A major tobacco firm has announced it is developing a coronavirus vaccine that may possibly be ready as early as June. British American Tobacco’s (BAT) bio-tech subsidiary, Kentucky BioProcessing, said it is using tobacco plant to develop up to three million doses a week by the start of summer.
BAT said the vaccine is now in pre-clinical testing and has the potential to offer a safer and faster way to develop vaccines than traditional methods.
BAT, famous for its Lucky Strike cigarettes, said it needs the "right partners and support from government agencies" to be successful.
The group is currently in talks with the US Food and Drug Administration and UK's Department of Health and Social Care as it seeks a global effort to create the