Medicago, founded in 1999, started out like all young, innovative companies: There was a lack of money, so they needed financially strong investors. The world’s largest tobacco company Philip Morris jumped into this breach and, like the rest of the industry, is trying to improve its image. The company and its product. In 2008 Philip Morris with the main brand Marlboro secured a 49.8 percent stake in the company that today wants to bring a corona vaccine to the market with the help of a plant related to tobacco with 16 million euros. The cigarette company currently holds a third of Medicago; The majority shareholder of the listed company is the Japanese Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, which acquired in 2013.
The influence of Philip Morris brings Medicago much criticism to this day. According to media reports, the important medical journal “The Lancet” refused in November to publish the results of test phase 1 of the Covid-19 vaccine. Because they had concerns about support from a tobacco company. Medicago managers also describe it as difficult to be invited to meetings by the World Health Organization. In the meantime, the vaccine manufacturer wanted to separate from Philip Morris, but this was not implemented.
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