Amruta Khandekar, Mrinalika Ray

(Reuters). Medicago is a Canadian manufacturer of vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccine was approved by Canada’s Health Organization last month. But, health experts warn that the World Health Organization has not yet reviewed the vaccine. This is due to Philip Morris owning a part of the company (NYSE:).

At a briefing earlier this month, the WHO stated that they had not received a vaccine application because it was bound by a 2005 treaty prohibiting any involvement in tobacco-based companies.

Canada provided the funding for the development and purchased up to 76 millions doses. Canada also defended their authorization.

Health Canada indicated that they believe it is compliant with the WHO treaty on tobacco.

A spokesperson for Health Canada told Reuters that the WHO tobacco treaty does not prohibit Canada from working with Medicago to develop and procure vaccines in order to make sure there is a sufficient supply of these vaccines available for Canadians.

Experts believe that a WHO authorization for the vaccine is essential so it can be included in COVAX’s global vaccine program. This includes low- and medium-income countries. Although most of the world’s population is vaccinated now, Africa still needs vaccines. For countries without their own regulatory bodies, WHO approval is a good option.

Company also stated that it is adaptable and can be used to develop new vaccines for the next pandemic. The platform is also used to develop flu vaccines.

Amesh Adalja from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, an expert in infectious diseases said that “I believe that the WHO standards will pose a barrier for the uptake of vaccine.”

Adalja stated that Medicago will now have to contact U.S. and European regulators individually to obtain approvals. This is a harder but still possible barrier.

GLOBALISATION OF CUSTOMER BASE

Medicago stated that it was in talks with potential clients around the world.

Takashi Nagao (Medicago Chief Executive Officer) stated in an emailed statement that the company had begun the process of filing with FDA for approval of COVID-19.

Nagao stated that the company also began an early to mid stage study on the shot in Japan and will file for regulatory approval by spring.

The WHO did not send it an official notification, however the WHO believed that the WHO decision was related to the minority shareholder of the WHO and not to the safety or efficacy profile for its COVID-19 vaccination.

Philip Morris, the Swiss-American tobacco company giant Philip Morris holds 21% of Quebec’s stock. The rest of Medicago is owned by Japan’s Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma (a division of Mitsubishi Chemical Holding Corp).

Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control, a Canadian group that promotes health and wellness in Canada, has called for Canada’s replacement of Philip Morris as a stakeholder. This is due to the company’s tobacco business. Since 2008, Philip Morris holds a share in the company.

Philip Morris spokeswoman stated that WHO had reacted against its request to speed up vaccinations in the world.

The spokesperson stated that emergency authorization for a COVID-19 vaccination has nothing to do whatsoever with tobacco control. “WHO should concentrate on medical innovation and progress acceleration.”

Medicago’s Covifenz is the only authorized COVID-19 vaccine that is plant-based. As small bioreactors to grow non-infectious virus particles similar to the coronavirus, the company has used nicotiana bendhamiana (a close relative of the tobacco plants) in the production of this vaccine. A boosting agent from a British drugmaker is used to give it. Glaxosmithkline (LON:).

According to Prashant Yadav (a lecturer at Harvard Medical School and supply chain expert), the United States and Europe may want Medicago’s shot even though they already have several approved vaccines.