Quebec City-based biopharmaceutical company Medicago and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have announced that Health Canada has granted approval for the plant-based virus-like particles (VLP), recombinant, adjuvanted COVIFENZ® COVID-19 vaccine. Health Canada based its decision on scientific data shared by Medicago.
COVIFENZ® COVID-19 vaccine uses coronavirus-like particle (CoVLP) technology. VLPs are molecules that closely resemble viruses but do not contain any viral genetic material so they are noninfectious. COVIFENZ® is composed of recombinant spike (S) glycoprotein expressed as virus-like particles (VLPs) co-administered with GSK’s pandemic adjuvant. The vaccination regimen using COVIFENZ® calls for two doses given intramuscularly 21 days apart. The vaccine is stored at 2°C to 8°C. COVIFENZ® antigen will be manufactured in Canada and in North Carolina in the US, but it is not currently approved or authorized for the prevention of COVID-19 or any other indication anywhere other than in Canada.
The Government of Canada has a contract with Medicago to supply the COVID-19 vaccine. Medicago is committed to fulfilling this order as soon as possible.
For more details, read the press release from Medicago.
Source： CropBiotechUpdate
