Although many COVID-19 vaccines have been launched around the world, new vaccine studies continue. A completely herbal-based coronavirus vaccine has been produced with tobacco, which is often used in the pharmaceutical industry. In the production of the vaccine, virus-like particles that do not contain the genetic material of the coronavirus, but are similar, were used.
The world’s first herbal-based coronavirus vaccine was produced in partnership with Canada-based Medicago and British Pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Officials announced that the vaccine provides protection against all variants of the coronavirus.
Efficiency rate 71%
The raw material of the herbal COVID-19 vaccine is Nicotina Benthamiana, a tobacco variety native to Australia. A company called Medicago has produced particles that mimic the hedgehog proteins that coat the coronavirus on this plant in a laboratory setting. The drug manufacturer GSK also contributed to the effect of the vaccine by increasing immunity with a chemical substance.
Medicago announced that the overall efficacy rate against all variants of the virus, including the Delta variant, is 71 percent, according to final-stage clinical analyzes of the vaccine. The company reported that, as in other vaccines, side effects such as fever and fatigue can be felt in the first few days after being vaccinated in this vaccine.
All clinical trial results of the plant-based vaccine will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal in the coming days. Officials announced that the necessary applications will be made to the Canadian Ministry of Health as soon as possible for the vaccine to start to be applied. Medicago spokesman Brian Ward underlined that with the ministry’s approval, the vaccine will be the first COVID-19 vaccine using virus-like particle technology, the first herbal-based vaccine approved for human use. “This will be a world first. I think there will be a significant need for our vaccine for those who still haven’t been vaccinated or who need a booster dose in addition to two doses,” Ward said.
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