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Medicago (Company)

Medicago (Company)

Medicago is a biopharmaceutical company founded in 1999, based in Quebec, Quebec, Canada, that uses plant-based manufacturing to develop vaccines and protein-based therapeutics. In 2013 became a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation.

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Medico is a biopharmaceutical company manufacturing plat-based vaccines and therapeutics that is headquartered in Quebec City, Quebec and was founded in 1999. Medicago, established based on research at Agriculture Canada and Laval University, is named after the Latin word for alfalfa, the first plant the company worked on. Medicago is 40% owned by the cigarette company, Philip Morris, and 60% of Medicago’s shares were purchased by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma in 2013.

Medicago developed technology for producing vaccines, antibodies, protein-based products and therapeutic proteins inside plants, called Proficia. Medicago developed a modified version of the platform called VLP Express for drug discovery. Their system introduces recombinant DNA into the bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which are introduced into tobacco leaves where they infect surrounding cells and transfer the recombinant DNA, called transfer DNA (T-DNA) to the plant nucleus. Without integrating into the plant genome, the T-DNA is transcribed and translated, producing the encoded protein. After 11 days leaves are harvested and proteins are extracted and purified to produce clinical-grade pharmaceutical ingredients.

Medicago uses Nicotiana benthamiana, a tobacco species that naturally makes proteins at high speed. Whereas a vaccine produced using eggs is a six-month process, Medicago’s plant production cycle takes about six weeks. The plants produce virus-like particles that resemble the flu virus and are claimed to elicit an immune response against the flu. As of 2018 their flu vaccine was in phase 3 clinical trials.

Medicago USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and partnered with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which has a manufacturing facility that produces vaccines for clinical studies.

Products

Medicago’s candidate products include H5N1 pandemic influenza VLP vaccine, seasonal influenza and H1N1 vaccines. Products in development include Rotavirus vaccine in alliance with Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation and an Ebola prevention vaccine in collaboration with DARPA. Medicago’s seasonal recombinant quadrivalent VLP vaccine for influenza is under review by Health Canada and has completed a safety and efficacy clinical program with more than 25,000 patients.

COVID-19

Medicago is developing both a vaccine and potential treatment of COVID-19. The company produced a virus-like particle (VLP) of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which mimics the shape and dimensions of the virus so that the body can recognize and create an immune response. VLPs activate both arms of the immune system, the antibody and cell-mediated responses. After preclinical testing, clinical trials for the vaccine are expected in July or August 2020. Medicago is also developing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in collaboration with the Laval University Infectious Disease Research Centre, which could potentially be used to treat people already infected with the virus. Medicago has received $7 million from the Quebec provincial government for its COVID-19 vaccine development.

Funding
Grant

On March 1, 2010 Medicago received a research grant worth $300,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Venture round

On May 13, 2010 Medicago completed a venture capital funding round with $10 million in funding from Yorkville Advisors.

Private equity round

On September 27, 2011 Medicago completed a private equity round with $25 million in funding from Fonds De Solidarite FTQ, CTI Life Sciences Fund, and AgChecm Venture Fund.

Government support

On December 12, 2012 Medicago received $415,000 in financial support from the Quebec Government and Quebec City for Innovative Regional Project.

Timeline

No Timeline data yet.

Funding Rounds

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Products

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Acquisitions

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SBIR/STTR Awards

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Patents

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Further Resources

Title
Author
Link
Type
Date

Medicago to build $245M production facility in Quebec City

Medicago

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/medicago-to-build-245m-production-facility-in-quebec-city-517725901.html

Web

References

medicago.com
Is a
Organization
Organization
Company
Company

Company attributes

Industry
Biology
Biology
Engineering
Engineering
Biopharmaceutical
Biopharmaceutical
Therapeutics
Therapeutics
Vaccine
Vaccine
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
...
Location
Canada
Canada
Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Ontario
Ontario
Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec
Quebec
B2X
B2B
B2B
CEO
‌
Toshifumi Tada
-1
‌
Bruce D. Clark
Legal Name
Medicago Inc.
Parent Organization
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma
Date Incorporated
1999
Full Address
1020, route de l'Église, Suite 600 Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 3V9 Canada
7 Triangle Drive Durham, North Carolina 27713 United States
2552, Blvd. du Parc-Technologique Quebec City, Quebec, G1P 4S6 Canada
7685 Hurontario Street Brampton, Ontario, L6W 0B4 Canada
2300, av. D'Estimauville Quebec City, Quebec, G1E 0H6 Canada
3220, av Watt, Suite 101 Quebec City, Quebec, G1X 4Z6 Canada
PO Box 14545 Durham, North Carolina 27709 United States
Investors
Yorkville Advisors
Yorkville Advisors
Founded Date
1997
Total Funding Amount (USD)
10,000,000
Latest Funding Round Date
May 13, 2010
Business Model
Commerce
Stock Symbol
MDG
Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange
Patents Assigned (Count)
1
Country
Canada
Canada
Headquarters
Quebec City
Quebec City

Other attributes

Company Operating Status
Active

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