Glaxo Teams With Philip Morris-Backed Biotech on Covid Vaccine
- Glaxo partner Medicago is working on a plant-based vaccine
- Drugmaker, biotech company aim to start human tests in July
Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg
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GlaxoSmithKline Plc is collaborating on an experimental Covid-19 vaccine with Medicago, a biotechnology company partly owned by tobacco giant Philip Morris International Inc.
The partnership will combine Medicago’s plant-based production platform with Glaxo’s adjuvants, substances that enhance the body’s immune response, the companies said on Tuesday. Human testing is due to start in mid-July, and the companies aim to make the vaccine available in the first half of 2021, if it’s successful.