Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, headquartered in Osaka, has revealed that a vaccine for the new coronavirus developed using plants by a subsidiary in Canada has been approved locally.


The company is also conducting clinical trials in Japan and wants to apply for approval as early as summer.

According to the announcement, the new Corona vaccine, which Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma's Canadian subsidiary Medicago has been developing in collaboration with a British pharmaceutical company, was approved by the Canadian government on the 24th.



This vaccine is made by incorporating the virus gene into a fast-growing plant of the genus Tobacco and extracting virus-like particles from leaf cells, because it can be stored at temperatures of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. , It is said that it has the advantage of being easy to carry to medical institutions that inoculate.



Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma is proceeding with clinical trials of this vaccine in the initial stage in Japan, and if safety etc. can be confirmed, it will add the results of the final stage clinical trials conducted overseas and at the earliest in the summer. Also wants to apply for approval in Japan.



Regarding the vaccine for the new corona, Shionogi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., which also has its headquarters in Osaka, is conducting clinical trials with the aim of putting it into practical use.