The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will give the Novavax Inc up to 60 million USD to fund the manufacturing of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine.
According to Reuters, the U.S. biotech company said on Thursday, June 4, that the deal includes the delivery of 10 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine, NVX‑CoV2373, to the DoD this year.
NVX‑CoV2373 is comprised of a stable, prefusion protein antigen produced using its proprietary nanoparticle technology and includes Novavax's proprietary Matrix‑M adjuvant.
The grant means data from DoD could be used in Phase 2/3 clinical trials or under an emergency use approval from the U.S. Food and Drugs Authority.
Novavax President and Chief Executive Officer Stanley C. Erck exclaimed his delight over the news. "We are genuinely honored at the opportunity to protect our military personnel and their families who have devoted themselves to the needs of U.S. citizens and others worldwide," said Erck.
He also added that the grant will allow the company to significantly expand its vaccine production, which is a critical step in its ability to provide support amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Maryland-based company joined the race for human testing of experimental coronavirus vaccines.
Novavax said it aims to produce more than a billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine next year.
As part of the contract, Novavax will work with a U.S.-based biologics contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) to manufacture the antigen component of NVX-CoV2373 for at least 10 million doses of vaccine.
Novavax's NVX-CoV2373 vaccine
As a vaccine candidate, NVX‑CoV2373 was engineered from SARS‑CoV‑2, which causes COVID-19. The vaccine was created using Novavax's recombinant nanoparticle technology to create antigen derived from the coronavirus spike protein. It also contains the Novavax' patented saponin-based Matrix-MTM adjuvant to boost the immune response and stimulate neutralizing antibodies.
The Novavax vaccine's trial began last month as drugmakers pause clinical trials on medications for other illnesses to focus on finding a cure for COVID-19, which was taken the lives of at least 386,379 patients globally.
Preliminary data on safety and indicators of an immune response for the first batch of trial participants is expected to be released next month.
Meanwhile, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is investing up to $388 million to advance the clinical development of NVX‑CoV2373.
World leaders to raise at least 2 billion USD for coronavirus vaccine
World leaders see vaccines as the only way to revive their economies after months of being shut down.
On Thursday, global leaders gave come together through a virtual summit to raise at least $2 billion to support the development of the COVID-19 vaccine for people throughout the world.
The summit was organized by a public-private partnership called Gavi, aiming to increase vaccination rates in developing countries.
During the summit, Gavi proposed that lower-income countries can access the vaccine once it becomes available. Also, wealthy countries can get access to these vaccines while supporting equitable distribution worldwide.
"Sadly, the disease will probably be worse in the developing countries, even though it was slow to get going there because the health system is weaker, and the idea of doing a lockdown is not as practical," said Bill Gates.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged $100 million more toward efforts to buy vaccines against the coronavirus for the poorest countries on top of the $1.6 billion grant for Gavi's child vaccination mission.
