip Morris International Inc.
According to a WHO guidance document dated March 2, the Canadian biopharma company’s request for pre-qualification for its Covifenz shot was not accepted. That means the WHO is unlikely to approve the vaccine for emergency use, which would also exclude it. Kovax Global Vaccine-Sharing Facility.
Covifenz is the world’s first plant-based COVID inoculation. It is made from proteins, grown in plants, that look like the virus that causes the human immune system to contract COVID. The vaccine also uses GlaxoSmithKline plc’s epidural adjuvant, a substance that enhances the immune system’s response. It was developed jointly by Medicago, which is owned by Mitsubishi Chemical, and Philip Morris and Glaxo. The Canadian government provided $173 million for its development and is so far the only country to have approved it for use.