In a delicious irony that may challenge the belief systems of those opposed to genetic engineering and also tobacco sponsorship, it looks like BAT (British American Tobacco) may have won the race to provide the first vaccine for COVID-19:
The world’s second-biggest cigarette maker claims to have made a “significant breakthrough” in the race to find a vaccine for the coronavirus and would be ready to start mass production within three months.
British American Tobacco (BAT), the FTSE 100 company behind Lucky Strike and Dunhill, said it could be producing up to 3m million doses of a vaccine a week by June – far faster than rivals, which are expecting to take at least a year.
BAT intends to start trialling its vaccine in humans as soon as possible. It is running pre-clinical tests and holding urgent talks with US drug authorities to fast-track permissions.
The treatment is being developed by the company’s health division Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP), which has previously come up with a drug to combat Ebola. It claims to have found an antibody that appears to fight Covid-19, and is manufacturing this using genetically modified tobacco plants.
… The company has opened talks with the Department for Health as well as US regulators. “BAT is now exploring partnerships with government agencies to bring its vaccine to clinical studies as soon as possible.”
Owen Bennett of Jefferies said: “It helps to illustrate the scientific sophistication at big tobacco.”
If the scheme is successful it will give BAT’s reputation a massive boost, he added.
BAT’s scientific research director David O’Reilly said: “Vaccine development is challenging and complex work, but we believe we have made a significant break-through with our tobacco plant technology platform and stand ready to work with governments and all stakeholders to help win the war against Covid-19.
“KBP has been exploring alternative uses of the tobacco plant for some time. One such alternative use is the development of plant-based vaccines. We are committed to contributing to the global effort to halt the spread of Covid-19 using this technology.”
Let’s hope it is successful, then we can watch to see the Greens and the anti-tobacco lobbyists twist themselves out of shape as they grapple with the dilemma of taking a vaccine developed using genetic engineering and funded by tobacco money.
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