Medicago Inc. and Philip Morris International Inc (PMI) have separated ways after the World Health Organization (WHO) rejected Medicago’s COVID-19 vaccine due to links with the tobacco industry, reports Bloomberg.

Medicago, which is owned by Mitsubishi Chemical, Philip Morris and Glaxo, had jointly developed the world’s first plant-based COVID-19 vaccine Covifenz. The development of the vaccine was supported by the Canadian government that contributed USD 173 million in funding and cleared the vaccine for use. However, the WHO rejected Medicago’s request for an emergency-use listing because of the company’s links with the tobacco industry, reports Bloomberg.
Now, Medicago has severed all ties with PMI, a fact that has been met with relief from organizations such as ASH Canada. “Tobacco corporations, vaccines and governments don’t mix well, and we applaud the expulsion of Philip Morris from the Medicago collaboration,” Les Hagen, the executive director of the not-for-profit organization said. “We are relieved that Canadian governments have washed their hands of this unethical and embarrassing collaboration with a tobacco giant,” Hagen concluded.