Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Apple Explores India for iPhone Chip Assembly as Manufacturing Push Accelerates 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Trump Sues BBC for Defamation Over Edited Capitol Riot Speech Clip 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Robinhood Expands Sports Event Contracts With Player Performance Wagers 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Blackstone Leads $400 Million Funding Round in Cyera at $9 Billion Valuation 
SUPERFORTUNE Launches AI-Powered Mobile App, Expanding Beyond Web3 Into $392 Billion Metaphysics Market 
GSK and Medicago are now closer to debuting the world's first plant-based COVID-19 vaccine after the completion of phase 3 clinical trial for the efficacy and safety of the immunization that they are developing.
This week, GlaxoSmithKline and Medicago announced getting positive results for their plant-based vaccine candidate for coronavirus. The product is Canadian-made, and it was found to be 71% effective after going through the third level of tests.
According to Canada's CTV News, Medicago Inc., the biotech company headquartered in Quebec, said their Phase 3 placebo-controlled study for their COVID-19 vaccine was conducted in over 24,000 subjects based in six countries.
The participants were 18 years old and older, and the outcome revealed the 71% effectiveness against all variants of coronavirus that were active at the time of the trial. The company further said that they did not find any serious safety issues as well.
The positive results were forwarded to regulators already so it can be authorized to release the world's very first plant-based COVID-19 vaccine worldwide. Just like the other available vaccines today, Medicago and GSK's candidate is also a two-dose injection.
Then again, while the biotech firm said its new vaccine was tested to be effective against the Delta variant but the trial did not include the Omicron variant because it was not yet circulating when the study began.
Currently, the vaccine producer is now processing documents and requirements for filing with health regulators in the U.K., U.S., and other nations. They will also forward the necessary data to World Health Organisation (WHO).
"This is an incredible moment for Medicago and for novel vaccine platforms. The results of our clinical trials show the power of plant-based vaccine manufacturing technology," Medicago chief executive officer and president Takashi Nagao said in a press release. "If approved, we will be contributing to the world's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic with the world's first plant-based vaccine for use in humans."
Finally, Nagao also expressed his gratitude to everyone who took part in the clinical trials, including its partners at GSK, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, and the government of Canada and Quebec. He did not forget to thank Medicago's workers and shareholders, who are also committed to work on advancing vaccine science at a time when the world needs it.
