Medicago’s COVID-19 vaccine approval by Health Canada offers Canadians the option of a plant-based immunizing technology.
Covifenz was developed by a Quebec City-based company Medicago. It uses plant-derived, virus-like particles, which resemble the coronavirus behind COVID-19 without containing its genetic material.
Brian Ward, Medicago’s medical officer, said plant-based technology is safe and effective.
“Plant-based vaccines are categorized as recombinant protein-based vaccines,” he said. “In the plant-based vaccine development process, living plants are used as bioreactors to produce a non-infectious Virus-like particle (VLP) that mimics the target virus.”
In clinical trials, the vaccine was found to be 71 per cent effective against symptomatic infection and 100 per cent effective against severe disease caused by COVID-19.
Ward said it takes only five to six weeks for Medicago to produce a clinical-grade vaccine using plant-based technology, faster than the four-to-six months for egg and cell-based production methods.
“Medicago believes in the power of plants to help protect public health,” he said. “Our plant-based technology allows us to swiftly develop vaccines and therapies that can respond to pandemic situation and endemic diseases.”
The approval was announced by Health Canada on Feb. 24, and Covifenz is now the sixth vaccine approved in Canada. Its use is allowed for adults from 18 to 64 years old.
A media representative from Health Canada said Medicago’s vaccine will only be considered for use in different age groups after compliance with the approval protocol.
“For approval for the younger population, the manufacturer will need to submit a new request for approval for that age group, including clinical trial evidence that the vaccine is safe for that population,” Health Canada’s representative said.
For Philippe Rodrigue, 39, who was reluctant to take the vaccines currently available on the market, Medicago’s Covifenz might be an option.
“I’m glad to have an option that is not the experimental mRNA inoculation,” he said. “I spent the last year learning about this type of vaccine and if I was to get a vaccine for COVID, this one would be the one.”
Rodrigue said this vaccine may be an alternative for the ones who remains unvaccinated.
“Medicago option will probably convince some to extend their arms,” he said.
Covifenz’s last phase of data included 30,000 volunteers and was submitted for regulatory review by Health Canada in December 2021. Its two-dose regimen must be administered 21 days apart, and the vaccine is now available in Canada.
“People interested in getting the Medicago vaccine should contact their physician or their local public health authorities,” said Health Canada’s media representative.
Ward said Medicago is discussing the vaccine’s approval with other potential purchasers worldwide.
“We cannot comment further on these discussions as they are confidential,” he said. “However, Medicago hopes that its vaccine will be able to help protect as many people as possible. We are excited to contribute towards the fight against this pandemic and diversifying the pool of available vaccines.”