The government of Canada is set to recover about $40 million and research conducted by Medicago into both the COVID-19 vaccine and other pandemic preparedness tools, following the company ceasing operations 10 months ago.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister François-Philippe announced on Friday that Ottawa had reached an agreement with Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation (MCG) — Medicago’s parent company — to see a $40-million payment returned to the government, which was owed to the Crown in relation to the construction of the company’s biomanufacturing facility.
The agreement will also see key research and development assets, intellectual property and equipment transferred to Aramis Biotechnologies, a new Canadian company based in Quebec that was formed by former employees of Medicago the same month the latter ceased its operations.
“Our government has always been clear that the technology developed by Medicago is important to our life sciences sector and that we would work with our partners to keep expertise and workers in Quebec,” Champagne said in a statement.
Champagne’s ministry notes in a release that when Medicago ceased operations earlier this year, the government’s goals were to maintain the company’s intellectual property and research assets; ensure a Canadian company retails the technology platform, talent and expertise; and find third-party investors to maintain and expand the company’s platform capabilities in Canada. It writes that the intention is to enhance domestic pandemic preparedness capabilities.
In February, Medicago announced it would shut down its COVID-19 vaccine project after its sole shareholder decided to no longer invest in the company. And with MCG deciding to “proceed with an orderly wind-up of its business operations in Canada and the United States,” Medicago said the group would cease all of the company’s operations.
Medicago made headlines last year when its Covifenz shot was the first Canadian-developed COVID-19 vaccine was approved for use by Health Canada. It was the world’s first-ever plant-based jab authorized for human use, and first Canadian vaccine of any kind to be approved in more than 20 years.
But a month after its approval, the World Health Organization rejected the vaccine because of the company’s ties to tobacco giant Philip Morris, which owned a one-third stake in Medicago. Those ties were cut in December 2022.
MCG said once the vaccine was licensed in Canada, it began preparations for a transition to “commercial production,” but 10 months ago said it was terminating its operations due to the current global demand for the COVID-19 vaccine. It added “economic context” for the vaccine and Medicago’s challenges in transferring to commercial production as its reasoning.
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In 2020, Medicago received $173 million from the federal government for facility construction, and research and development of the vaccine. When the announcement about ceasing operations was made, Champagne’s spokesperson Laurie Bouchard said in a statement to Global News that Ottawa was disappointed in the decision by MCG, a sentiment echoed by then-health minister Jean-Yves Duclos.
With Friday’s announcement, Duclos, now minister of public services and procurement, said this decision was “great news.”
“This demonstrates our commitment to continuing to grow the Canadian life sciences sector to improve health care for Canadians and Quebecers, increase our resilience to face future health emergencies, and create good jobs for the middle class, including here in Quebec City,” Duclos said in a statement.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
