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Russia says human trials of its coronavirus vaccine have begun in the Middle East – CNBC

Published

4 years ago

October 13, 2020

Pictured in this video screen grab is a volunteer receiving a Russian-made polyvalent vector vaccine for Covid-19 as part of clinical trials at Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University.

Sechenov Medical University Press Office | TASS | Getty Images

Russia has announced that human trials of its controversial coronavirus vaccine have begun in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Kremlin said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had held a phone call with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

During the call, the “importance of joint efforts to combat the spread of coronavirus was noted, including interaction on the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, which is currently being clinically tested in the UAE,” the Kremlin said in a statement. It added that the leaders also “reaffirmed their mutual disposition to further strengthen the Russian-UAE strategic partnership in various fields.”

The UAE is the second foreign country to trial Russia’s “Sputnik V” vaccine — named with a nod to the Cold War space race — following tests in Belarus, Reuters reported Monday. Additional trials are reportedly set to begin in Venezuela, another country allied to Russia.

Nonetheless, Russia’s vaccine is controversial with experts around the world questioning its efficacy and safety.

Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, which developed the vaccine, has still not shared additional research and data from early clinical trials testing the vaccine, the Moscow Times reported last week. It comes despite calls for it to do so by scientists wary of the data that was released in The Lancet medical journal in September.

Russian officials have said that claims its vaccine is not effective are tantamount to “information warfare” and reflect Western bias against the country. The vaccine was given regulatory approval in August, making Russia the first country in the world to reach this stage.

Russia had already announced on its website dedicated to the vaccine that several countries, including the UAE as well as the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and “possibly India and Brazil,” would partake in “post-registration clinical trials” of the vaccine. Its mass production was expected to start in September 2020, but it’s uncertain whether or not this has begun.

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Cineplex reports $24.7M Q3 loss on Competition Tribunal penalty

Published

18 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Cineplex Inc. reported a loss in its latest quarter compared with a profit a year ago as it was hit by a fine for deceptive marketing practices imposed by the Competition Tribunal.

The movie theatre company says it lost $24.7 million or 39 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with a profit of $29.7 million or 40 cents per diluted share a year earlier.

The results in the most recent quarter included a $39.2-million provision related to the Competition Tribunal decision, which Cineplex is appealing.

The Competition Bureau accused the company of misleading theatregoers by not immediately presenting them with the full price of a movie ticket when they purchased seats online, a view the company has rejected.

Revenue for the quarter totalled $395.6 million, down from $414.5 million in the same quarter last year, while theatre attendance totalled 13.3 million for the quarter compared with nearly 15.7 million a year earlier.

Box office revenue per patron in the quarter climbed to $13.19 compared with $12 in the same quarter last year, while concession revenue per patron amounted to $9.85, up from $8.44 a year ago.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:CGX)

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Restaurant Brands reports US$357M Q3 net income, down from US$364M a year ago

Published

2 days ago

November 5, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Restaurant Brands International Inc. reported net income of US$357 million for its third quarter, down from US$364 million in the same quarter last year.

The company, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says its profit amounted to 79 cents US per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with 79 cents US per diluted share a year earlier.

Revenue for the parent company of Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs, totalled US$2.29 billion, up from US$1.84 billion in the same quarter last year.

Consolidated comparable sales were up 0.3 per cent.

On an adjusted basis, Restaurant Brands says it earned 93 cents US per diluted share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 90 cents US per diluted share a year earlier.

The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 95 cents US per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:QSR)

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Electric and gas utility Fortis reports $420M Q3 profit, up from $394M a year ago

Published

2 days ago

November 5, 2024

Anne Joseph

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Fortis Inc. reported a third-quarter profit of $420 million, up from $394 million in the same quarter last year.

The electric and gas utility says the profit amounted to 85 cents per share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, up from 81 cents per share a year earlier.

Fortis says the increase was driven by rate base growth across its utilities, and strong earnings in Arizona largely reflecting new customer rates at Tucson Electric Power.

Revenue in the quarter totalled $2.77 billion, up from $2.72 billion in the same quarter last year.

On an adjusted basis, Fortis says it earned 85 cents per share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 84 cents per share in the third quarter of 2023.

The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 82 cents per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:FTS)

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