BAT Subsidiary Working on Potential COVID-19 Vaccine

KBP, an American subsidiary of the British American Tobacco (BAT) is currently carrying out clinical trials on a potential vaccine for the Coronavirus.

Diane Caruana

April 2, 2020

Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP), an American subsidiary of the British tobacco company BAT, is working on a potential vaccine against COVID-19, it was announced in a press release yesterday. Currently undergoing preclinical tests, BAT “is hopeful that, with the right partners and support from government agencies, between 1 and 3 million doses of the vaccine could be manufactured per week, beginning in June.”

BAT explained that since tobacco plants “cannot harbor pathogens that cause human disease” a plant based formula is safer.

The press release pointed out that while KBP is a commercial operation, the company’s intention for the Covid-19 vaccine project is that any work related to it will be “carried out on a not for profit basis.” The vaccine that is currently being worked on, is using BAT’s proprietary, a fast-growing tobacco plant technology which is safer than conventional vaccine production.

KBP cloned a portion of COVID-19’s genetic sequence which led to the development of a potential antigen, a substance which induces an immune response in the body and produces antibodies. This antigen was then inserted into the tobacco plants for reproduction and once the plants were harvested, the antigen was purified.

The advantage of a vaccine based on a plant formula

BAT explained that since tobacco plants “cannot harbor pathogens that cause human disease”, a plant based formula is safer and the elements of the vaccine would accumulate “much faster in tobacco plants,” therefore this method of production is also more time efficient.

Additionally, unlike traditional vaccines, the plant formula remains stable at room temperature and does not require refrigeration, hence it would be easier to store and transport. Moreover, it has the added potential of providing “an effective immune response in a single dose.”

This is not the first time that KBP, which BAT acquired in 2014 through its subsidiary Reynolds American Inc, has been working on a drug intended to fight an epidemic. Six years ago the company launched a drug called ZMapp™, intended to fight the Ebola virus, and whose first results had been very promising.

“We are engaged with the US Food and Drug Administration and are seeking guidance on next steps. We have also engaged with the UK’s Department for Health and Social Care, and BARDA in the US, to offer our support and access to our research with the aim of trying to expedite the development of a vaccine for Covid-19.” Dr David O’Reilly, Director of Scientific Research, BAT

Engaging with health entities to expedite the vaccine development

BAT is now exploring partnerships with government agencies in order to bring its vaccine to clinical studies, and make it available to the public if these have positive outcomes. “We are engaged with the US Food and Drug Administration and are seeking guidance on next steps. We have also engaged with the UK’s Department for Health and Social Care, and BARDA in the US, to offer our support and access to our research with the aim of trying to expedite the development of a vaccine for Covid-19,” said Dr David O’Reilly, Director of Scientific Research at BAT.

“Vaccine development is challenging and complex work, but we believe we have made a significant break-through with our tobacco plant technology platform and stand ready to work with Governments and all stakeholders to help win the war against Covid-19. We fully align with the United Nations plea, for a whole-of-society approach to combat global problems.”

“KBP has been exploring alternative uses of the tobacco plant for some time. One such alternative use is the development of plant-based vaccines. We are committed to contributing to the global effort to halt the spread of Covid-19 using this technology,” concluded O’Reilly.