Medicago’s flagship product from its novel plant-based production platform was its COVID-19 vaccine—which is no longer a hot commodity and the firm has had trouble producing it in commercial quantities, Mitsubishi Chemical Group said in announcing the decision to close up shop. (The Logic)

Talking point: The federal government pledged up to $200 million to develop and commercialize Medicago’s products, at least some of which was meant to be repaid. Although the company’s COVID-19 vaccine was approved in Canada, the World Health Organization refused to evaluate it last year because Mitsubishi shared ownership with Philip Morris, a tobacco giant, but Mitsubishi bought Philip Morris out at the end of 2022. The advantage of Medicago’s process—in development for more than 20 years—was supposed to be rapid mass production of key ingredients using nicotiana plants, allowing quick responses to new viral threats. It’s also been working on vaccines for influenza, norovirus and rotavirus.