GlaxoSmithKline has received regulatory approval for its first Covid vaccine almost 14 months after UK rival AstraZeneca began dosing patients.
Canada has given approval for Covifenz, an adjuvanted plant-based COVID-19 vaccine developed by the UK pharma giant in collaboration with Quebec-based Medicago (TSX:MDG).
Roger Connor, President of GSK Vaccines, said: "This first approval is an important milestone in our approach of pairing GSK's well-established pandemic adjuvant with promising antigens to develop protein-based, refrigerator-stable COVID-19 vaccines.
Canada has already signed contracts to receive Covifenz doses and these will be fulfilled as soon as possible said Medicago.
Covifenz has yet to be approved anywhere else, but this step will be a boost for Glaxo as it tries to gain a foothold in the Covid-19 market.
Earlier this week it and partner Sanofi said they expected soon to submit applications for their much-delayed Covid-19 vaccine in the US and Europe.
Results from trials showed the jab was 100% effective in preventing hospitalisation, the companies said.
“No other global Phase 3 efficacy study has been undertaken during this period with so many variants of concern, including omicron, and these efficacy data are similar to recent clinical data from authorized vaccines,” they said.
Shares in Glaxo eased 3.4% to 1,519.60p on a tough day for the London market.