A home-grown COVID-19 vaccine candidate could soon be on the market, with Quebec-based Medicago’s latest data showing promising results. The biopharmaceutical manufacturer, which says its product showed 75.3 per cent efficacy against the Delta variant, said it plans to “imminently” file a final regulatory submission to Health Canada.
“I think the results that we have are really exciting and really interesting,” said Brian Ward, medical officer for Medicago.
The data published by Medicago showed efficacy against COVID-19 variants, such as Delta, which is globally the dominant strain. The company said in a press release that other vaccines which are currently in use did not have Phase 3 trials with the Delta variant. Overall, the vaccine had a 71 per cent efficacy against all variants, but the trials occurred before the appearance of the largely unknown Omicron variant.
“Our vaccine was actually challenged by these much more complicated, mutated viruses,” Ward said. “The overall efficacy that we achieved (in) that changed environment was actually really exciting for us.”
The vaccine, which is plant-based, “uses living plants as bioreactors to produce a non-infectious particle that mimics the target virus, without the use of any viruses,” according to the company. The technology produces Virus-Like Particles (VLP) for the protein vaccines, which mimic the actual coronavirus and can be easily picked up by the immune system. VLPs are not infectious and unable to replicated.
Medicago’s COVID-19 vaccine uses an adjuvant, which is a drug, substance or combination of substances used to amplify a vaccine effectiveness. Ward said Medicago’s vaccine candidate will also come with a lot of firsts.
“It will probably be the first virus-like particle vaccine for COVID, the first Canadian based vaccine for COVID, and it will be the world’s first plant-based vaccine for human use of any kind,” he said.
2:00 Plants key for Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine contender
Plants key for Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine contender – Jan 11, 2021
No serious adverse events were reported during the trials and the Medicago’s trials, which took place in six countries, saw over 24,000 participants participate. Half used the Canadian company’s vaccine candidate with the others using a placebo. The subjects were all 18 and older and were given two doses of the vaccine 21 days apart.
Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told the Canadian Press that he was impressed by how Canada has built up vaccine manufacturing infrastructure in a short time. The Canadian government has invested $173 million in Medicago’s vaccine candidate. Medicago’s current production facility is based in North Carolina, but the company is in the midst of building a global production facility in Quebec by the end of 2023.
“We’re seeing a renewed interest in bringing some of that (manufacturing) capacity back into the country,” Ward said. “I think there is a commitment.”
The vaccine was developed in partnership with Medicago British-American vaccine giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). For Ward, the phase 3 results show the power of Canadian ingenuity and research if provided the correct resources.
“We’re a small group of people, we’re a small company. And I think probably by a fair stretch we’re one of the smallest companies to successfully run a study of this size and complexity,” he said.
4:28 The made-in-Quebec COVID-19 vaccine
The made-in-Quebec COVID-19 vaccine – Jan 14, 2021
The landscape for vaccines in Canada has shifted from earlier in the pandemic when the country was struggling to secure doses. Now, with over 80 per cent of the population fully vaccinated and vaccines going to waste, Ward thinks Medicago’s vaccine candidate can play a role domestically, albeit a small one.
“Vaccine booster doses are needed to protect people,” Ward said. “There is data that shows mixing vaccines work well, too. I see that being the Canadian application.”
Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization has “strongly” recommended a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for people 50 and older. The committee also recommended that booster shots of an mRNA vaccine be offered to adults ages 18 to 49 at least six months after their second dose.
Health Canada does have an agreement in place with Medicago for an initial purchase of 20 million doses with an ability to increase to 76 million, if needed. But, to Ward and Medicago, they think that their best way forward will be to provide global vaccine relief after receiving authorization.
“There is a global need for vaccines,” Ward said. “Less than one half of the world’s population has had access to vaccines so far so that there are still billions of doses that are needed. We would like to be able to contribute.”
Even the vaccines produced for Canadians can be used globally depending on the discretion of the federal government, according to Ward.
“Canada would make the decision on how to use those vaccines, and we are in negotiation with other countries,” he said.
Most job search advice is cookie-cutter. The advice you’re following is almost certainly the same advice other job seekers follow, making you just another candidate following the same script.
In today’s hyper-competitive job market, standing out is critical, a challenge most job seekers struggle with. Instead of relying on generic questions recommended by self-proclaimed career coaches, which often lead to a forgettable interview, ask unique, thought-provoking questions that’ll spark engaging conversations and leave a lasting impression.
Your level of interest in the company and the role.
Contributing to your employer’s success is essential.
You desire a cultural fit.
Here are the top four questions experts recommend candidates ask; hence, they’ve become cliché questions you should avoid asking:
“What are the key responsibilities of this position?”
Most likely, the job description answers this question. Therefore, asking this question indicates you didn’t read the job description. If you require clarification, ask, “How many outbound calls will I be required to make daily?” “What will be my monthly revenue target?”
“What does a typical day look like?”
Although it’s important to understand day-to-day expectations, this question tends to elicit vague responses and rarely leads to a deeper conversation. Don’t focus on what your day will look like; instead, focus on being clear on the results you need to deliver. Nobody I know has ever been fired for not following a “typical day.” However, I know several people who were fired for failing to meet expectations. Before accepting a job offer, ensure you’re capable of meeting the employer’s expectations.
“How would you describe the company culture?”
Asking this question screams, “I read somewhere to ask this question.” There are much better ways to research a company’s culture, such as speaking to current and former employees, reading online reviews and news articles. Furthermore, since your interviewer works for the company, they’re presumably comfortable with the culture. Do you expect your interviewer to give you the brutal truth? “Be careful of Craig; get on his bad side, and he’ll make your life miserable.” “Bob is close to retirement. I give him lots of slack, which the rest of the team needs to pick up.”
Truism: No matter how much due diligence you do, only when you start working for the employer will you experience and, therefore, know their culture firsthand.
“What opportunities are there for professional development?”
When asked this question, I immediately think the candidate cares more about gaining than contributing, a showstopper. Managing your career is your responsibility, not your employer’s.
Cliché questions don’t impress hiring managers, nor will they differentiate you from your competition. To transform your interaction with your interviewer from a Q&A session into a dynamic discussion, ask unique, insightful questions.
Here are my four go-to questions—I have many more—to accomplish this:
“Describe your management style. How will you manage me?”
This question gives your interviewer the opportunity to talk about themselves, which we all love doing. As well, being in sync with my boss is extremely important to me. The management style of who’ll be my boss is a determining factor in whether or not I’ll accept the job.
“What is the one thing I should never do that’ll piss you off and possibly damage our working relationship beyond repair?”
This question also allows me to determine whether I and my to-be boss would be in sync. Sometimes I ask, “What are your pet peeves?”
“When I join the team, what would be the most important contribution you’d want to see from me in the first six months?”
Setting myself up for failure is the last thing I want. As I mentioned, focus on the results you need to produce and timelines. How realistic are the expectations? It’s never about the question; it’s about what you want to know. It’s important to know whether you’ll be able to meet or even exceed your new boss’s expectations.
“If I wanted to sell you on an idea or suggestion, what do you need to know?”
Years ago, a candidate asked me this question. I was impressed he wasn’t looking just to put in time; he was looking for how he could be a contributing employee. Every time I ask this question, it leads to an in-depth discussion.
Other questions I’ve asked:
“What keeps you up at night?”
“If you were to leave this company, who would follow?”
“How do you handle an employee making a mistake?”
“If you were to give a Ted Talk, what topic would you talk about?”
“What are three highly valued skills at [company] that I should master to advance?”
“What are the informal expectations of the role?”
“What is one misconception people have about you [or the company]?”
Your questions reveal a great deal about your motivations, drive to make a meaningful impact on the business, and a chance to morph the questioning into a conversation. Cliché questions don’t lead to meaningful discussions, whereas unique, thought-provoking questions do and, in turn, make you memorable.
Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers “unsweetened” job search advice. You can send Nick your questions to artoffindingwork@gmail.com.
CALGARY – Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. reported a third-quarter profit of $2.27 billion, down from $2.34 billion in the same quarter last year.
The company says the profit amounted to $1.06 per diluted share for the quarter that ended Sept. 30 compared with $1.06 per diluted share a year earlier.
Product sales totalled $10.40 billion, down from $11.76 billion in the same quarter last year.
Daily production for the quarter averaged 1,363,086 barrels of oil equivalent per day, down from 1,393,614 a year ago.
On an adjusted basis, Canadian Natural says it earned 97 cents per diluted share for the quarter, down from an adjusted profit of $1.30 per diluted share in the same quarter last year.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 90 cents per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2024.
CALGARY – Cenovus Energy Inc. reported its third-quarter profit fell compared with a year as its revenue edged lower.
The company says it earned $820 million or 42 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, down from $1.86 billion or 97 cents per diluted share a year earlier.
Revenue for the quarter totalled $14.25 billion, down from $14.58 billion in the same quarter last year.
Total upstream production in the quarter amounted to 771,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day, down from 797,000 a year earlier.
Total downstream throughput was 642,900 barrels per day compared with 664,300 in the same quarter last year.
On an adjusted basis, Cenovus says its funds flow amounted to $1.05 per diluted share in its latest quarter, down from adjusted funds flow of $1.81 per diluted share a year earlier.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2024.
