Novavax and Government of Switzerland Announce Agreement in Principle to Supply COVID-19 Vaccine
February 03 2021 - 8:14PM
Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a biotechnology company developing
next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, today
announced that the company has executed a binding Heads of Terms
agreement with the government of Switzerland to supply six million
doses of its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate, NVX-CoV2373,
to the country.
“The government of Switzerland is working
proactively to ensure a sufficient supply of our vaccine that could
protect its citizens from COVID-19,” said John J. Trizzino, Chief
Commercial Officer and Chief Business Officer of Novavax.
“Addressing this global public health crisis requires
collaboration, and we appreciate their partnership to provide an
urgently needed vaccine to stem the pandemic.”
Novavax and Switzerland will negotiate a final
agreement, with initial delivery of vaccine doses slated to ship
following successful clinical development and regulatory
review.
NVX-CoV2373 is currently in Phase 3 clinical
development for the prevention of COVID-19. It is the first vaccine
to demonstrate clinical efficacy against the original strain of
COVID-19 and both of the rapidly emerging variants in the United
Kingdom and South Africa. NVX-CoV2373 can neither cause COVID-19
nor can it replicate. It is shipped in a ready-to-use liquid
formulation. Because it is stable at 2°C to 8°C (refrigerated),
existing vaccine supply chain channels can be used for its
distribution.
About NVX-CoV2373NVX-CoV2373 is
a protein-based vaccine candidate engineered from the genetic
sequence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease.
NVX-CoV2373 was created using Novavax’ recombinant nanoparticle
technology to generate antigen derived from the coronavirus spike
(S) protein and is adjuvanted with Novavax’ patented saponin-based
Matrix-M™ to enhance the immune response and stimulate high levels
of neutralizing antibodies. NVX-CoV2373 contains purified protein
antigen and can neither replicate, nor can it cause COVID-19. In
preclinical studies, NVX-CoV2373 induced antibodies that block
binding of spike protein to cellular receptors and provided
protection from infection and disease. It was generally
well-tolerated and elicited robust antibody response numerically
superior to that seen in human convalescent sera in Phase 1/2
clinical testing. NVX-CoV2373 is currently being evaluated in two
pivotal Phase 3 trials: a trial in the U.K that
demonstrated 89.3 percent overall efficacy and 95.6 percent against
the original strain in a post-hoc analysis, and the PREVENT-19
trial in the U.S. and Mexico that began in
December. It is also being tested in two ongoing Phase 2 studies
that began in August: A Phase 2b trial in South Africa that
demonstrated up to 60 percent efficacy against newly emerging
escape variants, and a Phase 1/2 continuation in
the U.S. and Australia.
About Matrix-M™Novavax’ patented saponin-based
Matrix-M™ adjuvant has demonstrated a potent and well-tolerated
effect by stimulating the entry of antigen presenting cells into
the injection site and enhancing antigen presentation in local
lymph nodes, boosting immune response.
About NovavaxNovavax,
Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) is a biotechnology company that promotes
improved health globally through the discovery, development and
commercialization of innovative vaccines to prevent serious
infectious diseases. The company’s proprietary recombinant
technology platform combines the power and speed of genetic
engineering to efficiently produce highly immunogenic nanoparticles
designed to address urgent global health needs. Novavax is
conducting late-stage clinical trials for NVX-CoV2373, its vaccine
candidate against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
NanoFlu™, its quadrivalent influenza nanoparticle vaccine, met all
primary objectives in its pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial in older
adults and will be advanced for regulatory submission. Both vaccine
candidates incorporate Novavax’ proprietary saponin-based Matrix-M™
adjuvant to enhance the immune response and stimulate high levels
of neutralizing antibodies.
For more information, visit www.novavax.com and
connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Novavax Forward-Looking Statements
Statements herein relating to the future
of Novavax and the ongoing development of its vaccine and
adjuvant products are forward-looking
statements. Novavax cautions that these forward-looking
statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and
uncertainties include those identified under the heading “Risk
Factors” in the Novavax Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2019, and Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2020,
as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC). We caution investors not to place
considerable reliance on forward-looking statements contained in
this press release. You are encouraged to read our filings with
the SEC, available at sec.gov, for a discussion of these
and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements
in this press release speak only as of the date of this document,
and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of the
statements. Our business is subject to substantial risks and
uncertainties, including those referenced above. Investors,
potential investors, and others should give careful consideration
to these risks and uncertainties.
Contacts:
Investors
Novavax, Inc.
Erika Schultz | 240-268-2022
ir@novavax.com
Solebury Trout
Jennifer Porcelli | 617-974-8659
jporcelli@soleburytrout.com
Media
Amy Speak | 617-420-2461
Laura Keenan | 410-419-5755
media@novavax.com
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