Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1229160
02.04.2020 5 INTERNATIONAL NEWS BRITISH American Tobacco's US bio- tech subsidiary, Kentucky BioProcess- ing (KBP), is developing a potential vaccine for COVID-19 and is now in pre-clinical testing. If testing goes well, BAT is hopeful that, with the right part- ners and support from government agencies, between 1 and 3 million doses of the vaccine could be manufactured per week, beginning in June. While KBP remains a commercial op- eration, the intention is that its work around the Covid-19 vaccine project will be carried out on a not for profit basis. e vaccine in development uses BAT's proprietary, fast-growing tobac- co plant technology which has several advantages over conventional vaccine production technology: • It is potentially safer given that to- bacco 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 – 6 weeks in tobacco plants versus several months using conventional methods. • e vaccine formulation KBP is de- veloping remains stable at room tem- perature, unlike conventional vaccines which often require refrigeration. • It has the potential to deliver an effective immune response in a single dose. BAT's US subsidiary, Reynolds Amer- ican Inc, acquired KBP in 2014, with the aim of using some of its unique to- bacco extraction technology to aid fur- ther 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 manufac- tured ZMapp™ with California-based company Mapp BioPharmaceuticals in partnership with the U.S. 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. is antigen was then inserted into to- bacco plants for reproduction and, once the plants were harvested, the antigen was then purified, and is now undergo- ing pre-clinical testing. BAT is now exploring partnerships with government agencies to bring its vaccine to clinical studies as soon as possible. rough collaborations with govern- ment and third-party manufacturers, BAT believes that between one and three million doses per week could be manufactured. British American Tobacco working on plant-based coronavirus vaccine Cultivation of the tobacco plant for the development of a potential Covid-19 vaccine PRESIDENT Donald Trump said the U.S. would meet with Saudi Arabia and Russia with the goal of stanching an historic plunge in oil prices. Trump, speaking at the White House Tuesday, said he's raised the issue in conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "ey're go- ing to get together and we're all going to get together and we're going to see what we can do," he said. "e two countries are discussing it. And I am joining at the appropriate time, if need be." If it happens, it would be the first meeting between Saudi Arabia and Russia since the collapse of the OPEC+ coalition in early March. Since then, both countries have vowed to flood the market with millions of excess barrels of oil in an acrimonious battle over market share. Despite the president's remarks, neither nation has backed down from their price war, with Saudi Arabia having already loaded several supertankers with crude headed for Europe. Trump's intervention comes as April shapes up to be a calamitous month for the oil market. Saudi Arabia plans to boost its supply to a record 12.3 million barrels a day, up from about 9.7 million in February. At the same time, fuel con- sumption is poised to plummet by 15 million to 22 million barrels as corona- virus-related lockdowns halt transit in much of the world. e global benchmark crude has al- ready plunged to record lows, posting the worst quarter in history on Tues- day. "It's not even feasible what's going on," Trump said, adding that the price melt- down was harming the oil industry. "You don't want to lose an industry -- you're going to lose an industry over it." Still, he celebrated the low gasoline prices brought about by the market downturn, calling them "the greatest tax cut we've ever given." "People are going to be paying 99 cents for a gallon of gasoline," he said. "It's incredible in a lot of ways." US, Saudi and Russia to meet on market crash President Trump has used record stock market values of recent times as a measure of his success