A plant-based COVID-19 vaccine developed by a Quebec biopharmaceutical firm will “very likely” not be approved for emergency use because of the company’s ties to the tobacco industry, a World Health Organization official said Wednesday.
The WHO has paused the process for pre-qualification of Medicago’s new Covifenz shot due to its link to Marlboro cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris International.
“Due to its connections — it’s partially owned by Philip Morris — the process is put on hold,” said Mariangela Simao, WHO’s assistant director-general for drug access, vaccines and pharmaceuticals, at a Wednesday media briefing.
“The WHO and the UN have a very strict policy
