British American Tobacco (BAT), the parent company of Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CTC), announced last week that it is developing a vaccine for Covid-19 using its proprietary, fast-growing tobacco plant technology.
The global tobacco giant holds an 84.1% stake in CTC, Sri Lanka’s monopoly cigarette manufacturer and the country’s single largest individual tax contributor. BAT also owns globally renowned brands such as Dunhill, Benson & Hedges, and Rothmans.
BAT said in a press release that the potential vaccine is currently in the pre-clinical testing stage. If testing goes well, it is hopeful that with sufficient support, it would be capable of manufacturing between one to three million doses of the vaccine per week, beginning in June.
However it is unclear as to when the vaccine would be made available in Sri Lanka if testing proves successful. When inquired CTC refused to comment saying that all they can share at the moment is the press release from its parent company.
BAT Scientific Research Director Dr. David O’Reilly said: “Vaccine development is challenging and complex work, but we believe we have made a significant breakthrough with our tobacco plant technology platform and stand ready to work with governments and all stakeholders to help win the war against Covid-19. We fully align with the United Nations (UN) plea, for a whole-of-society approach to combat global problems.”
BAT said the proprietary, fast-growing tobacco plant technology has the following advantages over conventional vaccine production technology:
•It is potentially safer given that tobacco plants can’t host pathogens which cause human disease
•It is faster because the elements of the vaccine accumulate in tobacco plants much more quickly – six weeks in tobacco plants versus several months using conventional methods
•The vaccine formulation Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP) is developing remains stable at room temperature, unlike conventional vaccines which often require refrigeration
•It has the potential to deliver an effective immune response in a single dose
The development of the potential vaccine is being carried out by BAT’s bio-tech subsidiary, Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP). BAT’s US subsidiary, Reynolds American Inc., acquired KBP in 2014, with the aim of using some of its unique tobacco extraction technology to aid further development of its new category non-combustible products.
In 2014, KBP made headlines as one of the few companies with an effective treatment for Ebola, having manufactured ZMapp™ with California-based company Mapp Biopharmaceutical in partnership with the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
KBP recently cloned a portion of Covid-19’s genetic sequence which led to the development of a potential antigen – a substance which induces an immune response in the body and in particular, the production of antibodies. This antigen was then inserted into tobacco plants for reproduction and, once the plants were harvested, the antigen was purified, and is now undergoing preclinical testing.
BAT said in a press release that the potential vaccine is currently in the pre-clinical testing stage. If testing goes well, it is hopeful that with sufficient support, it would be capable of manufacturing between one to three million doses of the vaccine per week, beginning in June.
However it is unclear as to when the vaccine would be made available in Sri Lanka if testing proves successful. When inquired CTC refused to comment saying that all they can share at the moment is the press release from its parent company.
BAT Scientific Research Director Dr. David O’Reilly said: “Vaccine development is challenging and complex work, but we believe we have made a significant breakthrough with our tobacco plant technology platform and stand ready to work with governments and all stakeholders to help win the war against Covid-19. We fully align with the United Nations (UN) plea, for a whole-of-society approach to combat global problems.”
BAT said the proprietary, fast-growing tobacco plant technology has the following advantages over conventional vaccine production technology:
•It is potentially safer given that tobacco plants can’t host pathogens which cause human disease
•It is faster because the elements of the vaccine accumulate in tobacco plants much more quickly – six weeks in tobacco plants versus several months using conventional methods
•The vaccine formulation Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP) is developing remains stable at room temperature, unlike conventional vaccines which often require refrigeration
•It has the potential to deliver an effective immune response in a single dose
The development of the potential vaccine is being carried out by BAT’s bio-tech subsidiary, Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP). BAT’s US subsidiary, Reynolds American Inc., acquired KBP in 2014, with the aim of using some of its unique tobacco extraction technology to aid further development of its new category non-combustible products.
In 2014, KBP made headlines as one of the few companies with an effective treatment for Ebola, having manufactured ZMapp™ with California-based company Mapp Biopharmaceutical in partnership with the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
KBP recently cloned a portion of Covid-19’s genetic sequence which led to the development of a potential antigen – a substance which induces an immune response in the body and in particular, the production of antibodies. This antigen was then inserted into tobacco plants for reproduction and, once the plants were harvested, the antigen was purified, and is now undergoing preclinical testing.