ANNUAL REPORT
Novavax
2023 Annual Report
A Message from Our CEO
APRIL 22, 2024
To Our Shareholders,
Following my first full year at Novavax, I look back at the tremendous progress made in 2023 and
am even more excited about the future of our company. We navigated a dynamic COVID-19
landscape while successfully delivering our protein-based non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid™,
to people around the world. We continued to achieve significant progress against our strategic
priorities, meaningfully improved our financial profile and directed resources to support the
expansion of our pipeline. We have made difficult but important changes that help to position
Novavax for long-term, sustainable growth. Reflecting on this past year, I’m proud of the strides we
have taken to strengthen our business and better position us to achieve our goals in 2024 and beyond.
Our Opportunity and Focus on the Future
As we look to the remainder of the year, we will maintain focus on three priorities which we believe are the most critical for our business
as we work to expand our impact on global public health and deliver results for our stakeholders:
Deliver an updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2024-2025 vaccination season
Our top near-term priority is delivering an updated vaccine aligned with public health recommendations and with a more
compelling presentation for the fall, which marks the start of the 2024-2025 vaccination season in the Northern Hemisphere. In the
U.S., we are setting the stage for expanded availability and a stronger commercial performance, with plans for regulatory action
and market availability for the start of the season, vaccine presentation in pre-filled syringes, and the ability to leverage established
relationships with top retailers, who drove 90% of the business last season. We are continuing to closely partner with the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies around the world as we prepare for strain selection. Outside of the U.S., we
are prepared to transition to the commercial market, and we have prioritized and focused our efforts on select key countries. Finally,
we will continue to focus on delivery against our advance purchase agreement commitments throughout the APAC region.
Independently launch a Phase 3 trial of our COVID-19-Influenza-Combination (CIC)
vaccine candidate in the second half of 2024
As we work to expand beyond a one-product company and maximize the value of our scientific platform, we are most immediately
focused on bringing our CIC vaccine candidate to market. We are on track to initiate our Phase 3 trial in the second half of 2024.
We continue to have productive interactions with the FDA, including agreement on the design of our Phase 3 program as well as a
regulatory pathway for accelerated approval. Additionally, we are planning a lot-to-lot consistency trial in the fourth quarter of
2024, which should put us on track for regulatory filing in 2025 and potential launch as early as the 2026-2027 vaccination season.
Continue the evolution of Novavax, further reducing operating expenses
In line with last year, we are continuing to scale our organization appropriately and reduce our spend to better align with the
evolving market opportunity. Our disciplined approach has enabled us to exceed prior cost-cutting guidance and maintain
efficient operations to ensure smart deployment of our resources. This approach is a key lever to improving the financial health
and performance of Novavax to enable long-term value creation.
In summary, our focus in 2024 on these objectives should enable us to further strengthen Novavax’s opportunity to drive enhanced
value creation, as we strive to evolve into a leading global vaccine innovator. As we continue to become a more lean and agile
organization, we are focused on improving long-term commercial performance in the COVID-19 market and advancing our CIC
vaccine candidate towards a potential launch in the 2026-2027 vaccination season.
The successful execution of these priorities is not possible without our employees, who I want to thank for their contributions that
continue to advance our science and business while supporting our mission.
Finally, to our shareholders, thank you for your continued support.
We remain committed to our work and delivering returns on your investment.
John C. Jacobs
President and Chief Executive Officer
01
02
03
01
02
03
05
A Message from Our CEO
2023 in Review
Progressing Our Sustainability Impact
2023 Form 10-K
158
Leadership & Corporate Information
Cover:
Kristina Iosue, Senior Research Associate and
Rhonda Flores, Senior Scientist,
Novavax employees, United States
and
Jennifer Blainey, Director, Policy & Government Affairs,
UK, Ireland & Nordics,
Novavax employee, United Kingdom
Novavax
2023 Annual Report
APRIL 22, 2024
A Message from Our CEO
To Our Shareholders,
Following my first full year at Novavax, I look back at the tremendous progress made in 2023 and
am even more excited about the future of our company. We navigated a dynamic COVID-19
landscape while successfully delivering our protein-based non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid™,
to people around the world. We continued to achieve significant progress against our strategic
priorities, meaningfully improved our financial profile and directed resources to support the
expansion of our pipeline. We have made difficult but important changes that help to position
Novavax for long-term, sustainable growth. Reflecting on this past year, I’m proud of the strides we
have taken to strengthen our business and better position us to achieve our goals in 2024 and beyond.
Our Opportunity and Focus on the Future
As we look to the remainder of the year, we will maintain focus on three priorities which we believe are the most critical for our business
as we work to expand our impact on global public health and deliver results for our stakeholders:
01
Deliver an updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2024-2025 vaccination season
Our top near-term priority is delivering an updated vaccine aligned with public health recommendations and with a more
compelling presentation for the fall, which marks the start of the 2024-2025 vaccination season in the Northern Hemisphere. In the
U.S., we are setting the stage for expanded availability and a stronger commercial performance, with plans for regulatory action
and market availability for the start of the season, vaccine presentation in pre-filled syringes, and the ability to leverage established
relationships with top retailers, who drove 90% of the business last season. We are continuing to closely partner with the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies around the world as we prepare for strain selection. Outside of the U.S., we
are prepared to transition to the commercial market, and we have prioritized and focused our efforts on select key countries. Finally,
we will continue to focus on delivery against our advance purchase agreement commitments throughout the APAC region.
Progressing Our Sustainability Impact
02
Independently launch a Phase 3 trial of our COVID-19-Influenza-Combination (CIC)
vaccine candidate in the second half of 2024
As we work to expand beyond a one-product company and maximize the value of our scientific platform, we are most immediately
focused on bringing our CIC vaccine candidate to market. We are on track to initiate our Phase 3 trial in the second half of 2024.
We continue to have productive interactions with the FDA, including agreement on the design of our Phase 3 program as well as a
regulatory pathway for accelerated approval. Additionally, we are planning a lot-to-lot consistency trial in the fourth quarter of
2024, which should put us on track for regulatory filing in 2025 and potential launch as early as the 2026-2027 vaccination season.
03
Continue the evolution of Novavax, further reducing operating expenses
In line with last year, we are continuing to scale our organization appropriately and reduce our spend to better align with the
evolving market opportunity. Our disciplined approach has enabled us to exceed prior cost-cutting guidance and maintain
efficient operations to ensure smart deployment of our resources. This approach is a key lever to improving the financial health
and performance of Novavax to enable long-term value creation.
In summary, our focus in 2024 on these objectives should enable us to further strengthen Novavax’s opportunity to drive enhanced
value creation, as we strive to evolve into a leading global vaccine innovator. As we continue to become a more lean and agile
organization, we are focused on improving long-term commercial performance in the COVID-19 market and advancing our CIC
vaccine candidate towards a potential launch in the 2026-2027 vaccination season.
The successful execution of these priorities is not possible without our employees, who I want to thank for their contributions that
continue to advance our science and business while supporting our mission.
Finally, to our shareholders, thank you for your continued support.
We remain committed to our work and delivering returns on your investment.
John C. Jacobs
President and Chief Executive Officer
1
A Message from Our CEO
2023 in Review
01
02
03
05
2023 Form 10-K
158
Leadership & Corporate Information
Kristina Iosue, Senior Research Associate and
Rhonda Flores, Senior Scientist,
Novavax employees, United States
Cover:
and
Jennifer Blainey, Director, Policy & Government Affairs,
UK, Ireland & Nordics,
Novavax employee, United Kingdom
Novavax
2023 Annual Report
2023 in Review
In 2023, we delivered our protein-based non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid1, in the U.S., Europe and key Asia-Pacific
markets. We also remained focused on our additional priorities, outlining a path forward to bring our COVID-19-Influenza
(CIC) vaccine candidate to market and creating a more lean and focused organization, significantly reducing our
liabilities and operating expenses.
PROGRESSING OUR
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT
We continue to develop our long-term Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy to expand
Novavax’s impact as a global corporate citizen1. We focus our sustainability impact on the four strategic pillars:
Expanding Potential of our Technology Platform
• Advanced CIC vaccine candidate in Phase 2 trial and plan to initiate
Phase 3 trial in the second half of 2024, with potential accelerated
approval and launch in the 2026-2027 vaccination season
• Granted prequalification by World Health Organization for
R21/Matrix-MTM malaria vaccine in December 2023
COVID-19 Clinical and Strain Change
• Demonstrated our variant strain change capabilities, updating our
vaccine to the XBB.1.5 variant for the 2023-2024 vaccination season
• Demonstrated XBB.1.5 vaccine capable of inducing potent neutralizing
responses to itself and to more recently circulating JN.1 strains
• Evaluated our vaccine in younger age groups in our Phase 3 trial
Financial
• Achieved $1 billion in
total revenue for the
full year 2023
• Reduced short-term
liabilities by $825
million, improving our
balance sheet profile
• Reduced total
operating expenses by
$1.1 billion or 41%, as
compared to 2022
COVID-19 Commercial
• Generated full year 2023 product sales of $531 million, with over 90% from advance purchase agreement
sales from Europe, Australia, and New Zealand
• Focused on executing in retail channels in the U.S.
• Facilitated the transition to a more streamlined and efficient
operating model across CMC, regulatory and commercial teams
ACCESS
ACCESS
Maximizing vaccine access and improving global health
Maximizing vaccine access and improving global health
We innovate through R&D, business and community partnerships to increase
global access to vaccines that target serious infectious diseases
GOVERNANCE
GOVERNANCE
Meeting the highest standards of governance
Meeting the highest standards of governance
We are committed to operating with integrity, transparency, and
accountability in all that we do as we pursue our important mission of
protecting global public health
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT
Mitigating our environmental impact
Mitigating our environmental impact
We aim to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner that reduces
our environmental impact
DIVERSITY
DIVERSITY
Championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workforce
Championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workforce
We have built an empowering and diverse work culture, investing in our
people to attract and retain the best talent and help our employees,
referred to as SuperNovas, achieve their full potential
As we shift focus to 2024 and beyond, we are setting the stage
for a stronger commercial presence, with the intent for the
upcoming vaccination season to have a more competitive
product presentation, earlier product availability in line
with competitors and secure broader coverage and
access to Novavax’s vaccine in pharmacies through
the retail market in the U.S. and commercial market
opportunities
objectives will position Novavax on a path toward
long-term success.
select EU countries.
These
in
1. The trade name Nuvaxovid has not yet been approved by the
U.S. FDA and is authorized as the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine,
Adjuvanted for emergency use by the FDA.
Sunnie Zou, Research Associate and
Dhruvesh Amin, Senior Research Associate,
Novavax employees, United States
2
In 2024 and beyond, we will continue to advance our ESG initiatives, which will be instrumental
in our ability to create long-term value for our shareholders, employees and consumers.
1. For additional information on our ESG initiatives, please refer to page 25 of this Annual Report.
Novavax
2023 Annual Report
2023 in Review
In 2023, we delivered our protein-based non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid1, in the U.S., Europe and key Asia-Pacific
markets. We also remained focused on our additional priorities, outlining a path forward to bring our COVID-19-Influenza
(CIC) vaccine candidate to market and creating a more lean and focused organization, significantly reducing our
liabilities and operating expenses.
PROGRESSING OUR
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT
We continue to develop our long-term Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy to expand
Novavax’s impact as a global corporate citizen1. We focus our sustainability impact on the four strategic pillars:
Expanding Potential of our Technology Platform
• Advanced CIC vaccine candidate in Phase 2 trial and plan to initiate
Phase 3 trial in the second half of 2024, with potential accelerated
approval and launch in the 2026-2027 vaccination season
• Granted prequalification by World Health Organization for
R21/Matrix-MTM malaria vaccine in December 2023
COVID-19 Clinical and Strain Change
• Demonstrated our variant strain change capabilities, updating our
vaccine to the XBB.1.5 variant for the 2023-2024 vaccination season
• Demonstrated XBB.1.5 vaccine capable of inducing potent neutralizing
responses to itself and to more recently circulating JN.1 strains
• Evaluated our vaccine in younger age groups in our Phase 3 trial
Financial
• Achieved $1 billion in
total revenue for the
full year 2023
• Reduced short-term
liabilities by $825
million, improving our
balance sheet profile
• Reduced total
operating expenses by
$1.1 billion or 41%, as
compared to 2022
• Generated full year 2023 product sales of $531 million, with over 90% from advance purchase agreement
COVID-19 Commercial
sales from Europe, Australia, and New Zealand
• Focused on executing in retail channels in the U.S.
• Facilitated the transition to a more streamlined and efficient
operating model across CMC, regulatory and commercial teams
As we shift focus to 2024 and beyond, we are setting the stage
for a stronger commercial presence, with the intent for the
upcoming vaccination season to have a more competitive
product presentation, earlier product availability in line
with competitors and secure broader coverage and
access to Novavax’s vaccine in pharmacies through
the retail market in the U.S. and commercial market
opportunities
in
select EU countries.
These
objectives will position Novavax on a path toward
long-term success.
ACCESS
ACCESS
Maximizing vaccine access and improving global health
Maximizing vaccine access and improving global health
We innovate through R&D, business and community partnerships to increase
global access to vaccines that target serious infectious diseases
GOVERNANCE
GOVERNANCE
Meeting the highest standards of governance
Meeting the highest standards of governance
We are committed to operating with integrity, transparency, and
accountability in all that we do as we pursue our important mission of
protecting global public health
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT
Mitigating our environmental impact
Mitigating our environmental impact
We aim to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner that reduces
our environmental impact
DIVERSITY
DIVERSITY
Championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workforce
Championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workforce
We have built an empowering and diverse work culture, investing in our
people to attract and retain the best talent and help our employees,
referred to as SuperNovas, achieve their full potential
1. The trade name Nuvaxovid has not yet been approved by the
U.S. FDA and is authorized as the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine,
Adjuvanted for emergency use by the FDA.
Sunnie Zou, Research Associate and
Dhruvesh Amin, Senior Research Associate,
Novavax employees, United States
In 2024 and beyond, we will continue to advance our ESG initiatives, which will be instrumental
in our ability to create long-term value for our shareholders, employees and consumers.
1. For additional information on our ESG initiatives, please refer to page 25 of this Annual Report.
3
3
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4
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to .
Commission File No. 000-26770
NOVAVAX, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State of incorporation)
22-2816046
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
700 Quince Orchard Road,
Gaithersburg, Maryland
(Address of principal executive offices)
20878
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (240) 268-2000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol
NVAX
Name of each exchange on which registered
The Nasdaq Global Select Market
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Not Applicable
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐
No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be
submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such
shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein,
and will not be contained, to the best of the Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer,
smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,”
“accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Emerging growth company
☒
☐
☐
Accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
☐
☐
5
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant had elected not to use the extended transition
period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provide pursuant to Section 13(a) of the
Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of
the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.
7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial
statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial
statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of
incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery
period pursuant to § 240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant
(based on the last reported sale price of Registrants common stock on June 30, 2023 on the Nasdaq Global Select
Market) was approximately $699,000,000.
As of February 23, 2024, there were 139,953,143 shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding.
Documents incorporated by reference: Portions of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed no later
than 120 days after the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 in connection with the Registrant’s 2024 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K to the extent indicated
herein.
6
NOVAVAX, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
Item 1.
Item 1A.
BUSINESS
RISK FACTORS
Item 1B.
Item 1C. CYBERSECURITY
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7.
PROPERTIES
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
PART II
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS,
AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
RESERVED
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 8.
Item 9.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
PART III
Item 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 11.
Item 12.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR
Item 14.
INDEPENDENCE
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 15.
Item 16.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
FORM 10-K SUMMARY
PART IV
Page
10
33
71
72
72
73
76
77
78
78
94
95
95
95
97
97
98
98
98
98
98
99
108
7
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
All references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “Novavax,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and
“our” refer to Novavax, Inc. including its wholly-owned subsidiaries (unless the context otherwise indicates).
All references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to "NVX-CoV2373,” or “prototype vaccine” refer to our
Nuvaxovid™ prototype COVID-19 vaccine, and all references to “NVX-CoV2601,” or “updated vaccine”
refer to our Nuvaxovid™ updated COVID-19 vaccine. We refer to our prototype vaccine and updated
vaccine, collectively, as our “COVID-19 Vaccine”. Local regulatory authorities have also specified
nomenclature for the prototype and updated vaccines for labeling within their territories (e.g., “Novavax
COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted” and “Novavax COVID-19, Adjuvanted (2023-2024 Formula),” respectively,
for the U.S.). The Company’s partner, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., markets NVX-CoV2373 as
“Covovax™.”
NOTE REGARDING TRADEMARKS
Novavax™, Nuvaxovid™, Matrix-M™, Matrix™, Prepare™, Resolve™, and ResVax™ are trademarks
of Novavax. Any other trademarks referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are the property of their
owners. All rights reserved. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names or
trademarks to imply an endorsement or sponsorship of us by such companies, or any relationship with any
of these companies.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. As a result of many factors, such as those set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-
looking statements. Please also see the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations.”
SUMMARY OF RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR BUSINESS
Our business is subject to numerous risks which are discussed more fully under the heading “Risk
Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:
• We have a history of losses and our future profitability is uncertain.
• We will continue to require significant funding to maintain our current level of operations and fund
the further development of our vaccine candidates.
•
•
•
Because our vaccine product development efforts depend on new and rapidly evolving
technologies, we cannot be certain that our efforts will be successful.
The regulatory and commercial success of our - Vaccine remains uncertain. While we have
received full marketing authorization provisional registration, conditional marketing authorization
(“CMA”), or emergency use authorization (“EUA”) for our prototype COVID-19 Vaccine and our
updated COVID-19 vaccine in a number of jurisdictions, we may be unable to obtain full regulatory
approvals in the United States (“U.S.”) or other jurisdictions for our updated vaccine or new versions
in the future, or produce a successful vaccine in a timely manner, if at all.
The emergence and transmissibility of variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the demand for bivalent
vaccines, may affect market acceptance or sales of our COVID-19 Vaccine, and our strategy to
develop new versions of our COVID-19 Vaccine to protect against certain variants may not be
successful.
• We are a biotechnology company and face significant risk in developing, manufacturing, and
commercializing our products and product candidates.
•
Because we depend on third parties to conduct some of our laboratory testing and clinical trials,
and a significant amount of our vaccine manufacturing and distribution, we may encounter delays
in or lose some control over our efforts to develop and supply products and product candidates.
8
• We are highly dependent on the commercial success of our COVID-19 Vaccine, and even though
we have received provisional registration, CMA, or EUA or full marketing authorization in certain
jurisdictions for our COVID-19 Vaccine, and even if we have products licensed in additional markets,
our vaccine products may not be initially or ever profitable.
•
The risks associated with COVID-19 and related governmental public health policies continue to
evolve, which may have unpredictable effects on the prospects for commercial success of our
COVID-19 commercial program.
• Many of our competitors have significantly greater resources and experience, which may
negatively impact our commercial opportunities and those of our current and future licensees.
•
There is significant competition in the development of a vaccine against COVID-19 and a combined
vaccine against COVID-19 and influenza, and we may never see returns on the significant resources
we are devoting to our vaccine candidates.
• We may not succeed in obtaining full U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“U.S. FDA”) licensure or
foreign regulatory approvals necessary to sell our vaccine candidates.
• Our product candidates might fail to meet their primary endpoints in clinical trials, meaning that we
will not have the clinical data required to support full regulatory approvals.
•
The regulatory pathway for our COVID-19 Vaccine is continually evolving, and such evolution may
result in unexpected or unforeseen challenges.
• We have conducted, are conducting, and plan to conduct in the future, a number of clinical trials
for our COVID-19 Vaccine at sites outside the U.S. and the U.S. FDA may not accept data from trials
conducted in such locations.
•
The later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, manufacturer, or facility may
result in restrictions, including withdrawal of a vaccine that had previously received regulatory
approval in certain jurisdictions from the market.
• Our success depends on our ability to maintain the proprietary nature of our technology.
• Our business may be adversely affected if we do not successfully execute our business development
initiatives.
• Given our current cash position and cash flow forecast, and significant uncertainties related to 2024
revenue, substantial doubt exists regarding our ability to continue as a going concern through one
year from the date that the financial statements included in this Annual Report were issued.
•
•
Servicing our 5.00% convertible senior unsecured notes due 2027 (the “Notes”) requires a significant
amount of cash, and we may not have sufficient cash flow resources to pay our debt.
Because our stock price has been and will likely continue to be highly volatile, the market price of
our common stock may be lower or more volatile than expected.
Litigation could have a material adverse impact on our results of operation and financial condition.
•
• We or the third parties upon whom we depend may be adversely affected by natural or man-made
disasters or public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
9
Item 1. BUSINESS
Overview
PART I
Novavax, Inc., together with our wholly owned subsidiaries, is a biotechnology company that
promotes improved global health through the discovery, development, and commercialization of
innovative vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases. Our proprietary recombinant technology
platform harnesses the power and speed of genetic engineering to efficiently produce highly immunogenic
nanoparticle vaccines designed to address urgent global health needs.
Our vaccine candidates are nanostructures of conformationally correct recombinant proteins that
mimic those found on pathogens. This technology enables the immune system to recognize target proteins
and develop protective immune responses. We believe that our vaccine technology may lead to the
induction of a differentiated immune response that may be more efficacious than naturally occurring
immunity or other vaccine approaches. Our vaccine candidates also incorporate our proprietary saponin-
based Matrix-M™ adjuvant to enhance the immune response, stimulate higher levels of functional
antibodies, and induce a cellular immune response.
We have developed an updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2023-2024 vaccination season. In
October 2023, the U.S. FDA granted EUA for our updated vaccine for active immunization to prevent
COVID-19. The updated vaccine is authorized as (1) a single dose in individuals 12 years and older who
have been vaccinated with any COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months after receipt of the last previous dose
of COVID-19 vaccine, and (2) a series of 2 doses administered 3 weeks apart to individuals 12 years and
older who were not previously vaccinated with any COVID-19 vaccine. Our updated vaccine is available
within the U.S. at many major pharmacy retailers. Outside the U.S. for our updated vaccine, in January 2024,
we were granted marketing authorization by the United Kingdom’s (“UK”) Medicines and Healthcare
Products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”), in December 2023, we were granted expanded authorization by
Health Canada, and in October 2023, we were granted approval by the European Commission (“EC”). We
are committed to supplying of our key target markets through advance purchase agreements (“APAs”)
covering such markets. We continue to work closely with regulatory authorities in many jurisdictions for
authorization of our updated vaccine. We previously developed a prototype COVID-19 vaccine, which
has received full marketing authorization (“MA”), marketing approval, interim authorization, provisional
approval, CMA, from multiple regulatory authorities in over 40 countries globally. We continue to progress
our regulatory authorizations for our prototype vaccine in select territories, as we believe these may
facilitate authorization of our vaccine candidates for updated strains in the future.
Additionally, we are developing a COVID-19 Influenza Combination (“CIC”) vaccine candidate.
Our other areas of focus include providing Matrix-M™ adjuvant for collaborations, including in R21/Matrix-
M™ adjuvant malaria vaccine, which in December 2023 received prequalification from the World Health
Organization (“WHO”) and previously received authorization in several countries, as well as other preclinical
vaccine research with our Matrix-M™ adjuvant, including through a partnership with the Bill & Melinda
Gates Medical Research Institute.
We were incorporated in 1987 under the laws of the State of Delaware. Our principal executive
offices are located at 700 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20878, and our telephone
number is (240) 268-2000. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol
“NVAX.”
Technology Overview
We believe our recombinant nanoparticle vaccine technology, together with our proprietary
Matrix-M™ adjuvant, is well suited for the development and commercialization of vaccine candidates
targeting a broad scope of respiratory and other endemic and emerging infectious diseases at scale.
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Recombinant Nanoparticle Vaccine Technology
Once a target of interest has been identified, the genetic sequence encoding the antigen is
selected for developing the vaccine construct. The genetic sequence may be optimized to enhance
protein stability or confer resistance to degradation. This genetic construct is inserted into the baculovirus
Spodoptera frugiperda (“Sf-/BV”) insect cell-expression system, which enables efficient, large-scale
expression of the optimized protein. The Sf-/BV system produces protein-based antigens that are properly
folded and modified—which can be critical for functional, protective immunity. Protein antigens are
purified and organized around a polysorbate-based nanoparticle core in a configuration that resembles
their native presentation. This results in a highly immunogenic nanoparticle that is ready to be formulated
with Matrix-M™ adjuvant.
Matrix-M™ Adjuvant
Our proprietary Matrix-M™ adjuvant has been a key differentiator within our platform. This adjuvant
has enabled potent, well-tolerated, and durable efficacy by stimulating the entry of antigen presenting
cells (“APCs”) into the injection site and enhancing antigen presentation in local lymph nodes. This in turn
activates APCs, T-cell and B-cell populations, and plasma cells, which promotes the production of high-
affinity antibodies. This potent mechanism of action enables a lower dose of antigen to achieve the desired
immune response, thereby contributing to increased vaccine supply and manufacturing capacity. These
immune-boosting and dose-sparing capabilities contribute to the adjuvant’s highly unique profile.
We continue to evaluate commercial opportunities for the use of our Matrix-M™ adjuvant alongside
vaccine antigens produced by other manufacturers. Matrix-M™ adjuvant is being evaluated in
combination with several partner-led malaria vaccine candidates, including the R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant
malaria vaccine created by the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford. The R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant vaccine
has been licensed to Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. (“SIIPL”) for commercialization and in December 2023
received prequalification by the WHO, along with authorizations received earlier in the year in Burkino Faso,
Ghana, and Nigeria. Additionally, in May 2023, we entered into a 3-year agreement with the Bill & Melinda
Gates Medical Research Institute to provide our Matrix-M™ adjuvant for use in preclinical vaccine research.
In June 2023, we signed a material transfer agreement with SK bioscience Co., Ltd. (“SK”) for use of our
Matrix-M™ adjuvant in preclinical vaccine experiments for shingles, influenza, and pan-sarbecovirus
vaccine. Our adjuvant technology is also being used by commercial partners as a key component in
veterinary vaccines against equine influenza and Strangles, as well as the manufacture of black-widow
anti-venom.
COVID-19 Vaccine Regulatory and Licensure
We have received full authorizations in select territories for our prototype vaccine developed for the
2022-2023 COVID-19 vaccination season and continue to receive authorizations for our updated vaccine
developed for the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccination season in accordance with the updated strain
protocol guidance. We continue to progress our regulatory authorizations for our prototype vaccine in
select territories, as we believe these may facilitate authorization of our vaccine candidates for updated
strains in the future. Additionally, we progress our regulatory authorizations for our updated vaccine and
plan to continue to do so for subsequent future variant strains for each annual respiratory season.
Within the U.S. market, our updated vaccine received EUA in October 2023 from the U.S. FDA to
prevent COVID-19 in individuals aged 12 and older. Our updated vaccine is marketed in the U.S. under the
name Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2023-2024 Formula). The formulation for our updated
vaccine aligns with global harmonized guidance from the U.S. FDA, the European Medicines Agency
(“EMA”), and WHO recommendations for the 2023-2024 vaccination season. In September 2023, the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(“ACIP”) voted in favor of a recommendation for the use of 2023-2024 monovalent XBB containing
COVID-19 vaccines authorized under EUA or approved by Biologics License Application (“BLA”) in
individuals 6 months and older, which was adopted by the CDC Director. The U.S. FDA’s grant of EUA and
CDC’s September 2023 recommendation makes our updated vaccine the only protein-based non-mRNA
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COVID-19 vaccine available in the U.S.
Outside of the U.S. market, we continue to progress regulatory authorizations for our updated
vaccine globally. We highlight as follows our fourth quarter 2023 and subsequent authorizations received
through the date of filing this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
In January 2024, we were granted marketing authorization by the UK MHRA for our updated
vaccine, marketed under the name Nuvaxovid™ XBB.1.5 Vaccine, in individuals aged 12 and older.
In December 2023, we were granted expanded authorization by Health Canada and EUA by the
Taiwan Food and Drug Administration for our updated vaccine, marketed under the name Nuvaxovid™
XBB.1.5 Vaccine, in individuals aged 12 and older.
In November 2023, our updated vaccine received EUA in South Korea where SK bioscience has
exclusive commercial rights to our updated vaccine. Additionally, in November 2023, we were granted
emergency use license (“EUL”) by the WHO for our updated vaccine, marketed under the name
Nuvaxovid™ XBB.1.5 Vaccine, in individuals aged 12 and older. The EUL assists WHO member states in
assessing vaccines with the aim of expediting availability and enables the WHO’s 194 member states to
expedite regulatory approvals to import and administer the vaccine.
In October 2023, we were granted approval by the EC for our updated vaccine in individuals aged
12 and older, which followed the positive opinion for approval from the Committee for Medicinal Products
for Human Use of the EMA. We expect to deliver doses to European countries pursuant to existing APAs.
We have previously received authorizations for our prototype COVID-19 vaccine in over 40 countries
globally including from major regulatory agencies such as the U.S. FDA, WHO, EMA, and MHRA. To date,
we have received full MA, approval, interim authorization, provisional approval, CMA, and EUA for the adult
population, aged 18 and older, the adolescent population, aged 12 to 17 years, and the pediatric
population, aged 7 to 11 years in select territories. The regulatory authorizations for our prototype vaccine
include primary series and both homologous and heterologous booster indications within specific countries.
For the territories in which our vaccine has received regulatory authorizations, our prototype vaccine is
marketed under the names (i) Nuvaxovid™ (SARS-CoV-2 rS Recombinant, adjuvanted), (ii) Covovax™
(manufacturing and commercialization by SIIPL), or (iii) Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted.
In October 2023, our prototype vaccine received full marketing authorization in the UK from the
MHRA in individuals aged 12 and older, full approval in Singapore from Singapore’s Health Sciences
Authority in individuals aged 12 and older, full registration in Australia from Australia’s Therapeutic Goods
Administration as a booster in individuals aged 12 and older, and authorization in the EU from EMA for use
as a booster in adolescents aged 12 through 17 years. We believe these authorizations for our prototype
vaccine may facilitate authorizations of our vaccine candidates for our COVID-19 vaccine strain updates
in the future.
We are working to continue to expand our label for heterologous boosting in adults and
adolescents, to expand our label for primary and re-vaccination in younger children, and to achieve
supportive policy recommendations enabling broad market access. We continue to work closely with
governments, regulatory authorities, and non-governmental organizations in our commitment to facilitate
global access to our COVID-19 vaccine.
APAs
We have entered into APAs (also referred to as “supply agreements” throughout this Annual Report
on Form 10-K) with the EC and various countries globally. The APAs typically contain terms that include
upfront payments intended to assist us in funding investments related to building out and operating our
manufacturing and distribution network, among other expenses, in support of our global supply
commitment. Such upfront payments generally become non-refundable upon our achievement of certain
development milestones. We currently have approximately $2 billion in committed APAs anticipated for
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future delivery.
We had an APA with the EC, acting on behalf of various European Union member states to supply
a minimum of 20 million and up to 100 million initial doses of prototype vaccine, with the option for the EC
to purchase an additional 100 million doses up to a maximum aggregate of 200 million doses in one or more
tranches through 2023. In 2022, we were notified by the EC that it was cancelling approximately 7 million
doses of its prior commitment originally scheduled for delivery in the first and second quarters of 2022, in
accordance with the APA, and reducing the order to approximately 63 million doses. In January 2023, we
finalized a revised delivery schedule for the remaining 20 million committed doses under the APA that were
originally scheduled for delivery during the first and second quarters of 2022. The APA expired in August 2023
and required that any open and outstanding orders from European Union member states be satisfied by
February 2024. Since August 2023, any additional doses have been managed by amending outstanding
orders with deliveries made by February 2024.
We have an APA with the Commonwealth of Australia for the purchase of doses of COVID-19
Vaccine (the “Australia APA”). In April 2023, we amended the Australia APA to reduce the number of doses
to be delivered with a commensurate increase in the per-dose price, such that the total contract value of
the Australia APA is maintained with doses to be delivered through 2024. In May 2023, we extended a credit
for certain doses delivered in 2022 to Australia that qualified for replacement under the Australia APA. This
credit is the result of a single lot sold to the Australian government that upon pre-planned 6-month stability
testing was found to have fallen below the defined specifications and the lot therefore was removed from
the market. The credit will be applied against the future sale of doses to Australia. In July 2023, we amended
the Australia APA to provide for replacement doses and to extend the delivery schedule through 2025. As
of February 2024, we had not yet received Therapeutic Goods Administration (“TGA”) authorization or
delivered doses as contemplated in the July 2023 amendment and are in active discussions with the
Australian government on both the TGA authorization and delivery of the doses previously scheduled for
the fourth quarter of 2023. In February 2024, we received notice from the Australian government purporting
to cancel its order for such prototype vaccine doses. We believe the cancellation was not proper under
the amended Australia APA. However, if such a cancellation were determined to be allowable, $6.0 million
of the deferred revenue would become a credit towards future deliveries of doses and approximately $48
million of the contract value related to future deliverables would no longer be available.
We have an APA with His Majesty the King in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of
Public Works and Government Services, as successor in interest to Her Majesty the Queen in Right of
Canada, as represented by the Minister of Public Works and Government Services (the “Canadian
government”), for the purchase of doses of COVID-19 Vaccine (the “Canada APA”). In April 2023, we
amended the Canada APA, pursuant to which the Canadian government forfeited certain doses originally
scheduled for delivery in 2022 for a payment of $100.4 million, which we received in the second quarter of
2023. In June 2023, we entered into an additional amendment (the “June 2023 Amendment”) to the
Canada APA. Pursuant to the June 2023 Amendment, (i) the Canadian government forfeited certain doses
of COVID-19 Vaccine previously scheduled for delivery and agreed to pay a total amount of $349.6 million
to us in two equal installments, which total amount equaled the remaining balance owed by the Canadian
government with respect to such forfeited vaccine doses, (ii) the amount of doses of COVID-19 Vaccine
due for delivery was reduced, (iii) the delivery schedule for the remaining doses of COVID-19 Vaccine to
be delivered was revised, and (iv) the parties agreed Novavax would use the Biologics Manufacturing
Centre (“BMC”) Inc. to produce bulk antigen for doses in 2024 and 2025. The June 2023 Amendment
maintained the total contract value of the original Canada APA. The first Installment of $174.8 million was
payable upon execution of the June 2023 Amendment and received by Novavax in July 2023, and the
second installment of $174.8 million was contingent and payable upon the delivery of vaccine doses in the
second half of 2023 and received by Novavax in January 2024. The Canadian government may terminate
the Canada APA, as amended, if we fail to receive regulatory approval for our COVID-19 Vaccine using
bulk antigen produced at BMC on or before December 31, 2024. Our 2024 plans do not currently anticipate
the submission for regulatory approval of our COVID-19 Vaccine using bulk antigen produced at BMC, and
we plan to work with the Canadian government on an amendment that addresses possible alternatives,
which may not be achievable. As of December 31, 2023, $102.8 million was classified as short-term Deferred
revenue and $485.3 million was classified as long-term Deferred revenue with respect to the Canadian APA
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on our consolidated balance sheet. If the Canadian government terminates the Canada APA, $28.0 million
of the deferred revenue would become refundable and approximately $224 million of the contract value
related to future deliverables would no longer be available (see Note 3 to our consolidated financial
statements). In the event that the contract is terminated, we would consider competing in the Canadian
commercial market. Pursuant to the June 2023 Amendment, Novavax and the Canadian government will
endeavor to expand the previously agreed in-country commitment to Canada and to further partner to
provide health, economic, and future pandemic preparedness benefits to Canada, which value may be
provided through a number of activities, including without limitation, capital investments, the performance
of activities or services, or the provision of technology or intellectual property licenses. Further, the parties
will endeavor to enter into a memorandum of understanding (the “MOU”) to illustrate our ability to deliver
such benefits over a 15-year period with an aggregate value of not less than 100% of the amount remaining
to be paid under the June 2023 Amendment and ultimately received by us. As of December 31, 2023,
discussions regarding the MOU were ongoing. We agreed to hold $20.0 million of the second installment
payment received in January 2024 in escrow for the benefit of the Canadian government, which amount
is the sole recourse available to the Canadian government in the event of non-performance under the
MOU.
In July 2022, we entered into an Amended and Restated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Supply Agreement
(as amended on September 26, 2022, the “Amended and Restated UK Supply Agreement”) with The
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (as assigned to the UK Health Security
Agency), acting on behalf of the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(the “Authority”), which amended and restated in its entirety the SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Supply Agreement,
dated October 22, 2020, between the parties (the “Original UK Supply Agreement”). Under the Original UK
Supply Agreement, the Authority agreed to purchase 60 million doses of prototype vaccine and made an
upfront payment to us. Under the terms of the Amended and Restated UK Supply Agreement, the Authority
agreed to purchase a minimum of 1 million doses and up to an additional 15 million doses (the “Conditional
Doses”) of prototype vaccine, with the number of Conditional Doses contingent on, and subject to
reduction based on, our timely achievement of supportive recommendations from the Joint Committee on
Vaccination and Immunisation (the “JCVI”) that is approved by the UK Secretary of State for Health, with
respect to use of the vaccine for (a) the general adult population as part of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine booster
campaign in the United Kingdom or (b) the general adolescent population as part of a SARS-CoV-2
vaccine booster campaign in the United Kingdom or as a primary series SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, excluding
where that recommendation relates only to one or more population groups comprising less than one million
members in the United Kingdom. If the Authority did not purchase the Conditional Doses or if the number
of such Conditional Doses was reduced below 15 million doses of prototype vaccine, we would have to
repay up to $225 million related to the upfront payment previously received from the Authority under the
Original UK Supply Agreement. Under the Amended and Restated UK Supply Agreement, the Authority also
has the option to purchase up to an additional 44 million doses, in one or more tranches, through 2024.
As of November 30, 2022, the JCVI had not made a supportive recommendation with respect to
prototype vaccine, thereby triggering, under the terms of the Amended and Restated UK Supply
Agreement, (i) a reduction of the number of Conditional Doses from 15 million doses to 7.5 million doses,
which reduced number of Conditional Doses were contingent on, and subject to further reduction based
on, our timely achievement by November 30, 2023 of a supportive recommendation from JCVI that is
approved by the UK Secretary of State for Health as described in the paragraph above, and (ii) an
obligation for us to repay $112.5 million related to the upfront payment previously received from the
Authority under the Original UK Supply Agreement. In April 2023, we repaid the $112.5 million related to the
November 30, 2022 triggering event. As of November 30, 2023, the JCVI had not made a supportive
recommendation with respect to the prototype vaccine, thereby triggering a reduction in the number of
Conditional Doses from 7.5 million doses to zero. As of February 2024, the Company is in discussions with the
Authority regarding the treatment of the remaining upfront payment previously received of $112.5 million,
which is reflected in Other current liabilities.
In May 2021, we entered into an APA with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (“Gavi” and “the Gavi APA”).
Under the terms of the Gavi APA and a separate purchase agreement between Gavi and SIIPL, 1.1 billion
doses of the prototype vaccine were to be made available to countries participating in the COVAX Facility,
14
which was established to allocate and distribute vaccines equitably to participating countries and
economies. We expected to manufacture and distribute 350 million doses of the prototype vaccine to
countries participating in the COVAX Facility. Under a separate purchase agreement with Gavi, SIIPL was
expected to manufacture and deliver the balance of the 1.1 billion doses of prototype vaccine to low-
and middle-income countries participating in the COVAX Facility. We expected to deliver doses with
antigen and adjuvant manufactured at facilities directly funded under our funding agreement with the
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (“CEPI”), with initial doses supplied by SIIPL and Serum Life
Sciences Limited (“SLS”) under a supply agreement. We expected to supply significant doses that Gavi
would allocate to low-, middle- and high-income countries, subject to certain limitations, utilizing a tiered
pricing schedule and Gavi could prioritize such doses to low- and middle- income countries, at lower prices.
Additionally, we could provide additional doses of prototype vaccine, to the extent available from CEPI-
funded manufacturing facilities, in the event that SIIPL could not materially deliver expected vaccine doses
to the COVAX Facility. Under the agreement, we received an upfront payment of $350.0 million from Gavi
in 2021 and an additional payment of $350.0 million in 2022 related to our achieving an emergency use
license for our prototype vaccine by the WHO (the “Advance Payment Amount”).
On November 18, 2022, we delivered written notice to Gavi to terminate the Gavi APA on the basis
of Gavi’s failure to procure the purchase of 350 million doses of our prototype vaccine from us as required
by the Gavi APA. As of November 18, 2022, we had only received orders under the Gavi APA for
approximately 2 million doses. On December 2, 2022, Gavi issued a written notice purporting to terminate
the Gavi APA based on Gavi’s contention that we had repudiated the agreement and, therefore,
materially breached the Gavi APA. Gavi also contended that, based on its purported termination of the
Gavi APA, it was entitled to a refund of the Advance Payment Amount less any amounts that have been
credited against the purchase price for binding orders placed by a buyer participating in the COVAX
Facility. The remaining Gavi Advance Payment Amount, which was $696.4 million as of December 31, 2023
has been classified within Other current liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. On
January 24, 2023, Gavi filed a demand for arbitration with the International Court of Arbitration based on
the claims described above. We filed our Answer and Counterclaims on March 2, 2023. On April 5, 2023,
Gavi filed its Reply to our Counterclaims. On February 16, 2024, we and Gavi entered into a Termination
and Settlement Agreement (the “Gavi Settlement Agreement”) terminating the Gavi APA, settling the
arbitration proceedings and releasing both parties of all claims arising from, under or otherwise in
connection with the Gavi APA. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, we are responsible for payment to
Gavi of (i) an initial settlement payment of $75 million, which we paid on February 20, 2024, and (ii) deferred
payments, in equal annual amounts of $80 million payable each calendar year through a deferred
payment term ending December 31, 2028. The deferred payments are due in variable quarterly installments
beginning in the first quarter of 2024 and total $400 million during the deferred payment term. Such deferred
payments may be reduced through Gavi’s use of an annual vaccine credit equivalent to the unpaid
balance of such deferred payments each year, which may be applied to qualifying sales of any of our
vaccines for supply to certain low-income and lower-middle income countries. We have the right to price
the vaccines offered to such low-income and lower-middle income countries at our discretion, and, when
utilized by Gavi, we will credit the actual price per vaccine paid against the applicable credit. We intend
to price vaccines offered via the tender process, consistent with our shared goal with Gavi to provide
equitable access to those countries. Also in the Settlement Agreement, we grant Gavi an additional credit
of up to $225 million, which may be applied against any additional qualifying sales, exceeding the $80
million deferred payment amount in any calendar year, of our vaccines in such countries during such
deferred payment term. In addition, we and Gavi entered into a security agreement pursuant to which we
granted Gavi a security interest in accounts receivable from SIIPL under the SIIPL R21 Agreement (see Note
4 to our consolidated financial statements for more details on SIIPL R21 Agreement), which will continue for
the deferred payment term of the Gavi Settlement Agreement.
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Product Pipeline
(1) Authorized in select geographies under trade names Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted;
Covovax™; and Nuvaxovid™, and authorized in the U.S. under trade name, Novavax COVID-19
Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2023-2024 Formula); Ongoing post-authorization Phase 3 strain change trial.
(2) Authorized in Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso; Commercialized by Serum Institute of India; Granted
prequalification by the WHO.
Pipeline Overview
Our clinical pipeline encompasses vaccine candidates for infectious diseases, with our COVID-19
prototype vaccine (NVX-CoV2373) and our COVID-19 updated vaccine (NVX-CoV2601), as our lead
products. Our prototype and updated vaccine has received authorizations for both adult and adolescent
populations globally. Our updated vaccine has received authorization from the U.S. FDA, the EC, the WHO,
and several other countries globally. We advanced our updated vaccine to a post-authorization Phase 3
safety and immunogenicity trial. Beyond our COVID-19 vaccine, our clinical pipeline includes a CIC vaccine
candidate, in addition to our Matrix-M™ adjuvant being used for collaboration in R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant
malaria vaccine.
We are developing a CIC vaccine candidate, which combines our COVID-19 vaccine and our
updated seasonal nanoparticle influenza vaccine candidate in a single formulation. We continue to
progress a Phase 2 trial of our CIC vaccine candidate. We have selected the CIC dose formulation for
advanced development, and contingent upon U.S. FDA concurrence, we are prepared to move directly
into a Phase 3 trial in the second half of 2024 to support accelerated approval, with a potential launch in
the U.S. in the fall of 2026.
In addition to our CIC vaccine candidate, we believe our partner-led R21/Matrix™ adjuvant malaria
vaccine presents significant potential. Based on preliminary results from an ongoing Phase 3 trial in infants
and toddlers in Africa, showing 72-79% efficacy, the R21/Matrix™ adjuvant malaria vaccine has been
authorized in Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso, and in December 2023, was granted prequalification by
the WHO.
Coronavirus Vaccine Clinical Development
We remain focused on expanding our COVID-19 vaccine label within the booster, adolescent, and
pediatric indications. We continue to evaluate vaccine safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness through
ongoing clinical trials and collaborative evidence-generating real-world studies. We expect to leverage
these clinical insights to advance additional regulatory approvals of our COVID-19 vaccine globally, amidst
the evolving COVID-19 landscape.
Phase 3 Strain-Change and Re-vaccination Studies
Study 311 Part 2: In August 2023, we announced topline results demonstrating immunologic
superiority of our bivalent prototype and Omicron BA.5 vaccine compared to our prototype vaccine (NVX-
CoV2373) for Omicron BA.5 specific responses. This study is ongoing with the last patient visit expected to
occur in the first quarter of 2024. This study design was developed in consultation with regulatory agencies
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to support our U.S. BLA and regulatory filings in other territories for our strain-change request for our updated
vaccine (NVX-CoV2601), and to demonstrate that our protein-based vaccine can be successfully adapted
to new variant strains.
Study 313: In September 2023, we fully enrolled 332 adults aged 18 and older in Part 1 of the study to
evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of our updated vaccine (NVX-CoV2601) in previously mRNA
vaccinated individuals. Preliminary topline results indicate that the study achieved its co-primary endpoints
and successfully demonstrated immunological superiority of NVX-CoV2601 compared to our prototype
vaccine for Omicron XBB.1.5 specific immune responses. In November 2023, we fully enrolled 338 adults
aged 18 and older in Part 2 of the study which will evaluate the immunogenicity of our updated vaccine
(NVX-CoV2601) in previously unvaccinated individuals. Part 2 topline results are expected in the second
quarter of 2024. Data from Study 313 are intended to support BLA supplements and similar regulatory
submissions in other territories for future variant strain formulations.
Study 314: In September 2023, we fully enrolled 401 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years who were
previously vaccinated with mRNA vaccines to evaluate the immunogenicity of boosting with our updated
vaccine (NVX-CoV2601) and with a bivalent format vaccine containing our updated vaccine (NVX-
CoV2373 + NVX-CoV2601). These data are intended to support adolescent heterologous booster label
expansion in some territories with topline results expected in the second quarter of 2024.
Phase 2b/3 Pediatric Hummingbird™ Study
In August 2023, we announced topline results from our Phase 2b/3 Hummingbird™ trial that met its
primary endpoints in children aged 6 through 11 years demonstrating both tolerability and immunologic
responses. We remain on track to submit data for this cohort to the U.S. FDA in the first half of 2024. This
ongoing trial is evaluating the safety, effectiveness (immunogenicity), and efficacy of two doses of our
prototype vaccine (NVX-CoV2373), followed by a booster 6 months after the primary vaccination series.
The trial includes three age de-escalation cohorts of 1,200 children each. The next cohort aged 2 through
5 years is fully enrolled, with topline results expected in the first quarter of 2024. The last cohort aged 6 to 23
months is fully enrolled and topline results are expected in the second quarter of 2024.
COVID-19 Vaccine Funding
We obtained critical funding from the U.S. government to support the development of COVID-19
Vaccine for the U.S. population, including $1.8 billion from a partnership formerly known as Operation Warp
Speed. In July 2020, we entered into a Project Agreement (the “Project Agreement”) with Advanced
Technology International, Inc. (“ATI”), the Consortium Management Firm acting on behalf of the Medical
CBRN Defense Consortium in connection with the partnership. The partnership was among components of
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Defense working to
accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and
diagnostics. The Project Agreement relates to the Base Agreement we entered into with ATI in June 2020
(the “Base Agreement,” together with the Project Agreement, the “USG Agreement”). The original USG
Agreement required us to conduct certain clinical, regulatory, and other activities, including a pivotal
Phase 3 clinical trial to determine the safety and efficacy of prototype vaccine, and to manufacture and
deliver to the U.S. government 100 million doses of the vaccine candidate. Funding under the USG
Agreement is payable to us for various development, clinical trial, manufacturing, regulatory, and other
activities. The USG Agreement contains terms and conditions that are customary for U.S. government
agreements of this nature, including provisions giving the U.S. government the right to terminate the Base
Agreement or the Project Agreement based on a reasonable determination that the funded project will
not produce beneficial results commensurate with the expenditure of resources and that termination would
be in the U.S. government’s interest. If the Project Agreement was terminated prior to completion, we were
entitled to be paid for work performed and costs or obligations incurred prior to termination and consistent
with the terms of the USG Agreement. As of December 31, 2023, we have recognized the full $1.8 billion-
funding under the USG Agreement in grant revenue.
Our funding agreement with CEPI, under which CEPI agreed to fund up to $399.5 million to us to
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support the development of prototype vaccine, provided up to $257.0 million in CEPI Grant Funding and
up to $142.5 million in CEPI Forgivable Loan Funding, which are loans in the form of one or more forgivable
no-interest term loans to fund certain manufacturing activities and are not subject to restrictive or financial
covenants. Payments received under the CEPI Forgivable Loan Funding are only repayable if project
vaccine, as defined under the CEPI funding agreement, manufactured by the contract manufacturing
organization (“CMO”) network funded by CEPI is sold to one or more third parties (which could include sales
credited under the Gavi Settlement Agreement), and such sales cover our costs of manufacturing such
vaccine, not including manufacturing costs funded by CEPI. The timing and amount of any loan
repayments is currently uncertain.
A summary and status of our historical COVID-19 funding developments follows:
Funding Partner
Amount
Additional Details
CEPI
$399.5 million
U.S. Government through
USG Agreement
$1.8 billion
COVID-19-Influenza Combination Vaccine
•
•
Funding of up to $399.5 million to support the
development of prototype vaccine
To supply prototype vaccine through the COVAX
Facility
• Allotted $1.8 billion to support the development of
•
prototype vaccine
Full $1.8 billion recognized in revenue as of December
31, 2023
Phase 2 Clinical Trial of COVID-19-Influenza Combination Vaccine
In November 2023, we shared that we previously evaluated 11 discrete CIC formulations in our Phase
2 dose-confirming trial, in which we then selected the CIC dose formulation and remain on track to initiate
the Phase 3 trial. We also observed a favorable reactogenicity profile with our combination vaccine that
was 45
istinguishable from the licensed influenza vaccine comparators. This preliminary data suggests that
our technology can increase the antigen load while maintaining acceptable tolerability. Pending
regulatory concurrence from the U.S. FDA, we expect to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 trial for our CIC vaccine
candidate in the second half of 2024, with potential accelerated approval and launch in the fall of 2026.
In May 2023, we announced preliminary topline data from our Phase 2 trial for CIC, stand-alone
influenza, and high-dose COVID-19 vaccine candidates. All three vaccine candidates contain our Matrix-
M™ adjuvant, showed preliminary robust immune responses, reassuring safety profiles, and reactogenicity
that was comparable to the licensed influenza vaccine comparator arms. The Phase 2 dose-confirming
randomized, observer-blinded trial evaluated the safety and effectiveness (immunogenicity) of different
formulations of the CIC and influenza vaccine candidates, and higher doses of Novavax's COVID-19
vaccine in 1,575 adults aged 50 through 80 years. The CIC vaccine candidate achieved both anti-SARS-
CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and neutralizing levels comparable to our prototype vaccine. In addition,
several of the combination formulations achieved responses to both SARS-CoV-2 and to the four
homologous influenza strains that were comparable to the reference comparators, supporting their
prioritization for advanced development.
High-dose COVID-19 Vaccine Study
Study 205: In October 2023, we completed enrollment in a Phase 2 trial to evaluate our high-dose
COVID-19 vaccine for annual vaccination in 994 adults ages 50 years and older. The trial will compare
immunogenicity levels of 5 micrograms of our prototype vaccine (NVX-CoV2373) against 5 micrograms, 35
micrograms, and 50 micrograms of our updated vaccine (NVX-CoV2601) that are matched with different
levels of adjuvant. Data from this trial is intended to potentially support further development of a higher-
dose formulation for older adults, similar to that of influenza vaccines. Topline results are expected in the
first quarter of 2024.
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Malaria
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by a parasite that infects mosquitos and is subsequently
transmitted to humans. According to the 2023 WHO World Malaria Report, in 2022, there were an estimated
249 million malaria cases and 608,000 malaria-related deaths worldwide. We believe malaria has the
potential to be preventable through our partner-led R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant malaria vaccine, which in
2023 received authorization in several countries and prequalification by the WHO.
R21/Matrix-M™ Adjuvant Malaria Vaccine
R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant malaria vaccine, formulated with our Matrix-M™ adjuvant is developed
by our partner, the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, and manufactured by SIIPL. We have an agreement
with SIIPL related to its manufacture of R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant malaria vaccine under which SIIPL
purchases our Matrix-M™ adjuvant for use in development activities at cost and for commercial purposes
at a tiered commercial supply price, and pays a royalty in the single- to low-double digit range based on
vaccine sales for a period of 15 years after the first commercial sale of the vaccine in each country.
Phase 3 Clinical Trial of R21/Matrix-M™ Adjuvant Malaria Vaccine
R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant malaria vaccine is being evaluated in an ongoing Phase 3 trial conducted
by our partner, the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford. In February 2024, peer-reviewed results from the
Phase 3 efficacy trial were published in The Lancet reporting R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant malaria vaccine has
a well-tolerated safety profile and offers high-level efficacy against clinical malaria in African children at
sites of both seasonal and perennial transmission. This Phase 3 trial enrolled 4,800 children aged 5 to 36
months across five sites in four African countries with differing malaria transmission intensities and seasonality.
The trial demonstrated efficacy of 75% when administered prior to the high transmission season during the
12 months following a three-dose series and efficacy of 68% when administered in an age-based schedule
in regions where malaria is present perennially during the 12 months following the first three doses. This
R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant malaria vaccine is a low-cost vaccine and has the potential to make a substantial
contribution to reducing the burden of malaria disease and deaths in sub-Saharan Africa.
R21/Matrix-M™ Adjuvant Malaria Vaccine Regulatory and Licensure
In December 2023, the WHO announced it prequalified the R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant malaria
vaccine to prevent malaria disease in children caused by the P. falciparum parasite in endemic areas.
Prequalification status enables United Nations agencies to procure the vaccine for eligible countries and
will enable rollout of the vaccine in mid-2024. The WHO recommended that the R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant
malaria vaccine be administered in a four-dose schedule beginning at five months of age.
In July 2023, R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant malaria vaccine received authorization in Burkina Faso and in
April 2023, received authorizations in Ghana and Nigeria.
19
License and Collaboration
Our commitment to partnering globally in efforts to further develop our COVID-19 Vaccine is
demonstrated through our partnership with SIIPL to supply COVID-19 vaccines to India and low- and middle-
income countries.
Licensee
Marketed Under
Territories
Serum Institute of India Private Limited
Covovax™
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
Limited
SK bioscience Co., Ltd.
Nuvaxovid™
Nuvaxovid™
India
•
• COVAX Facility
The Philippines
•
Indonesia
•
South Africa
•
Bangladesh
•
•
Japan
•
South Korea
•
South Korea(1)
(1) SK bioscience also has non-exclusive licenses in Thailand and Vietnam.
A summary of our license and collaboration agreements follows:
SIIPL
We previously granted SIIPL exclusive and non-exclusive licenses for the development, co-
formulation, filling and finishing, registration, and commercialization of our prototype vaccine, our
proprietary COVID-19 variant antigen candidate(s), and our CIC vaccine candidate. SIIPL agreed to
purchase our Matrix-M™ adjuvant, and we granted SIIPL a non-exclusive license to manufacture the
antigen drug substance component of our COVID-19 Vaccine in SIIPL’s licensed territory solely for use in the
manufacture of COVID-19 Vaccine. Novavax and SIIPL equally split the revenue from SIIPL’s sale of
COVID-19 Vaccine in its licensed territory, net of agreed costs. We also have a supply agreement with SIIPL
and SLS under which SIIPL and SLS supply us with prototype vaccine, our proprietary COVID-19 variant
antigen candidate(s), and our CIC vaccine candidate for commercialization and sale in certain territories,
as well as a contract development manufacture agreement with SLS, under which SLS manufactures and
supplies finished vaccine product to us using antigen drug substance and Matrix-M™ adjuvant supplied by
us. In March 2020, we entered into an agreement with SIIPL that granted SIIPL a non-exclusive license for
the use of Matrix-M™ adjuvant supplied by us to develop, manufacture, and commercialize R21/Matrix-
M™ adjuvant, a malaria vaccine created by the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford (“R21/Matrix-M™”).
R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant vaccine has been licensed to SIIPL for commercialization and in December 2023
received prequalification by the WHO. Under the agreement, SIIPL purchases our Matrix-M™ adjuvant for
use in development activities at cost and for commercial purposes at a tiered commercial supply price,
and pays a royalty in the single-to low- double-digit range based on vaccine sales for a period of 15 years
after the first commercial sale of the vaccine in each country.
Takeda
We have a collaboration and license agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
(“Takeda”) under which we granted Takeda an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and
commercialize the Company’s COVID-19 Vaccine in Japan. Under the agreement, Takeda purchases
Matrix-M™ adjuvant from us to manufacture doses of COVID-19 Vaccine, and we are entitled to receive
milestone and sales-based royalty payments from Takeda based on the achievement of certain
development and commercial milestones, as well as a portion of net profits from the sale of COVID-19
Vaccine. In September 2021, Takeda finalized an agreement with the Government of Japan’s Ministry of
Health, Labour and Welfare ("MHLW") for the purchase of 150 million doses of its prototype vaccine. In
February 2023, MHLW canceled the remainder of doses under its agreement with Takeda. As a result, it is
uncertain whether we will receive future sales-based royalty payments from Takeda under the terms and
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conditions of their current collaboration and licensing agreement.
SK bioscience
We have a collaboration and license agreement with SK bioscience to manufacture and
commercialize our prototype vaccine for sale to the governments of South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.
SK bioscience pays a royalty in the low to middle double-digit range.
Manufacturing and Supply
We are committed to discovering, developing, and commercializing innovative vaccines to
prevent serious infectious diseases and are exploring a number of combination vaccine candidates,
including a CIC vaccine, directly and by leveraging our strategic global partnerships. In 2021 and 2020, we
established a global supply chain and worldwide partnerships to support the commercialization of our
prototype vaccine. In 2023 and 2022, we modified and continued to assess our manufacturing needs and
our global manufacturing footprint consistent with our contractual obligations to supply, and anticipated
demand for COVID-19 Vaccine.
A summary of our key manufacturing and supply arrangements follows:
Matrix-MTM Adjuvant
We manufacture our proprietary saponin-based Matrix-M™ adjuvant at our Novavax AB facility in
Uppsala, Sweden. We also have contract manufacturing arrangements with AGC Biologics and the
Polypeptide Group to provide contract development and manufacturing services, supplying us with large-
scale production of Matrix-M™ adjuvant.
Antigen Component of COVID-19 Vaccine
We manufacture the antigen component of our COVID-19 Vaccine at our Novavax CZ facility in
the Czech Republic.
We have a supply agreement with SIIPL and SLS, an affiliate of SIIPL, for the manufacture of the
antigen component of COVID-19 Vaccine and the co-formulation, fill, and finishing of the finished vaccine
product. In May and August 2022, we expanded our license and supply arrangements with SIIPL to include
our proprietary COVID-19 variant antigen candidate(s), and our CIC vaccine candidate, so that SIIPL can
manufacture and commercialize a vaccine targeting COVID-19 variants, including the Omicron
subvariants, and CIC vaccine, and supply such vaccines to us.
Finished COVID-19 Vaccine
In addition to the supply agreement with SIIPL and SLS for the co-formulation, fill, and finishing of the
finished vaccine product, we have a contract development manufacture agreement with SLS, pursuant to
which SLS will manufacture and supply finished vaccine product to us using antigen drug substance and
Matrix-M™ adjuvant supplied by us. Currently, we depend primarily on this supply agreement for co-
formulation, filling and finishing (other than in Europe) and our service agreement with PCI Pharma Services
(“PCI”) for finishing in Europe.
Competition in COVID-19 and Combination Vaccines
The vaccine market is intensely competitive, characterized by rapid technological progress. Our
technology is based upon utilizing the baculovirus expression system in insect cells to make recombinant
vaccines. Our 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. We believe this baculovirus expression system with our nanoparticle
configuration formulated with our Matrix-M™ adjuvant offers many advantages compared to other
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technologies, such as enabling dose-sparing effects and refrigerator temperature storage that is well suited
for developing COVID-19 and combination vaccines, as well as vaccines against a number of other
infectious diseases.
A number of vaccine manufacturers, research institutions, and other organizations have developed
a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. A variety of different vaccine technologies are
being studied, including nucleic acid (RNA/DNA), viral vectors, live attenuated or inactivated, and protein-
based vaccines. Novavax is the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine that received EUA by the U.S. FDA
and a CMA by EMA in the European Union. As of February 2024, Novavax is one of three manufacturers
that have a COVID-19 vaccine that has received authorization by the U.S. FDA for the 2023-2024
vaccination season, with the other manufacturers being Pfizer and Moderna. As of February 2024, the U.S.
FDA has granted Pfizer and Moderna BLA approval for their updated vaccines in individuals 12 years and
older and EUA for their updated vaccines in individuals 6 months to 11 years, while Novavax received EUA
by the U.S. FDA for our updated vaccine in individuals 12 years and older. Based on our COVID-19 vaccine
and its high efficacy against both the original and variant strains and its well-tolerated profile demonstrated
in clinical trials, including two pivotal Phase 3 trials in the UK and U.S., we believe our vaccine candidate will
continue to play an important role in addressing this global public health crisis.
Additionally, we believe that our platform is well suited for combination vaccines, for example
influenza and COVID-19. Following our Phase 2 trial results, we have selected a CIC dose formulation and
pending regulatory concurrence are on track to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 trial in the second half of 2024,
with potential accelerated approval and launch in the fall of 2026. Other manufacturers, including
Moderna and Pfizer, are in Phase 3 clinical trials with COVID-19-influenza combination candidates and have
publicly disclosed an expected launch date as early as 2025.
In general, competition among pharmaceutical products is based in part on product efficacy,
safety, reliability, availability, price, and patent position. An important factor is the relative timing of the
market introduction of our products and our competitors’ products. Accordingly, the speed with which we
can develop products, complete the clinical trials and approval processes, and supply commercial
quantities of the products to the market is an important competitive factor. Our competitive position also
may depend upon our ability to show differentiation with a product that is more efficacious and/or less
expensive and quicker to manufacture. Other factors affecting our competitive position include our ability
to attract and retain qualified personnel, obtain patent protection or otherwise develop proprietary
products or processes, and secure sufficient capital resources for the lengthy period between
technological conception and commercial sale.
Patents and Proprietary Rights
We generally seek patent protection for our technology and product candidates in the U.S. and
abroad. The patent position of biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms generally is highly uncertain and
involves complex legal and factual questions. Our success will depend, in part, on whether we can:
• obtain patents to protect our own technologies and product candidates;
• obtain licenses to use the technologies of third-parties, which may be protected by patents;
• protect our trade secrets and know-how; and
• operate without infringing the intellectual property and proprietary rights of others.
Patent Rights; Licenses
We have intellectual property (patents, licenses, know-how) related to our vaccines, manufacturing
processes, and other technologies. Currently, we have or have rights to over 630 U.S. and foreign patents
and patent applications relating to vaccines and vaccine-related technologies.
Patents related to our Virus-Like Particle (“VLP”) program include U.S. Patent No. 7,763,450, which
22
covers, in part, the use of influenza gene sequences for high-yield production of consistent influenza VLP
vaccines to protect against current and future seasonal and pandemic strains of influenza viruses.
Corresponding European patent, European Patent No. 1644037 also covers this technology. U.S. Patent Nos.
8,080,255, 8,551,756, 8,506,967 and 8,592,197 are directed to methods of producing VLPs and inducing
substantial immunity to an influenza virus infection by administering VLPs comprising HA and NA proteins,
and our M1 protein derived from the avian influenza strain, A/Indonesia/5/05. Certain claims also
encompass similar methods and compositions where the M1 protein is from a different strain of influenza
virus than the influenza HA protein and the influenza NA protein. Related patent protection in Europe is
provided by European Patent No. 2343084, which covers, in part, vaccine compositions containing VLPs
that contain M1, HA, and NA proteins. Our VLP patent portfolio contains many other patents, including U.S.
Patent Nos. 8,951,537, 8,992,939, 9,144,607, 9,050,290, 9,180,180, 9,381,239, 9,464,276, 9,474,799, and other
patents in multiple ex-U.S. jurisdictions.
In addition to our focus on vaccine programs, we also pursue patent protection for our Matrix
Adjuvant program. Issued U.S. Patent Nos. 7,838,019, 9,205,147, 9,901,634, 8,821,881, and 10,729,764 provide
examples of patents related to our Matrix Adjuvant program.
We pursue patents related to our COVID-19 vaccine program, including to NVX-CoV2373, our
COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Issued U.S. Patent Nos. 10,953,089, 11,253,586, 11,541,112 provide examples
of patents related to our COVID-19 program.
We also have four pending PCT applications directed to our COVID program (PCT/US2022/020974,
PCT/US2022/080700, PCT/US2022/082331 and PCT/US2022/027465) and two pending PCT applications
directed to our malaria program (PCT/US2022/078665 and PCT/US2022/080334).
We continue to prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications to provide broad and strong
protection of our proprietary rights related to our vaccine products and our adjuvant program.
The Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 and related statutory guidance encourages the
dissemination of science and technology innovation. While our expired contract with the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (“DHHS”), Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority
provided us with the right to retain ownership in our inventions that may have arisen during performance of
that contract, with respect to certain other collaborative research efforts with the U.S. government, certain
developments and results that may have commercial potential are to be freely published, not treated as
confidential, and we may be required to negotiate a license to developments and results in order to
commercialize products. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully obtain any such
license at a reasonable cost, or that such development and results will not be made available to our
competitors on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis.
Trade Secrets
We also rely significantly on trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect our
interests. It is our policy to require employees, consultants, contractors, manufacturers, collaborators, and
other advisors to execute confidentiality agreements upon the commencement of employment,
consulting, or collaborative relationships with us. We also require confidentiality agreements from any entity
that is to receive confidential information from us. With respect to employees, consultants, and contractors,
the agreements generally provide that all inventions made by the individual while rendering services to us
shall be assigned to us as our property.
Human Capital
Employees
As of February 23, 2024, we have 1,543 full-time employees, of whom approximately 9% hold M.D.
or Ph.D. degrees and approximately 20% hold other advanced degrees. Of our total workforce,
approximately 68% of employees are engaged primarily in research, development, and manufacturing
23
activities and approximately 32% of employees are engaged primarily in executive, business development,
commercial, finance and accounting, legal, and administrative functions. Except for certain employees
located in Europe, who are covered by collective agreements with trade unions pursuant to local law,
none of our employees are represented by a labor union or works council and none of our employees have
entered into a collective bargaining agreement with us.
To nurture, grow, and treat our employees fairly is an integral part of our culture. We are proud to
have won a Silver Stevie Award in 2023 for Great Employer in the Pharmaceutical category. We believe this
award reflects our investment in an exceptional work culture.
Compensation and Benefits; Health and Wellness
Our total rewards package is designed to attract, engage, motivate, and retain top talent. We
strive to provide compensation, benefits, and services that help meet the varying needs of our employees.
Our generous total rewards package for employees in the U.S. includes competitive market pay and
comprehensive benefits, including insurance to protect and maintain health; income protection through
our short- and long-term disability programs and life insurance; adoption assistance and paid parental
leave programs; and services to assist in balancing work and personal life, such as backup child, adult, and
elder care, and financial well-being programs, including monthly financial wellness seminars, one-on-one
financial planning sessions, and debt and credit management support.
Our wellness initiatives include a monthly newsletter, which highlights organizations and partners,
tools, and resources intended to help our employees lead healthier and happier lives. We offer several
digital apps that allow our employees to connect to an online licensed therapist or to access activities that
are designed to reduce stress and anxiety and increase mindfulness and emotional well-being. We have a
robust employee assistance program for employees to access support for a variety of life events.
In addition, we offer the majority of employees the benefit of equity ownership in the Company
through equity grants or participation in our employee stock purchase plan. We believe that equity
compensation has been, and will continue to be, a critical component of our compensation package
because it develops a culture of ownership among our employees and aligns their interests with the interests
of our stockholders.
Recruitment, Development, and Training
The attraction, development, and retention of employees is a critical factor for our success. We
utilize a variety of recruitment vehicles to source top talent, including strategic partnerships with search
firms, leveraging social media channels, and a robust employee referral program. In 2023, we launched
the Leading@Novavax competency model to define great leadership. At Novavax, everyone is a leader
and this model and associated tools, resources, and programs develops leadership skills at all levels of the
organization.
To support the growth and advancement of our employees, we offer tuition and continuing
education reimbursement, and an array of training and professional development opportunities, including
on-the-spot coaching with executive coaches and access to the LinkedIn Learning library of over 16,000
on-demand video tutorials that address skills, knowledge, and behaviors related to business, leadership,
technology, and innovation. In the last 12 months, videos were viewed and completed over 40,000 times
by our employees. In addition, approximately 135 employees have participated in spot coaching. We
provide an Executive Development Program for employees identified as having high potential and for
employees who have been identified as potential successors to leadership positions through our talent
review and succession planning process. Our Executive Development Program includes executive
coaching engagements and leadership development programs designed to strengthen our leadership
bench and accelerate and prepare our top talent for future growth. The Executive Development Program
includes a diverse and global group of 34 employees. Professional development learning series are
available to all employees and focus on self-awareness, collaboration, hybrid working, leadership, and
business acumen.
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Internal Communications
We employ a variety of tools to facilitate open and direct communication, including global forums
with executives, employee surveys, and engagement through forums and committees. Our executive
leadership team recognizes the importance of increased employee engagement to the success of each
individual’s career and to our success as a whole.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Our culture of diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) helps us to create, develop and leverage the
strengths of our workforce to meet our growth objectives. Our multi-year DEI roadmap includes three pillars:
•
•
•
Embed DEI into our hiring decisions and processes.
Enable our employees, who we refer to as our SuperNovas, to live our values and thrive in a culture
of inclusion.
Equip our leaders and SuperNovas with the understanding, capability, education, tools and
resources on DEI.
We acknowledge global DEI-related observances and we invest in training to build an inclusive
culture and develop our leaders to access different perspectives when generating ideas and decision
making. In 2023, we also made progress in increasing representation for women and minorities at the
Executive level. We commenced and completed the reviews of three people processes, namely, Talent
Acquisition, Promotion and Performance Management. We also have intentionally incorporated DEI
principles into our Novavax Leadership Model. We believe our multi-year DEI strategy and roadmap will
enable us to continuously improve and excel.
Empowering our Employees
In 2023, Novavax sought to motivate and empower employees through a variety of programs:
• Made charitable donations in employees’ name to other mission-driven organizations in the U.S.,
Sweden and Czech Republic through employee match and direct giving.
•
Furthered personal and professional development by providing
tuition and education
reimbursement and providing access to professional coaching and Executive Development
programming for high-potential employees.
Environmental, Social, and Governance
In addition to the DEI and human capital initiatives described above, a range of other initiatives
related to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) are underway. These include environmental
sustainability, innovating for vaccine access and improving global health, empowering our employees and
governing responsibly. We believe that our multi-stakeholder approach through these focus areas is critical
to our long-term success and enhances value for our shareholders. Examples of initiatives supportive of
these focus areas include the following:
Environmental Sustainability
• Resource management and greenhouse gas reduction strategy, which includes tracking emissions.
• An approach to Procurement that incorporates sustainability metrics into vendor evaluation and
selection rubrics.
•
Lease of approximately 170,000 square foot property in Gaithersburg, Maryland at 700 Quince
Orchard Road, certified LEED Silver and designed with energy efficiency and sustainability measures
in place.
• Conserving water (e.g., by replacing single-serve water bottles with refillable options) and
monitoring energy use across multi-use leased and owned facilities.
• Award of WELL certifications at multiple leased facilities.
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•
Sustainable saponin sourcing from our partner Desert King, the key supplier of the Quillaja saponaria
(Soapbark), a tree native to central Chile. Saponin is used to produce our Matrix-M™ adjuvant.
Innovating for Vaccine Access and Improving Global Health
• R21/Matrix-M™ malaria vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford and its Jenner Institute and
the Serum Institute of India, and formulated with our Matrix-M adjuvant is now approved in three
countries and prequalified by the WHO.
• Advocacy efforts to build a bureau of third-party organizations who are registered with the CDC to
provide public commentary on behalf of Novavax, including the National Health Council,
Vaccinate Your Families and the National Black Nurses Association.
Efforts focused on clinical trial diversity (economic, race, age).
•
Affordability
•
•
•
•
•
Focused on seeking to foster an environment with no barriers to use of our vaccines due to either
physical availability or pricing of the product.
100% returns for certain vaccinators offered with Novavax assuming all financial risk related to
returns.
In the U.S., participated in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, which serves as a critical safety
net for children under 19 who are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured or American
Indian/Alaskan Native.
In the U.S., participated in the 317 Program, which serves uninsured and underinsured adults and
supports Federal Qualified Health Centers that potentially vaccinate uninsured and underinsured
patients.
In the U.S., participated in the “Bridge Access Program For COVID Vaccines and Treatments” to
provide access to COVID-19 vaccine option for adults without other sources of coverage.
Governing Responsibly
• Policy remains in place to comply with all government and regulatory agency requirements and
industry standards with good laboratory practices (“GLP”), current good manufacturing practices
(“cGMP”) and good distribution practices (“GDP”).
• Practice responsible animal welfare practices including searching for non-animal alternatives
whenever possible, abiding by the 3R-principle (Reduce, Refine, Replace), working with accredited
animal facilities with regional independent animal experimentation ethical review boards
approving all experiments.
•
“The NovaCode,” a robust handbook of written standards and business ethics policies remains in
place.
• Maintain a global hotline for reporting compliance concerns with established internal investigating
protocols.
• Maintain a Strategic Compliance Governance Committee to help our partners comply with U.S.
regulations.
• Chief Compliance Officer elevated to report to the CEO with a dotted line to the Audit Committee.
• Hold company-wide business ethics training, guidance, and raw materials review.
• Keep an anti-bribery and anti-corruption policy in place to ensure a transparent and ethical
business model.
Standard operating procedures guide decision-making.
•
• Abide by robust cybersecurity standards, meeting elevated government contracting requirements.
• Chief Safety Officer continues to build out a robust epidemiology benefit / risk group to better
understand the safety profiles of different vaccines.
• Ongoing employee training for updated Safety Policy.
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Government Regulations
The development, production, and marketing of biological products, which include the vaccine
candidates being developed by Novavax or our collaborators, are subject to regulation for safety, efficacy,
and quality by numerous governmental authorities in the U.S. and other countries. We focus on the U.S.
regulatory process and the standards imposed by the U.S. FDA, the International Council for Harmonisation
(“ICH”), and other agencies because we believe meeting U.S. and ICH standards generally allows us to
also satisfy regulatory agencies’ standards in other countries where we intend to do business. However, we
are mindful that expectations in some venues, notably in the European Union and the United Kingdom (in
relation to Great Britain), differ to some degree and we take proactive steps to address such differences
by maintaining regular filings and correspondence and attending regular meetings with many other non-
U.S. regulatory agencies. In the U.S., the development, manufacturing, and marketing of human
pharmaceuticals and vaccines are subject to extensive regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act, and biological products are subject to regulation under provisions of that act and the Public
Health Service Act. The U.S. FDA not only assesses the safety and efficacy of these products, but it also
regulates, among other things, the testing, manufacture, labeling, storage, record-keeping, advertising,
and promotion of such products. The process of obtaining U.S. FDA licensure for a new vaccine is costly
and time-consuming.
Vaccine clinical development in most countries follows the same general regulatory pathway as
drugs and other biologics. Before applying for U.S. FDA licensure to market any new vaccine candidate,
we expect to first submit an investigational new drug application (“IND”) that explains to the U.S. FDA,
among other things, the results of preclinical toxicology testing conducted in laboratory animals, the
method of manufacture, quality control tests for release, the stability of the investigational product, and our
proposed plans for human testing. At this stage, the U.S. FDA decides whether it is reasonably safe to move
forward with testing the vaccine candidate in humans. We must then conduct Phase 1 clinical trials and
larger-scale Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials that demonstrate the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of our
vaccine candidate to the satisfaction of the U.S. FDA. Following successful completion of all three phases
of clinical development, a BLA can be submitted to the U.S. FDA requesting licensure of the vaccine for
marketing based on the vaccine’s safety and efficacy. Similar pathways exist in Europe and other
geographies.
The U.S. FDA will only approve a BLA if the vaccine is demonstrated to be safe, pure, and potent.
During the U.S. FDA’s review of a BLA, the proposed manufacturing facility undergoes a pre-approval
inspection during which the U.S. FDA examines in detail the production of the vaccine, the manufacturing
facility, and the quality documentation related to the vaccine. Vaccine licensure also requires the provision
of adequate product labeling to allow health care providers to understand the vaccine’s proper use,
including its potential benefits and risks, to communicate with patients and parents, and to safely deliver
the vaccine to the public. Until a vaccine is given to the general population, all potential adverse events
cannot be anticipated. Thus, the U.S. FDA typically requires Phase 4 post-marketing clinical trials for vaccines
after licensure to continue gathering safety, and sometimes effectiveness/efficacy data in the indicated
and additional populations.
The Commissioner of the U.S. FDA may, following the issuance of an appropriate declaration by the
Secretary of the DHHS, issue an EUA that would permit the use of an unapproved medical product or
unapproved use of an approved medical product to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening
diseases or conditions when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives. When issuing
an EUA, the U.S. FDA imposes conditions of authorization, with which the EUA holder must comply. Such
conditions include, but may not be limited to, compliance with labeling, distribution of materials designed
to ensure proper use, reporting obligations, and restrictions on advertising and promotion. The EUA is only
effective for the duration of the declaration issued by the Secretary of the DHHS that EUAs are appropriate.
The U.S. FDA may also revise or revoke the EUA sooner if the criteria for issuance are no longer met or other
circumstances make a revision or revocation appropriate to protect the public health or safety. For
example, an EUA may be revoked when the U.S. FDA determines that the underlying public health threat
no longer exists or warrants such authorization, or for reasons such as significant adverse inspectional
findings, reports of adverse events linked to or suspected of being caused by the EUA product, or newly
27
emerging data that may demonstrate the product may not be effective. An EUA is separate from and not
dependent on the issuance of a public health emergency (“PHE”) by the Secretary of the DHHS. Therefore,
although the COVID-19 PHE expired on May 11, 2023, that expiration will not terminate EUAs issued by the
U.S. FDA.
In order to ensure continuing safety, the U.S. FDA and most other non-U.S. based regulatory agencies
continue to oversee the production of vaccines even after the vaccine and manufacturing processes are
approved. For example, monitoring of the vaccine and of production activities, including periodic facility
inspections, must continue as long as the manufacturer holds a license for the product. Manufacturers may
also be required to submit the results of their own tests for potency, safety, and purity for each vaccine lot,
if requested by the relevant regulatory agency. They may also be required to submit samples of each
vaccine lot to the agency for testing.
In addition to obtaining U.S. FDA licensure for each product, each domestic manufacturing
establishment must be registered with the U.S. FDA, is subject to U.S. FDA inspection, and must comply with
current Good Manufacturing Practices (“GMP”) regulations. To supply products for use either in the U.S. or
outside the U.S., including clinical trials, U.S. and foreign manufacturing establishments, including third-party
facilities, must comply with GMP regulations and are subject to periodic inspection by the U.S. FDA or by
corresponding regulatory agencies in their home country.
The EU and the UK similarly provide a faster means to achieve approval by offering CMA to fulfil
unmet medical needs. CMAs are granted with the proviso of obtaining additional comprehensive data to
confirm the benefit/risk so that the MA will eventually become unconditional. The benefit to public health
of the immediate availability on the market of the medicinal product concerned should outweigh the risk
inherent in the fact that additional data are still required.
The U.S. FDA has several programs designed to expedite the development and approval of drugs
and biological products intended to treat serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions, including fast
track designation, breakthrough therapy designation, priority review designation, and accelerated
approval. First, the U.S. FDA may designate a product for Fast Track review if it is intended, whether alone
or in combination with one or more other products, for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening disease
or condition and demonstrates the potential to address unmet medical needs for such a disease or
condition. For Fast Track products, sponsors may have more frequent interactions with the U.S. FDA and the
U.S. FDA may initiate review of sections of a Fast Track product’s application before the application is
complete. The U.S. FDA granted Fast Track Designation for our prototype vaccine in November 2020 and
for our recombinant quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine candidate, in January 2020.
Second, a product may be designated as a Breakthrough Therapy if it is intended, either alone or
in combination with one or more other products, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition
and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the product may demonstrate substantial improvement
over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints. The U.S. FDA may hold meetings with
the sponsor throughout the development process, provide timely advice to the product sponsor regarding
development and approval, involve more senior staff in the review process, assign a cross-disciplinary
project lead for the review team, and take other steps to design the clinical trials in an efficient manner.
Third, the U.S. FDA may designate a product for priority review if it is a product that treats a serious
disease or life-threatening condition and, if approved, would provide a significant improvement in safety
or effectiveness over available therapies. Significant improvement may be illustrated by evidence of
increased effectiveness in the treatment of a condition, elimination or substantial reduction of a treatment-
limiting product reaction, documented enhancement of patient compliance that may lead to
improvement in serious outcomes, and evidence of safety and effectiveness in a new subpopulation. A
priority designation is intended to direct overall attention and resources to the evaluation of such
applications, and, for a drug product (including a vaccine), to shorten the U.S. FDA’s goal for taking action
on a marketing application from ten months to six months.
Fourth, a product may be eligible for accelerated approval, if it treats a serious or life-threatening
28
condition and generally provides a meaningful advantage over available therapies. In addition, it must
demonstrate an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit or on a
clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than irreversible morbidity or mortality (“IMM”) that is
reasonably likely to predict an effect on IMM or other clinical benefit. As a condition of approval, the U.S.
FDA may require that a sponsor of a drug or biologic receiving accelerated approval perform adequate
and well-controlled post-marketing clinical trials to confirm efficacy using a clinically meaningful endpoint,
thereby confirming efficacy observed pre-approval using a surrogate endpoint. In June 2019, we
announced that the U.S. FDA acknowledged that the accelerated approval pathway is available for our
recombinant quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine candidate.
In addition to regulatory approvals that must be obtained in the U.S., an investigational product is
also subject to regulatory approval in other countries in which it is intended to be marketed. No such
product can be marketed in a country until the regulatory authorities of that country have approved an
appropriate marketing application. U.S.FDA licensure does not guarantee approval by other regulatory
authorities. In addition, in many countries, the government is involved in the pricing of the product. In such
cases, the pricing review period often begins after market approval is granted.
We are also subject to regulation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Environmental
Protection Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and other
present and potential federal, state, or local regulations, including national and local regulations that
govern our facilities in Sweden, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. These and other laws govern our use,
handling, and disposal of various biological and chemical substances used in, and waste generated by,
our operations. Our research and development involves the controlled use of hazardous materials,
chemicals, and viruses. Although we believe that our safety procedures for handling and disposing of such
materials comply with the standards prescribed by state and federal regulations, the risk of accidental
contamination or injury from these materials cannot be completely eliminated. In the event of such an
accident, we could be held liable for any damages that result and any such liability could exceed our
resources. Additionally, for formulations containing controlled substances, we are subject to Drug
Enforcement Act regulations.
In both domestic and foreign markets, sales of any products for which we receive regulatory
approval for commercial sale will depend in part on the availability of reimbursement from third-party
payers. Third-party payers include government authorities or programs, private health insurers (including
managed care plans), and other organizations. These third-party payers are increasingly challenging the
price and examining the cost-effectiveness of medical products and services. In addition, significant
uncertainty exists as to the reimbursement status of newly approved healthcare products. We may need
to conduct expensive pharmacoeconomic studies in order to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of our
products. There may be significant delays in obtaining coverage and reimbursement for newly approved
drugs, and coverage may be more limited than the indications for which the product is approved by the
U.S. FDA or similar regulatory authorities outside the United States. Our product candidates may not be
considered cost-effective at certain prices. Adequate third-party reimbursement may not be available in
certain markets to enable us to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on our
investment in product development. Third-party payors may also control access to, or manage utilization
of, our products with various utilization management techniques. Decreases in third-party reimbursement
for our product candidates or a decision by a third-party payer to not cover our product candidates could
reduce physician utilization of our products and have a material adverse effect on our sales, results of
operations, and financial condition.
Within the U.S., if we obtain appropriate approval in the future to market any of our product
candidates, those products could potentially be covered by various government health benefit programs,
as well as purchased by government agencies. The participation in such programs or the sale of products
to such agencies is subject to regulation. In exchange for coverage, we may be obligated to provide
rebates or offer discounts under government health programs or to government and private purchasers.
The U.S. and state governments continue to propose and pass legislation designed to reform
delivery of, or payment for, health care, including initiatives to reduce the cost of healthcare. In March
29
2010, the U.S. Congress enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and
Education Reconciliation Act (“ACA”), which includes changes to the coverage and reimbursement of
drug products under government health care programs. Since its enactment, there have been several
executive, judicial and Congressional challenges to certain aspects of the ACA, and additional challenges
and amendments to the ACA may reduce the profitability of drug products. Adoption of price controls and
cost-containment measures and adoption of more restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls
and measures could further limit our net revenue and results.
Other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted in the United States since the ACA
was enacted that impact drug pricing. For example, through the process created by the Budget Control
Act of 2011, there are automatic reductions of Medicare payments to providers of up to 2% per fiscal year,
which went into effect in April 2013 and will remain in effect through 2030. Under the American Rescue Plan
Act of 2021 (“ARPA”), Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (“CHIP”) programs must cover
without cost-sharing COVID-19 vaccines for most Medicaid and CHIP enrollees through September 30, 2024.
After such date, under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”), Medicaid and CHIP programs will be
required to cover without cost-sharing only U.S. FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines for adults as
recommended by the ACIP.
There has been considerable public and government scrutiny in the U.S. of pharmaceutical pricing
and proposals to address the perceived high cost of pharmaceuticals. There have also been several recent
state legislative efforts to address drug costs, which generally have focused on increasing transparency
around drug costs or limiting drug prices or price increases. Adoption of new legislation at the federal or
state level could affect demand for, or pricing of, our product candidates if approved for sale. It is also
possible that additional governmental action will be taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We
cannot predict the ultimate content, timing, or effect of any federal and state reform efforts. There is no
assurance that federal or state health care reform will not adversely affect our future business and financial
results.
Similarly, in many countries outside the U.S., pharmaceutical pricing is subject to regulatory control,
particularly in countries where healthcare is provided mainly through government funding or government
backed insurers. In such countries governmental organizations will generally determine firstly if a medicinal
product might be reimbursed and secondly the maximum price payable.
Within the U.S., we may be subject to various federal and state laws pertaining to health care “fraud
and abuse,” including anti-kickback laws and false claims laws, for activities related to future sales of any
of our product candidates that may in the future receive regulatory and marketing approval. Anti-kickback
laws generally prohibit a pharmaceutical manufacturer from soliciting, offering, receiving, or paying any
remuneration to generate business, including the purchase, prescription, or use of a particular drug.
Although the specific provisions of these laws vary, their scope is generally broad and there may not be
regulations, guidance, or court decisions that apply the laws to particular industry practices. There is
therefore a possibility that our practices might be challenged under such anti-kickback laws. False claims
laws, including the federal False Claims Act (“FCA”), prohibit anyone from knowingly and willingly
presenting, or causing to be presented, any claims for payment for reimbursed drugs or services to third
party payers (including Medicare and Medicaid) that are false or fraudulent. Our activities relating to the
sale and marketing of our products may be subject to scrutiny under these laws. Violations of fraud and
abuse laws may be punishable by criminal or civil sanctions, including fines and civil monetary penalties,
and exclusion from federal health care programs (including Medicare and Medicaid). In the U.S., federal
and state authorities are paying increased attention to enforcement of these laws within the
pharmaceutical industry and private individuals have been active in alleging violations of the laws and
bringing suits on behalf of the government under the FCA. If we were subject to allegations concerning, or
were convicted of violating, these laws, our business could be harmed.
On November 20, 2020, the DHHS published a Final Rule entitled “Removal of Safe Harbor Protection
for Rebates to Plans or PBMs Involving Prescription Pharmaceuticals and Creation of New Safe Harbor
Protection,” commonly referred to as the “Rebate Rule,” which amends the federal Anti-Kickback Statute
discount safe harbor by eliminating protection for price concessions, including rebates, that are offered by
30
pharmaceutical manufacturers to plan sponsors, or pharmacy benefit managers under contract with them,
under the Medicare Part D program and Medicare Advantage Plans, unless the price reduction is one
required by law. The IRA will delay implementation of this Rebate Rule until 2032. This new rule could result
in a change in incentives for health plans and pharmacy benefit managers in negotiating rebates and
discounts with manufactures for preferred formulary placement. At this time, we cannot predict how these
developments may impact our business and operations if our products are commercialized in the U.S.
Within the European Union and the United Kingdom, the provision of benefits or advantages to
physicians to induce or encourage the prescription, recommendation, endorsement, purchase, supply,
order, or use of medicinal products is prohibited. The provision of benefits or advantages to physicians is
also governed by the national anti-bribery laws of EU Member States and the United Kingdom, such as the
UK Bribery Act 2010. Infringement of these laws could result in substantial fines and imprisonment.
We are also subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), which prohibits any U.S.
individual or business from paying, offering, authorizing payment of, or offering anything of value, directly
or indirectly, to any foreign official, political party, or candidate for the purpose of influencing any act or
decision of the foreign entity in order to assist the individual or business in obtaining or retaining business.
The FCPA also obligates companies whose securities are listed in the U.S. to comply with certain accounting
provisions requiring the company to maintain books and records that accurately and fairly reflect all
transactions of the corporation, including international subsidiaries, and to devise and maintain an
adequate system of internal accounting controls for international operations. Compliance with the FCPA is
expensive and difficult, particularly in countries in which corruption is a recognized problem. In addition,
the FCPA presents particular challenges in the pharmaceutical industry, because, in many countries,
hospitals are operated by the government, and doctors and other hospital employees are considered
foreign officials. Certain payments to hospitals in connection with clinical trials and other work have been
deemed to be improper payments to government officials and have led to FCPA enforcement actions.
Various laws, regulations, and executive orders also restrict the use and dissemination outside the U.S. or the
sharing with certain non-U.S. nationals of information classified for national security purposes, as well as
certain products and technical data relating to those products. As we expand our presence outside the
U.S., it will require us to dedicate additional resources to comply with these laws, and these laws may
preclude us from developing, manufacturing, or selling certain products and product candidates outside
the United States, which could limit our growth potential and increase our development costs. We cannot
guarantee that we, our employees, our consultants, or our third-party contractors are or will be in
compliance with all federal, state, and foreign regulations regarding bribery and corruption. Moreover, our
strategic collaborators and third-party contractors located outside the U.S. may have inadequate
compliance programs or may fail to respect the laws and guidance of the territories in which they operate.
The failure to comply with laws governing international business practices may result in substantial civil and
criminal penalties and suspension or debarment from government contracting. The Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) also may suspend or bar issuers from trading securities on U.S. exchanges for
violations of the FCPA’s accounting provisions. Even if we are not determined to have violated these laws,
government investigations into these issues typically require the expenditure of significant resources and
generate negative publicity, which could also have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition,
and results of operations.
The Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), created
additional federal criminal statutes that prohibit, among other actions, knowingly and willfully executing, or
attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, including private third-party
payors; knowingly and willfully embezzling or stealing from a healthcare benefit program; willfully
obstructing a criminal investigation of a healthcare offense; and knowingly and willfully falsifying,
concealing, or covering up a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement
in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items, or services. HIPAA, as amended
by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH”), and their
implementing regulations, impose requirements regarding the privacy and security of individually
identifiable health information, including mandatory contractual terms, for covered entities, or certain
healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, and their business associates that
provide services to the covered entity that involve individually identifiable health information and their
31
subcontractors that use, disclose, or otherwise process individually identifiable health information. HITECH
also increased the civil and criminal penalties that may be imposed against covered entities and business
associates and gave state attorneys general new authority to file civil actions for damages or injunctions in
federal courts to enforce HIPAA. While pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are typically not
directly regulated by HIPAA, our business may be indirectly impacted by HIPAA in our interactions with
providers, payors, and others that have HIPAA compliance obligations. We are also subject to state and
foreign laws governing the privacy and security of health or personal information such as the European
Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018
(“CCPA”).
There also are U.S. federal transparency requirements under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act
that require manufacturers of U.S. FDA-approved drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies covered
by Medicare or Medicaid to report, on an annual basis, to CMS information related to payments and other
transfers of value to physicians, teaching hospitals, and certain advanced non-physician health care
practitioners and physician ownership and investment interests. Some U.S. states have transparency laws
requiring the reporting of information that differs from the scope of information reported under the federal
law, which permits these additional state requirements.
Within the European Union and the United Kingdom, payments made to physicians must be publicly
disclosed. Moreover, agreements with physicians must in some countries be the subject of prior notification
and approval by the physician’s employer, their competent professional organization, or the regulatory
authorities of the individual country. These requirements are provided in the national laws, industry codes,
or professional codes of conduct, applicable in the European Union Member States. Failure to comply with
these requirements could result in reputational risk, public reprimands, administrative penalties, fines, or
imprisonment.
Laws and regulations have been enacted by the federal government and various states to regulate
the sales and marketing practices of pharmaceutical manufacturers with marketed products. The laws and
regulations generally limit financial interactions between manufacturers and health care providers and/or
require disclosure to the government and public of such interactions. Many of these laws and regulations
contain ambiguous requirements or require administrative guidance for implementation. Given the lack of
clarity in laws and their implementation, any future activities (if we obtain approval and/or reimbursement
from federal healthcare programs for our product candidates) could be subject to challenge.
Given the significant global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is possible that one or more
government entities may take actions, including the U.S. government under the Defense Production Act of
1950, as amended, which could directly or indirectly have the effect of diminishing some of our rights or
opportunities with respect to our COVID-19 Vaccine and the economic value of a COVID-19 vaccine to us
could be limited. In addition, during a global health crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where the
spread of a disease needs to be controlled, closed or heavily regulated national borders will create
challenges and potential delays in our development and production activities and may necessitate that
we pursue strategies to develop and produce our vaccine candidates within self-contained national or
international borders, at potentially much greater expense and with longer timeframes for public
distribution.
We face an inherent risk of product liability as a result of the clinical testing of our product
candidates and commercialization of our products. For example, we may be sued if any product we
develop allegedly causes injury or is found to be otherwise unsuitable during product testing,
manufacturing, marketing, or sale. Any such product liability claims may include allegations of defects in
manufacturing, defects in design, a failure to warn of dangers inherent in the product, negligence, strict
liability, and a breach of warranties. Claims could also be asserted under state consumer protection acts.
If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against product liability claims, we may incur substantial liabilities
or be required to limit commercialization of our product candidates. In the United States, the Public
Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (the “PREP Act”), when applicable, provides immunity for
manufacturers from all claims under state or federal law for “loss” arising out of the administration or use of
a “covered countermeasure.” However, injured persons may still bring a suit for “willful misconduct” against
32
some circumstances. “Covered countermeasures”
the manufacturer under
security
countermeasures and “qualified pandemic or epidemic products,” including products intended to
diagnose or treat pandemic or epidemic disease, such as pandemic vaccines, as well as treatments
intended to address conditions caused by such products. For these immunities to apply, the Secretary of
DHHS must invoke the PREP Act by issuing a declaration that a public health emergency or “credible risk”
of a future public health emergency exists. On March 17, 2020, the Secretary of DHHS issued a declaration
under the PREP Act and has issued subsequent amendments thereto since then to provide liability immunity
for activities related to certain countermeasures against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The current
declaration will end on December 31, 2024, unless it is renewed. While we believe our products would be
covered under the current PREP Act declaration, this cannot be assured.
include
Also, there can be no assurance that the Secretary of the DHHS will make other declarations in the
future that cover any of our other product candidates or that the U.S. Congress will not act in the future to
reduce coverage under the PREP Act or to repeal it altogether. If product liability lawsuits are brought
against us, we may incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of our product
candidates.
Availability of Information
Our website address is www.novavax.com. We make available, free of charge and through our
website, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K,
and our other filings with the SEC, and any amendments to any such reports filed or furnished pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably
practicable after filed with or furnished to the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports,
proxy, and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the
SEC at www.sec.gov.
We use our website (www.novavax.com) as a means of disclosing material non-public information
and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation Fair Disclosure promulgated by the SEC.
These disclosures are included on our website (www.novavax.com) in the “Investors” or “News” sections.
Accordingly, investors should monitor these portions of our website (www.novavax.com), in addition to
following our press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts.
Also available on our website is information relating to corporate governance at Novavax and our
Board of Directors, including our Code of Conduct. We intend to disclose on our website any future
amendments to and waivers from this code that apply to our Chief Executive Officer, Principal Financial
Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Controller, and persons performing similar functions, as promptly
as practicable, as may be required under applicable SEC and Nasdaq rules.
We webcast our earnings calls and certain events we participate in or host with members of the
investment community on the investor relations section of our website. Additionally, we provide notifications
of news or announcements regarding press and earnings releases as part of the investor relations section
of our website. The contents of our website are not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, or any other
report we file with, or furnish to, the SEC.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the following risk factors in evaluating our business. A number of risks
could cause our actual results to differ materially from those that are indicated by forward-looking
statements. Some risks relate principally to our business and the industry in which we operate. Others relate
principally to the securities market and ownership of our common stock. The risks and uncertainties
described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties of which we are unaware,
or that we currently deem immaterial, also may become important factors that affect us. Any of the
following risks could result in material adverse impacts on our business, financial condition, or results of
operations. You also should consider the other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as
well as our other filings with the SEC.
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Summary of Risk Factors
Our business is subject to numerous risks. The following is a summary of the principal risk factors
described in this section:
• We have a history of losses and our future profitability is uncertain.
• We will continue to require significant funding to maintain our current level of operations and fund
the further development of our vaccine candidates.
•
•
•
Because our vaccine product development efforts depend on new and rapidly evolving
technologies, our efforts may not succeed.
The regulatory and commercial success of our COVID-19 Vaccine remains uncertain. While we have
received full MA, provisional registration, CMA, or EUA for our prototype COVID-19 Vaccine and our
updated COVID-19 vaccine in a number of jurisdictions, we may be unable to obtain full regulatory
approvals in the U.S. or other jurisdictions for our updated vaccine or new versions in the future or
produce a successful vaccine in a timely manner, if at all.
The emergence and transmissibility of variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, may affect market
acceptance or sales of our COVID-19 Vaccine, and our strategy to develop new versions of our
COVID-19 Vaccine to protect against certain variants may not be successful.
• We are a biotechnology company and face significant risk in developing, manufacturing, and
commercializing our products and product candidates.
•
Because we depend on third parties to conduct some of our laboratory testing and clinical trials,
and a significant amount of our vaccine manufacturing and distribution, we may encounter delays
in or lose some control over our efforts to develop and supply products.
• We are highly dependent on the commercial success of our COVID-19 Vaccine, and even though
we have received provisional registration, CMA, EUA or full marketing authorization in certain
jurisdictions for our COVID-19 Vaccine, and even if we have products licensed in additional markets,
our vaccine products may not be initially or ever profitable.
•
The risks associated with COVID-19 and related governmental public health policies continue to
evolve, which may have unpredictable effects on the prospects for commercial success of our
COVID-19 Vaccine.
• Many of our competitors have significantly greater resources and experience, which may
negatively impact our commercial opportunities and those of our current and future licensees.
•
There is significant competition in the development of a vaccine against COVID-19 and a combined
vaccine against COVID-19 and influenza, and we may never see returns on the significant resources
we are devoting to our vaccine candidates.
• We may not succeed in obtaining full U.S. FDA licensure or foreign regulatory approvals necessary
to sell our vaccine candidates.
• Our product candidates might fail to meet their primary endpoints in clinical trials, meaning that we
•
will not have the clinical data required to support full regulatory approvals.
The regulatory pathway for our COVID-19 Vaccine is continually evolving, and such evolution may
result in unexpected or unforeseen challenges.
• We have conducted, are conducting, and plan to conduct in the future, a number of clinical trials
for our COVID-19 Vaccine at sites outside the U.S. and the U.S. FDA may not accept data from trials
conducted in such locations.
•
The later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, manufacturer, or facility may
result in restrictions, including withdrawal of a vaccine that had previously received regulatory
approval in certain jurisdictions from the market.
• Our success depends on our ability to maintain the proprietary nature of our technology.
• Our business may be adversely affected if we do not successfully execute our business development
initiatives.
• Given our current cash position and cash flow forecast, and significant uncertainties related to 2024
revenue, substantial doubt exists regarding our ability to continue as a going concern through one
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year from the date that the financial statements included in this Annual Report were issued.
•
•
•
Servicing our 5.00% convertible senior unsecured notes due 2027 requires a significant amount of
cash, and we may not have sufficient cash flow resources to pay our debt.
Because our stock price has been and will likely continue to be highly volatile, the market price of
our common stock may be lower or more volatile than expected.
Litigation or regulatory investigations could have a material adverse impact on our results of
operation and financial condition.
• We or the third parties upon whom we depend may be adversely affected by natural or man-made
disasters or public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Risks Related to Our Financial Condition and Capital Requirements
We have a history of losses and our future profitability is uncertain.
Our expenses have exceeded our revenue since our formation in 1987, and our accumulated deficit
at December 31, 2023 was $4.8 billion. Our revenue and expenses fluctuate significantly from period to
period. For most of our history our expenses have exceeded our revenue, which may occur during most
periods in the foreseeable future. Our net losses for the last three fiscal years were $0.5 billion in 2023, $0.7
billion in 2022, and $1.7 billion in 2021.
Historically, our losses have resulted predominantly from research and development expenses for
our vaccine candidates, manufacturing-related expenses, expenses associated with efforts to obtain
regulatory approvals, costs related to protection of our intellectual property, and other general and
administrative operating expenses, a significant portion of which have been noncash. Our expenses have
exceeded our revenue since inception, and we believe our expenses will fluctuate over time, and may
substantially increase in some years, as a result of continuing efforts to develop, test, manufacture, and
make regulatory filings for our vaccine candidates, and commercialize our COVID-19 Vaccine and any
other product candidates that receive requisite regulatory approvals.
As of the end of fiscal year 2023, our investment in the development and manufacture of our
COVID-19 Vaccine has been substantial, and we expect such levels of investment to continue for the rest
of 2024 and beyond, although the precise magnitude of our total investment will depend on the duration
of the impact of COVID-19, the competitive landscape, the timing and results of our applications for
regulatory approvals, the availability of funding, and whether and what booster shot protocols are
recommended by governments, regulatory authorities, and healthcare providers. If we are unable to timely
commercialize a vaccine against COVID-19 in sufficient jurisdictions, we likely would never recoup our
investments. We expect to continue to incur significant operating expenses and anticipate significant losses
over time as we seek to:
• conduct additional clinical trials and continue to seek regulatory approvals for our COVID-19
Vaccine and other potential vaccine candidates;
• conduct preclinical studies for other potential vaccine candidates;
• expand our global manufacturing and distribution capacity, and further commercialize our
COVID-19 Vaccine; and
• maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio.
As a result, we expect our cumulative operating losses to increase until such time, if ever, that
product sales, licensing fees, royalties, milestones, contract research and other sources generate sufficient
revenue to fully fund our operations. We may never achieve profitability and may not sustain profitability, if
achieved.
We will continue to require significant funding to maintain our current level of operations and fund
the further development of our vaccine candidates.
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We do not currently generate sufficient revenue from product sales, licensing fees, royalties,
milestones, contract research or other sources to fully fund our operations. We, therefore, will use our cash
resources, and expect to require additional funds, to maintain our operations, continue our research and
development programs, advance preclinical studies and clinical trials, seek regulatory approvals and
manufacture and market our COVID-19 Vaccine and any other product candidates that are approved for
commercialization.
To date, we have financed our operations primarily through the sale of equity and debt securities,
government funding and grant agreements, and supply agreements (also sometimes referred to as
advance purchase agreements) for our COVID-19 Vaccine. Although we have entered into supply
agreements for our COVID-19 Vaccine that include prepayments from the purchasers, until we can
generate sufficient product revenue from such agreements to fully fund our operations, which we may
never do, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of additional public or private
equity or debt financings, as well as existing cash, potential collaborations, strategic alliances and
marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements, funding from governmental and non-governmental
funding entities, and potentially other sources. While we may continue to apply for contracts or grants from
academic institutions, non-profit organizations and governmental entities, we may not be successful.
Adequate additional funding may not be available to us on favorable terms, or at all. Furthermore,
negative interpretations of clinical trial data or setbacks, or perceived setbacks, with respect to
manufacturing ability and/or capacity or regulatory filing timelines for our COVID-19 Vaccine or our other
vaccine candidates, as well as the competitive landscape posed by other COVID-19 vaccines, may impair
our ability to raise additional financing on favorable terms, or at all. Additionally, under certain supply
agreements, if we do not timely achieve requisite regulatory milestones for our COVID-19 Vaccine in the
relevant jurisdictions, obtain supportive recommendations from governmental advisory committees, and/or
achieve product volume or delivery timing obligations, purchasers may seek to terminate such agreements,
reduce their purchase commitments, require us to refund all or some prepayments we have received, or
renegotiate such agreements. If we cannot raise the additional funds required for our anticipated
operations, we may be required to delay significantly, reduce the scope of or eliminate one or more of our
research or development programs, downsize our organization, or seek alternative measures to avoid
insolvency, including arrangements with collaborative partners or others that may require us to relinquish
rights to certain of our technologies or vaccine candidates. If we raise additional funds through future
offerings of shares of our common stock or other securities, such offerings would cause dilution of current
stockholders’ percentage ownership in the Company, which could be substantial. Future offerings also
could have a material and adverse effect on the price of our common stock.
Economic and political uncertainty may adversely affect our access to capital, cost of capital and
ability to execute our business plan as scheduled.
Generally, worldwide economic conditions remain uncertain, particularly due to the impact of
increased interest rates, and inflation. In addition, our operations and performance may be affected by
political or civil unrest or military action, including the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and
Israel and Hamas as well as hostilities elsewhere in the Middle East. Access to capital markets is critical to
our ability to operate. Traditionally, biotechnology companies have funded their research and
development expenditures by raising capital in the equity markets. Declines and uncertainties in these
markets in the past have severely restricted raising new capital and have affected companies’ ability to
continue to expand or fund existing development, manufacturing, regulatory and commercialization
efforts. We require significant capital for our current and expected operations. The general economic and
capital market conditions, both in the U.S. and worldwide, have been volatile in the past and at times have
adversely affected our access to capital and increased the cost of capital. The capital and credit markets
may not be available to support future capital raising activity on favorable terms. If economic conditions
decline, our future cost of equity or debt capital and access to the capital markets could be adversely
affected. In addition, if we are unable to access the capital markets on favorable terms, our ability to
execute our business plan as contemplated would be compromised. Moreover, we rely and intend to rely
on third parties, including clinical research organizations, contract manufacturing organizations and other
important vendors and consultants. Global economic conditions may result in a disruption or delay in the
performance of our third-party contractors and suppliers. If such third parties are unable to adequately
36
satisfy their contractual commitments to us in a timely manner, our business could be adversely affected.
Our existing funding and supply agreements or our advance purchase agreements do not assure
success of our vaccine candidates or vaccines or that we will be able to fully fund our vaccine candidates
or vaccines or our company operations, and if we are unable to satisfy the performance obligations under
such agreements the agreements may be terminated, the purchase commitments may be reduced or we
may be required to refund advance payments.
Our funding agreements with the U.S. government (“USG”) and CEPI each reimburse a portion of
the expenses associated with the development and commercialization of our COVID-19 Vaccine. To the
extent funding commitments in such agreements are conditioned on our meeting certain milestones or
conditions, we may not ultimately receive the full amount of committed funds and may require additional
funding to support our COVID-19 Vaccine development and commercialization activities, and we may be
unable to timely obtain additional funding. For example, in July 2021, in connection with funding from the
USG partnership formerly known as Operation Warp Speed, the USG instructed us to prioritize alignment with
the FDA on our analytic methods before conducting additional U.S. manufacturing, and the USG indicated
that it would not fund additional U.S. manufacturing until such alignment was reached, which did not occur
until June 2022. In February 2023, in connection with the execution of Modification 17 to the USG
Agreement, the U.S. government indicated to us that the award may not be extended past its current
period of performance. The USG Agreement also includes provisions giving the USG termination rights based
on a determination that the funded project will not produce beneficial results commensurate with the
expenditure of resources and that termination would be in the USG’s interest. Such a determination would
result in the loss of funding under that agreement and could result in other actions by the USG. The CEPI
funding agreement, meanwhile, provides CEPI certain “march-in” rights in the event of certain breaches of
that agreement. Additionally, we have entered into, and plan to continue entering into, supply agreements
(also sometimes referred to as advance purchase agreements) for our COVID-19 Vaccine that include
prepayments from the purchasers to help fund our development and manufacture of the vaccine. Under
certain supply agreements, if we do not timely achieve requisite regulatory milestones for our COVID-19
Vaccine in the relevant jurisdictions, obtain supportive recommendations from governmental advisory
committees, and/or achieve product volume or delivery timing obligations, purchasers may seek to
terminate such agreements, reduce their purchase commitments, require us to refund all or some
prepayments we have received, or renegotiate such agreements, each of which could have a material
and adverse effect on our financial condition. The timing to fulfill performance obligations related to supply
agreements will depend on timing of product manufacturing, receipt of marketing authorizations for
additional indications, delivery of doses based on customer demand, and the ability of the customer to
request variant vaccine in place of prototype vaccine under certain of our supply agreements. The supply
agreements typically contain terms that include upfront payments intended to assist us in funding
investments related to building out and operating our manufacturing and distribution network, among
other expenses, in support of our global supply commitment, and are applied to billings upon delivery of
COVID-19 Vaccine. Such upfront payments generally become non-refundable upon our achievement of
certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones. We may not achieve such milestones, which
could have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition. For example, in September 2022,
following a delay in obtaining regulatory approval in the United Kingdom, we entered into the Amended
and Restated UK Supply Agreement, which amended and restated in its entirety the Original UK Supply
Agreement, which reduced the volume of vaccine doses that the Authority is committed to purchase as
compared to the Original UK Supply Agreement. Under the terms of the Amended and Restated UK Supply
Agreement, the Authority agreed to purchase a minimum of 1 million doses and up to an additional
15 million doses (the “Conditional Doses”) of our prototype vaccine, with the number of Conditional Doses
contingent on, and subject
timely achievement of supportive
recommendations from the JCVI that is approved by the UK Secretary of State for Health. If the Authority
did not purchase the Conditional Doses or the number of such Conditional Doses was reduced below
15 million doses of our prototype vaccine, we would have to repay up to $225.0 million related to the upfront
payment previously received from the Authority under the Original UK Supply Agreement. Under the
Amended and Restated UK Supply Agreement, the Authority also has the option to purchase up to an
additional 44 million doses, in one or more tranches, through 2024.
reduction based on, our
to
37
As of November 30, 2022, the JCVI had not made a supportive recommendation with respect to
our prototype vaccine, thereby triggering, under the terms of the Amended and Restated UK Supply
Agreement, (i) a reduction of the number of Conditional Doses from 15 million doses to 7.5 million doses,
which reduced number of Conditional Doses are contingent on, and subject to further reduction based
on, our timely achievement by November 30, 2023 of a supportive recommendation from JCVI that is
approved by the UK Secretary of State for Health as described in the paragraph above, and (ii) an
obligation for us to repay $112.5 million related to the upfront payment previously received from the
Authority under the Original UK Supply Agreement. In April 2023, we repaid the $112.5 million related to the
November 30, 2022 triggering event. As of November 30, 2023, the JCVI had not made a supportive
recommendation with respect to the prototype vaccine, thereby triggering a reduction in the number of
Conditional Doses from 7.5 million doses to zero. As of February 2024, the Company is in discussions with the
Authority regarding the treatment of the remaining upfront amount previously received of $112.5 million,
which is reflected in Other current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet.
In July 2023, we amended the Australia APA to provide for replacement doses and to extend the
delivery schedule through 2025. As of February 2024, we had not yet received TGA authorization or
delivered doses as contemplated in the July 2023 amendment and are in active discussions with the
Australian government on both the TGA authorization and delivery of the doses previously scheduled for
the fourth quarter of 2023. In February 2024, we received notice from the Australian government purporting
to cancel its order for such prototype vaccine doses. We believe the cancellation was not proper under
the amended Australia APA. However, if such a cancellation were determined to be allowable, $6.0 million
of the deferred revenue would become a credit towards future deliveries of doses and approximately $48
million of the contract value related to future deliverables would no longer be available.
In April 2023, we amended the Canada APA, pursuant to which the Canadian government forfeited
certain doses originally scheduled for delivery in 2022 for a payment of $100.4 million, which we received in
the second quarter of 2023. In June 2023, we entered into an additional amendment (the “June 2023
Amendment”) to the Canada APA. Pursuant to the June 2023 Amendment, (i) the Canadian government
forfeited certain doses of COVID-19 Vaccine previously scheduled for delivery and agreed to pay a total
amount of $349.6 million to us in two equal installments, which total amount equaled the remaining balance
owed by the Canadian government with respect to such forfeited vaccine doses, (ii) the amount of doses
of COVID-19 Vaccine due for delivery was reduced, (iii) the delivery schedule for the remaining doses of
COVID-19 Vaccine to be delivered was revised, and (iv) the parties agreed Novavax would use the
Biologics Manufacturing Centre (“BMC”) Inc. to produce bulk antigen for doses in 2024 and 2025. The June
2023 Amendment maintained the total contract value of the original Canada APA. The first installment of
$174.8 million was payable upon execution of the June 2023 Amendment and received by Novavax in July
2023, and the second installment of $174.8 million was contingent and payable upon the delivery of
vaccine doses in the second half of 2023 and received by Novavax in January 2024. The Canadian
government may terminate the Canada APA, as amended, if we fail to receive regulatory approval for our
COVID-19 Vaccine using bulk antigen produced at BMC on or before December 31, 2024. Our 2024 plans
do not currently anticipate the submission for regulatory approval of our COVID-19 Vaccine using bulk
antigen produced at BMC, and we plan to work with the Canadian government on an amendment that
addresses possible alternatives, which may not be achievable. As of December 31, 2023, $102.8 million was
classified as short-term Deferred revenue and $485.3 million was classified as long-term Deferred revenue
with respect to the Canadian APA on our consolidated balance sheet. If the Canadian government
terminates the Canada APA, $28.0 million of the deferred revenue would become refundable and
approximately $224 million of the contract value related to future deliverables would no longer be available
(see Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements). As a result, our existing funding and supply
agreements or our advance purchase agreements do not assure success of our vaccine candidates and
may be insufficient to fully fund the development and commercialization of our vaccine candidates, our
vaccines or our company operations and if we are unable to satisfy the performance obligations under
such agreements the agreements may be terminated, the purchase commitments may be reduced or we
may be required to refund advance payments.
38
Risks Related to Product Development and Commercialization
Because our vaccine product development efforts depend on new and rapidly evolving
technologies, our efforts may not succeed.
Our vaccine development efforts depend on new, rapidly evolving technologies and on the
marketability and profitability of our products. Our development efforts and, if those are successful,
commercialization of our COVID-19 Vaccine and our other vaccines could fail for a variety of reasons,
including if:
• our recombinant nanoparticle vaccine technologies, any or all of the products based on such
technologies or our proprietary manufacturing process prove ineffective or unsafe;
• new strains of COVID-19 evolve, with respect to which our COVID-19 Vaccine proves less effective;
• we or our third-party manufacturer facilities fail to reproducibly scale-up and maintain
manufacturing with sufficiently high yields at reasonable cost and on projected timelines, or such
manufacturing fails to generate product that consistently satisfies purity, potency, quality, stability,
and shelf-life standards necessary for obtaining regulatory approvals or achieving commercial
viability;
•
•
the products are uneconomical to market or manufacture;
some or all of the products that we or our third-party partners have manufactured may be
determined to be unsalable based on criteria imposed by regulators as they complete regulatory
approvals;
• our in-house or third-party manufacturing facilities fail regulatory inspections;
• proprietary rights of third-parties prevent us or our collaborators from exploiting technologies, and
manufacturing or marketing products; or
•
third-party competitors achieve and maintain greater market share due to earlier approvals or
superior marketing capabilities.
The regulatory and commercial success of our COVID-19 Vaccine remains uncertain. While we have
received provisional registration, conditional marketing authorization or emergency use authorization for
our COVID-19 Vaccine in a number of jurisdictions, we may be unable to obtain full regulatory approvals
in the U.S. or other jurisdictions for our updated vaccine or new versions in the future or produce a successful
vaccine in a timely manner, if at all.
In response to the outbreak of COVID-19, we began pursuing, and continue to pursue, the
development and manufacture of our COVID-19 Vaccine. Even though we have reported positive data
from Phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials, and we and our partners have received either provisional registration,
conditional marketing authorization, emergency use authorization, or full approval from the World Health
Organization and in several jurisdictions, such results may not be sufficient to support regulatory submissions,
authorizations and approvals, accelerated or otherwise, in any other relevant jurisdictions on our projected
timelines, if at all.
Additionally, even though our COVID-19 Vaccine has received regulatory authorizations in certain
jurisdictions and may receive further regulatory approval in others, successful commercialization depends
on our ability to effectively scale up and maintain manufacturing capabilities at our own locations and
those of our manufacturing partners and contractors. In May 2020, we acquired Novavax CZ (formerly
Praha Vaccines, a.s.) including its vaccine manufacturing facility in Bohumil, Czech Republic and
approximately 150 of its employees but we have yet to receive regulatory approval at this site. We also are
actively entering into agreements with third parties to manufacture the antigen component of COVID-19
Vaccine and our proprietary Matrix-M™ adjuvant, as well as to distribute our COVID-19 Vaccine. Because
of contractual restraints and the limited number of third-party manufacturers with the relevant expertise,
required regulatory approvals and facilities to manufacture our COVID-19 Vaccine and its components at
commercial scale, replacement of a manufacturer may be expensive and time-consuming and may
cause interruptions in production. Manufacturing of our COVID-19 Vaccine and its components involves a
complicated process that will require significant investments of time and financial resources to implement,
39
and our efforts to establish and maintain manufacturing capabilities may not meet expectations as to
timing, scale-up, reproducibility, yields, purity, cost, potency or quality. Shortages of raw materials and
supplies also negatively impact our manufacturing efforts. We may not be able to timely and effectively
produce or receive regulatory approvals for our COVID-19 Vaccine in adequate quantities to address
global demand.
We have limited experience with the commercial launch of vaccine products. In addition to scaling
up our manufacturing capabilities, we need to develop global distribution channels and form partnerships
with third parties worldwide, as well as hire, train and integrate additional management, administrative and
sales and marketing personnel. Rapid and significant growth may strain our administrative and operational
infrastructure, imposing significant additional responsibilities on our organization, and our efforts to establish
and maintain these capabilities may not meet expectations as to timing, scale-up, reproducibility, yields,
purity, cost, potency or quality. If we fail to successfully manage our growth and the increased complexity
of our operations, our business, financial position, results of operations and prospects may be materially and
adversely affected.
The emergence and transmissibility of variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the demand for bivalent
vaccines, may affect market acceptance or sales of our COVID-19 Vaccine, and our strategy to develop
new versions of our COVID-19 Vaccine to protect against certain variants may not be successful.
Our prototype vaccine was a monovalent vaccine developed based upon the genetic sequence
of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that was first discovered in December 2019. Our updated vaccine is a monovalent
vaccine developed based upon the XBB.1.5 strain for the fall 2023 COVID-19 Vaccine season. As the SARS-
CoV-2 virus continues to evolve, new strains of the virus, or those that are already in circulation, may prove
more transmissible or cause more severe forms of COVID-19 disease than the predominant strains to date.
For example, Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron (including subvariants such as XBB.1.5 and JN.1) variants
have been observed to be more transmissible, or contagious, than previous variants.
Our COVID-19 Vaccine may not be as effective in protecting against these or other future variant
strains. Additionally, we expect the demand for bivalent vaccines to continue to increase, which may
negatively impact the demand, particularly in the U.S., for our COVID-19 Vaccine and would likely require
significant expenditures by the Company to successfully market a bivalent formulation, particularly in the
U.S. Our COVID-19 Vaccine may fail to achieve market acceptance or significant sales, despite gaining
regulatory approval, provisional registration, conditional marketing authorization or emergency use
authorization in a number of jurisdictions, including emergency use authorization the U.S., as demand for
variant-specific or bivalent vaccines increases. We have several variant-specific vaccine candidates in
development, including for Omicron subvariants and may develop others in the future. However, if these
efforts are unsuccessful, these candidates do not receive regulatory approvals expeditiously, we are slower
to develop variant-specific or bivalent vaccines than competitors, these vaccine candidates prove less
effective than competitors’ vaccines, or we are unable to successfully manufacture, distribute or market
such vaccine candidates once approved, these shortcomings may lead to reputational harm, loss of
market share, and adverse financial results.
Our 2024 revenue depends on our ability to successfully develop, manufacture, distribute, or market
an updated monovalent or bivalent formulation of a vaccine candidate for COVID-19 in a single dose vial
or pre-filled syringe for the fall 2024 COVID vaccine season, which is inherently uncertain and subject to a
number of risks, including regulatory approval. We experienced delays in early 2023 in manufacturing our
BA.5 clinical trial materials, which delayed regulatory approval from the U.S. FDA for our vaccine candidate
for the fall 2023 COVID vaccine season.
Further, counterparties to certain of our existing supply agreements may request variant-specific
vaccines in place of our COVID-19 Vaccine and, depending on when we are able to offer such variant-
specific vaccines, if at all, such counterparties may seek to delay, reduce or otherwise renegotiate their
purchase commitments, which may adversely impact our ability to realize the full financial benefit of such
supply agreements. In addition, we may expend significant resources adapting our COVID-19 Vaccine or
conducting clinical trials to protect against variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but a market for this adapted
40
vaccine may not develop and demand may not align with our projections or cost expenditures.
We are a biotechnology company and face significant risk in developing, manufacturing and
commercializing our products.
We focus our research and development activities on vaccines, an area in which we believe we
have particular strengths and a technology that appears promising. The outcome of any research and
development program is highly uncertain. Only a small fraction of biopharmaceutical development
programs ultimately result in commercial products or even product candidates and a number of events
could delay our development efforts and negatively impact our ability to make regulatory submissions or
obtain regulatory approval for, and to manufacture, market and sell, our COVID-19 Vaccine or any other
vaccine on our projected timelines, if at all. Vaccine candidates that initially appear promising often fail to
yield successful products, and we may not ultimately be able to demonstrate the safety, potency, purity,
stability and efficacy necessary to obtain or maintain regulatory authorization to market our product
candidates. In many cases, preclinical studies or clinical trials will show that a product candidate is not
efficacious or that it raises safety concerns or has other side effects that outweigh its intended benefit.
Success in preclinical or early clinical trials may not translate into success in large-scale clinical trials. Further,
success in clinical trials often leads to increased investment, accelerating cumulative losses. Even if clinical
trial results appear positive, regulatory approval may not be obtained if the U.S. FDA, or a foreign equivalent,
does not agree with our interpretation of the results, and we may face challenges when scaling-up the
production process to commercial levels. Even after a product is approved and launched, general usage
or post-marketing clinical trials may identify safety or other previously unknown problems with the product,
or manufacturing issues may emerge, either of which may result in regulatory approvals being suspended,
limited to narrow the scope of the approval, or revoked, which may otherwise prevent successful
commercialization.
limit the successful
in the vaccine
commercialization of any products for which we receive commercial approval.
Intense competition
industry could also
We will require approval from the U.S. FDA of any name we intend to use for our products regardless
of whether we have secured a trademark registration from the USPTO. The U.S. FDA typically conducts a
review of proposed product names, including an evaluation of potential for confusion with other product
names. The U.S. FDA may object to any product name we submit if it believes the name inappropriately
implies medical claims. If the U.S. FDA objects to any of our proposed product names, we may be required
to adopt an alternative name for our proposed products. If we adopt an alternative name, we would lose
the benefit of any existing trademark applications for such developmental candidate and may be required
to expend significant additional resources in an effort to identify a suitable product name that would qualify
under applicable trademark laws, not infringe the existing rights of third parties and be acceptable to the
U.S. FDA. We may be unable to build a successful brand identity for a new trademark in a timely manner or
at all, which would limit our ability to commercialize our products, if approved.
Because we depend on third parties to conduct some of our laboratory testing and clinical trials,
and a significant amount of our vaccine manufacturing and distribution, we may encounter delays in or
lose some control over our efforts to develop and supply products.
We are highly dependent on third-party organizations to conduct some of our laboratory testing
and clinical trials and a significant amount of our vaccine manufacturing activities and distribution. If we
are unable to obtain any necessary services on acceptable terms, we may not complete our product
development or commercialization efforts in a timely manner. We may lose control over these activities or
become too dependent upon these parties. These third parties may not complete testing, manufacturing
or distribution activities on schedule, or in satisfaction of regulatory or commercial requirements. In
particular, we currently depend significantly on SIIPL and SLS for co-formulation, filling, and finishing our
COVID-19 Vaccine (except in Europe, where we rely on PCI Pharma Services (“PCI”)). If SLS or PCI is unable
to provide sufficient co-formulation, fill, and finish services to us, fails to meet regulatory requirements, or
otherwise defaults on its obligations to us, we may not be able to obtain alternative co-formulation, fill, and
finish services from other providers on acceptable terms in a timely manner or at all, which could prevent
or delay delivery of customer orders, or otherwise negatively affect our business. Certain of our facilities are
also contracted for defined time frames and through association with USG and CEPI, and we may not be
41
able to access those facilities for sufficient periods of time to provide adequate supply.
We are responsible for confirming that each of our clinical trials is conducted in accordance with
its general investigational plan and protocol. Moreover, the U.S. FDA and foreign regulatory agencies
require us to comply with regulations and standards, commonly referred to as good clinical practices, for
conducting, recording and reporting the results of clinical trials to assure that data and reported results are
credible and accurate and that the rights, safety and welfare of clinical trial participants are adequately
protected. The U.S. FDA and foreign regulatory agencies also require us to comply with good
manufacturing practices. Our reliance on third parties does not relieve us of these responsibilities and
requirements. These third parties may not successfully carry out their contractual duties or regulatory
obligations. Furthermore, if a third-party manufacturer is producing materials or products for themselves or
other companies, that manufacturer is exposed to regulatory risks for the production of such materials and
products. As a result, failure to meet the regulatory requirements for the production of those materials and
products may generally affect the regulatory status of the third-party manufacturer’s facility, which could
impact its ability to produce our materials and products. Any of our third-party service providers may need
to be replaced, the quality or accuracy of the data they obtain may be compromised, the services
provided to us may be delayed, or the product they manufacture may be contaminated and unusable
due to the failure to adhere to our clinical and manufacturing protocols, regulatory requirements or for
other reasons. In any such event, our preclinical development activities or clinical trials may be extended,
delayed, suspended or terminated, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval of, or
successfully commercially manufacture on a timely basis, our vaccine candidates.
We may have product liability exposure.
The administration of drugs or vaccines to humans, whether in clinical trials or after marketing
approval, can result in product liability claims. We maintain product liability insurance coverage for our
current clinical programs, including our NVX-CoV2373 and NVX-CoV2601 trials, and for commercialization
of our updated vaccine. However, we may not be able to obtain additional insurance coverage or
maintain insurance coverage on commercially reasonable terms, at a reasonable cost or in sufficient
amounts to protect us against losses due to liability. Furthermore, such insurance coverage and our
resources may not be sufficient to satisfy all liabilities that result from product liability claims. A successful
claim may prevent us from obtaining adequate product liability insurance in the future on commercially
desirable terms, if at all. Even if a claim is not successful, defending such a claim would be time- consuming
and expensive, may damage our reputation in the marketplace and would likely divert management’s
attention.
In addition, because we are developing our COVID-19 Vaccine in response to the outbreak of
COVID-19, a global pandemic, we have received either provisional registration, conditional marketing
authorization, emergency use authorization, or full approval from the World Health Organization and various
jurisdictions, and we have a widely used vaccine as an investigational vaccine or a product authorized for
temporary or emergency use prior to our receipt of marketing approval in other jurisdictions as well.
Unexpected safety issues in these circumstances could lead to product liability claims and our existing
insurance may not be adequate for such claims.
Regardless of merit or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:
• decreased demand for our products;
• withdrawal of regulatory authorizations and approvals;
•
• necessity for additional nonclinical or clinical studies, changes in labeling, or changes to
voluntary or mandatory recalls of our products;
manufacturing processes, specifications and/or facilities;
impairment of our business reputation and negative media attention;
•
• withdrawal of clinical trial participants;
• costs of related litigation;
42
•
•
•
substantial monetary awards to participants or other claimants;
loss of revenue; and
inability to commercialize our vaccine candidates.
In the U.S., the PREP Act, when applicable, provides immunity for manufacturers from all claims
under state or federal law for “loss” arising out of the administration or use of a “covered countermeasure.”
However, injured persons may still bring a suit for “willful misconduct” against the manufacturer under some
circumstances. “Covered countermeasures” include security countermeasures and “qualified pandemic
or epidemic products”, including products intended to diagnose or treat pandemic or epidemic disease,
such as pandemic vaccines, as well as treatments intended to address conditions caused by such
products. For these immunities to apply, the Secretary of DHHS must invoke the PREP Act by issuing a
declaration that a public health emergency or “credible risk” of a future public health emergency exists.
Such a PREP Act declaration is separate from other declarations such as a PHE or EUA declaration and,
among other things, defines the scope and duration of the PREP Act immunities. On March 17, 2020, the
Secretary of DHHS issued a declaration under the PREP Act and has issued subsequent amendments thereto
to provide liability immunity for activities related to certain countermeasures against the evolving effects of
COVID-19. The current declaration will end on December 31, 2024, unless it is renewed. While we believe
our products are covered under the current PREP Act declaration, this cannot be assured. Also, the
Secretary of the DHHS may not make other declarations in the future that cover any of our other product
candidates, and the U.S. Congress may reduce coverage under the PREP Act or repeal it altogether.
Product liability lawsuits may result in substantial liabilities and may require us to limit commercialization of
our product candidates.
If we are unable to effectively manufacture our COVID-19 Vaccine in sufficient quantities, at
sufficient yields or are unable to obtain regulatory approvals for a manufacturing facility for our COVID-19
Vaccine, we may experience delays or an adverse impact on product development, clinical trials,
regulatory approvals and commercial distribution.
We are continuing to pursue the manufacture, distribution and clinical testing of our COVID-19
Vaccine for commercialization. Completion of our clinical trials and commercialization of our COVID-19
Vaccine and our other vaccine candidates requires access to, or development of, facilities to effectively
manufacture our COVID-19 Vaccine and our other vaccine candidates at sufficient yields and at
commercial-scale. We have limited experience manufacturing any of our vaccine candidates in the
volumes necessary to support commercial sales. While we have increased our global manufacturing
capacity for our COVID-19 Vaccine, our efforts to establish and maintain manufacturing capabilities may
not meet expectations as to timing, scale-up, reproducibility, yields, purity, cost, potency or quality. We are
highly dependent on third-party organizations to conduct a significant amount of our vaccine
manufacturing activities. We do not have sufficient internal manufacturing infrastructure to support global
commercialization of our COVID-19 Vaccine and we have entered into third-party agreements for the
components, as well as for commercial fill-finish manufacturing, for our COVID-19 Vaccine. The antigen
component of our COVID-19 Vaccine is currently being manufactured at SIIPL in India, and the Matrix-MTM
adjuvant component of our COVID-19 Vaccine is currently being manufactured at Novavax AB as well as
our partnered manufacturing site at AGC Biologics in Europe. Challenges in manufacturing either the
antigen component or the adjuvant, or issues in later manufacturing stages, could compromise production
of our COVID-19 Vaccine. Additionally, we currently depend substantially on SIIPL and SLS for co-
formulation, filling, and finishing our COVID-19 Vaccine (other than in Europe) and PCI for finishing in Europe,
and any delays or disruptions in these suppliers’ operations could prevent or delay the delivery of customer
orders.
Additionally, to ensure adequate inventory supply and manage our operations, we forecast
anticipated manufacturing requirements and customer demand to predict inventory needs and place
orders with our third-party manufacturers based on such predictions. Our ability to accurately forecast
demand for our COVID-19 Vaccine could be negatively affected by many factors, including challenges in
managing our commercial strategy, unanticipated changes in general market conditions or regulatory
matters, and market demand for variant-specific COVID-19 vaccines, among others. If we underestimate
our third-party manufacturing requirements, we may not be able to timely meet obligations under our
43
customer supply agreements. Conversely, if we overestimate our third-party manufacturing requirements,
we may end up with inventory levels in excess of customer demand that result in a portion of our inventory
becoming obsolete or expiring, as well as inventory write-downs or write-offs, or we may need to cancel
previously forecasted batches of product from our third-party manufacturers, which may result in material
cancellation fees. In September 2022, for example, we entered into a Confidential Settlement Agreement
and Release with FUJIFILM under which we are responsible for up to $185 million to FUJIFILM in connection
with the termination of manufacturing activity. In December 2022, we agreed to approximately $95 million
in fees owed to AGC Biologics in connection with the cancellation of batches in 2022. If we are unable to
accurately forecast demand for our COVID-19 Vaccine and the required services from third-party
manufacturers, our results of operations could be materially harmed.
Manufacturing our COVID-19 Vaccine and our other vaccine candidates involves a complicated
process with which we have limited experience. If we and our third-party manufacturers are unable to
manufacture our COVID-19 Vaccine and our other vaccine candidates in clinical quantities or, if and when
necessary, in commercial quantities and at sufficient yields and at required specifications, then clinical trials
and commercialization will be delayed, and we will need to identify and reach supply arrangements with
additional third parties. Third-party manufacturers also must receive U.S. FDA or equivalent foreign
regulatory body approval before they can produce clinical material or commercial product which could
cause delays and alter our production schedule. Our COVID-19 vaccines are in competition with other
products for access to these third-party facilities and may be subject to delays in manufacture if third parties
prioritize other products. We may not be able to enter into any necessary additional third-party
manufacturing arrangements on acceptable terms, or on a timely basis. In addition, we have to enter into
technical transfer agreements and share our know-how with the third-party manufacturers, which can be
time-consuming and may result in delays.
Because of contractual restraints and the limited number of third-party manufacturers with the
expertise, required regulatory approvals and facilities to manufacture bulk vaccines at commercial-scale,
replacement of a manufacturer may be expensive and time-consuming and may cause interruptions in
the production of our vaccine and negatively impact our ability to timely meet obligations under our
customer supply agreements. We and our third-party manufacturers may also encounter production
challenges related to:
shortages of raw materials and supplies;
shipment delays or other supply chain disruptions
• costs, scale up, and yields;
•
•
• quality control and assurance;
• contamination, lot consistency, potency, and purity;
•
• compliance with strictly enforced and evolving federal, state and foreign regulations that vary in
each country where products might be sold including nationalization or other territory restrictions
placed on our owned and third-party manufacturing sites; and
shortages of qualified personnel and other capacity constraints;
• capital funding.
Delays or interruptions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition,
results of operations and cash flows.
We must identify vaccines for development with our technologies and establish successful third-
party relationships.
The near and long-term viability of our vaccine candidates depend in part on our ability to
successfully establish new strategic collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies,
non-profit organizations and government agencies. Establishing strategic collaborations and obtaining
government funding is difficult and time-consuming. Potential collaborators may reject collaborations
based upon their assessment of our financial, regulatory or intellectual property position or based on their
44
internal pipelines; government agencies may reject contract or grant applications based on their
assessment of public need, the public interest, our products’ ability to address these areas, or other reasons
beyond our expectations or control. Collaborators also may seek to modify or terminate relationships. Past
success in establishing strategic collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, non-
profit organizations and government agencies in the past is no guarantee of future success in entering into
new relationships or in performing under existing relationships. If we fail to establish a sufficient number of
collaborations or government relationships on acceptable terms, or fail to perform under collaborations or
relationships to the satisfaction of counter-parties, we may not be able to commercialize our vaccine
candidates or generate sufficient revenue to fund further research and development efforts.
The collaborations we have established or may establish may not result in the successful
development or commercialization of any vaccine candidates for several reasons, including the fact that:
• we may not have the ability to control the activities of our partners and cannot provide assurance
that they will fulfill their obligations to us, including with respect to the license, development and
commercialization of vaccine candidates, in a timely manner or at all;
•
such partners may not devote sufficient resources to our vaccine candidates or properly maintain
or defend our intellectual property rights;
• our partners could independently develop, or develop with third parties, products that compete
directly or indirectly with our vaccine candidates if such partners believe that competitive products
are more likely to be successfully developed or can be commercialized under terms that are more
economically attractive than ours;
• any failure on the part of our partners to perform or satisfy their obligations to us could lead to delays
in the development or commercialization of our vaccine candidates and affect our ability to realize
product revenue; and
• disagreements, including disputes over the ownership of technology developed with such
collaborators, could result in litigation, which would be time consuming and expensive, and may
delay or terminate research and development efforts, regulatory approvals and commercialization
activities.
If we or our collaborators fail to maintain our existing agreements or in the event we fail to establish
agreements as necessary, we could be required to undertake research, development, manufacturing and
commercialization activities solely at our own expense. These activities would significantly increase our
capital requirements and, given our lack of sales, marketing and distribution capabilities, significantly delay
the commercialization of our vaccine candidates.
We are highly dependent on the commercial success of our COVID-19 Vaccine, and even though
we have received provisional registration, conditional marketing authorization or emergency use
authorization in certain jurisdictions for our COVID-19 Vaccine, and even if we have products licensed in
additional markets, our vaccine products may not be initially or ever profitable.
We are highly dependent on the commercial success of our COVID-19 Vaccine, which is currently
our only commercial product and source of product revenues. Whether we make a profit from the sale of
our vaccine products is dependent on a number of variables, including the costs we incur manufacturing,
testing and releasing, packaging and shipping such vaccine product. Additionally, the CEPI funding
agreement necessitates that we allocate a certain number of doses of our COVID-19 Vaccine to certain
middle and lower income countries which may impact negatively our ability to generate profit. We cannot
predict when, if at all, our approved vaccine products will be profitable to the Company, and, ultimately,
we may never generate sufficient revenues from our products to reach or maintain profitability or sustain
our anticipated levels of operations.
Even if we successfully commercialize any of our vaccine candidates, either alone or in
collaboration, we face uncertainty with respect to pricing, third-party reimbursement and healthcare
reform, all of which could be subject to change and could adversely affect any commercial success of our
vaccine candidates.
45
Our ability to collect revenue from the commercial sale of our vaccines may depend on our ability,
and that of any current or potential future collaboration partners or customers, to obtain and if obtained,
maintain adequate levels of approval, coverage and reimbursement for such products from third-party
payers such as:
• government health administration authorities such as the Advisory Committee for Immunization
Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
• private health insurers;
• managed care organizations;
• pharmacy benefit management companies; and
• other healthcare related organizations.
Third-party payers are increasingly challenging the prices charged for medical products and may
deny coverage or offer inadequate levels of reimbursement if they determine that a product has not
received appropriate clearances from the U.S. FDA, or foreign equivalent, or other government regulators;
is not used in accordance with cost-effective treatment methods as determined by the third-party payer;
or is experimental, unnecessary or inappropriate. Prices could also be driven down by managed care
organizations that control or significantly influence utilization of healthcare products.
In both the U.S. and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and
regulatory proposals and initiatives to change the health care system in ways that could affect our ability
to sell vaccines and could adversely affect the prices that we receive for our vaccine candidates, if
approved. Some of these proposed and implemented reforms could result in reduced drug pricing or
reimbursement rates for medical products, and while we have no current vaccines available for
commercial sale other than subject to provisional registration, conditional marketing authorization or
emergency use authorization in certain foreign jurisdictions, the impact of such reform could nevertheless
adversely affect our business strategy, operations and financial results. Our exposure to price-related
regulation could depend on whether our products are reimbursed by Medicare under Part B or Part D.
Medicare Part B vaccine coverage includes vaccines to prevent influenza, pneumococcal disease,
hepatitis B for beneficiaries who are at medium or high risk, and COVID-19. Vaccines for such conditions do
not have any cost-sharing requirements. Meanwhile, Medicare Part D vaccine coverage includes all other
commercially available vaccines that are determined to be reasonable and necessary to prevent illness.
Part D vaccine coverage historically included cost-sharing requirements, but, effective January 1, 2023, the
IRA provides access to CDC and ACIP-recommended vaccines covered under Medicare Part D without
cost-sharing.
-
party reimbursement model. This transition to a more traditional third
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. federal government has been the
predominant purchaser of COVID-19 vaccines, making it possible for population-wide access to
vaccinations. This population-wide access may change as the pandemic moves past the crisis phase and
the market transitions to a third
party
reimbursement model is not tied to the ending of the PHE and in part reflects the fact that the U.S. federal
government has not received additional funds from Congress to continue to purchase more vaccines. As
federal funding declines for COVID-19 vaccines, the USG will most likely transition to standard commercial
purchasing through different health care system channels, including commercial insurers and pharmacy
benefit managers, and consequently shift the cost of COVID-19 vaccines to insurers and patients (in the
form of premiums and out-of-network costs). With respect to the government health care programs and
commercial insurance, there may no longer be blanket coverage of COVID-19 vaccines without, in certain
instances, accompanying conditions of reimbursement, such as the institution of prior authorization
protocols. Medicare (including traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage) will continue to pay for
vaccinations in full; effective January 1, 2023, all Medicare Part D plans are required to cover all adult
vaccines recommended by the ACIP, with no cost-sharing, even if the beneficiary is in the deductible
phase of the benefit. Provisions in the ARPA and IRA require Medicaid (specifically, with respect to enrollees
who receive coverage under traditional Medicaid and all Medicaid medically needy enrollees in specified
states) and CHIP programs
19
vaccines/boosters with no cost sharing even when the emergency declarations expire and there is no
recommended vaccines,
to cover all ACIP
including COVID
-
-
-
46
longer any supply of federally purchased vaccines. Under the ACA, people enrolled in non
plans (i.e., the vast majority of people with private insurance) will continue to pay nothing for ACIP
19 vaccines and associated appointments, so long as the enrollee receives this care
recommended COVID
-
from an in
network provider. Even if consumers are guaranteed free access or protected against some
costs, they could face access challenges to our product if sufficient amounts of our product are not
available compared to that of our competitors or not procured by pharmacies or other providers.
grandfathered
-
-
-
Additionally, the pharmaceutical industry has also been the subject of significant publicity in recent
years regarding the pricing of pharmaceutical products, including publicity and pressure resulting from
prices charged by pharmaceutical companies for new products as well as price increases by
pharmaceutical companies on older products that some people have deemed excessive. As a result,
pharmaceutical product prices have been the focus of increased scrutiny by the United States
government, including certain state attorneys general, members of Congress, presidential candidates and
the United States Department of Justice. If reforms in the health care industry make reimbursement for our
potential products less likely, the market for our potential products will be reduced, and we could lose
potential sources of revenue. The existence or threat of cost control measures could cause our corporate
collaborators to be less willing or able to pursue research and development programs related to our
vaccine candidates. Further, it is also possible that additional governmental action is taken in response to
the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot predict the ultimate content, timing or effect of any healthcare
reform legislation or the impact of potential legislation on us.
We have limited marketing capabilities, and if we are unable to enter into collaborations with
marketing partners or develop our own sales and marketing capability, we may not be successful in
commercializing any approved products.
Although we have initiated commercialization of our COVID-19 Vaccine, we currently have limited
dedicated sales, marketing or distribution capabilities. As a result, we depend on collaborations with third
parties that have established distribution systems and sales forces, including our collaboration with SIIPL,
among others. To the extent that we enter into co-promotion or other licensing arrangements, our revenue
will depend upon the efforts of third parties, over which we may have little or no control. If we are unable
to reach and maintain agreements with one or more pharmaceutical companies or collaborators, we may
be required to market our products directly. Developing a marketing and sales force is expensive and time-
consuming and could delay a product launch. We may not be able to attract and retain qualified sales
personnel or otherwise develop this capability.
Our vaccine candidates may never achieve market acceptance even if we obtain full regulatory
approvals.
Even if we receive full regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of our vaccine candidates, the
commercial success of these vaccine candidates will depend on, among other things, their acceptance
by physicians, patients and third-party payers, such as health insurance companies and other members of
the medical community, as a vaccine and cost-effective alternative to competing products. If our vaccine
candidates fail to gain market acceptance, we may be unable to earn sufficient revenue to continue our
business. Market acceptance of, and demand for, any product that we may develop and commercialize
will depend on many factors, including:
• our ability to provide acceptable evidence of safety and efficacy (including against emerging
COVID-19 variants);
the prevalence and severity of adverse side effects;
•
• whether our vaccines are differentiated from other vaccines;
• availability, relative cost and relative efficacy of alternative and competing treatments;
•
• publicity concerning our products or competing products and treatments; and
• our ability to obtain sufficient third party insurance coverage or reimbursement.
the effectiveness of our marketing and distribution strategy;
47
If our vaccine candidates do not become widely accepted by physicians, patients, third-party
payers and other members of the medical community as well as the relevant public health authorities
responsible for scheduling immunizations, our business, financial condition and results of operations could
be materially and adversely affected.
We may not be able to secure sufficient supplies of a key component of our adjuvant technology.
Because an important component of our adjuvant technology is extracted from a species of soap-
bark tree (Quillaja saponaria) grown in Chile, we need long term access to quillaja extract with a consistent
and sufficiently high quality. We need a secure supply of raw material, as well as back-up suppliers, or our
adjuvant products may be delayed and we may not be able to meet our obligations under our various
collaboration and supply agreements.
Current or future regional relationships may hinder our ability to engage in larger transactions.
We have entered into regional collaborations to develop, manufacture and distribute our vaccine
candidates in certain parts of the world, and we anticipate entering into additional regional collaborations.
Our relationships with SIIPL, Takeda, and SK bioscience are examples of these regional relationships. These
relationships often involve the licensing of our technology to our partner or entering into a distribution
agreement, frequently on an exclusive basis. Generally, exclusive agreements are restricted to certain
territories. Because we have entered into exclusive license and distribution agreements, larger companies
may not be interested, or able, to enter into collaborations with us on a worldwide-scale. Also, these
regional relationships may make us an unattractive target for an acquisition.
Our product candidates are sensitive to shipping and storage conditions, which could subject our
vaccine candidates to risk of loss or damage.
Our vaccine candidates are sensitive to storage and handling conditions. Loss in vaccine
candidates could occur if the product or product intermediates are not stored or handled properly. It is
possible that our vaccine candidates could be lost due to expiration prior to use. If we do not effectively
maintain our supply logistics, then we may experience an unusual number of returned or out of date
products. Failure to effectively maintain our supply logistics, by us or third parties, could lead to additional
manufacturing costs and delays in our ability to supply required quantities for clinical trials or otherwise.
Our vaccine candidates could become subject to a product recall which could harm our
reputation, business, and financial results.
The U.S. FDA and similar foreign governmental authorities have the authority to require the recall of
certain vaccine candidates. Manufacturers may, under their own initiative, recall a product if any material
deficiency in a product is found. A government-mandated or voluntary recall by us or our strategic
collaborators could occur as a result of manufacturing errors, design or labeling defects or other
deficiencies and issues. For example, we have extended a credit of $64.7 million under the Australia APA
for a single lot of NVX-CoV2373 doses sold to the Australian government that upon pre-planned 6-month
stability testing was found to have fallen below the defined specifications, and the lot was therefore
removed from the market. Recalls of any of our vaccine candidates would divert managerial and financial
resources and have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, a
recall announcement could harm our reputation with customers and negatively affect our sales.
Risks Related to Our Industry and Competition
Many of our competitors have significantly greater resources and experience, which may
negatively impact our commercial opportunities and those of our current and future licensees.
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are subject to intense competition and rapid and
significant technological change. We have many potential competitors, including major pharmaceutical
companies, specialized biotechnology firms, academic institutions, government agencies and private and
48
public research institutions. Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial and technical
resources, experience and expertise in:
research and development;
•
• peclinical testing;
• designing and implementing clinical trials;
•
regulatory processes and approvals;
• production and manufacturing; and
•
sales and marketing of approved products.
Principal competitive factors in our industry include:
the quality and breadth of an organization’s technology;
•
• management of the organization and the execution of the organization’s strategy;
•
the skill and experience of an organization’s employees and its ability to recruit and retain skilled
and experienced employees;
• an organization’s intellectual property portfolio;
•
the range of capabilities, from target identification and validation to drug discovery and
development to manufacturing and marketing; and
•
the availability of substantial capital
commercialization activities.
resources
to
fund discovery, development and
Large and established companies, such as Merck & Co., Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, CSL Ltd., Sanofi
Pasteur, SA, Pfizer Inc., Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, and Moderna, among others, compete in the
vaccine market. In particular, these companies have greater experience and expertise in securing
government contracts and grants to support their research and development efforts, conducting testing
and clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals to market products, manufacturing such products on a
broad scale and marketing approved products.
Regardless of the disease, smaller or early-stage companies and research institutions also may prove
to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established
pharmaceutical companies. As these companies develop their technologies, they may develop
proprietary positions, which may prevent or limit our product development and commercialization efforts.
We will also face competition from these parties in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and
management personnel, establishing clinical trial sites and participant registration for clinical trials and in
acquiring and in-licensing technologies and products complementary to our programs or potentially
advantageous to our business. If any of our competitors succeed in obtaining approval from the U.S. FDA
or other regulatory authorities for their products sooner than we do or for products that are more effective
or less costly than ours, our commercial opportunity could be significantly reduced.
In order to effectively compete, we will have to make substantial investments in development,
testing, manufacturing and sales and marketing or partner with one or more established companies. We
may not be successful in gaining significant market share for any vaccine. Our technologies and vaccines
also may be rendered obsolete or non-competitive as a result of products introduced by our competitors
to the marketplace more rapidly and at a lower cost.
There is significant competition in the development of a vaccine against COVID-19 and a combined
vaccine against COVID-19 and influenza, and we may never see returns on the significant resources we
are devoting to our vaccine candidates.
Our COVID-19 Vaccine has moved rapidly through the regulatory review and authorization
processes in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. The speed at which COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics are
being created and tested is atypical, and evolving or changing plans or priorities within the U.S. FDA or
other regulatory authorities, including changes based on new knowledge of COVID-19 and how the
49
disease, and new variants of the virus, affect the human body, may significantly affect our ability to establish
a competitive market share for our COVID-19 Vaccine. A large number of vaccine manufacturers,
academic institutions and other organizations have developed COVID-19 vaccines or are developing
COVID-19 vaccine candidates. In particular, Moderna, and Pfizer/BioNTech have received full regulatory
approvals for their COVID-19 vaccines and, along with Johnson & Johnson have received emergency use
authorizations for their COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. and other countries. All of these companies have
obtained the relevant Emergency Use Licenses (“EULs”) from the World Health Organization for their
respective vaccines to be supplied to the countries or international coalition partners, including the relevant
United Nations agencies, which rely upon the World Health Organization’s EULs to support the local
immunization programs. Despite funding provided to us to date, many of our competitors pursuing vaccine
candidates have significantly greater product candidate development, manufacturing and marketing
resources than we do. Larger pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have extensive experience
in clinical testing and obtaining regulatory approval for their products and may have the resources to
heavily invest to accelerate discovery and development of their vaccine candidates. The success of our
COVID-19 Vaccine will depend, in part, on its relative safety, efficacy (including against emerging variant
strains), side effect profile, convenience, and cost. COVID-19 vaccines approved prior to our vaccine have
developed broad market acceptance that we are challenged to overcome. The U.S. FDA has also
approved Gilead’s Veklury (remdesivir) for treatment of COVID-19 in both adult and pediatric populations,
as well as Eli Lilly’s Olumiant (baricitinib) and Genentech’s Actemra (tocilizumab) for treatment of COVID-19
in certain hospitalized adults. Furthermore, if any competitors are successful in producing a more efficacious
vaccine or other treatment for COVID-19 (including against emerging variant strains), or if any competitors
are able to manufacture and distribute any such vaccines or treatments with greater efficiency there may
be a diversion of potential governmental and other funding away from us and toward such other parties.
We are allocating significant financial and personnel resources to the development and
commercialization of our COVID-19 Vaccine, which may cause delays in or otherwise negatively impact
our other development programs. Our business could be negatively impacted by our allocation of
significant resources to combating a global health threat that is unpredictable or against which our vaccine
may ultimately prove unsuccessful or unprofitable.
Many seasonal influenza vaccines are currently approved and marketed. Competition in the sale
of these seasonal influenza vaccines is intense. Therefore, newly developed and approved products must
be differentiated from existing vaccines in order to have commercial success. In order to show
differentiation in the seasonal influenza market, a product may need to be more efficacious, particularly in
older adults, be less expensive or quicker to manufacture, or contain other differentiating characteristics,
such as being combined with another vaccine. Many competitors are working on new products and new
generations of current products, intended to be more efficacious than those currently marketed. Our CIC
vaccine candidate may not prove to be more efficacious than current or future seasonal influenza
products or future COVID-19 influenza combination products under development by our competitors.
Further, our in-house or third-party manufacturing arrangements may not provide enough savings of time
or money to provide the required differentiation for commercial success.
Risks Related to Regulatory and Compliance Matters
We may not succeed in obtaining full U.S. FDA licensure or foreign regulatory approvals necessary
to sell our vaccine candidates.
The development, manufacture and marketing of our pharmaceutical and biological products are
subject to government regulation by the U.S. FDA and regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions, including
the EMA, the Czech Republic’s State Institute for Drug Control (SUKL) with respect to our manufacturing
facility in the Czech Republic and the Swedish Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket, LV) with
respect to our adjuvant product being developed in Sweden, as well as other country authorities into which
active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients are imported and/or manufactured by us or our sub-
contracted manufacturers. In the U.S. and most foreign countries, we must complete rigorous preclinical
testing and extensive clinical trials that demonstrate the safety and efficacy of a product in order to apply
for regulatory approval to market the product. Additionally, we must demonstrate that our manufacturing
50
facilities, processes and controls are adequate with respect to such product to assure safety, purity and
potency and comply with applicable good manufacturing practice requirements. None of our vaccine
candidates has yet gained full regulatory approval in the U.S., although our COVID-19 Vaccine has
received provisional registration, conditional marketing authorization, emergency use authorization, or full
approval in the various jurisdictions. We also have vaccine candidates in clinical trials and preclinical
laboratory or animal studies.
Our products might fail to meet their primary endpoints in clinical trials, meaning that we will not
have the clinical data required to support regulatory approvals.
The steps generally required by the U.S. FDA before our proposed investigational products may be
marketed in the U.S. include:
• performance of preclinical (animal and laboratory) tests;
•
submission to the U.S. FDA of an IND, which must become effective before clinical trials may
commence;
• performance of adequate and well controlled clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of
the investigational product in the intended target population;
• performance of a consistent and reproducible manufacturing process at commercial scale
capable of passing U.S. FDA inspection;
•
submission to the U.S. FDA of a BLA or a NDA; and
• U.S.FDA approval of the BLA or NDA before any commercial sale or shipment of the product.
Clinical trials that we undertake in other countries will be subject to similar or equivalent processes
and requirements, In Europe, as well as an authorization for the trial itself, it is necessary to obtain the consent
of a local ethics committee for each trial site and to provide for publication specific information about the
trial and its outcome. If endpoints are not met, this information will be made publicly available and could
be damaging to the reputation of the Company.
These processes are expensive and can take many years to complete, and we may not be able to
demonstrate the safety, purity, potency and efficacy of our vaccine candidates to the satisfaction of
regulatory authorities. The start of clinical trials can be delayed or take longer than anticipated for many
and varied reasons, many of which are out of our control. Safety concerns may emerge that could lengthen
the ongoing clinical trials or require additional clinical trials to be conducted. Promising results in early
clinical trials may not be replicated in subsequent clinical trials. For example, the first batch of top line results
from our Phase 2 CIC clinical trial evaluating safety and immunogenicity of different formulations of CIC
may not be consistent with top line results from subsequent batches in such trial. Regulatory authorities may
also require additional testing, and we may be required to demonstrate that our proposed products
represent an improved form of treatment over existing therapies, which we may be unable to do without
conducting further clinical trials. Moreover, if a regulatory authority grants regulatory approval of a product,
the approval may be limited to specific indications or limited with respect to its distribution. Expanded or
additional indications for approved products may not be approved, which could limit our revenue. Foreign
regulatory authorities may apply similar limitations or may refuse to grant any approval. Consequently, even
if we believe that preclinical and clinical data are sufficient to support regulatory approval for our vaccine
candidates, the U.S. FDA and foreign regulatory authorities ultimately may not grant approval for
commercial sale in their applicable jurisdiction, or may impose regulatory requirements that make further
pursuit of approval uneconomical in one or more jurisdictions. If our vaccine candidates are not approved,
our ability to generate revenue will be limited, and our business will be adversely affected.
We may fail to obtain regulatory approval for our products on a timely basis or comply with our
continuing regulatory obligations after approval is obtained.
Delays in obtaining regulatory approval can be extremely costly in terms of lost sales opportunities,
loss of any potential marketing advantage of being early to market and increased clinical trial costs. For
example, certain of our APAs and supply agreements may be terminated by the counterparty if we do not
51
timely achieve requisite regulatory approval for our COVID-19 Vaccine in the relevant jurisdictions under
such agreements. The speed with which we begin and complete the preclinical studies necessary to begin
clinical trials, the clinical trials themselves and our applications for marketing approval will depend on
several factors, including the following:
• our ability to scale-up and maintain manufacturing capability that reproducibly generates
consistent yields of product with required purity, potency and quality; that such scale-up occurs on
a timely basis; and that we have access to sufficient quantities of materials for use in necessary
preclinical studies and clinical trials;
• Regulatory authority review and approval of proposed clinical trial protocols;
• approval of clinical trials protocols and informed consent forms by institutional review boards
responsible for overseeing the ethical conduct of the trial;
•
the rate of participant enrollment and retention, which is a function of many factors, including the
size of the participant population, the proximity of participants to clinical sites, the eligibility criteria
for the clinical trial and the nature of the protocol;
• unfavorable test results or side effects experienced by clinical trial participants;
• analysis of data obtained from preclinical and clinical activities, which are susceptible to varying
interpretations and which interpretations could delay, limit, result in the suspension or termination of,
or prevent further conduct of clinical studies or regulatory approval;
•
the availability of skilled and experienced staff to conduct and monitor clinical trials and to prepare
the appropriate regulatory applications; and
• changes in the policies of regulatory authorities for drug or vaccine approval during the period of
product development.
We have somewhat limited experience in conducting and managing the preclinical studies and
clinical trials necessary to obtain regulatory marketing approvals. We may not be permitted to continue or
commence additional clinical trials. We also face the risk that the results of our clinical trials may be
inconsistent with the results obtained in preclinical studies or clinical trials of similar products or that the
results obtained in later phases of clinical trials may be inconsistent with those obtained in earlier phases. A
number of companies in the biotechnology and product development industry have suffered significant
setbacks in advanced clinical trials, even after experiencing promising results in early animal and human
testing.
Regulatory agencies may require us or our collaborators to delay, restrict or discontinue clinical trials
on various grounds, including a finding that the participants are being exposed to an unacceptable health
risk. In addition, we or our collaborators may be unable to submit applications to regulatory agencies within
the time frame we currently expect. Once submitted, applications must be approved by various regulatory
agencies before we or our collaborators can commercialize the product described in the application. All
statutes and regulations governing the conduct of clinical trials are subject to change in the future, which
could affect the cost of such clinical trials. Any unanticipated costs or delays in our clinical trials or regulatory
submissions could delay our ability to generate revenue and harm our financial condition and results of
operations.
If we are unable to effectively pursue the manufacture, clinical testing, regulatory authorization, and
export of our COVID-19 Vaccine, or COVID-19 vaccines against future strain changes, we may encounter
delays or challenges in commercially distributing these vaccines as well as gaining market acceptance for
them.
We expect that regulatory authorities will continue to monitor and assess SARS-CoV-2 evolution and
recommend that manufacturers make corresponding updates to the composition of their COVID-19
vaccines at least annually.
Inherent to this evolving approach to manufacturing new strains of COVID-19 vaccines, including
our development of our COVID-19 Vaccine, we may encounter regulatory authorization, manufacturing,
52
and distribution challenges, including export challenges. In doing so, we expect to seek alignment and
acceptance by regulatory authorities that would allow us to use manufacturing and analytical testing
methods employed in earlier COVID-19 vaccine production and commercialization efforts, that support an
accurate characterization profile (including purity, potency, stability and like standards) of the relevant
COVID-19 vaccine. Our inability to overcome product development challenges and gaining regulatory
authority alignment may adversely affect our ability to obtain licensure of our COVID-19 vaccine or future
COVID-19 vaccines at all, or in a timely manner.
Regarding future COVID-19 vaccine development, we may fail to receive authorization by
regulatory authorities if we are unable to generate sufficient batch analysis data to demonstrate batch-to-
batch consistency at commercial scale, if the data generated from our incremental research and
development program do not support continued effectiveness of the vaccine to protect individuals against
the then-relevant variant of SARS-CoV-2 because the vaccine does not induce an adequate level of
neutralization titers against such variant, or if the product otherwise exhibits an unacceptable safety profile,
rendering the benefit/risk balance unfavorable. Moreover, the new vaccine lots may not be accepted for
distribution if required batch-release testing undertaken by officially designated laboratories does not show
that such vaccine is of acceptable quality.
We were unable to accomplish the timely validation of the single-dose vial or pre-filled syringe
presentation we had intended to use with the our COVID-19 Vaccine in the U.S. As a result, the five dose
vial presentation for the fall 2023 vaccination season may have adversely impacted market acceptance,
rate of product returns, or required higher price concessions in the U.S and may adversely impact us in the
future if a single-dose or pre-filled syringe presentation is not authorized.
Failure to obtain regulatory approval in foreign jurisdictions would prevent us from marketing our
products internationally.
We intend to have our vaccine candidates marketed outside the U.S. In furtherance of this
objective, we have entered into supply agreements with various foreign governments and international
distribution agreements with commercial entities. In order to market our products in various countries
globally, we must obtain separate regulatory approvals and comply with numerous and varying regulatory
requirements. The approval procedure varies among countries and can involve additional testing and data
review. The time required to obtain foreign regulatory approval may differ from that required to obtain U.S.
FDA approval. The foreign regulatory approval process may include all of the risks associated with obtaining
U.S. FDA approval. Additionally, regulatory authorities outside the U.S. might not accept data from trials
conducted in other countries. Although our COVID-19 Vaccine has received provisional registration,
conditional marketing authorization or emergency use authorization in a number of jurisdictions, we may
not obtain regulatory approvals in other relevant jurisdictions on a timely basis, if at all. Approval by one
regulatory agency does not ensure approval by regulatory agencies in other jurisdictions. However, a failure
or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one jurisdiction may have a negative effect on the regulatory
approval process in other jurisdictions, including approval by the U.S. FDA. The failure to obtain regulatory
approval in foreign jurisdictions could harm our business.
The regulatory pathway for our COVID-19 Vaccine is continually evolving and may result in
unexpected or unforeseen challenges.
The regulatory pathway for our COVID-19 Vaccine is evolving and failure by us to comply with any
laws, rules and standards, some of which may not exist yet or are subject to interpretation and may be
subject to change, could result in a variety of adverse consequences, including penalties, fines and delays
in vaccine licensure. Efforts to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards have resulted in, and
are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of
management time and attention to regulatory compliance activities. For example, the rules, regulations
and standards governing the USG Agreement are uncertain and may evolve as the program progresses.
Such rules or standards may adversely affect our plans to develop our COVID-19 Vaccine and failure by us
to comply with any laws, rules or standards, some of which may not exist yet or may change, could result
in a range of adverse consequences, such as penalties, fines or failure to receive funding.
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The speed at which multiple stakeholders are moving to create, test and approve vaccines for
COVID-19 is highly unusual and may increase the risks associated with traditional vaccine development,
which typically takes between eight and ten years. Given this accelerated timeline, we and regulators,
such as the U.S. FDA, the EMA, and the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
(“MHRA”) may make decisions more rapidly than is typical. Evolving or changing plans or priorities at the
U.S. FDA or other regulatory bodies to whom we wish to apply for authorization, including based on new
knowledge of COVID-19 and how the disease affects the human body, and new variants of the virus, may
significantly affect the regulatory pathway for our COVID-19 Vaccine. Results from clinical testing may raise
new questions and require us to redesign proposed clinical trials, including revising proposed endpoints or
adding new clinical trial sites or cohorts of subjects. In addition, the U.S. FDA’s or other regulatory authorities’
analysis of clinical data may differ from our interpretation, or regulators’ requirements and expectations for
vaccine authorization or approval may change over time, with the result that the U.S. FDA or other
regulators may require that we conduct additional clinical trials or non-clinical studies. The evolving
regulatory pathway may impede the development, commercialization and/or licensure of our COVID-19
Vaccine.
In addition, because the path to licensure of any vaccine against COVID-19 is unclear, we may
have a widely used vaccine in circulation in certain countries as an investigational vaccine or a product
authorized for temporary or emergency use prior to our receipt of full marketing approval. Unexpected
safety issues in these circumstances could lead to significant reputational damage for Novavax and our
technology platform going forward and other issues, including delays in our other programs, the need for
re-design of our clinical trials and the need for significant additional financial resources. For example,
although we currently operate under an emergency use authorization provided by the U.S. FDA for our
updated COVID-19 Vaccine, the U.S. FDA may revoke such authorization if it determines that the underlying
health emergency no longer exists or warrants such authorization, and we cannot predict how long such
authorization will remain in place. Such revocation could adversely impact our business in a variety of ways.
We have conducted, continue to conduct and plan to conduct in the future, a number of clinical
trials for our COVID-19 Vaccine at sites outside the U.S. and the U.S. FDA may not accept data from trials
conducted in such locations.
We have and are currently conducting several clinical trials of our COVID-19 Vaccine at sites outside
the U.S., including a Phase 3 pediatric study (2019nCoV-503) in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala,
Honduras, the Philippines, and Mexico. Although the U.S. FDA may accept data from clinical trials
conducted outside the U.S., acceptance of these data is subject to conditions imposed by the U.S. FDA.
For example, the clinical trial must be well designed and conducted and be performed by qualified
investigators in accordance with ethical principles. The trial population must also adequately represent the
U.S. population, and the data must be applicable to the U.S. population and U.S. medical practice in ways
that the U.S. FDA deems clinically meaningful. Other regulatory authorities impose equivalent requirements
for their countries. In addition, while these clinical trials are subject to the applicable local laws, where the
data is to be used to support our BLA, U.S. FDA acceptance of the data will depend on its determination
that the trials also complied with all applicable U.S. laws and regulations. If the U.S. FDA does not accept
the data from any trial that we conduct outside the U.S., it could result in delay pending completion of our
trials conducted in the U.S. or result in the need for additional trials, which would be costly and time-
consuming and could delay or permanently halt our development and commercialization of our COVID-19
Vaccine.
The later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, manufacturer or facility may
result in restrictions, including withdrawal of a vaccine that had previously received regulatory approval in
certain jurisdictions from the market.
Even after a product gains regulatory approval, the product and the manufacturer of the product
will be subject to continuing regulatory review, including adverse event reporting requirements and
prohibitions against promoting products for unapproved uses. Failure to comply with any post-approval
requirements can, among other things, result in warning letters, product seizures, recalls, substantial fines,
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injunctions, suspensions or revocations of marketing authorizations or licenses, operating restrictions and
criminal prosecutions. Any such enforcement actions, any unanticipated changes in existing regulatory
requirements or the adoption of new requirements, or any safety issues that arise with any approved
products, could adversely affect our ability to market products and generate revenue and thus adversely
affect our ability to continue our business.
We also may be restricted or prohibited from marketing or manufacturing a product, even after
obtaining product approval, if previously unknown problems with the product or its manufacture are
subsequently discovered. We cannot provide assurance that newly discovered or developed safety issues
will not arise following regulatory approval. With the use of any vaccine by a wide patient population,
serious adverse events may occur from time to time that did not arise in the clinical trials of the product or
that initially appeared to be unrelated to the vaccine itself and only with the collection of subsequent
information were found to be causally related to the product. Any such safety issues could cause us to
suspend or cease marketing of our approved products, possibly subject us to substantial liabilities, and
adversely affect our ability to generate revenue and our financial condition.
Our ability to produce a successful vaccine may be curtailed by one or more government actions
or interventions, which may be more likely during a global health crisis such as COVID-19.
Given the significant global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is possible that one or more
government entities may take actions, including under the USG under the Defense Production Act of 1950,
as amended, that directly or indirectly have the effect of diminishing some of our rights or opportunities with
respect to our COVID-19 Vaccine, and the economic value of a COVID-19 vaccine to us could be limited.
In addition, during a global health crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where the spread of a disease
needs to be controlled, closed or heavily regulated national borders create challenges and delays in our
development, production and distribution activities and may necessitate that we pursue strategies to
develop, produce and distribute our vaccine candidates within self-contained national or international
borders or with additional safety measures or checks in place, at potentially much greater expense and
with longer timeframes for public distribution.
Inadequate funding for the U.S. FDA, the SEC and other regulatory authorities could hinder their
ability to hire and retain key leadership and other personnel, or otherwise perform their normal functions on
which the operation of our business may rely, which could negatively impact our ability to develop or
commercialize new products or services, access capital markets, or otherwise operate our business.
The ability of the U.S. FDA and other regulatory authorities to review and approve new product
applications is affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, ability to
hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and statutory, regulatory and policy
changes. For example, average review times at the U.S. FDA have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In
addition, government funding of the SEC and other government agencies on which our operations may
rely, including those that fund research and development activities, is subject to the political process, which
is inherently fluid and unpredictable.
Disruptions at the U.S. FDA and other agencies may also slow the time necessary for new drugs to
be reviewed and approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our
business. For example, over the last several years, the USG has shut down several times and certain
regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. FDA and the SEC, have had to furlough employees and stop or slow
the pace of critical activities. Equally, the move of the EMA to the Netherlands from London caused a
significant loss of experienced staff and the UK’s MHRA’s loss of funding from the E.U. has caused a loss of
funding and consequently of staff. If a prolonged government shutdown or slowdown of the relevant
regulatory authority occurs, it could significantly impact the ability of that Authority to timely review and
process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, in
our operations as a public company, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the
public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.
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Fast Track Designation by the U.S. FDA, the issue of conditional marketing authorizations by the EMA
or MHRA, or other regulatory acceleration options may not actually lead to a faster development or
regulatory review or approval process and does not assure approval.
If a drug is intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition and the drug
demonstrates the potential to address an unmet medical need for this condition, the drug sponsor may
apply for U.S. FDA Fast Track Designation or similar fast track processes with other regulatory agencies. In
the EU and the UK, rolling review procedure was relied upon for conditional marketing authorizations to be
granted. However, Fast Track Designation or conditional authorizations do not ensure that the drug sponsor
will receive marketing approval or that approval will be granted within any particular timeframe. The U.S.
FDA granted Fast Track Designation for our prototype vaccine in November 2020, and for our recombinant
quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine candidate, in January 2020. We may also seek Fast Track
Designation for more of our other vaccine candidates. If we do seek Fast Track Designation for our other
vaccine candidates, we may not receive it, and even if we receive Fast Track Designation, we may not
experience a faster development process, review or approval compared to conventional U.S. FDA
procedures. In addition, the U.S. FDA may withdraw Fast Track designation if it believes that the designation
is no longer supported by data from our clinical development program. Fast Track Designation alone does
not guarantee qualification for the U.S. FDA’s priority review procedures.
Obtaining a Fast Track Designation does not change the standards for product approval, but may
expedite the development or approval process. Even though the U.S. FDA has granted such designation
for our prototype vaccine, it may not actually result in faster clinical development or regulatory review or
approval. Furthermore, such a designation does not increase the likelihood that our COVID-19 Vaccine will
receive marketing approval in the U.S.
Because we are subject to environmental, health and safety laws, we may be unable to conduct
our business in the most advantageous manner.
We are subject to various laws and regulations relating to safe working conditions, laboratory and
manufacturing practices, the experimental use of animals, emissions and wastewater discharges, and the
use and disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances used in connection with our research,
including infectious disease agents. We also cannot accurately predict the extent of regulations that might
result from any future legislative or administrative action. Any of these laws or regulations could cause us to
incur additional expense or restrict our operations.
Our facilities in Maryland are subject to various local, state and federal laws and regulations relating
to safe working conditions, laboratory practices, the experimental use of animals and the use and disposal
of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances, including chemicals, microorganisms and various
hazardous compounds used in connection with our research and development activities. In the U.S., these
laws include the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Toxic Test Substances Control Act and the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Similar national and local regulations govern our facilities in
Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. We cannot eliminate the risk of accidental contamination
or discharge or injury from these materials. Federal, state and local laws and regulations govern the use,
manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of these materials. We could be subject to civil damages in
the event of an improper or unauthorized release of, or exposure of individuals to, these hazardous
materials. In addition, claimants may sue us for injury or contamination that results from our use or the use
by third parties of these materials, and our liability may exceed our total assets. Compliance with
environmental laws and regulations may be expensive, and current or future environmental regulations
may impair our research, development or production efforts.
Although we have general liability insurance, these policies contain exclusions from insurance
against claims arising from pollution from chemicals or pollution from conditions arising from our operations.
Our collaborators are working with these types of hazardous materials in connection with our collaborations.
In the event of a lawsuit or investigation, we could be held responsible for any injury we or our collaborators
cause to persons or property by exposure to, or release of, any hazardous materials. However, we believe
that we are currently in compliance with all material applicable environmental and occupational health
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and safety regulations.
For our product candidates, we will be subject to additional healthcare laws and our failure to
comply with those laws could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial
conditions.
Within the U.S. (and within foreign countries), if we obtain full approval for any of our product
candidates and begin commercializing them, our operations may be directly, or indirectly through our
arrangements with third-party payors and customers, subject to additional healthcare regulation and
enforcement by the federal and state governments (or the regulatory bodies or governments of foreign
countries), which may constrain the business or financial arrangements and relationships through which we
sell, market and distribute our products. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of
pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, structuring and commission(s), certain customer incentive
programs and other business arrangements generally. Activities subject to these laws also involve the
improper use of information obtained in the course of patient recruitment for clinical trials. The applicable
U.S. federal and state healthcare laws and regulations (which may be comparable to foreign laws existing
in foreign countries) that may affect our ability to operate include:
•
•
•
the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which among other things, strictly regulates drug product
marketing and promotion and prohibits manufacturers from marketing such products for
unapproved uses;
the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons from knowingly and
willfully soliciting, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce the referral for
an item or service or the purchasing or ordering of a good or service, for which payment may be
made under federal healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid;
federal false claims laws, including the FCA, which prohibit, among other things, individuals or
entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, information or claims for payment
from Medicare, Medicaid, or other third-party payers that are false or fraudulent;
• manufacturers can be held liable under the FCA even when they do not submit claims directly to
government payors if they are deemed to “cause” the submission of false or fraudulent claims; the
FCA also permits a private individual acting as whistleblower to bring actions on behalf of the federal
government alleging violations of the FCA and to share in any monetary recovery;
•
•
•
•
•
federal laws that require pharmaceutical manufacturers to report certain calculated product prices
to the government or provide certain discounts or rebates to government authorities or private
entities, often as a condition of reimbursement under government healthcare programs;
the federal Physician Payment Sunshine Act and its implementing regulations, which require
manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, and medical supplies for which payment is available
under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (with certain exceptions) to
report annually to the DHHS information related to payments or other transfers of value made to
physicians (defined to include doctors, dentists, optometrists and chiropractors) and teaching
hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate
family members; effective January 1, 2022, these reporting obligations extend to include transfers of
value made to certain non-physician providers such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners;
similar reporting requirements have also been enacted on the state level in the U.S., and an
increasing number of countries worldwide either have adopted or are considering similar laws
requiring disclosure of interactions with health care professionals;
the federal law known as HIPAA, which, in addition to privacy protections applicable to healthcare
providers and other entities, prohibits executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit
program or making false statements relating to healthcare matters;
federal consumer protection and unfair competition laws, which broadly regulate marketplace
activities and activities that potentially harm consumers;
state law equivalents of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws which
may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payer, including commercial insurers,
and state gift ban and transparency laws, many of which state laws differ from each other in
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significant ways and often are not preempted by federal laws, thus complicating compliance
efforts; and
•
state laws restricting interactions with healthcare providers and other members of the healthcare
community or requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers to implement certain compliance
standards.
Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and safe
harbors available, it is possible that some of our business activities could be subject to challenge under one
or more of such laws. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of such laws or any other
governmental regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to, on a corporate or individual basis,
penalties, including civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, the curtailment or restructuring of our
operations, the exclusion from participation in federal and state healthcare programs and even
imprisonment, any of which could materially adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our
financial results. In addition, the cost of implementing sufficient systems, controls, and processes to ensure
compliance with all of the aforementioned laws could be significant. Any action for violation of these laws,
even if successfully defended, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and divert management’s
attention from the operation of the company’s business. If any of the physicians or other healthcare
providers or entities with whom we expect to do business is found not to be in compliance with applicable
laws, that person or entity may be subject to criminal, civil or administrative sanctions, including exclusions
from government funded healthcare programs. Prohibitions or restrictions on sales or withdrawal of future
marketed products could materially affect business in an adverse way.
It is not always possible to identify and deter employee misconduct, and the precautions we take
to detect and prevent inappropriate conduct may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged
risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from
a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations. Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements
will comply with applicable healthcare laws may involve substantial costs. It is possible that governmental
and enforcement authorities will conclude that our business practices may not comply with current or future
statutes, regulations or case law interpreting applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and
regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us and we are not successful in defending ourselves
or asserting our rights those actions, our business may be impaired.
We are also subject to anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws, including the FCPA, the UK Bribery Act,
and other similar worldwide anti-bribery laws, as well as various trade laws and regulations (including
economic sanctions, export laws, and customs laws), and our failure to comply with those laws could have
a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial conditions.
The FCPA and similar worldwide anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws prohibit companies and their
intermediaries from corruptly providing any payments or other benefits to foreign government officials for
the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. The U.S. Departments of Justice, Securities & Exchange
Commission, Commerce, State and Treasury and other federal agencies and authorities have a broad
range of civil and criminal penalties they may seek to impose against corporations and individuals for
violations of the FCPA, economic sanctions laws, export control laws, and other federal statutes and
regulations, including those established by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC. In addition, the UK
Bribery Act of 2010, or the Bribery Act, prohibits both domestic and international bribery, as well as bribery
across both private and public sectors. An organization that fails to prevent bribery by anyone associated
with the organization can be charged under the Bribery Act unless the organization can establish the
defense of having implemented adequate procedures to prevent bribery.
Similarly, U.S. and similar worldwide trade laws, including economic sanctions, export laws, and
customs laws, regulate our ability to conduct business with certain jurisdictions and counterparties, and
regulate the ways in which we may export and import products around the world. In connection with these
laws, various government agencies may require us to obtain export licenses, and may impose modifications
to business practices, including requiring the cessation of business activities in or with countries, entities, and
individuals targeted with sanctions. The breadth and dynamic nature of these laws and regulations may
increase compliance costs, and may subject us to fines.
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Novavax has received a number of regulatory approvals in ex-U.S. jurisdictions and has
commenced commercial operations in these international locations, including partnering with third-parties
in certain higher-risk jurisdictions. Further, a portion of our business with respect to our manufacturing is
conducted outside of the U.S. in higher-risk jurisdictions. We expect our international activities to increase in
the future. Though we maintain policies, internal controls and other measures reasonably designed to
promote compliance with applicable anti-corruption and trade laws and regulations, our employees or
agents may nevertheless engage in improper conduct for which we might be held responsible. Any
violations of these anti-corruption or trade laws, or even allegations of such violations, can lead to an
investigation and/or enforcement action, which could disrupt our operations, involve significant
management distraction, and lead to significant costs and expenses, including legal fees. If we, or our
employees or agents acting on our behalf, are found to have engaged in practices that violate these laws
and regulations, we could be subject to criminal and civil enforcement action, suffer severe fines and
penalties, profit disgorgement, injunctions on future conduct, securities litigation, bans on transacting
government business, delisting from securities exchanges and other consequences that may have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, our
reputation, our revenue or our stock price could be adversely affected if we become the subject of any
negative publicity related to actual or potential violations of anti-corruption or trade laws and regulations.
Risks Related to our Intellectual Property
Our success depends on our ability to maintain the proprietary nature of our technology.
Our success in large part depends on our ability to maintain the proprietary nature of our technology
and other trade secrets. To do so, we must prosecute and maintain existing patents, obtain new patents
and pursue trade secret and other intellectual property protection. We also must operate without infringing
the proprietary rights of third-parties or allowing third-parties to infringe our rights. We currently have or have
rights to over 630 U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications covering our technologies. However,
patent issues relating to pharmaceuticals and biologics involve complex legal, scientific and factual
questions. To date, no consistent policy has emerged regarding the breadth of biotechnology patent
claims that are granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) or enforced by the federal
courts. Therefore, we do not know whether any particular patent applications will result in the issuance of
patents, or that any patents issued to us will provide us with any competitive advantage. We also cannot
be sure that we will develop additional proprietary products that are patentable. Furthermore, there is a
risk that others will independently develop or duplicate similar technology or products or circumvent the
patents issued to us.
Although our patent filings include claims covering various features of our vaccine candidates,
including composition, methods of manufacture and use, our patents do not provide us with complete
protection against the development of competing products. Some of our know-how and technology is not
patentable. To protect our proprietary rights in unpatentable intellectual property and trade secrets, we
require employees, consultants, advisors and collaborators to enter into confidentiality agreements. These
agreements may not provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary
information, and such risk has been enhanced by the departure of employees in connection with our global
restructuring and cost reduction plan.
Failure to obtain trademark registrations for proposed product names/brands, in the U.S. or abroad,
may adversely impact our business.
Trademark registration to protect the trademarks for our proposed products will require approval
from the USPTO in the U.S. and in trademark offices throughout the world in our key markets. The USPTO or
a trademark office in a key international jurisdiction may refuse registration of any of our trademarks on a
variety of potential grounds. If registration is not granted to one of our trademarks in the U.S. or in another
key international jurisdiction, we may be required to adopt an alternative name for that proposed product.
If we adopt an alternative name, we would lose the benefit of any existing trademark applications for such
developmental candidate and may be required to expend significant additional resources in an effort to
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identify a suitable product name that would qualify under applicable trademark laws, not infringe the
existing rights of third parties and be acceptable to the U.S. FDA and other regulatory authorities.
Third parties may claim we infringe their intellectual property rights.
Our research, development and commercialization activities, including any vaccine candidates
resulting from these activities, may be found to infringe patents or trademarks owned by third-parties and
to which we do not hold licenses or other rights. There may be rights we are not aware of, including
applications that have been filed, but not published that, when issued, could be asserted against us. These
third-parties could bring claims against us, and that may cause us to incur substantial expenses and, if
successful against us, could cause us to pay substantial damages. Further, if a patent or trademark
infringement suit were brought against us, we could be forced to stop or delay research, development,
manufacturing or sales of the product or biologic drug candidate that is the subject of the suit.
As a result of patent or trademark infringement claims, or in order to avoid potential claims, we may
choose or be required to seek a license from the third party. These licenses may not be available on
acceptable terms, or at all. Even if we are able to obtain a license, the license would likely obligate us to
pay license fees or royalties or both, and the rights granted to us might be non- exclusive, which could result
in our competitors gaining access to the same intellectual property. Ultimately, we could be prevented
from commercializing a product, or be forced to cease some aspect of our business operations, if, as a
result of actual or threatened patent or trademark infringement claims, we are unable to enter into licenses
on acceptable terms. All of the issues described above could also impact our collaborators, which would
also impact the success of the collaboration and therefore us.
There has been substantial litigation and other proceedings regarding patent, trademark, and other
intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
We may become involved in litigation to defend or enforce our intellectual property or the
intellectual property of our collaborators or licensors, which could be expensive and time-consuming.
Competitors may infringe our patents or the patents of our collaborators or licensors. As a result, we
may be required to file patent infringement suits to prevent unauthorized uses. This can be expensive and
time-consuming. In addition, in an infringement proceeding, a court may decide that a patent of ours is
not valid or is unenforceable, or may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on
the grounds that our patents do not cover its technology. An adverse determination of any litigation or
defense proceeding could put one or more of our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted
narrowly and could put our patent applications at the risk of not issuing. Competitors may infringe our
trademarks or the trademarks of collaborators or licensors. As a result, we may be required to file suit to
counter infringement for unauthorized use of an identical or confusingly similar trademark. This can be
expensive and time-consuming.
Even if we are successful, litigation may result in substantial costs and distraction to our
management. Even with a broad portfolio, we may not be able, alone or with our collaborators and
licensors, to prevent misappropriation of our proprietary rights, particularly in countries where the laws may
not protect such rights as fully as in the U.S.
Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with
intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be
compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. In addition, during the course of litigation, there
could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or
developments. If investors perceive these results to be negative, the market price for our common stock
could be significantly harmed.
The scope, validity, and ownership of our patent claims may be challenged in various venues and,
if we do not prevail, our ability to exclude competitors may be harmed, potentially reducing our ability to
succeed commercially.
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We may be subject to a variety of challenges from third parties that relate to the scope of the claims
or to their validity. Such challenges can be mounted in post-grant review, ex parte re-examination, and
inter partes review proceedings before the USPTO, or similar adversarial proceedings in other jurisdictions. If
we are unsuccessful in any such challenge, the scope of our claims could be narrowed or could be
invalidated. Any such outcome could impair our ability to exclude competitors from the market in those
countries, potentially impacting our commercial success.
Our patents may be subject to various challenges related to ownership and inventorship, including
interference or derivation proceedings. Third parties may assert that they are inventors on our patents or
that they are owners of the patents. While we perform inventorship analyses to insure that the correct
inventors are listed on our patents, we cannot be certain that a court of competent jurisdiction would arrive
at the same conclusions we do. If we are unsuccessful in defending against ownership or inventorship
challenges, a court may require us to list additional inventors, may invalidate the patent, or may transfer
ownership of the patent to a third party. Any of these outcomes may harm our ability to exclude
competitors and potentially impact our commercial success. Further, if ownership is transferred to a third
party we may be required to seek a license to those rights to preserve our exclusive ability to practice the
invention. Such a license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. If we are unable
to obtain a license, we may be required to expend time, effort, and other resources to design around the
patent. Any such license may be non-exclusive and if a competitor is able to obtain a license from the third
party, our ability to exclude that competitor from the market may be negatively impacted.
Even if we are ultimately successful, defending any such challenges may cause us to incur
substantial expenses and may require us to divert substantial financial and management resources that we
would otherwise be able to devote to our business.
The scope, validity, and ownership of our trademark rights/registrations may be challenged in
various venues in the U.S. and abroad and, if we do not prevail, our ability to exclude competitors from
using and registering confusingly similar trademarks may be harmed, potentially reducing our ability to
succeed commercially.
We may be subject to a variety of challenges from third parties that relate to the validity of our
trademark registrations in the U.S. and internationally. Such challenges can be mounted in trademark
cancellation and opposition proceedings before the USPTO, or similar adversarial proceedings in other
jurisdictions. If we are unsuccessful in any such challenge, our trademark registrations could be narrowed
or could be refused or canceled. Any such outcome could impair our ability to exclude competitors from
using a confusingly similar mark, potentially impacting our commercial success.
Our trademark registrations may be subject to various challenges related to likelihood of confusion,
use of a trademark in commerce, or other grounds in the U.S. and internationally. Third parties may assert
that our trademarks infringe on their prior rights or that we are not using a trademark in a particular
jurisdiction in connection with the goods/services identified in the trademark registration. While we perform
trademark clearance searches and analysis to determine that we are not infringing upon the trademark
rights of others, we cannot be certain that a court of competent jurisdiction would arrive at the same
conclusions we do. If we are unsuccessful in defending against such challenges, a court may cancel our
trademark registration and/or issue an injunction requiring that we cease use of the trademark. We may
also not be able to rely on common law rights that we may have in any trademark. Any of these outcomes
may potentially impact our commercial success.
Even if we are ultimately successful, defending any such challenges may cause us to incur
substantial expenses and may require us to divert substantial financial and management resources that we
would otherwise be able to devote to our business.
We may need to license intellectual property from third parties and, if our right to use the intellectual
property we license is affected, our ability to develop and commercialize our vaccine candidates may be
harmed.
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We have in the past, and we expect in the future to license intellectual property from third parties
and that these licenses will be material to our business. We will not own the patents or patent applications
that underlie these licenses, and we may not control either the prosecution or the enforcement of the
patents. Under such circumstances, we may be forced to rely upon our licensors to properly prosecute and
file those patent applications and prevent infringement of those patents.
While many of the licenses under which we have rights provide us with rights in specified fields, the
scope of our rights under these and other licenses may be subject to dispute by our licensors or third parties.
In addition, our rights to use these technologies and practice the inventions claimed in the licensed patents
and patent applications are subject to our licensors abiding by the terms of those licenses and not
terminating them. Any of our licenses may be terminated by the licensor if we are in breach of a term or
condition of the license agreement, or in certain other circumstances.
Further, any disputes regarding obligations in licenses may require us to take expensive and time-
consuming legal action to resolve, and, even if we are successful, may delay our ability to commercialize
products and generate revenue. Further, if we are unable to resolve license issues that arise we may lose
rights to practice intellectual property that is required to make, use, or sell products. Any such loss could
compromise our development and commercialization efforts for current or future product candidates
and/or may require additional effort and expense to design around.
Our vaccine candidates and potential vaccine candidates will require several components that
may each be the subject of a license agreement. The cumulative license fees and royalties for these
components may make the commercialization of these vaccine candidates uneconomical.
If patent laws or the interpretation of patent laws change, our competitors may be able to develop
and commercialize our discoveries.
Important legal issues remain to be resolved as to the extent and scope of available patent
protection for biopharmaceutical products and processes in the U.S. and other important markets outside
the U.S., such as Europe and Japan. In addition, foreign markets may not provide the same level of patent
protection as provided under the U.S. patent system. Litigation or administrative proceedings may be
necessary to determine the validity and scope of certain of our and others’ proprietary rights. Any such
litigation or proceeding may result in a significant commitment of resources in the future and could force
us to do one or more of the following: cease selling or using any of our products that incorporate the
challenged intellectual property, which would adversely affect our revenue; obtain a license from the
holder of the intellectual property right alleged to have been infringed, which license may not be available
on reasonable terms, if at all; and redesign our products to avoid infringing the intellectual property rights
of third parties, which may be time-consuming or impossible to do. In addition, changes in, or different
interpretations of, patent laws in the U.S. and other countries may result in patent laws that allow others to
use our discoveries or develop and commercialize our products. We cannot provide assurance that the
patents we obtain or the unpatented technology we hold will afford us significant commercial protection.
In Europe, a new unitary patent system, which took effect on June 1, 2023, may significantly impact
European patents, including those granted before the introduction of the new system. Under the new
system, applicants can, upon grant of a patent, opt for that patent to become a Unitary Patent which will
be subject to the jurisdiction of a new Unitary Patent Court (“UPC”). Patents granted before the
implementation of the new system can be opted out of UPC jurisdiction, remaining as national patents in
the UPC countries. Patents that remain under the jurisdiction of the UPC may be challenged in a single UPC-
based revocation proceeding that, if successful, could invalidate the patent in all countries who are
signatories to the UPC. Further, because the UPC is a new court system and there is no precedent for the
court’s laws, there is increased uncertainty regarding the outcome of any patent litigation. We are unable
to predict what impact the new patent regime may have on our ability to exclude competitors in the
European market. In addition to changes in patents laws, geopolitical dynamics, including Russia’s incursion
into Ukraine, may also impact our ability to obtain and enforce patents in particular jurisdictions. If we are
unable to obtain and enforce patents as needed in particular markets, our ability to exclude competitors
in those markets may be reduced.
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If we do not obtain patent term extension and/or patent term adjustment in the U.S. under the Hatch-
Waxman Act and similar extensions in foreign countries, our ability to exclude competitors may be harmed.
In the U.S., the patent term is 20 years from the earliest U.S. non-provisional filing date. Extensions of
patent term may be available under certain circumstances. Depending upon the timing, duration and
conditions of U.S. FDA marketing approval of our product candidates, we may be able to extend the term
of one patent that covers a marketed product under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term
Restoration Act of 1984, (the “Hatch-Waxman Amendments”) and similar legislation in the European Union
and the United Kingdom.
The Hatch-Waxman Amendments permit patent term extension of up to five years for a patent
covering an approved product as compensation for effective patent term lost during product
development and the U.S. FDA regulatory review process. We may not receive any extension if we fail to
apply within applicable deadlines, fail to apply prior to expiration of relevant patents or otherwise fail to
satisfy applicable requirements. Moreover, the length of the extension could be less than we request. If we
are unable to obtain patent term extension or the term of any such extension is less than we request, the
period during which we can enforce our patent rights for that product will be shortened and our
competitors may obtain approval to market competing products sooner.
Patent term covering our products may also be extended for time spent during the prosecution of
the patent application in the USPTO. This extension is referred to as Patent Term Adjustment (“PTA”). The
laws and regulations governing how the USPTO calculates the PTA is subject to change and changes in the
law can reduce or increase any such PTA. Further, the PTA granted by the USPTO may be challenged by a
third party. If we do not prevail under such a challenge, the PTA may be reduced or eliminated, shortening
the patent term, which may negatively impact our ability to exclude competitors.
Risks Related to Employee Matters, Managing Growth and Information Technology
Our business may be adversely affected if we do not successfully execute our business
development initiatives.
We anticipate growing through both internal development projects, as well as external
opportunities, which include the acquisition, partnering and in-licensing of products, technologies and
companies or the entry into strategic alliances and collaborations. The availability of high quality
opportunities is limited, and we may fail to identify candidates that we and our stockholders consider
suitable or complete transactions on terms that prove advantageous. In order to pursue such opportunities,
we may require significant additional financing, which may not be available to us on favorable terms, if at
all. Even if we are able to successfully identify and complete acquisitions, like our business combinations
with Novavax CZ (formerly Praha Vaccines) and Novavax AB, strategic transactions involve many risks,
including, among others, those related to diversion of management’s attention from other business
concerns, unanticipated expenses and liabilities, and increased complexity of our operations, which could
prevent us from effectively exploiting acquired facilities, successfully integrating the acquired business and
personnel, or fully realizing expected synergies.
To effectively manage our current and future potential growth, we will need to continue to enhance
our operational, financial and management processes and to effectively expand, train and manage our
employee base. Supporting our growth initiatives will require significant expenditures and management
resources, including investments in research and development, manufacturing in-house and through third-
party manufacturers and other areas of our business. If we do not successfully manage our growth and do
not successfully execute our growth initiatives, then our business and financial results may be adversely
impacted, and we may incur asset impairment or restructuring charges.
Given our current cash position and cash flow forecast, and significant uncertainties related to 2024
revenue substantial doubt exists regarding our ability to continue as a going concern through one year
from the date that the financial statements included in this Annual Report were issued.
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Our management must evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the
aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year
after the date the financial statements are issued. At December 31, 2023, we had $0.6 billion in cash and
cash equivalents and restricted cash. During 2023, we incurred a net loss of $545.1 million and had net cash
flows used in operating activities of $714.0 million.
While our current cash flow forecast for the one-year going concern look forward period estimates
that we have sufficient capital available to fund operations, this forecast is subject to significant uncertainty,
including as it relates to the following:
•
2024 Revenue: Our 2024 revenue depends on our ability to successfully develop, manufacture,
distribute, or market an updated monovalent or bivalent formulation of a vaccine candidate for
COVID-19 in a single dose vial or pre-filled syringe product presentation for the fall 2024 COVID-19
vaccine season, which is inherently uncertain and subject to a number of risks, including regulatory
authorizations and our ability to introduce a single-dose vial or pre-filled syringe product
presentation for the U.S. commercial and certain other markets.
Management believes that, given the significance of these uncertainties, substantial doubt exists
regarding our ability to continue as a going concern through one year from the date that these financial
statements are issued.
Our ability to fund Company operations is dependent upon revenue related to vaccine sales for
our products and product candidates, if such product candidates receive marketing approval and are
successfully commercialized; the resolution of certain matters; and management’s plans, which may
include raising additional capital through a combination of equity and debt financing, collaborations,
strategic alliances, and marketing, distribution, or licensing arrangements. New financings may not be
available to us on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. Also, any collaborations, strategic alliances,
and marketing, distribution, or licensing arrangements may require us to give up some or all of our rights to
a product or technology, which in some cases may be at less than the full potential value of such rights. In
addition, the regulatory and commercial success of our COVID-19 Vaccine and our other vaccine
candidates, including CIC vaccine candidate, or future COVID-19 variant strain-containing monovalent or
bivalent formulations, remains uncertain. If we are unable to obtain additional capital, we will assess our
capital resources and may be required to delay, reduce the scope of, or eliminate some or all of our
operations, or downsize our organization, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations, and ability to operate as a going concern.
Our announced global restructuring and cost reduction plans may not result in anticipated
reductions in combined research and development and selling, general, and administrative expenses and
may disrupt our business.
In May 2023, we announced a global restructuring and cost reduction plan. This plan includes a
more focused investment in our COVID-19 commercial program, reduction to our pipeline spending, the
continued rationalization of our manufacturing network, a reduction to our global workforce, as well as the
consolidation of facilities and infrastructure. The planned workforce reduction includes an approximately
25% reduction in our global workforce, comprised of an approximately 20% reduction in full-time Novavax
employees and the remainder comprised of contractors and consultants. We expect the full annual impact
of the cost savings to be realized in 2024. During 2023, we recorded a charge of $4.5 million related to one-
time employee severance and benefit costs and $10.1 million costs related to the consolidation of facilities
and infrastructure, the majority of which were incurred in the second quarter of 2023.
Additionally, in January 2024 we announced an additional 12% reduction of our global workforce,
comprised of an additional 9% reduction in the Company’s full-time employees and the remainder
comprised of contractors and consultants. The Company expects the full annual impact of the cost savings
to be realized in 2025 and approximately 85% of the annual impact, excluding one-time charges, to be
realized in 2024 due to timing of implementing the measures and the applicable laws, regulations and other
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factors in the jurisdictions in which it operates. The Company is expected to record an additional charge of
approximately $4 million to $7 million related to one-time employee severance and benefit costs, the
majority of which is expected to be incurred in the first quarter of 2024. Upon completion, the resulting
Company workforce is expected to be approximately 30% lower as compared to the end of the first quarter
of 2023.
We may not realize, in full or in part, the anticipated benefits, savings and improvements in our cost
structure from these efforts due to unforeseen difficulties, delays or unexpected costs. If we are unable to
realize the potential development progress and cost savings from the global restructuring and cost
reduction plan, including the reduction to our global workforce, our business strategy, operating results and
financial condition would be adversely affected. Our workforce reductions could yield unanticipated
consequences, such as attrition beyond planned workforce reductions or disruptions in our day-to-day
operations. Our global restructuring and cost reduction plan, including the reduction to our global
workforce, could also harm our ability to attract and retain qualified management and development
personnel who are critical to our business. If we are unable to realize the expected benefits from the
restructuring and cost reduction plan, we may decide to undertake additional workforce reductions.
Security breaches and other disruptions to our information technology systems or those of the
vendors on whom we rely could compromise our information and expose us to liability, reputational
damage, or other costs.
In the ordinary course of our business, we and many of our current and future strategic partners,
vendors, contractors, and consultants collect and store sensitive data, including intellectual property, our
proprietary business information and data about our clinical participants, suppliers and business partners,
including personally identifiable information. The secure maintenance of this information is critical to our
operations and business strategy. Some of this information represents an attractive target of criminal attack
by malicious third parties with a wide range of motives and expertise, including nation-states, organized
criminal groups, “hacktivists,” patient groups, disgruntled current or former employees and others. Our
ongoing operating activities also depend on functioning information technology systems. We are required
to expend significant resources in an effort to protect against security incidents, and may be required or
choose to spend additional resources or modify our business activities, particularly where required by
applicable data privacy and security laws or regulations or industry standards. Cyber attacks are of ever-
increasing levels of sophistication and frequency and, despite our security measures, our information
technology systems and infrastructure and those of our vendors and partners are not immune to such
attacks or breaches. Our profile as a recipient of funding under the USG Agreement and our development
of our COVID-19 Vaccine may result in greater risk of cyber attack. Any such attack could result in a material
compromise of our networks, and the information stored there could be accessed, publicly disclosed, lost,
or rendered permanently or temporarily inaccessible. Furthermore, we may not promptly discover a system
intrusion. Like other companies in our industry, we have and third parties with connections to our systems or
with data relevant to our business have experienced attacks on our data and systems, including malware
and computer viruses. Additionally, we partner with sites that store our clinical trial data, and their systems
are also subject to the risk of cyberattacks, disruptions, or other security incidents. Attacks could have a
material impact on our business, operations or financial results. Any access, disclosure or other loss of
information, whether stored by us or our partners, or other cyberattack causing disruption to our business,
including ransomware, could result in reputational, business, and competitive harms, significant costs
related to remediation and strengthening our cyber defenses, legal claims or proceedings, government
investigations, liability including under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, and increased
insurance premiums, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations or
financial results. We also may need to pay a ransom if a “ransomware” infection prevents access or use of
our systems and we may face reputational and other harms in addition to the cost of the ransom if an
attacker steals certain critical data in the course of such an attack.
Compliance with global privacy and data security requirements could result in additional costs and
liabilities or inhibit our ability to collect and process data globally, and our failure to comply with data
protection laws and regulations could lead to government enforcement actions, fines, and other harms
which would cause our business and reputation to suffer.
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Evolving state, federal and foreign laws, regulations and industry standards regarding privacy and
security apply to our collection, use, retention, protection, disclosure, transfer and other processing of
personal data. Privacy and data protection laws may be interpreted and applied differently from country
to country and may create inconsistent or conflicting requirements, which increases the costs incurred by
us in complying with such laws, which may be substantial. For example, the GDPR, which became effective
in May 2018, imposes a broad array of requirements for processing personal data, including elevated
disclosure requirements regarding collection and use of such data, requirements that companies allow
individuals to exercise data protection rights such as their right to obtain copies or demand deletion of
personal data held by those companies, limitations on retention of information, and public disclosure of
significant data breaches, among other things. The GDPR provides for substantial penalties for non-
compliance of up to the greater of €20 million or 4% of global annual revenue for the preceding financial
year. From January 1, 2021 the GDPR has been retained in UK, as it forms part of the law of England and
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland by virtue of section 3 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018,
as amended by the Data Protection, Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments etc.) (EU Exit)
Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/419) (“UK GDPR”), alongside the UK’s Data Protection Act 2018. The UK GDPR
mirrors the fines under the GDPR, i.e., fines up to the greater of €20 million (£17.5 million) or 4% of global
turnover. Our efforts to comply with GDPR, the UK GDPR and other privacy and data protection laws impose
significant costs and challenges that are likely to increase over time, and we may be exposed to substantial
penalties or litigation related to violations of existing or future data privacy laws and regulations.
Furthermore, transferring personal information across international borders is complex and subject
to legal and regulatory requirements as well as active litigation and enforcement in a number of jurisdictions
around the world, each of which could have an adverse impact on our ability to process and transfer
personal data as part of our business operations. For example, the GDPR and UK GDPR impose strict
restrictions surrounding the transfer of personal data to countries outside the EEA and the UK The
mechanisms that we and many other companies rely upon for European data transfers (for example,
Standard Contractual Clauses and the EU - US Data Privacy Framework) are the subject of legal challenge,
regulatory interpretation and judicial decisions by the Court of Justice of the European Union. The suitability
of Standard Contractual Clauses for data transfer in some scenarios has recently been the subject of legal
challenge, and while the United States and the European Union reached agreement on the EU - US Data
Privacy Framework, there are legal challenges to that data transfer mechanism as well. We continue to
closely monitor for developments related to valid transfer mechanisms available for transferring personal
data outside the European Economic Area (including the EU - US Data Privacy Framework) and other
countries that have similar trans-border data flow requirements and adjust our practices accordingly. If we
are unable to implement a valid compliance mechanism for cross-border personal information transfers,
we may face increased exposure to regulatory actions, substantial fines and injunctions against processing
or transferring personal information from Europe to the U.S. An inability to import personal information from
Europe to the U.S. may significantly and negatively impact our business operations, including by limiting our
ability to conduct clinical trials in Europe; limiting our ability to collaborate with contract research
organizations, service providers, contractors and other companies subject to the GDPR; or requiring us to
increase our data processing capabilities in Europe at significant expense. Several other countries have
also established specific legal requirements for cross-border transfers of personal information and certain
countries have also established specific legal requirements for data localization (such as where personal
data must remain stored in the country). If other countries implement more restrictive regulations for cross-
border data transfers or do not permit data to leave the country of origin, such developments could
adversely impact our business and our enterprise customers’ business, our financial condition and our results
of operations in those jurisdictions.
Privacy laws and regulations are also expanding in the U.S. For example, the CCPA requires
disclosures to California consumers, imposes rules for collecting or using information about minors and
affords consumers abilities, such as the right to know whether their data is sold or disclosed and to whom,
the right to request that a company delete their personal information, the right to opt-out of the sale of
personal information and the right to non-discrimination in terms of price or service when a consumer
exercises a privacy right. Like the GDPR, the CCPA establishes potentially significant penalties for violation.
The CCPA also provides a private right of action along with statutory damages for certain data breaches.
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The California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”), became operational in 2023 and expands on the CCPA,
creating new consumer rights and protections, including the right to correct personal information, the right
to opt out of the use of personal information in automated decision making, the right to opt out of “sharing”
consumer’s personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising, and the right to restrict use and
disclosure of sensitive personal
information. Virginia, Connecticut and Utah have also passed
comprehensive privacy laws that became effective in 2023, and similar laws have been passed or are
being considered in several other states, as well as at the federal and local levels. We will need to evaluate
and update our privacy program to seek to comply with the CPRA, VCDPA, CPA and other federal and
state privacy and data security laws, and we expect to incur additional expense in our effort to comply.
Such legislation may add additional complexity, variation in requirements, restrictions and potential
legal risk, and may require additional investment of resources in compliance programs, impact strategies,
reduce the availability of previously useful data and result in increased compliance costs and/or changes
in business practices and policies.
Collaborations and contracts of our wholly owned subsidiaries Novavax AB and Novavax CZ, with
regional partners, such as SIIPL, Takeda and SK bioscience, as well as with international providers, expose
us to additional risks associated with doing business outside the U.S.
Swedish-based Novavax AB and Czech Republic-based Novavax CZ are wholly owned subsidiaries
of Novavax, Inc. We also have entered into a supply and license agreement with SIIPL, collaboration and
license agreements with each of Takeda and SK bioscience and other agreements and arrangements with
foreign governments and companies in other countries. We plan to continue to enter into collaborations or
partnerships with companies, non-profit organizations and local governments in various parts of the world.
Risks of conducting business outside the U.S. include negative consequences of:
•
•
the costs associated with seeking to comply with multiple regulatory requirements that govern our
ability to develop, manufacture and sell products in local markets;
failure to comply with anti-bribery laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar
anti-bribery laws in other jurisdictions;
• new or changes in interpretations of existing trade measures, including tariffs, embargoes, sanctions,
import restrictions, and export licensing requirements;
• difficulties in and costs of staffing, managing and operating our international operations;
• changes in environmental, health and safety laws;
•
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
• new or changes in interpretations of existing tax laws;
• political instability and actual or anticipated military or potential conflicts (including, without
limitation, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and a wider European or global
conflict);
• economic instability, inflation, recession and interest rate fluctuations;
• minimal or diminished protection of intellectual property in many jurisdictions; and
• possible nationalization and expropriation.
These risks, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial conditions, results of operations and cash flows.
If we are unable to attract or retain key management or other personnel, our business, operating
results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
We depend on our senior executive officers, as well as key scientific and other personnel. The loss
of these individuals or our failure to implement an appropriate succession plan could harm our business and
significantly delay or prevent the achievement of research, development or business objectives. Turnover
in key executive positions resulting in lack of management continuity and long-term history with our
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Company could result in operational and administrative inefficiencies and added costs. These risks have
increased since our global restructuring and cost reduction plan and related workforce reduction
implemented in May 2023 and January 2024, which increased the risk that we will lose technical know-how
or other trade secrets as experienced personnel depart.
We may not be able to attract qualified individuals for key positions on terms acceptable to us.
Competition for qualified employees is intense among pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies,
and the loss of qualified employees, or an inability to attract, retain and motivate additional highly skilled
employees could hinder our ability to complete clinical trials successfully and otherwise develop
marketable products.
We also rely from time to time on outside advisors who assist us in formulating our research and
development and clinical strategy. We may not be able to attract and retain these individuals on
acceptable terms, which could delay our development efforts.
Risks Related to Our Convertible Senior Notes
Servicing our 5.00% convertible senior unsecured notes due 2027 requires a significant amount of
cash, and we may not have sufficient cash flow to pay our debt.
In 2022, we issued $175.3 million aggregate principal amount of Notes. Our ability to make
scheduled payments of the principal of, to pay interest on, or to refinance our indebtedness, including the
Notes, depends on our future performance, which is subject to economic, financial, competitive and other
factors beyond our control. We do not expect our business to be able to generate cash flow from
operations sufficient to service our debt and make necessary capital expenditures and may therefore be
required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as selling assets, restructuring debt or obtaining additional
equity capital on terms that may be onerous or highly dilutive. Our ability to refinance our indebtedness,
which matures in 2027, unless earlier converted, redeemed, or repurchased, will depend on the capital
markets and our financial condition at such time. We may not be able to engage in any of these activities
or engage in these activities on desirable terms, which could result in a default on our debt obligations, and
limit our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business.
We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to repurchase the Notes as required upon
a fundamental change, and our future debt may contain limitations on our ability to repurchase the Notes.
Holders of the Notes will have the right to require us to repurchase their Notes for cash upon the
occurrence of a fundamental change at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the
principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. A fundamental
change may also constitute an event of default or prepayment under, and result in the acceleration of the
maturity of, our then-existing indebtedness. We cannot assure that we will have sufficient financial
resources, or will be able to arrange financing, to pay the fundamental change repurchase price in cash
with respect to any Notes surrendered by holders for repurchase upon a fundamental change. In addition,
restrictions in our then existing credit facilities or other indebtedness, if any, may not allow us to repurchase
the Notes upon a fundamental change. Our failure to repurchase the Notes upon a fundamental change
when required would result in an event of default pursuant to the indenture governing the Notes which
could, in turn, constitute a default under the terms of our other indebtedness, if any. If the repayment of the
related indebtedness were to be accelerated after any applicable notice or grace periods, we may not
have sufficient funds to repay the indebtedness and repurchase the Notes.
Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
Because our stock price has been and will likely continue to be highly volatile, the market price of
our common stock may be lower or more volatile than expected.
Our stock price has been highly volatile. From January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023, the
closing sale price of our common stock has been as low as $4.80 per share and as high as $12.48 per share.
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The stock market in general and the market for biotechnology companies in particular have experienced
extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies.
For example, the trading prices of biopharmaceutical companies in particular have been highly volatile as
a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and increased interest rates. These broad market fluctuations
may cause the market price of our common stock to be lower or more volatile than expected.
Furthermore, given the global focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and our investment in developing
a COVID-19 vaccine, information in the public arena on this topic, whether or not accurate, has had and
will likely continue to have an outsized impact (positive or negative) on our stock price. Information related
to our development, manufacturing, regulatory and commercialization efforts with respect to our COVID-19
Vaccine, or information regarding such efforts by competitors with respect to their COVID-19 vaccines and
vaccine candidates, may meaningfully impact our stock price. As a result of this volatility, you may not be
able to sell your common stock at or above your initial purchase price. The market price of our common
stock may be influenced by many other factors, including:
•
future announcements about us or our collaborators or competitors, including the results of testing,
technological innovations or new commercial products;
• clinical trial results;
• delays in making regulatory submissions;
• depletion of our cash reserves;
•
• announcement by us of significant strategic partnerships, collaborations, joint ventures, capital
sale of equity securities or issuance of additional debt;
commitments or acquisitions;
• changes in government regulations;
•
impact of competitor successes and in particular development success of vaccine candidates that
compete with our own vaccine candidates;
• developments in our relationships with our collaboration and funding partners;
• announcements relating to health care reform and reimbursement levels for new vaccines and
other matters affecting our business and results, regardless of accuracy;
•
sales of substantial amounts of our stock by us or existing stockholders (including stock by insiders or
5% stockholders);
litigation;
significant set-backs or concerns with the industry or the market as a whole;
• development, spread or new announcements related to pandemic diseases;
•
• public concern as to the safety of our products;
•
•
• demand for bivalent vaccines;
•
•
recommendations by securities analysts or changes in earnings estimates; and
the other factors described in this Risk Factors section.
regulatory inquiries, reviews and potential action, including from the U.S. FDA or the SEC;
In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities
class-action litigation often has been instituted against that company. Such litigation, if instituted against
us, could cause us to incur substantial costs to defend such claims and divert management’s attention and
resources, which could seriously harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations, and
prospects.
Raising additional capital by issuing securities or through collaboration and licensing arrangements
may cause dilution to existing stockholders or require us to relinquish rights to our technologies or vaccine
candidates.
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If we are unable to partner with a third-party to advance the development of one or more of our
vaccine candidates, we will need to raise money through additional debt or equity financings. To the extent
that we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, our stockholders will experience immediate
dilution, which may be significant. There is also a risk that such equity issuances may cause an ownership
change under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and similar state provisions, thus limiting
our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and credits. To the extent that we raise additional
capital through licensing arrangements or arrangements with collaborative partners, we may be required
to relinquish, on terms that may not be favorable to us, rights to some of our technologies or vaccine
candidates that we would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize ourselves. In addition, economic
conditions may also negatively affect the desire or ability of potential collaborators to enter into
transactions with us. They may also have to delay or cancel research and development projects or reduce
their overall budgets.
Provisions of our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and
Restated By-Laws and Delaware law could delay or prevent the acquisition of the Company, even if such
acquisition would be beneficial to stockholders, and could impede changes in our Board.
Provisions in our organizational documents could hamper a third party’s attempt to acquire, or
discourage a third-party from attempting to acquire control of, the Company. Stockholders who wish to
participate in these transactions may not have the opportunity to do so. Our organizational documents
also could limit the price investors are willing to pay in the future for our securities and make it more difficult
to change the composition of our Board in any one year. For example, our organizational documents
provide for a staggered board with three classes of directors serving staggered three-year terms and
advance notice requirements for stockholders to nominate directors and make proposals.
As a Delaware corporation, we are also afforded the protections of Section 203 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, which will prevent us from engaging in a business combination with a person
who acquires at least 15% of our common stock for a period of three years from the date such person
acquired such common stock, unless advance board or stockholder approval was obtained.
Any delay or prevention of a change of control transaction or changes in our Board or
management could deter potential acquirers or prevent the completion of a transaction in which our
stockholders could receive a substantial premium over the then current market price for their shares.
We have never paid dividends on our capital stock, and we do not anticipate paying any such
dividends in the foreseeable future.
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently anticipate that we will
retain all of our earnings for use in the development of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash
dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock would be
the only source of gain for stockholders until dividends are paid, if at all.
General Risk Factors
Litigation or regulatory investigations could have a material adverse impact on our results of
operation and financial condition.
In addition to intellectual property litigation, from time to time, we may be subject to other litigation
or regulatory investigations. Regardless of the merits of any claims that may be brought against us, litigation
or regulatory investigations could result in a diversion of management’s attention and resources and we
may be required to incur significant expenses defending against these claims. If we are unable to prevail
in litigation or regulatory investigations, we could incur substantial liabilities. Where we can make a
reasonable estimate of the liability relating to pending litigation and determine that it is probable, we
record a related liability. As additional information becomes available, we assess the potential liability and
revise estimates as appropriate. However, because of uncertainties relating to litigation, the amount of our
estimates could be wrong.
70
We or the third parties upon whom we depend may be adversely affected by natural or man-made
disasters or public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our operations, and those of our clinical research organizations, contract manufacturing
organizations, vendors of materials needed in manufacturing, collaboration partners, distributors and other
third parties upon whom we depend, could be subject to fires, extreme weather conditions, earthquakes,
power shortages, telecommunications failures, water shortages, floods, hurricanes, typhoons, war, political
unrest, sabotage or terrorism and other natural or man-made disasters, as well as public health
emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The occurrence of any of these business disruptions could
prevent us from using all or a significant portion of our facilities and it may be difficult or impossible for us to
continue certain activities for a substantial period of time. The disaster recovery and business continuity
plans we have in place may prove inadequate in the event of a serious disaster or similar event and we
may incur substantial expenses and delays as a result. Our ability to manufacture our product candidates
and obtain necessary clinical supplies for our product candidates could be disrupted if the operations of
our contract manufacturing organizations or suppliers are affected by a natural or man-made disaster, or
a public health emergency.
We are a target for public scrutiny, and our business may be impacted by unfavorable publicity.
Given that COVID-19 represented an unprecedented urgent public health crisis and that we have
received significant funding from the U.S. and foreign governments and other sources to support the
development and commercialization of our COVID-19 Vaccine, we have observed and are likely to
continue to face significant public attention and scrutiny over the complex decisions we have made and
will be making regarding the development, testing, manufacturing, allocation and pricing of our COVID-19
Vaccine. If we are unable to successfully manage these risks, we could face significant reputational harm,
which could negatively affect our stock price. The intense public interest, including speculation by the
media, in the development of our COVID-19 Vaccine has caused significant volatility in our stock price,
which we expect to continue as data and other information from our ongoing clinical trials become publicly
available. If concerns should arise about the actual or anticipated efficacy or safety of any of our product
candidates, such concerns could adversely affect the market’s perception of these candidates, which
could lead to a decline in investors’ expectations and a decline in the price of our common stock.
The increasing use of social media platforms presents new risks and challenges to our business.
Social media is increasingly being used to communicate about pharmaceutical companies’
research, product candidates, and the diseases such product candidates are being developed to prevent.
Social media practices in the pharmaceutical industry continue to evolve and regulations relating to such
use are not always clear. This evolution creates uncertainty and risk of noncompliance with regulations
applicable to our business, resulting in potential regulatory actions against us. For example, subjects may
use social media channels to comment on their experience in an ongoing blinded clinical trial or to report
an alleged adverse event. When such events occur, there is a risk that we fail to monitor and comply with
applicable adverse event reporting obligations or we may not be able to defend our business or the
public’s legitimate interests in the face of the political and market pressures generated by social media
due to restrictions on what we may say about our investigational product candidates. There is also a risk of
inappropriate disclosure of sensitive information or negative or inaccurate posts or comments about us on
any social media or networking website. If any of these events were to occur or we otherwise fail to comply
with applicable regulations, we could incur liability, face regulatory actions, or incur reputational or other
harm to our business.
Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
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Item 1C. CYBERSECURITY
Risk Management and Strategy
The Company has adopted a cybersecurity risk management program that includes processes
designed to identify, assess, manage, and monitor risks from cybersecurity threats. We have integrated
cybersecurity risk management into our broader risk management framework to promote a company-wide
culture of cybersecurity awareness and risk management. Those processes include conducting an
assessment of internal and external threats to the security, confidentiality, integrity and availability of
Company data and systems along with other material risks to Company operations, at least annually or
whenever there are material changes to the Company’s systems or operations and responding to risks
identified. The Company uses NIST cybersecurity and risk management frameworks to assess its
cybersecurity controls, risks, and overall program effectiveness. As part of our risk management process,
the Company also engages outside providers to conduct periodic internal and external penetration testing
and security assessments. As part of our third-party risk management program, we conduct assessments of
vendor cybersecurity risks, including risks associated with our cloud vendors and other third parties.
As of the date of this report, we have not experienced a cybersecurity incident that resulted in a
material effect on our business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition. Despite our continuing
efforts, we cannot guarantee that our cybersecurity safeguards will prevent breaches or breakdowns of
our or our third-party service providers’ information technology systems, particularly in the face of
continually evolving cybersecurity threats and increasingly sophisticated threat actors. For example, in
2020, several domestic and foreign security agencies announced that government actors or government-
affiliated actors were specifically targeting organizations, like us, engaging in COVID-19 vaccine
development and research. For more information, see Item 1A Risk Factors, “Security breaches and other
disruptions to our information technology systems or those of the vendors on whom we rely could
compromise our information and expose us to liability, reputational damage, or other costs.”
Governance
The cybersecurity risk management program is led by the Company’s Chief Information Officer
(“CIO”) who has over 20 years of experience in information systems, cybersecurity, and data protection.
The CIO reports to the Company’s Audit Committee at least annually, as well as to the Board of Directors,
the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and other members of our senior management as appropriate.
These reports may feature an overall assessment of the Company’s compliance with the Company’s
cybersecurity policies and include topics such as risk assessment, risk management and control decisions,
service provider arrangements, test results, security incidents and responses, and recommendations for
changes and updates to policies and procedures. Our program is evaluated by internal and external
experts with the results of those reviews reported to senior management and the Board.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
As of December 31, 2023, we leased approximately 170,000 square feet of office space in
Gaithersburg, Maryland that serves as our corporate headquarters (“700QO”), and intend to use for
manufacturing and research and development. The term of the 700QO lease agreement is approximately
15 years, and we have the option to extend the Lease Agreement for two successive five-year terms.
As of December 31, 2023, we also lease and own approximately 192,000 square feet of office and
other space in the U.S., apart from our corporate headquarters and approximately 260,000 in various foreign
locations. We use this space for our services and support, commercial, research and development,
manufacturing, and administrative personnel. Although we believe that our facilities are suitable and
adequate for our present needs, the Company’s management continues to review and assess real
property requirements that may be necessary to address our current business plan.
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Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On November 12, 2021, Sothinathan Sinnathurai filed a purported securities class action in the U.S.
District Court for the District of Maryland (the “Maryland Court”) against the Company and certain
members of senior management, captioned Sothinathan Sinnathurai v. Novavax, Inc., et al., No. 8:21-cv-
02910-TDC (the “Sinnathurai Action”). On January 26, 2022, the Maryland Court entered an order
designating David Truong, Nuggehalli Balmukund Nandkumar, and Jeffrey Gabbert as co-lead plaintiffs in
the Sinnathurai Action. The co-lead plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint on March 11, 2022,
alleging that the defendants made certain purportedly false and misleading statements concerning the
Company’s ability to manufacture prototype vaccine on a commercial scale and to secure the prototype
vaccine’s regulatory approval. The amended complaint defines the purported class as those stockholders
who purchased the Company’s securities between February 24, 2021 and October 19, 2021. On April 25,
2022, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint. On December 12,
2022, the Maryland Court issued a ruling granting in part and denying in part defendants’ motion to dismiss.
The Maryland Court dismissed all claims against two individual defendants and claims based on certain
public statements challenged in the consolidated amended complaint. The Maryland Court denied the
motion to dismiss as to the remaining claims and defendants, and directed the Company and other
remaining defendants to answer within fourteen days. On December 27, 2022, the Company filed its answer
and affirmative defenses. On March 16, 2023, the plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification and to
appoint class representatives and counsel. Due to the Maryland Court’s ruling on the dismissal motion, the
motion sought to certify a class of stockholders who purchased the Company’s securities between May 11,
2021, and October 19, 2021. The Company filed its opposition to the plaintiffs’ motion on September 22,
2023. On December 4, 2023, the parties agreed to a binding settlement in principle (the “Proposed
Settlement”) to fully resolve the surviving claims in the Sinnathurai Action. Under the Proposed Settlement’s
terms, the Company agreed to pay $47 million into a settlement fund, which will be funded by the
Company’s directors and officers’ liability insurance and paid to members of a putative settlement class.
On January 12, 2024, after the parties negotiated and executed a written agreement governing the
Proposed Settlement, plaintiffs filed an unopposed motion for the Proposed Settlement’s preliminary
approval. On January 23, 2024, the Maryland Court granted the motion for preliminary approval and, as
requested by the parties, preliminarily certified, for the purposes of settlement only, the settlement class. The
court also scheduled a settlement hearing to consider final approval of the settlement for May 23, 2024.
After the Sinnathurai Action was filed, eight derivative lawsuits were filed: (i) Robert E. Meyer v.
Stanley C. Erck, et al., No. 8:21-cv-02996-TDC (the “Meyer Action”), (ii) Shui Shing Yung v. Stanley C. Erck, et
al., No. 8:21-cv-03248-TDC (the “Yung Action”), (iii) William Kirst, et al. v. Stanley C. Erck, et al., No. C-15-CV-
21-000618 (the “Kirst Action”), (iv) Amy Snyder v. Stanley C. Erck, et al., No. 8:22-cv-01415-TDC (the “Snyder
Action”), (v) Charles R. Blackburn, et al. v. Stanley C. Erck, et al., No. 1:22-cv-01417-TDC (the “Blackburn
Action”), (vi) Diego J. Mesa v. Stanley C. Erck, et al., No. 2022-0770-NAC (the “Mesa Action”), (vii) Sean
Acosta v. Stanley C. Erck, et al., No. 2022-1133-NAC (the “Acosta Action”), and (viii) Jared Needelman v.
Stanley C. Erck, et al., No. C-15-CV-23-001550 (the “Needelman Action”). The Meyer, Yung, Snyder, and
Blackburn Actions were filed in the Maryland Court. The Kirst and Needelman Actions were filed in the Circuit
Court for Montgomery County, Maryland. The Mesa and Acosta Actions were filed in the Delaware Court
of Chancery (the “Delaware Court”). The derivative lawsuits name members of the Company’s board of
directors and certain members of senior management as defendants. The Company is deemed a nominal
defendant. The plaintiffs assert derivative claims arising out of substantially the same alleged facts and
circumstances as the Sinnathurai Action. Collectively, the derivative complaints assert claims for breach of
fiduciary duty, insider selling, unjust enrichment, violation of federal securities law, abuse of control, waste,
and mismanagement. Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as an award of monetary
damages and attorneys’ fees.
On February 7, 2022, the Maryland Court entered an order consolidating the Meyer and Yung
Actions (the “First Consolidated Derivative Action”). The plaintiffs in the First Consolidated Derivative Action
filed their consolidated derivative complaint on April 25, 2022. On May 10, 2022, the Maryland Court entered
an order granting the parties’ request to stay all proceedings and deadlines pending the earlier of dismissal
or the filing of an answer in the Sinnathurai Action. On June 10, 2022, the Snyder and Blackburn Actions
were filed. On October 5, 2022, the Maryland Court entered an order granting a request by the plaintiffs in
73
the First Consolidated Derivative Action and the Snyder and Blackburn Actions to consolidate all three
actions and appoint co-lead plaintiffs and co-lead and liaison counsel (the “Second Consolidated
Derivative Action”). The co-lead plaintiffs in the Second Consolidated Derivative Action filed a consolidated
amended complaint on November 21, 2022. On February 10, 2023, defendants filed a motion to dismiss the
Second Consolidated Derivative Action. The plaintiffs filed their opposition to the motion to dismiss on April
11, 2023. Defendants filed their reply brief in further support of their motion to dismiss on May 11, 2023. On
August 21, 2023, the court entered an order granting in part and denying in part the motion to dismiss; the
court allowed claims for alleged insider selling under Brophy v. Cities Service Co., et al., 70 A.2d 5 (Del. Ch.
1949) and unjust enrichment claims to proceed, but dismissed the remaining claims in the second
consolidated amended complaint. On September 5, 2023, the Company filed an Answer to the
consolidated amended complaint. On September 6, 2023, the court entered an order granting the
individual defendants an extension of time to file their answer until November 6, 2023. On October 6, 2023,
the Board of Directors of the Company formed a Special Litigation Committee (“SLC”) with full and
exclusive power and authority of the Board to, among other things, investigate, review, and analyze the
facts and circumstances surrounding the claims asserted in the pending derivative actions, including the
claims that remain following the court’s order on the motion to dismiss in the Second Consolidated
Derivative Action. On November 7, 2023, the court entered an order granting the parties’ request to stay
the Second Consolidated Derivative Action for up to six months from the date of entry of the order. This
includes staying the deadline for the individual defendants to respond to the consolidated amended
complaint.
The Kirst Action was filed on December 28, 2021, and the defendants immediately removed the
case to the Maryland Court. On July 21, 2022, the Maryland Court issued a memorandum opinion and order
remanding the Kirst Action to state court. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on December 30, 2022.
On January 23, 2023, defendants filed a motion to stay the Kirst action. On February 22, 2023, the parties in
the Kirst Action filed, for the Court’s approval, a stipulation staying the Kirst Action pending the resolution of
defendants’ motion to dismiss in the Second Consolidated Derivative Action. On March 22, 2023, the Court
entered the parties’ stipulated stay of the Kirst Action pending resolution of the motion to dismiss in the
Second Consolidated Derivative Action.
On August 30, 2022, the Mesa Action was filed. On October 3, 2022, the Delaware Court entered
an order granting the parties’ request to stay all proceedings and deadlines in the Mesa Action pending
the earlier of dismissal of the Sinnathurai Action or the filing of an answer to the operative complaint in the
Sinnathurai Action. On January 18, 2023, defendants filed a motion to stay the Mesa Action pending a final
judgment in the Second Consolidated Derivative Action. The plaintiff filed his opposition on February 8,
2023. Defendants filed their reply on February 22, 2023. On February 28, 2023, the court granted the
defendants’ motion to stay. On August 31, 2023, the plaintiff filed a motion to lift the stay. On October 6,
2023, the Company filed an opposition to plaintiff’s motion to lift the stay. Plaintiff filed his reply on October
17, 2023. On December 27, 2023, the parties filed a letter informing the Court that the Second Consolidated
Derivative Action had been stayed for a period of six months and asked the Court to stay further
proceedings in the Mesa Action until expiration of that stay.
On December 7, 2022, the Acosta Action was filed. On February 6, 2023, defendants accepted
service of the complaint and summons in the Acosta Action. On March 9, 2023, the court entered an order
granting the parties’ request to stay the Acosta Action pending the entry of a final, non-appealable
judgment in the Second Consolidated Derivative Action. On October 13, 2023, the parties filed, and the
Delaware Court entered, a stipulated order providing that (i) if the Delaware Court declines to lift the stay
in the Mesa Action, the Acosta Action will also remain stayed, and (ii) if the Delaware Court lifts the stay in
the Mesa Action, the stay in the Acosta Action will also be lifted.
On April 17, 2023, the Needelman Action was filed. On July 12, 2023, the parties filed a stipulation
and proposed order to stay the Needelman Action pending the Maryland Court’s decision on the motion
to dismiss in the Second Consolidated Derivative Action. The court entered that order on July 17, 2023. The
parties continue to discuss next steps in the litigation following the Maryland Court’s ruling on the motion to
dismiss the Second Consolidated Derivative Action. The court entered that order on July 17, 2023.
74
On November 30, 2023, the court entered an order consolidating the Kirst and Needelman Actions.
On December 14, 2023, the parties filed a stipulation (i) extending the plaintiffs’ deadline to file a
consolidated complaint until January 29, 2024, and (ii) otherwise staying all other proceedings in the case
(including the defendants’ deadline to respond to the consolidated complaint) until February 12, 2024. The
stipulation entered by the court instructs the parties to discuss whether the stay should be further extended
in light of the then-current status of the SLC’s investigation.
On November 18, 2022, the Company delivered written notice to Gavi to terminate the Gavi APA
based on Gavi’s failure to procure the purchase of 350 million doses of prototype vaccine from the
Company as required by the Gavi APA. As of November 18, 2022, the Company had only received orders
under the Gavi APA for approximately 2 million doses. On December 2, 2022, Gavi issued a written notice
purporting to terminate the Gavi APA based on Gavi’s contention that the Company repudiated the
agreement and, therefore, materially breached the Gavi APA. Gavi also contended that, based on its
purported termination of the Gavi APA, it was entitled to a refund of the Advance Payment Amount less
any amounts that have been credited against the purchase price for binding orders placed by a buyer
participating in the COVAX Facility. Since December 31, 2022, the remaining Gavi Advance Payment
Amount, which is $696.4 million as of December 31, 2023, pending resolution of the dispute with Gavi related
to a return of the remaining Advance Payment Amount, has been classified within Other current liabilities
in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. On January 24, 2023, Gavi filed a demand for arbitration
with the International Court of Arbitration based on the claims described above. The Company filed its
Answer and Counterclaims on March 2, 2023. On April 5, 2023, Gavi filed its Reply to the Company’s
Counterclaims. On February 16, 2024, the Company and Gavi entered into a Termination and Settlement
Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) terminating the Gavi APA, which related to the supply of the
Company’s vaccine against SARS-COV-2 for the prevention of COVID-19, settling the arbitration
proceedings initiated by Gavi against the Company relating to the APA and releasing both parties of all
claims arising from, under or otherwise in connection with the APA. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement,
the Company is responsible for payment to Gavi of (i) an initial settlement payment of $75 million, which
the Company paid on February 20, 2024, and (ii) deferred payments, in equal annual amounts of $80 million
payable each calendar year through a deferred payment term ending December 31, 2028. The deferred
payments are due in variable quarterly installments beginning in the first quarter of 2024 and total $400
million during the deferred payment term. Such deferred payments may be reduced through Gavi’s use of
an annual vaccine credit equivalent to the unpaid balance of such deferred payments each year, which
may be applied to qualifying sales of any of the Company’s vaccines funded by Gavi for supply to certain
low-income and lower-middle income countries. The Company has the right to price the vaccines offered
to such low-income and lower-middle income countries in its discretion, and, when utilized by Gavi, the
Company will credit the actual price per vaccine paid against the applicable credit. The Company intends
to price vaccines offered via the tender process, consistent with its shared goal with Gavi to provide
equitable access to those countries. On February 22, 2024, the claims and counterclaims were dismissed
with prejudice.
On September 30, 2022, the Company, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies UK Limited (“FDBK”),
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Texas, LLC (“FDBT”), and FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies USA, Inc.
(“FDBU” and together with FDBK and FDBT, “Fujifilm”) entered into a Confidential Settlement Agreement
and Release (the “Fujifilm Settlement Agreement”) regarding amounts due to Fujifilm in connection with
the termination of manufacturing activity at FDBT under the Commercial Supply Agreement (the “CSA”)
dated August 20, 2021 and Master Services Agreement dated June 30, 2020 and associated statements of
work (the “MSA”) by and between the Company and Fujifilm. The MSA and CSA established the general
terms and conditions applicable to Fujifilm’s manufacturing and supply activities related to the Company’s
prototype vaccine under the associated statements of work. Pursuant to the Fujifilm Settlement Agreement,
the Company agreed to pay up to $185.0 million (the “Settlement Payment”) to Fujifilm in connection with
cancellation of manufacturing activity at FDBT. Under the Fujifilm Settlement Agreement, the final two
quarterly installments due to Fujifilm were subject to Fujifilm’s obligation to use commercially reasonable
efforts to mitigate losses associated with the vacant manufacturing capacity caused by the termination of
manufacturing activities at FDBT under the CSA. Any replacement revenue achieved by Fujifilm’s mitigation
efforts between July 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023 would offset the final two settlement payments owed
by the Company. On October 2, 2023, the Company sent a notice of breach under the Fujifilm Settlement
75
Agreement to Fujifilm setting forth the Company’s position that Fujifilm had not used commercially
reasonable efforts to mitigate losses. The Company withheld two installments of $34.3 million due to Fujifilm
on September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2023, pending resolution of the issues identified in the notice of
breach. On October 30, 2023, FDBT filed a demand for arbitration with Judicial Arbitration and Mediation
Services (“JAMS”) seeking payment of the third quarter installment of the Settlement Payment. An
arbitration hearing has been scheduled for May 2024.
The Company is also involved in various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business.
Although the outcomes of these legal proceedings are inherently difficult to predict, management does
not expect the resolution of these legal proceedings to have a material adverse effect on our financial
position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, AND ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “NVAX.” Our
common stock was held by approximately 177 stockholders of record as of February 23, 2024, one of which
is Cede & Co., a nominee for Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). All of the shares of common stock held
by brokerage firms, banks, and other financial institutions as nominees for beneficial owners are deposited
into participant accounts at DTC, and are therefore considered to be held of record by Cede & Co. as one
stockholder. We do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under our Equity Compensation Plans
Information regarding our equity compensation plans, including both stockholder approved plans
and non-stockholder approved plans, is included in Part III, Item 12 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Performance Graph
The graph below matches Novavax, Inc.'s cumulative 5-Year total shareholder return on common
stock with the cumulative total returns of the Nasdaq Composite Index and the Russell 2000 Growth
Biotechnology Index. The graph tracks the performance of a $100 investment in our common stock and in
each index (with the reinvestment of all dividends) from December 31, 2018 to December 31, 2023.
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE RETURN*
Among Novavax Inc., the NASDAQ Composite index,
and the Russell 2000 Growth Biotechnology Index
*$100 invested on 12/31/18 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.
Fiscal year ending December 31.
77
Value of $100 invested on December 31, 2018 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends, for
fiscal years ended:
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
December 31,
$
Novavax, Inc.
$
NASDAQ Composite
Russell 2000 Growth Biotechnology $
100 $
100 $
100 $
10.82 $
136.69 $
145.95 $
303.02 $
198.10 $
226.85 $
27.93 $
388.78 $
13.04
242.03 $ 163.28 $ 236.17
157.88 $ 115.02 $ 131.97
This graph is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed “filed” with the SEC, and is not to be
incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and
irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing.
Item 6. RESERVED
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
Any statements in the discussion below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K about
expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, or future events or performance of Novavax, Inc.
(“Novavax,” together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, the “Company,” “we,” or “us”) are not historical
facts and are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation,
statements about our capabilities, goals, expectations regarding future revenue and expense levels, and
capital raising activities; our operating plans and prospects, including our ability to continue as a going
concern through one year from the date of Novavax’ audited financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2023; our global restructuring and cost reduction plan (“Restructuring Plan”), which includes
a more focused investment in our COVID-19 commercial program (which currently includes Nuvaxovid™
prototype COVID-19 vaccine ("NVX-CoV2373” or “prototype vaccine”) and Nuvaxovid™ updated
COVID-19 vaccine (“NVX-CoV2601” or “updated vaccine”) collectively referred to as our (“COVID-19
Vaccine”)), potential market sizes and demand for our product candidates; the efficacy, safety, and
intended utilization of our product candidates; the development of our clinical-stage product candidates
and our recombinant vaccine and adjuvant technologies; the development of our preclinical product
candidates; our expectations related to enrollment in our clinical trials; the conduct, timing, and potential
results from clinical trials and other preclinical studies; plans for and potential timing of regulatory filings; our
expectation of manufacturing capacity, timing, production, distribution, and delivery for our COVID-19
Vaccine by us and our partners; our estimate of the number of individuals who may potentially be reached
by our COVID-19 Vaccine; our expectations with respect to the anticipated ongoing development and
commercialization or licensure of the COVID-19 Vaccine, ongoing development of COVID-19 variant strain-
containing monovalent or bivalent formulation, efforts to expand our COVID-19 Vaccine label worldwide
as a booster, and to various age groups and geographic locations; the expected timing, content, and
outcomes of regulatory actions; funding from the U.S. government partnership formerly known as Operation
Warp Speed under the USG Agreement, the U.S. Department of Defense (“DoD”), and CEPI; funding under
our APAs and supply agreements and amendments to, termination of, discussion regarding, or legal
disputes relating to any such agreement; our available cash resources and usage and the availability of
financing generally; plans regarding partnering activities and business development initiatives; and other
matters referenced herein. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified through the use of
words or phrases such as “believe,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “possible,” “can,” “estimate,”
“continue,” “ongoing,” “consider,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “seek,” “plan,” “project,” “expect,” “should,”
“would,” “aim,” or “assume,” the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology, although not
all forward-looking statements contain these words.
Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance.
Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs and expectations about the future of our business, future
plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions.
Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual
78
results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements,
and, therefore, you should not place considerable reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Such
risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, our ability to successfully manufacture, distribute, or
market our updated COVID-19 vaccine in a single dose vial or pre-filled syringe product presentation for
the 2024-2025 vaccination season; challenges satisfying, alone or together with partners, various safety,
efficacy, and product characterization requirements, including those related to process qualification, assay
validation, and stability testing, necessary to satisfy applicable regulatory authorities; challenges or delays
in conducting clinical trials; challenges or delays in obtaining regulatory authorization for our product
candidates, including our updated COVID-19 vaccine in time for the 2024-2025 vaccination season or for
future COVID-19 variant strain changes; manufacturing, distribution or export delays or challenges; our
substantial dependence on Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. and Serum Life Sciences Limited for co-
formulation and filling and PCI Pharma Services for finishing our COVID-19 vaccines and the impact of any
delays or disruptions in their operations on the delivery of customer orders; difficulty obtaining scarce raw
materials and supplies; resource constraints, including human capital and manufacturing capacity,
constraints on the ability of Novavax to pursue planned regulatory pathways, alone or with partners, in
multiple jurisdictions simultaneously, leading to staggering of regulatory filings, and potential regulatory
actions; challenges in implementing our global restructuring and cost reduction plan; our ability to timely
deliver doses; challenges in obtaining commercial adoption and market acceptance of our updated
COVID-19 vaccine or any COVID-19 variant strain-containing formulation; challenges meeting contractual
requirements under agreements with multiple commercial, governmental, and other entities, including
requirements to deliver doses that may require Novavax to refund portions of upfront and other payments
previously received or result in reduced future payments pursuant to such agreements; challenges related
to the seasonality of vaccinations against COVID-19; and other risks and uncertainties identified in Part I,
Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which may be detailed and modified or updated
in other documents filed with the SEC from time to time, and are available at www.sec.gov and at
www.novavax.com. You are encouraged to read these filings as they are made.
We cannot guarantee future results, events, level of activity, performance, or achievement. Any or
all of our forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may turn out to be inaccurate or
materially different from actual results. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date
when it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless required by law. New factors
emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which factors will arise. In addition, we
cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination
of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statements.
Information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, includes a financial measure that was not prepared
in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), which we refer to as adjusted
cost of sales. We are presenting this non-GAAP financial measure to assist an understanding of our business
and its performance. Adjusted cost of sales includes an estimate of standard manufacturing costs that were
previously expensed to research and development prior to regulatory approvals for our COVID-19 Vaccine
that would otherwise have been capitalized to inventory. Any non-GAAP financial measures presented are
not, and should not be viewed as, substitutes for financial measures required by GAAP, have no
standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP, and may not be comparable to the calculation of similar
measures of other companies.
Overview
We are a biotechnology company that promotes improved global health through the discovery,
development, and commercialization of innovative vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases. Our
proprietary recombinant technology platform harnesses the power and speed of genetic engineering to
efficiently produce highly immunogenic nanoparticle vaccines designed to address urgent global health
needs.
79
Our vaccine candidates are nanostructures of conformationally correct recombinant proteins that
mimic those found on pathogens. This technology enables the immune system to recognize target proteins
and develop protective immune responses. We believe that our vaccine technology may lead to the
induction of a differentiated immune response that may be more efficacious than naturally occurring
immunity or some other vaccine approaches. Our vaccine candidates also incorporate our proprietary
saponin-based Matrix-M™ adjuvant to enhance the immune response, stimulate higher levels of functional
antibodies, and induce a cellular immune response.
We have developed an updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2023-2024 vaccination season. In
October 2023, the U.S. FDA granted emergency use authorization (“EUA”) for our updated vaccine for
active immunization to prevent COVID-19. The updated vaccine is authorized as (1) a single dose in
individuals 12 years and older who have been vaccinated with any COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months
after receipt of the last previous dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and (2) a series of 2 doses administered 3 weeks
apart to individuals 12 years and older who were not previously vaccinated with any COVID-19 vaccine.
Our updated vaccine is available within the U.S. at many major pharmacy retailers. Outside the U.S. for our
updated vaccine, in January 2024, we were granted marketing authorization by the United Kingdom’s
(“UK”) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”), in December 2023, we were
granted expanded authorization by Health Canada, and in October 2023, we were granted approval by
the European Commission (“EC”). We are committed to meeting the full supply of our key target markets
through advance purchase agreements (“APAs”) covering such markets. We continue to work closely with
regulatory authorities globally for authorization of our updated vaccine. We previously developed a
prototype COVID-19 vaccine, which has received full marketing authorization (“MA”), marketing approval,
interim authorization, provisional approval, conditional marketing authorization (“CMA”), from multiple
regulatory authorities in over 40 countries globally. We continue to progress our regulatory authorizations for
our prototype vaccine in select territories, as we believe these may facilitate authorization of our vaccine
candidates for updated strains in the future.
Additionally, we are developing a CIC vaccine candidate. In addition to COVID-19, our other areas
of focus include providing Matrix-M™ adjuvant for collaborations, including in R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant
malaria vaccine, which recently received authorization in several countries, as well as other preclinical
vaccine research with our Matrix-M™ adjuvant, including through a partnership with the Bill & Melinda
Gates Medical Research Institute.
We intend to focus the organization to align our investments and activities with our top priority of
delivering our updated vaccine for the 2023-2024 vaccination season. To maximize our opportunities and
mitigate the significant risks and uncertainties of the COVID-19 market, we have progressed our cost
restructuring measures to reduce spend, extend our cash runway, and operate efficiently to seek to best
position the Company to deliver longer-term growth. We discuss these cost restructuring strategies in greater
detail in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report.
Business Highlights
Fourth Quarter 2023 and Recent Highlights
U.S. Market: Demonstrated ability to update COVID-19 vaccine and deliver the only protein-based non-
mRNA option to market.
• Gained commercial experience in the U.S. after receiving EUA with future efforts to focus on a
recalibration of U.S. field teams to focus on the retail segment
• Progressed efforts to position Novavax for a stronger performance in 2024-2025 COVID-19
vaccination season with focus on a single-dose product presentation for delivery at the start of the
season and planned BLA approval to enable marketing and promotion for Nuvaxovid™ during
season
• Progressed efforts to streamline manufacturing and to advance strain selection at risk while
advocating for more timely identification of strains by regulatory authorities
80
• Continued advancement of discussions for 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccination season with major
retailers who have driven 90% of the pharmacy business
Global Markets: Delivered on 2023 APA obligations in Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore
and Taiwan.
•
•
For 2024, made strategic decision to prioritize and focus commercial effort in Europe on select key
countries including Italy, Spain, France and the UK.
Spring 2024 U.K. private market launch expected for Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine as enabled by
the recent Green Book addition by the UK Health Security Agency
Novavax has made significant progress on its commitment to improve its financial position while
maintaining the capabilities that support long-term value creation.
• Reduced full year 2023 operating expenses by $1.1 billion, or 41%, as compared to 2022
• Reduced workforce by a total of 30% compared to first quarter of 2023
• Delivered fourth quarter 2023 doses under the Canada APA agreement and received $175 million
contingent payment in January 2024
•
Settled arbitration with Gavi, removing financial uncertainty and enabling focus on shared public
health mission
Novavax remains focused on leveraging its technology platform, including its proprietary Matrix-M™
adjuvant, to drive long-term growth and protect global public health.
•
Expect to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 trial for CIC vaccine candidate in the second half of 2024, with
potential for accelerated approval and anticipated launch in 2026
• R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant malaria vaccine received prequalification by the WHO based on Phase 3
efficacy trial results, which were recently published in The Lancet, enabling global rollout of the
vaccine in eligible United Nation countries
Financing Transactions
In August 2023, we entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the "August 2023 Sales
Agreement"), which allows us to issue and sell up to $500 million in gross proceeds of shares of our common
stock, and terminated our then-existing At Market Issuance Sales agreement entered in June 2021 (the
“June 2021 Sales Agreement”). During the year ended December 31, 2023, we sold 38.3 million shares of
our common stock under our August 2023 Sales Agreement and 7.9 million shares of our common stock
under our June 2021 Sales Agreement, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $321 million, of which $6.9
million was included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets as of December 31, 2023 and received
in cash in January 2024. As of December 31, 2023, the remaining balance available under the August 2023
Sales Agreement was approximately $242 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we sold 2.2 million shares of our common stock resulting
in net proceeds of approximately $179 million, under our June 2021 Sales Agreement.
In August 2023, pursuant to the Securities Subscription Agreement with SK, we agreed to sell and
issue to SK 6.5 million shares of our common stock at a price of $13.00 per share (the “Shares”) in a Private
Placement for aggregate gross proceeds to us of approximately $84.5 million. We recognized the Shares at
the settlement date fair value of $46.5 million (see Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements for
additional discussion of the Securities Subscription Agreement with SK). The closing of the Private Placement
occurred on August 10, 2023.
In December 2022, we completed a public offering of 7,475,000 shares of our common stock,
including 975,000 shares of common stock that were issued upon the exercise in full of the option to
81
purchase additional shares granted to the underwriters, at a price of $10.00 per share resulting in net
proceeds, net of offering costs of $4.9 million, of approximately $70 million. We completed this public
offering concurrent with the issuance of the 2027 Notes (see Note 10 to our consolidated financial
statements).
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our
consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation
of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates, assumptions, and judgments that
affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and equity and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities
as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the
reporting period. These estimates, particularly estimates relating to accounting for product sales revenue,
pre-launch inventory, inventory realizability, and research and development expenses have a material
impact on our consolidated financial statements and are discussed in detail throughout our analysis of the
results of operations discussed below. We base our estimates on historical experience and various other
assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis
for making judgments about the carrying value of assets, liabilities, and equity that are not readily apparent
from other sources. Actual results and outcomes could differ from these estimates and assumptions.
For an in-depth discussion of each of our significant accounting policies, including our critical
accounting policies and further information regarding estimates and assumptions involved in their
application, see Note 2 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8,
“Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Revenue Recognition, Product Sales - Advance Purchase Agreements
Product sales include sales associated with COVID-19 Vaccine supply agreements, sometimes
referred to as advance purchase agreements (“APAs”), with various international governments. We
recognize revenue from product sales related to these APA’s based on the transaction price per dose
calculated in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from
Contracts with Customers, at the point in time when control of the product transfers to the customer and
customer acceptance has occurred, unless such acceptance provisions are deemed perfunctory. The
APAs typically contain terms that include upfront payments which are reflected in Deferred revenue. We
constrain the transaction price for APA’s until it is probable that a significant reversal in revenue recognized
will not occur. Specifically, if an APA includes a provision whereby the customer may request a discount,
return, or refund, or includes a term that may have the effect of decreasing the price per dose of previously
delivered shipments, revenue is constrained based on an estimate of the impact of the transaction price
until it is probable that a significant reversal in revenue recognized will not occur.
Revenue Recognition, Product Sales - U.S. Commercial
In the fourth quarter of 2023, we commenced sales of COVID-19 Vaccine to the U.S. commercial
market. Product sales in the U.S. are primarily made through large pharmaceutical wholesale distributors at
the wholesale acquisition cost (“WAC”). We recognize revenue upon title transfer (which is typically at time
of delivery), provided all other revenue recognition criteria have been met. The transaction price includes
estimates of variable consideration for which reserves are established that primarily result from invoice
discounts for prompt payment, wholesale distributor fees, chargebacks, and product returns (collectively,
“gross-to-net deductions”). These estimates are based on the amounts earned or to be claimed for related
sales and are classified as either reductions of gross accounts receivable or a current liability based on the
nature of the estimate, the expected settlement method, and net position by individual customer. Where
appropriate, these estimates are based on factors such as industry data and forecasted customer buying
and payment patterns, our experience, current contractual and statutory requirements, specific known
market events, and trends. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price only to the extent
that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur
when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. If actual results
82
vary from estimates, we will adjust the estimates, which would affect product sales in the period such
variances become known.
Gross-to-net deductions include the following:
• Wholesale distributor fees, discounts, and chargebacks: We have arrangements under which our
indirect customers such as retailers and healthcare providers receive discounts to the WAC. The
chargeback represents the difference between the WAC and this negotiated discounted price. For
distribution and related services, we pay service fees to our wholesale distributors. In addition, we
typically offer wholesale distributor customers invoice discounts on product sales for prompt
payments. We estimate chargebacks, discounts, and fees we will owe and deduct these amounts
from gross product sales at the time the revenue is recognized based on the contractual terms and
our expectations regarding future customer behaviors.
• Product returns: We offer U.S. customers the right to return COVID-19 Vaccine. These return rights
include the right of wholesale distributors to return unsold and expired doses and the right of indirect
customers to return any partial or unused vials upon expiry. Estimated returns for COVID-19 Vaccine
are determined considering levels of inventory in the distribution channel, projected market
demand, utilization data, returns claims received, and product shelf life. Our estimates of product
returns are subject to significant uncertainty. Actual customer product returns could vary
significantly from our estimates, resulting in changes to the estimates in subsequent periods. The
estimated amount for product returns is deducted from gross product sales in the period the related
product sales are recognized.
• Other: Fees payable to retailers, healthcare providers, and buying groups, including certain patient
assistance programs, are deducted from gross product sales in the period the related product sales
are recognized.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, we recognized gross-to-net deductions against U.S.
commercial product sales of $84.7 million for product returns and $47.0 million for wholesale distributor fees,
discounts and chargebacks. As of December 31, 2023, $82.5 million related to product returns and $20.6
million related to wholesale distributor fees, discounts, and chargebacks were included in Other current
liabilities and $2.6 million was included in Accounts receivable on our consolidated balance sheet.
Pre-Launch Inventory
We capitalize raw materials and production costs as inventory when we determine that
commercialization of a product is probable and have a present right to the economic benefit associated
with the product. Our estimate of when commercialization is probable is based primarily on our experience
with obtaining regulatory approval of comparable products. We began to capitalize inventory in 2022.
Inventory Realizability
We periodically analyze our inventories for excess amounts or obsolescence and write down
obsolete or otherwise unmarketable inventory to its estimated net realizable value. We estimate excess or
obsolete inventory and losses on firm purchase commitments of inventory quarterly based on multiple
factors, including assumptions about expected future demand and market conditions, current sales orders,
and product expiry dates. Our assumptions about expected future demand are inherently uncertain and
if we were to change any of these judgments or estimates, it could cause a material increase or decrease
in the amount of inventory write down that we report in a particular period. We began to capitalize
inventory in 2022. Subsequently, for the year ended, December 31, 2022 we recorded inventory write-downs
of $447.6 million and losses on firm purchase commitments of inventory of $155.9 million to the extent the
cost cannot be recovered based on estimates about future demand. For the year ended December 31,
2023, we recorded inventory write-downs of $72.4 million and losses on firm purchase commitments of
inventory of $73.5 million. In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2023, we recorded recoveries on
firm purchase commitments of $40.2 million related primarily to negotiated reductions to previously
recognized firm purchase commitments.
83
Accounting for Research and Development Expenses
We estimate our prepaid and accrued expenses related to our research and development
activities using a process that involves reviewing contracts and purchase orders, communicating with our
project managers and service providers to identify services that have been performed on our behalf, and
estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the service when we have
not yet been invoiced or for which we have been invoiced in advance of the service. This estimation
process includes a review of:
• expenses incurred under agreements with contract research organizations (“CROs”) that conduct
our clinical trials and third party consultants; and
•
the cost of developing and manufacturing vaccine components under third-party CMOs and
contract development and manufacturing organizations (“CDMOs”) agreements, including
expenses incurred for the procurement of raw materials, laboratory supplies and equipment.
We base our expenses on our estimates of the services provided and efforts expended pursuant to
contracts, statements of work and related change orders with the service provider, and discussion with
internal personnel and external service providers as to the progress of the services and the agreed-upon
fee to be paid for such services. The financial terms of these agreements are based on negotiated terms,
vary from contract to contract, and may result in an uneven level of activity over time. There may be
instances in which payments made to our vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a
prepayment of the expense. Additionally, invoicing from third-party service providers may not coincide with
actual work performed and can result in a prepaid or an accrual position at the end of the period. The
estimation process requires us to make significant judgments and estimates in determining the services
incurred as of the balance sheet date, which may result in either a prepaid or an accrual balance. As
actual costs become known, we adjust our estimates. Although we do not expect our estimates to be
materially different from amounts actually incurred, our understanding of the status and timing of services
performed may vary from the related estimates and could result in us reporting amounts that are too high
or too low in a particular period. Our prepaid and accrued expenses are dependent, in part, upon the
receipt of timely and accurate reporting from CROs, CMOs, CDMOs, and third-party service providers. Due
to the nature of the estimation process, there may be a difference between estimated costs and actual
costs incurred. Historically, we have not experienced any material differences in prior periods.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See “Note 2―Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” included in our Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements (under the caption “Recent Accounting Pronouncements”).
Results of Operations for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2022
The following is a discussion of our historical consolidated financial condition and results of
operations, and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes
thereto set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Additional information concerning factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements is described under Part
I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
For our discussion of the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December
31, 2021, please read Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations located in Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
84
Revenue
Revenue (in thousands):
Product sales
Grants
Royalties and other
Total revenue
$
$
2023
2022
Change
531,389
427,323
$ 1,554,961
382,921
24,993
983,705
43,990
$ 1,981,872
$ (1,023,572)
44,402
(18,997)
(998,167)
$
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $983.7 million as compared to $2.0 billion for
the year ended December 31, 2022, a decrease of $1.0 billion. Revenue for the years ended December 31,
2023 and 2022 was primarily comprised of revenue from product sales of COVID-19 Vaccine and services
performed under our U.S. government agreement with Advanced Technology International (“USG
Agreement”), the Consortium Management Firm acting on behalf of the Medical CBRN Defense
Consortium in connection with the partnership formerly known as Operation Warp Speed. The decrease in
revenue is primarily due to a decreased quantity of dose sales of COVID-19 Vaccine.
Product sales
Product sales for 2023 were $531.4 million as compared to $1.6 billion for 2022, a decrease of $1.0
billion. The decrease in product sales is primarily due to a decreased quantity of dose sales of COVID-19
Vaccine during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022. Product sales for 2023 related
to revenue from commercial sales of COVID-19 Vaccine, which commenced in 2022. The geographic
distribution of product sales in 2023 was as follows:
2023
2022
Change
Product Sales (in thousands)
North America
Europe
Rest of the world
Total product sales revenue
Grants
$
29,959 $
268,361
233,069
194,480
823,542
536,939
$ 1,554,961
$
(164,521)
(555,181)
(303,870)
$ (1,023,572)
$
531,389
We recognized grant revenue as follows:
Grant Revenue (in thousands)
USG Agreement
U.S. DoD
Total grant revenue
$
$
2023
2022
Change
427,323
—
427,323
$
$
380,996
1,925
382,921
$
$
46,327
(1,925)
44,402
Grant revenue for 2023 was $427.3 million compared to $382.9 million for 2022, an increase of $44.4
million. Grant revenue comprised revenue for services performed under our USG Agreement. The increase
was primarily due to increased support activities under the USG Agreement during 2023. As of December
31, 2023, the Company has recognized the full contract funding under the USG Agreement in revenue.
Royalties and Other
Royalties and other includes royalty milestone payments, sales-based royalties, and Matrix-M™
adjuvant sales. Royalties and other revenue for 2023 was $25.0 million as compared to $44.0 million for 2022,
a decrease of $19.0 million. The decrease was primarily due to decreased revenue related to milestone
payments, partially offset by an increase in Matrix-M™ adjuvant sales.
85
Expenses:
Expenses (in thousands):
Cost of sales
Research and development
Selling, general, and administrative
Total expenses
Cost of Sales
2023
2022
Change
$
343,768
737,502
468,946
$ 1,550,216
$
902,639
1,235,278
488,691
$ 2,626,608
$
(558,871)
(497,776)
(19,745)
$ (1,076,392)
Cost of sales was $343.8 million, or 65% of product sales, for the year ended December 31, 2023,
including expense of $145.9 million related to excess, obsolete, or expired inventory and losses on certain
firm purchase commitments, $6.1 million ROU asset impairment charges for CMO manufacturing capacity
of excess quantities, $64.0 million related to unutilized manufacturing capacity, and a credit of $40.2 million
related to negotiated reductions to certain previously recognized firm purchase commitments. Cost of sales
was $902.6 million, or 58% of product sales, for 2022, including expense of $603.5 million related to excess,
obsolete, or expired inventory and losses on firm purchase commitments. Prior to receiving approval, we
expensed manufacturing costs as research and development expenses. After receiving approval, we
capitalize the costs of production for a particular supply chain when we determine that we have a present
right to the economic benefit associated with the product. While we tracked the quantities of our
manufactured vaccine product and components, we did not track pre-approval manufacturing costs and
therefore the manufacturing cost of our pre-launch inventory produced prior to approval is not reasonably
determinable. If inventory sold during 2023 was valued at expected standard cost, including expenses
related to excess and obsolete inventory, adjusted cost of sales for the year would have been $382.8 million,
an adjustment of $39.0 million as compared to cost of sales recognized. If inventory sold during 2022 was
valued at expected standard cost, adjusted cost of sales for the year would have been approximately $1.1
billion, an adjustment of $164.8 million. The cost of sales as a percentage of product sales may fluctuate in
the future as a result of changes to our customer mix or standard costs.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses decreased to $737.5 million for 2023 as compared to $1.2
billion for 2022, a decrease of $497.8 million. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in overall
expenditures relating to development activities on coronavirus vaccines, including our COVID-19 Vaccine
and CIC, as summarized in the table below (in thousands):
Research and Development Expenses (in thousands):
Coronavirus vaccines
Other vaccine development programs
Total direct external research and development expense
Employee expenses
Stock-based compensation expense
Facility expenses
Other expenses
Total research and development expenses
2023
2022
$
413,448
$
848,042
3,241
416,689
169,378
41,211
62,736
47,488
737,502
9,821
857,863
180,168
66,565
60,428
70,254
$ 1,235,278
$
Research and development expenses for coronavirus vaccines for the year ended December 31,
2023 and 2022 decreased to $413.4 million from $848.0 million primarily as a result of a reduction in
manufacturing and support costs due, in part, to a reduction in our global manufacturing footprint
consistent with our contractual obligations to supply, and anticipated demand for, COVID-19 Vaccine,
including under manufacturing supply agreements with CMOs and CDMOs, and a reduction in clinical
study costs and the commercialization of internal manufacturing capabilities. The decrease was also due
to a benefit of $57.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2023 resulting from our settlement
86
agreement and Private Placement with SK (see Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements). The
decrease was partially offset by a benefit of $35.2 million and $201.4 million for the years ended December
31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to previously accelerated manufacturing costs for leases that we
determined were embedded in manufacturing supply agreements with CMOs and CDMOs.
We do not provide forward-looking estimates of costs and time to complete our research programs
due to the many uncertainties associated with vaccine development. As we obtain data from preclinical
studies and clinical trials, we may elect to discontinue or delay clinical trials in order to focus our resources
on more promising vaccine candidates. Completion of clinical trials may take several years or more, but
the length of time can vary substantially depending upon the phase, size of clinical trial, primary and
secondary endpoints, and the intended use of the vaccine candidate. The cost of clinical trials may vary
significantly over the life of a project as a result of a variety of factors, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
the number of participants who participate in the clinical trials;
the number of sites included in the clinical trials;
if clinical trial locations are domestic, international, or both;
the time to enroll participants;
the duration of treatment and follow-up;
the safety and efficacy profile of the vaccine candidate; and
the cost and timing of, and the ability to secure, regulatory approvals.
As a result of these uncertainties, we are unable to determine the duration and completion costs of
our research and development projects or when, and to what extent, we will generate future cash flows
from our research projects.
For 2024, we expect research and development expenses to decrease as compared to 2023 as we
continue to assess our manufacturing needs and modify our global manufacturing footprint consistent with
our contractual obligations to supply, and anticipated demand for, COVID-19 Vaccine and as additional
manufacturing activities that were previously recognized as research and development expenses begin to
meet the criteria for capitalization as inventory.
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased to $468.9 million for 2023 from $488.7 million
for 2022, a decrease of $19.7 million. The decrease in selling, general, and administrative expenses is
primarily due to cost containment measures to reduce our operating spend including a decrease in
professional fees and advertising and promotion costs in support of our COVID-19 commercial program,
partially offset by restructuring expenses.
Other Expense, Net:
Other income (expense) (in thousands):
Interest expense
Other income (expense)
Total other income (expense), net
2023
2022
Change
$
$
(14,416) $
37,896
23,480 $
(19,880) $
10,969
(8,911) $
5,464
26,927
32,391
We had total net other income of $23.5 million for 2023 compared to total net other expense of $8.9
million for 2022, an increase of $32.4 million. During 2023, other income, net increased primarily due to the
favorable impact in 2023 as compared to 2022 of exchange rates on foreign currency denominated
balances, including an intercompany loan with Novavax CZ, and an increase in investment income due to
higher interest rates.
87
Income Tax Expense:
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we recognized $2.0 million and $4.3 million
of income tax expense, respectively, related to federal, state, and foreign income taxes.
Net Loss:
Net Loss (in thousands, except per share information):
Net loss
Net loss per share, basic and diluted
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted
2023
2022
Change
$
$
(545,062) $
(5.41) $
100,768
(657,939) $
(8.42) $
78,183
112,877
3.01
22,585
Net loss for 2023 was $545.1 million, or $5.41 per share, as compared to $657.9 million, or $8.42 per
share, for 2022, a decrease of $112.9 million, or $3.01 per share. The decrease in net loss was primarily due
to the decline in cost of sales and research and development expenses associated with our COVID-19
Vaccine, partially offset by a decrease in revenue from product sales.
The increase in weighted average shares outstanding for 2023 is primarily a result of sales of our
common stock.
Liquidity Matters and Capital Resources
Our future capital requirements depend on numerous factors including, but not limited to, revenue
from our product sales and royalties under licensing arrangements with our strategic partners; repayments
under our grant agreements; our projected activities related to the development and commercial support
of our COVID-19 Vaccine and our CIC vaccine candidate, including significant commitments under various
CRO, CMO, and CDMO agreements; the progress of preclinical studies and clinical trials; the time and costs
involved in obtaining regulatory approvals; the costs of filing, prosecuting, defending, and enforcing patent
claims and other intellectual property rights; and other manufacturing, sales, and distribution costs. We plan
to continue developing other vaccines and product candidates, such as our potential combination
vaccines candidates, which are in various stages of development.
We have entered into supply agreements, sometimes referred to as APAs, with the EC and various
countries globally. We also have license agreements. As of December 31, 2023, the aggregate amount of
the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that were unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied),
excluding amounts related to sales-based royalties under the licensing agreements, was approximately $2
billion, of which $863.5 million is included in Deferred revenue on our consolidated balance sheet. Failure
to timely meet regulatory milestones, or achieve product volume or delivery timing obligations under our
APAs may require us to refund portions of upfront or other payments or result in reduced future payments,
which could adversely impact our ability to realize revenue from our unsatisfied performance obligations.
The timing to fulfill performance obligations related to supply agreements will depend on timing of product
manufacturing, receipt of marketing authorizations for additional indications, delivery of doses based on
customer demand, and the ability of the customer to request variant vaccine in place of the prototype
vaccine under certain of our APAs. The supply agreements typically contain terms that include upfront
payments intended to assist us in funding investments related to building out and operating our
manufacturing and distribution network, among other expenses, in support of our global supply
commitment, and are applied to billings upon delivery of COVID-19 Vaccine. Such upfront payments
generally become non-refundable upon our achievement of certain development, regulatory, and
commercial milestones.
On October 3, 2023, our updated vaccine received EUA from the U.S. FDA for active immunization
to prevent COVID-19 in individuals aged 12 and older. Immediately upon authorization, our updated
vaccine has also been included in the recommendations issued by the CDC in September 2023. Doses
became available within the U.S. at many major pharmacy retailers, following the Center for Biologics
88
Evaluation and Research release of vaccine batches. We have established reserves for gross-to-net
deductions for amounts that we expect to return to our customers. As of December 31, 2023, gross-to-net
reserve balances are $84.6 million related to product returns and $21.1 million related to wholesale
distributor fees, discounts, and chargebacks, of which $103.1 million is included in Accrued expenses and
$2.6 million is included in Accounts receivable on our consolidated balance sheet.
Pursuant to the Fujifilm Settlement Agreement (see Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements),
we agreed to pay up to $185.0 million (the “Settlement Payment”) to Fujifilm in connection with the
cancellation of manufacturing activity at FDBT under the Fujifilm CSA, of which (i) $47.8 million, constituting
the initial reservation fee under the CSA, was credited against the Settlement Payment on September 30,
2022 and (ii) the remaining balance was to be paid in four equal quarterly installments of $34.3 million each,
which began on March 31, 2023. Under the Fujifilm Settlement Agreement, the final two quarterly
installments due to Fujifilm were subject to Fujifilm’s obligation to use commercially reasonable efforts to
mitigate losses associated with the vacant manufacturing capacity caused by the termination of
manufacturing activities at FDBT under the CSA. Any replacement revenue achieved by Fujifilm’s mitigation
efforts between July 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023 would offset the final two settlement payments owed
by the Company. On October 2, 2023, we sent a notice of breach under the Fujifilm Settlement Agreement
to Fujifilm setting forth the Company’s position that Fujifilm had not used commercially reasonable efforts
to mitigate losses. We withheld two installments of $34.3 million due to Fujifilm on September 30, 2023 and
December 31, 2023, pending resolution of the issues identified in the notice of breach. We paid the first two
installments totaling $68.6 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and the remaining
balance of $68.6 million is reflected in Accrued expenses on our consolidated balance sheet. On October
30, 2023, FDBT filed a demand for arbitration with Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (“JAMS”)
seeking payment of the third quarter installment of the Settlement Payment.
In August 2023, we entered into a Settlement Agreement and General Release (the “Settlement
Agreement”) with SK regarding the mutual release by the parties of all claims arising from or in relation to
certain statements of work (“SOWs”) under the Development and Supply Agreement entered into in August
2020 and the Collaboration and License Agreement, entered into in February 2021 as amended in
December 2021 and July 2022 in connection with the cessation of all drug substance and drug product
manufacturing activity at SK for supply to us. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, we agreed to pay
$149.8 million, of which (i) $130.4 million was paid in August 2023 and (ii) the remaining balance was paid
in November 2023. Under the Settlement Agreement, we also agreed with SK to a wind down plan with
respect to the remaining products, materials and equipment under the SOWs (see Note 4 to our
consolidated financial statements).
In August 2023, we entered into a Securities Subscription Agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”)
with SK, pursuant to which we agreed to sell and issue to SK, in a private placement (the “Private
Placement”), 6.5 million shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share at a price of $13.00 per
share for aggregate gross proceeds to us of approximately $84.5 million. The closing of the Private
Placement occurred on August 10, 2023 (see Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements).
We have an APA with the Commonwealth of Australia for the purchase of doses of COVID-19
Vaccine (the “Australia APA”). In April 2023, we amended the Australia APA to reduce the number of doses
to be delivered with a commensurate increase in the per-dose price, such that the total contract value of
the Australia APA is maintained with doses to be delivered through 2024. In May 2023, we extended a credit
for certain doses delivered in 2022 to Australia that qualified for replacement under the Australia APA. This
credit is the result of a single lot sold to the Australian government that upon pre-planned 6-month stability
testing was found to have fallen below the defined specifications and the lot therefore was removed from
the market. The credit will be applied against the future sale of doses to Australia. In July 2023, we amended
the Australia APA to provide for replacement doses and to extend the delivery schedule through 2025. As
of February 2024, we had not yet received TGA authorization or delivered doses as contemplated in the
July 2023 amendment and are in active discussions with the Australian government on both the TGA
authorization and delivery of the doses previously scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2023. In February 2024,
we received notice from the Australian government purporting to cancel its order for such prototype
vaccine doses. We believe the cancellation was not proper under the amended Australia APA. However,
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if such a cancellation were determined to be allowable, $6.0 million of the deferred revenue would
become a credit towards future deliveries of doses and approximately $48 million of the contract value
related to future deliverables would no longer be available.
In April 2023, we amended the Canada APA, pursuant to which the Canadian government forfeited
certain doses originally scheduled for delivery in 2022 for a payment of $100.4 million, which we received in
the second quarter of 2023. In June 2023, we entered into an additional amendment (the “June 2023
Amendment”) to the Canada APA. Pursuant to the June 2023 Amendment, (i) the Canadian government
forfeited certain doses of COVID-19 Vaccine previously scheduled for delivery and agreed to pay a total
amount of $349.6 million to us in two equal installments, which total amount equaled the remaining balance
owed by the Canadian government with respect to such forfeited vaccine doses, (ii) the amount of doses
of COVID-19 Vaccine due for delivery was reduced, (iii) the delivery schedule for the remaining doses of
COVID-19 Vaccine to be delivered was revised, and (iv) the parties agreed Novavax would use the
Biologics Manufacturing Centre (“BMC”) Inc. to produce bulk antigen for doses in 2024 and 2025. The June
2023 Amendment maintained the total contract value of the original Canada APA. The first Installment of
$174.8 million was payable upon execution of the June 2023 Amendment and received by Novavax in July
2023, and the second installment of $174.8 million was contingent and payable upon the delivery of
vaccine doses in the second half of 2023 and received by Novavax in January 2024. The Canadian
government may terminate the Canada APA, as amended, if we fail to receive regulatory approval for our
COVID-19 Vaccine using bulk antigen produced at BMC on or before December 31, 2024. Our 2024 plans
do not currently anticipate the submission for regulatory approval of our COVID-19 Vaccine using bulk
antigen produced at BMC, and we plan to work with the Canadian government on an amendment that
addresses possible alternatives, which may not be achievable. As of December 31, 2023, $102.8 million was
classified as short-term Deferred revenue and $485.3 million was classified as long-term Deferred revenue
with respect to the Canadian APA on our consolidated balance sheet. If the Canadian government
terminates the Canada APA, $28.0 million of the deferred revenue would become refundable and
approximately $224 million of the contract value related to future deliverables would no longer be available
(see Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements). In the event that the contract is terminated, we
would consider competing in the Canadian commercial market. Pursuant to the June 2023 Amendment,
we and the Canadian government will endeavor to expand our previously agreed in-country commitment
to Canada and to partner to provide health, economic, and future pandemic preparedness benefits to
Canada, which value may be provided through a number of activities, including without limitation, capital
investments, the performance of activities or services, or the provision of technology or intellectual property
licenses. Further, the parties will endeavor to enter into a memorandum of understanding (the “MOU”) to
illustrate our ability to deliver such benefits over a 15-year period with an aggregate value of not less than
100% of the amount remaining to be paid under the June 2023 Amendment and ultimately received by us.
As of December 31, 2023, discussions regarding the MOU were ongoing. We agreed to hold $20.0 million of
the second installment payment received in January 2024 in escrow for the benefit of the Canadian
government, which amount is the sole recourse available to the Canadian government in the event of non-
performance under the MOU.
In September 2022, we entered into an Amended and Restated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Supply
Agreement (the “Amended and Restated UK Supply Agreement”) with the Authority. Under the terms of
the Amended and Restated UK Supply Agreement, the Authority agreed to purchase a minimum of 1 million
doses and up to an additional 15 million doses (the “Conditional Doses”) of our prototype vaccine, with the
number of Conditional Doses contingent on, and subject to reduction based on, our timely achievement
of supportive recommendations from the JCVI that is approved by the UK Secretary of State for Health. If
the Authority did not purchase the Conditional Doses or the number of such Conditional Doses was reduced
below 15 million doses of our prototype vaccine, we would have to repay up to $225.0 million related to
the upfront payment previously received from the Authority under the Original UK Supply Agreement. Under
the Amended and Restated UK Supply Agreement, the Authority also has the option to purchase up to an
additional 44 million doses, in one or more tranches, through 2024.
As of November 30, 2022, the JCVI had not made a supportive recommendation with respect to
our prototype vaccine, thereby triggering, under the terms of the Amended and Restated UK Supply
Agreement, (i) a reduction of the number of Conditional Doses from 15 million doses to 7.5 million doses,
90
which reduced number of Conditional Doses are contingent on, and subject to further reduction based
on, our timely achievement by November 30, 2023 of a supportive recommendation from JCVI that is
approved by the UK Secretary of State for Health as described in the paragraph above, and (ii) an
obligation for us to repay $112.5 million related to the upfront payment previously received from the
Authority under the Original UK Supply Agreement. In April 2023, we repaid the $112.5 million related to the
November 30, 2022 triggering event. As of November 30, 2023, the JCVI had not made a supportive
recommendation with respect to the prototype vaccine, thereby triggering a reduction in the number of
Conditional Doses from 7.5 million doses to zero. As of February 2024, the Company is in discussions with the
Authority regarding the treatment of the remaining upfront amount previously received of $112.5 million,
which is reflected in Other current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet.
Under the terms of the Gavi APA, we received an upfront payment of $350.0 million from Gavi in
2021 and an additional payment of $350.0 million in 2022 related to our achieving EUL for our prototype
vaccine by the WHO (the “Advance Payment Amount”). On November 18, 2022, we delivered written
notice to Gavi to terminate the Gavi APA on the basis of Gavi’s failure to procure the purchase of 350
million doses of our prototype vaccine from us as required by the Gavi APA. As of November 18, 2022, we
had only received orders under the Gavi APA for approximately 2 million doses. On December 2, 2022, Gavi
issued a written notice purporting to terminate the Gavi APA based on Gavi’s contention that the Company
repudiated the agreement and, therefore, materially breached the Gavi APA. Gavi also contended that,
based on its purported termination of the Gavi APA, it was entitled to a refund of the Advance Payment
Amount less any amounts that have been credited against the purchase price for binding orders placed
by a buyer participating in the COVAX Facility. As of December 31, 2023, the remaining Gavi Advance
Payment Amount of $696.4 million, pending resolution of the dispute with Gavi related to a return of the
remaining Advance Payment Amount, was reclassified from Deferred revenue to Other current liabilities on
our consolidated balance sheet. On January 24, 2023, Gavi filed a demand for arbitration with the
International Court of Arbitration based on the claims described above. We filed our Answer and
Counterclaims on March 2, 2023. On April 5, 2023, Gavi filed its Reply to our Counterclaims. On February 16,
2024, we and Gavi entered into a Termination and Settlement Agreement (the “Gavi Settlement
Agreement”) terminating the Gavi APA, settling the arbitration proceedings, and releasing both parties of
all claims arising from, under or otherwise in connection with the Gavi APA. Pursuant to the Gavi Settlement
Agreement, we are responsible for payment to Gavi of (i) an initial settlement payment of $75 million, which
we paid on February 20, 2024, and (ii) deferred payments, in equal annual amounts of $80 million payable
each calendar year through a deferred payment term ending December 31, 2028. The deferred payments
are due in variable quarterly installments beginning in the first quarter of 2024 and total $400 million during
the deferred payment term. Such deferred payments may be reduced through Gavi’s use of an annual
vaccine credit equivalent to the unpaid balance of such deferred payments each year, which may be
applied to qualifying sales of any of our vaccines funded by Gavi for supply to certain low-income and
lower-middle income countries. We have the right to price the vaccines offered to such low-income and
lower-middle income countries at our discretion, and, when utilized by Gavi, we will credit the actual price
per vaccine paid against the applicable credit. We intend to price vaccines offered via the tender process,
consistent with our shared goal with Gavi to provide equitable access to those countries. Also in the Gavi
Settlement Agreement, we grant Gavi an additional credit of up to $225 million, which may be applied
against any additional qualifying sales, exceeding the $80 million deferred payment amount in any
calendar year, of our vaccines in such countries during such deferred payment term. In addition, we and
Gavi entered into a security agreement pursuant to which we granted Gavi a security interest in accounts
receivable from SIIPL under the SIIPL R21 Agreement (see Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements
for more details on SIIPL R21 Agreement), which will continue for the deferred payment term of the Gavi
Settlement Agreement. On February 22, 2024, the claims and counterclaims were dismissed with prejudice.
Our funding agreements currently include funding from CEPI in the form of one or more forgivable no
interest term loans (“CEPI Forgivable Loan Funding”). Payments received under the CEPI Forgivable Loan
Funding are only repayable if project vaccine, as defined under the CEPI funding agreement,
manufactured by the CMO network funded by CEPI is sold to one or more third parties (which could include
sales credited under the Gavi Settlement Agreement), and such sales cover our costs of manufacturing
such vaccine, not including manufacturing costs funded by CEPI. The timing and amount of any loan
repayments is currently uncertain.
91
We continue to assess our manufacturing needs and modify our global manufacturing footprint
consistent with our contractual obligations to supply, and anticipated demand for, COVID-19 Vaccine, and
in doing so recognize that significant costs may be incurred. For the 2023-2024 vaccination season, we
depend exclusively on SIIPL and SLS for co-formulation and filling (other than in Europe), and PCI Pharma
Services for finishing COVID-19 Vaccine in Europe. For the 2024-2025 vaccination season, we are seeking to
expand our supply chain network and introduce new single-dose vial or pre-filled syringe product
presentations in certain markets. Any delays or disruptions in these suppliers’ operations could prevent or
delay the delivery of customer orders.
As of December 31, 2023, we had $583.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
as compared to $1.3 billion as of December 31, 2022.
We funded our operations in 2023 primarily with cash and cash equivalents, upfront payments under
APAs, revenue from product sales, royalties under licensing arrangements with our strategic partners, and
proceeds from the sale of common stock, together with revenue under the USG Agreement that support
our COVID-19 Vaccine development activities. In May 2023, we announced our plan to restructure our
global footprint to reduce our planned expenditures and in January 2024, we announced further reductions
in our global workforce. We anticipate our future operations to be funded primarily by revenue from
product sales, our cash and cash equivalents, and other potential funding sources including equity
financings, which may include at the market offerings under our August 2023 Sales Agreement, debt
financings, collaborations, strategic alliances, asset sales, and marketing, distribution or licensing
arrangements.
The following table summarizes cash flows for 2023 and 2022:
2023
2022
Change
Net cash (used in) provided by:
Operating activities
Investing activities
Financing activities
Effect on exchange rate on cash, cash equivalents, and
restricted cash
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of
year
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year
$
(713,967) $
(415,937) $
(58,806)
4,466
3,272
(765,035)
1,348,845
$
583,810
(92,985)
324,988
4,520
(179,414)
1,528,259
$ 1,348,845
$
(298,030)
34,179
(320,522)
(1,248)
(585,621)
(179,414)
(765,035)
Net cash used in operating activities was $714.0 million for 2023, as compared to cash used in
operating activities of $415.9 million in 2022. The increase in cash used in operating activities is primarily due
to the timing of payments to vendors and cash receipts from customers, primarily APAs.
Net cash used in investing activities was $58.8 million for 2023, as compared to $93.0 million in 2022.
The decrease in cash used in investing activities is primarily due to lower expenditures on equipment and
leasehold improvements. Capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were
$53.8 million and $89.1 million, respectively.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $4.5 million for 2023, as compared to $325.0 million in
2022. The decrease in cash provided by financing activities is primarily due to the repayment of our 3.75%
Convertible notes of $325.0 million in 2023 as compared to gross proceeds of $175.3 million through the
issuance of our 2027 Notes in 2022, partially offset by an increase in net proceeds from the sales of our
common stock under our June 2021 and August 2023 Sales Agreements and the Private Placement with SK
in 2023.
Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and
92
Supplementary Data,” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K have been prepared assuming that we will
continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued and
contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. The
consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and
classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might result from
the outcome of the uncertainty described below. At December 31, 2023, we had $568.5 million in cash and
cash equivalents and had a working capital deficiency. During 2023, we incurred a net loss of $545.1 million
and had net cash flows used in operating activities of $714.0 million.
In accordance with ASC Topic 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern, we
evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial
doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that these
consolidated financial statements are issued. While our current cash flow forecast for the one-year going
concern look forward period estimates that we have sufficient capital available to fund operations, this
forecast is subject to significant uncertainty, including as it relates to revenue for the next twelve months
and our ability to execute on certain cost-reduction initiatives. Our revenue projections depend on our
ability to successfully develop, manufacture, distribute, or market our COVID-19 Vaccine for the 2024-2025
vaccination season, which is inherently uncertain and subject to a number of risks, including our ability to
obtain regulatory authorizations, introduce a single-dose vial or pre-filled syringe product presentation for
the U.S. commercial and certain other markets, the incidence of COVID-19 during the 2024-2025
vaccination season, our ability to timely deliver doses and commercial adoption and market acceptance
of our updated vaccine.
Further, failure to meet regulatory milestones or achieve product volume or delivery timing
obligations under our advance purchase agreements may require us to refund portions of upfront and
other payments or result in reduced future payments which could adversely affect our ability to continue
as a going concern.
Management believes that, given our history of recurring losses, negative working capital and
accumulated deficit, conditions or events exist that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as
a going concern through one year from the date that these financial statements are issued. Our plans to
alleviate the conditions that exist include restructuring and cost reduction measures and successful
execution of its commercial plans.
In May 2023, we announced our Restructuring Plan, which includes a more focused investment in
our COVID-19 Vaccine, reduction to our pipeline spending, the continued rationalization of our
manufacturing network, a reduction to our global workforce, as well as the consolidation of facilities, and
infrastructure. In our May 2023 announcement, the workforce reduction plan included an approximately
25% reduction in the Company’s global workforce, comprised of an approximately 20% reduction in full-
time Company employees and the remainder comprised of contractors and consultants. We incurred one
time restructuring expenses of $14.6 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. See Note
17 to our consolidated financial statements for more details on restructuring. We expect the full annual
impact of the cost savings to be realized in 2024 due to timing of implementing the measures, and the
applicable laws, regulations, and other factors in the jurisdictions in which we operate.
In November 2023, we announced that we anticipated further reducing our research and
development and selling, general and administrative expenses and our supply network costs. We intend to
prioritize improvements to our long-term supply chain efficiency. In January 2024, as part of reducing
combined research and development and selling. general and administrative expenses, we announced
an approximately 12% reduction of our global workforce, comprised of an approximately 9% reduction in
our full-time employees and the remainder comprised of contractors and consultants. We expect the full
annual impact of the cost savings to be realized in 2025 and approximately 85% of the annual impact,
excluding one-time charges, to be realized in 2024 due to the timing of implementing the measures and
the applicable laws, regulations and other factors in the jurisdictions in which it operates. We expect to
record a charge of approximately $4 million to $7 million related to one-time employee severance and
benefit costs, the majority of which is expected to be incurred in the first quarter of 2024. Upon completion,
93
our resulting workforce is expected to be approximately 30% lower as compared to the end of the first
quarter of 2023.
Our plans may include raising additional capital through a combination of equity financings, which
may include at the market offerings under our August 2023 Sales Agreement, debt financings,
collaborations, strategic alliances, asset sales and marketing, distribution, or licensing arrangements. New
financings may not be available to us on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. Also, any collaborations,
strategic alliances, asset sales and marketing, distribution, or licensing arrangements may require us to give
up some or all of our rights to a product or technology, which in some cases may be at less than the full
potential value of such rights. If we are unable to obtain additional capital, we will assess our capital
resources and may be required to delay, reduce the scope of, or eliminate some or all of our operations,
or further downsize our organization, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations, and ability to operate as a going concern.
Due to the uncertainties associated with our plans, there is substantial doubt about our ability to
continue as a going concern for at least one year from the date that these financial statements are issued.
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2023 (in thousands):
Contractual Obligations:
Operating leases
Finance leases obligation
Convertible notes(1)
Contractual obligations recognized as of
December 31, 2023
Purchase commitments(2)
Total contractual obligations
Total
Less
than
One
Year
1 – 3
Years
$ 57,883 $ 24,097 $ 14,030 $ 14,665 $ 5,091
102,949
10,256 16,778 13,710 62,205
175,250
—
336,082
— 175,250
203,625
More
than
5 Years
3 – 5
Years
—
34,353 30,808
46,996 46,996
—
$ 383,078
$ 81,349 $ 30,808 $ 203,625
—
67,296
—
$ 67,296
(1) In 2022, we issued $175.3 million of 5.00% convertible senior unsecured notes due in 2027. See “Note 10—
Long-term Debt” included in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information
related to our convertible notes.
(2) Purchase commitments primarily represent our non-cancelable fixed payment obligations under
certain CMO, CDMO, and laboratory supply agreements that we are not contractually able to
terminate for convenience. Certain agreements provide for termination rights subject to termination
fees. Under such agreements, we are contractually obligated to make payments to vendors, mainly to
reimburse them for their estimated unrecoverable expenses incurred. As of December 31, 2023, these
agreements are active ongoing arrangements and we expect to receive value from these
arrangements in the future. The amount of such obligations is dependent on the timing of termination
and the terms of the relevant agreement, and cannot be reasonably estimated. Our current obligations
under non-cancelable purchase agreements are reflected on our consolidated balance sheets.
In addition to the above obligations, we enter into a variety of agreements and financial
commitments in the normal course of business. The terms generally allow us the option to cancel,
reschedule, or adjust our requirements based on our business needs, prior to the delivery of goods or
performance of services. It is not possible to predict the maximum potential amount of future payments
under these agreements due to the conditional nature of our obligations and the unique facts and
circumstances involved in each particular agreement.
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are subject to certain risks that may affect our results of operations, cash flows, and fair values
of assets and liabilities, including volatility in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rate movements.
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Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
Although we are headquartered in the U.S. our results of operations, including our foreign
subsidiaries’ operations, are subject to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, primarily the U.S. dollar
against the Euro, Pound Sterling, Swedish Krona, and Czech Koruna. This exchange exposure may have a
material effect on our cash and cash equivalents, cash flows, and results of operations, particularly in cases
of revenue generated under APAs that include provisions that impact our and our counterparty’s currency
exchange exposure. To date, we have not entered into any foreign currency hedging contracts, although
we may do so in the future.
We also face foreign currency exchange exposure that arises from translating the results of our
global operations to the U.S. dollar at exchange rates that have fluctuated from the beginning of the
period. While the financial results of our global activities are reported in U.S. dollars, the functional currency
for our foreign subsidiaries is generally their respective local currency. Fluctuations in the foreign currency
exchange rates of the countries in which we do business will affect our operating results, often in ways that
are difficult to predict. A 10% decline in the foreign exchange rates (primarily against the U.S. dollar) relating
to our foreign subsidiaries would result in a decline of stockholders’ equity (deficit) of approximately $52
million as of December 31, 2023.
Market and Interest Rate Risk
The primary objective of our investment activities is preservation of capital, with the secondary
objective of maximizing income.
Our exposure to interest rate risk is primarily confined to our investment portfolio. We do not believe
that a change in the market rates of interest would have any significant impact on the realizable value of
our investment portfolio. Changes in interest rates may affect the investment income we earn on our
marketable securities when they mature and the proceeds are reinvested into new marketable securities
and, therefore, could impact our cash flows and results of operations.
Interest and dividend income is recorded when earned and included in investment income.
Premiums and discounts, if any, on marketable securities are amortized or accreted to maturity and
included in investment income. The specific identification method is used in computing realized gains and
losses on the sale of our securities.
Our convertible senior unsecured notes have a fixed interest rate and we have no additional
material debt. As such, we do not believe that we are exposed to any material interest rate risk as a result
of our borrowing activities.
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The information required by this item is set forth on pages F-1 to F-45.
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
None.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The term “disclosure controls and procedures” (defined in SEC Rule 13a-15(e)) refers to the controls
and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed
by a company in the reports that it files under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is
recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within time periods specified in the rules and forms of the
95
Securities and Exchange Commission. “Disclosure controls and procedures” include, without limitation,
controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the
reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the
company’s management, including its principal executive and financial officers, or persons performing
similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
The Company’s management, with the participation of the chief executive officer and the chief
financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as
of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on that
evaluation, the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of
the Evaluation Date, such controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over
financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)
promulgated under the Exchange Act, as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the
Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer and effected by the Company’s
board of directors, management, and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with GAAP. Such internal control includes those policies and procedures that:
• pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;
• provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation
of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the
Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors
of the Company; and
• provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of an unauthorized
acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the
financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect
misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that
controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2023. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth in the 2013
Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission. Based on its assessment, our management has determined that, as of December
31, 2023, our internal controls over financial reporting are effective based on those criteria.
Ernst & Young LLP has issued a report on our internal control over financial reporting. This report is
included in the Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm in Item 15(a)(1).
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has evaluated
any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the year ended December
31, 2023 and has concluded that there was no change that occurred during the year ended December
31, 2023 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial
reporting.
96
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Adoption of 10b5-1 Trading Plans by our Officers and Directors
During our fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023, one of our officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) entered into a contract,
instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of our securities that is intended to satisfy the conditions
specified in Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act for an affirmative defense against liability for trading in
securities on the basis of material nonpublic information. We refer to this contract, instruction, and written
plan as a “Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.” We describe the material terms of this Rule 10b5-1 trading plan below.
Filip Dubovsky, MD, President, Research & Development
On December 12, 2023, Filip Dubovsky, MD, our President, Research & Development, entered into a
Rule 10b5-1 trading plan that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense of Rule 10b5-1(c) and provides
that Dr. Dubovsky, acting through a broker, may sell up to an aggregate of 13,365 shares of our common
stock, subject to adjustments for stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends and other similar changes
to our common stock. Sales of shares under the plan may only occur from March 15, 2024 to June 14, 2024.
The plan is scheduled to terminate on June 14, 2024, subject to earlier termination upon the sale of all shares
subject to the plan or the expiration of all sale orders under the plan, upon termination by Dr. Dubovsky or
the broker, or as otherwise provided in the plan.
Item 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
97
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
PART III
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference from our definitive Proxy
Statement for our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to be held in June 2024 (the “2024 Proxy
Statement”). We expect to file the 2024 Proxy Statement within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2023.
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
We incorporate herein by reference the information required by this item concerning executive
compensation to be contained in the 2024 Proxy Statement.
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
We incorporate herein by reference the information required by this item concerning security
ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and related stockholder matters to be contained
in the 2024 Proxy Statement.
The following table provides our equity compensation plan information as of December 31, 2023.
Under these plans, our common stock may be issued upon the exercise or vesting of equity awards and
purchases under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). See also the information regarding our equity
awards and ESPP in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements included herewith.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Number of
Securities
to be Issued
Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants
and Rights
(a)
8,560,187
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants
and Rights
(b)
$39.08
Number of
Securities
Remaining
Available for
Future
Issuance
Under Equity
Compensati
on
Plans
(Excluding
7,412,669
Securities
Reflected in
213,210
Column (a))
(c)
7,625,879
Plan Category
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security
holders (Inducement Plan)(2)
Total
(1) Includes our 2015 Stock Incentive Plan, 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, and ESPP. The weighted-average
exercise price in column (b) excludes restricted stock units, which are not subject to an exercise price.
786,790
9,346,977
$10.67
$36.80
(2) Includes our 2023 Inducement Plan only
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
We incorporate herein by reference the information required by this item concerning certain
relationships and related transactions and director independence to be contained in the 2024 Proxy
Statement.
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
We incorporate herein by reference the information required by this item concerning principal
accountant fees and services to be contained in the 2024 Proxy Statement.
98
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
PART IV
(a)
The following documents are filed as part of the Annual Report on Form 10-K:
(1) Index to Financial Statements
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID:42)
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the years
ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the years ended December 31,
2023, 2022, and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F- 2
F- 5
F- 6
F- 7
F- 8
F- 9
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
Financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, not required under
the instructions or all the information required is set forth in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(3) Exhibits
Exhibits marked with a single asterisk (*) are filed herewith.
Exhibits marked with a double plus sign (††) refer to management contracts, compensatory plans,
or arrangements.
Confidential treatment has been granted for portions of exhibits marked with a double asterisk
(**).
Confidential information contained in exhibits marked with a caret (^) has been omitted pursuant
to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K.
All other exhibits listed have previously been filed with the SEC and are incorporated herein by
reference.
Exhibit
Number
Description
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended June 30, 2015, filed on August 10, 2015 (File No. 000-26770))
Certificate of Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2019 (File No. 000-26770))
Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 4, 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Certificate of Designation of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
June 19, 2020 (File No. 000-26770))
99
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4*
10.1††
10.2††
10.3††
10.4††
10.5††
10.6††
10.7††
10.8††
10.9††
Specimen stock certificate for shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per
share (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on
Form S-3, filed on December 31, 2019 (File No. 333-235761))
Indenture (including form of Notes) with respect to the Company's 5.00% Convertible Senior
Notes due 2027, dated as of December 20, 2022, between the Company and The Bank of
New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 21, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Form of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock Certificate of the Company (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 19, 2020 (File
No. 000-26770))
Description of the Company's Securities
The Company's Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2012, filed on March 12, 2013 (File No. 000-26770))
Amendment to Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference
to Appendix 1 of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed on April 30, 2014 in
connection with the Annual Meeting held on June 12, 2014 (File No. 000-26770))
Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Award Agreement granted under the Company's
Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4
to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed
on February 27, 2015 (File No. 000-26770))
Form of Incentive Stock Option Award Agreement granted under the Company's Amended
and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed on
February 27, 2015 (File No. 000-26770))
Amended and Restated Novavax, Inc. 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Incorporated by
reference to Appendix D of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed on May 2, 2022 in
connection with the Annual Meeting held on June 16, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Amended and Restated Novavax, Inc. 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference
to Appendix B of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed on April 28, 2023 in
connection with the Annual Meeting held on July 11, 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Award Agreement granted under the Amended and
Restated Novavax, Inc. 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3
to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, filed
on August 10, 2015 (File No. 000-26770))
Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Award Agreement (Non-Employee Director) granted
under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended June 30, 2023, filed on August 8, 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Form of Global Non-Statutory Stock Option Award Agreement granted under the Company’s
Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10
to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, filed
on August 8, 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
10.10††
Form of Incentive Stock Option Award Agreement granted under the Amended and Restated
Novavax, Inc. 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the
Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, filed on
August 10, 2015 (File No. 000-26770))
100
10.11††
10.12††
10.13††
10.14††
10.15††
10.16††
10.17††
Form of Incentive Stock Option Award Agreement granted under the Amended and Restated
Novavax, Inc. 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed on
February 27, 2017 (File No. 000-26770))
Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement granted under the Amended and Restated
Incentive Plan (Performance- and Time-Based Vesting)
Novavax,
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed
on November 16, 2016 (File No. 000-26770))
Inc. 2015 Stock
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement granted under the Amended and Restated
Novavax, Inc. 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the
Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, filed on
August 10, 2015 (File No. 000-26770))
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement granted under the Amended and Restated Novavax,
Inc. 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed on March 18, 2019
(File No. 000-26770))
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Non-Employee Director) granted under the
Company’s Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
2023, filed on August 8, 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Form of Global Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement granted under the Company’s
Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12
to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, filed
on August 8, 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Form of Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement granted under the Amended and
Restated Novavax, Inc. 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1
to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019,
filed on November 7, 2019 (File No. 000-26770))
10.18††
Form of Director Deferred Fee Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed on
February 29, 2016 (File No. 000-26770))
10.19††
Novavax, Inc. 2023 Inducement Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 9, 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
10.20††
10.21††
10.22††
10.23††
10.24††
Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement under the Novavax, Inc. 2023 Inducement
Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K,
filed on January 9, 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Novavax, Inc. 2023 Inducement
Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K,
filed on January 9, 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Employment Agreement between the Company and John C. Jacobs, dated as of January 5,
2023 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-
K, filed on February 28, 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Employment Agreement between the Company and Stanley C. Erck, dated as of June 22,
2011 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, filed on August 9, 2011 (File No. 000-26770))
Consulting and Advisory Agreement between the Company and Stanley C. Erck, dated as of
January 5, 2023 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Company’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K, filed on February 28, 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
101
10.25††
10.26††
10.27††
Employment Agreement between the Company and Gregory M. Glenn dated July 1, 2010
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed
on July 6, 2010 (File No. 000-26770))
Consulting and Advisory Agreement between the Company and Dr. Gregory M. Glenn, dated
as of March 20, 2023 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Employment Agreement between the Company and John A. Herrmann dated April 1, 2012
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, filed on May 5, 2016 (File No. 000-26770))
10.28††*
Consulting and Advisory Agreement between the Company and John A. Herrmann, dated as
of November 17, 2023
10.29††
10.30††
10.31††
Employment Agreement between the Company and John J. Trizzino dated March 3, 2014
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, filed on May 5, 2016 (File No. 000-26770))
Employment Agreement between the Company and James P. Kelly dated July 12, 2021
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, filed on November 5, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Offer letter to James P. Kelly dated July 12, 2021 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to
the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021,
filed on November 5, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
10.32††* Offer letter to Mark Casey dated November 10, 2023
10.33††* Employment Agreement between the Company and Mark Casey dated November 10, 2023
10.34††* Offer Letter to Elaine O’Hara dated February 4, 2023
10.35††* Employment Agreement between the Company and Elaine O’Hara dated February 4, 2023
10.36††* Offer Letter to Filip Dubovsky, M.D. dated May 26, 2020
10.37††* Employment Agreement between the Company and Filip Dubovsky, M.D. dated May 26, 2020
10.38††
Form of Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated June 17, 2021, between the
Company and each of Stanley C. Erck, Gregory M. Glenn, John J. Trizzino, Filip Dubovsky, and
John A. Herrmann, III (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, filed on August 5, 2021 (File No. 000-
26770))
10.39††
Company Amended and Restated Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan (Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended June 30, 2021, filed on August 5, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
10.40††
Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into between the Company and its directors and
officers (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, filed on March 16, 2010 (File No. 000-26770))
10.41
10.42
Lease Agreement for space at 22 Firstfield Road between ARE-20/22/1300 Firstfield Quince
Orchard, LLC and the Company, dated as of November 18, 2011 (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.25 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2011, filed on March 14, 2012 (File No. 000-26770))
Deed of Lease for space at 21 Firstfield Road between Firstfield Holdco, LLC and the Company,
dated as of February 4, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 21, 2015 (File No. 000-26770))
102
10.43
10.44
10.45
10.46
10.47^
10.48^
10.49^
10.50^
10.51^
10.52^
10.53^
10.54^
10.55^
First Amendment to Deed of Lease for space at 21 Firstfield Road between Firstfield Holdco,
LLC and the Company, dated as of August 17, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2
to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 21, 2015 (File No. 000-26770))
Second Amendment to Deed of Lease for space at 21 Firstfield Road between BMR-Firstfield
LLC (formerly Firstfield Holdco, LLC) and the Company, dated as of March 31, 2017
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, filed on May 8, 2017 (File No. 000-26770))
Deed of Lease for space at 700 Quince Orchard Road between ARE-MARYLAND NO. 51, LLC
and the Company, dated October 22, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed on
March 1, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Amendment to Deed of Lease for space at 700 Quince Orchard Road between ARE-
MARYLAND NO. 51, LLC and the Company, dated June 22, 2021 (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.33 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2021, filed on March 1, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Amended and Restated Supply and License Agreement, dated July 1, 2021, between the
Company and Serum Institute of India Private Limited (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
2021, filed on November 5, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Supply Agreement between the Company, Serum Institute of India Private Limited and Serum
Life Sciences Limited, executed as of October 26, 2021 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.37 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021,
filed on March 1, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Contract Development Manufacture Agreement, dated October 21, 2021, between the
Company and Serum Life Sciences Limited (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the
Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, filed on
August 9, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Amendment No. 1 to the Contract Development Manufacture Agreement, executed as of
April 29, 2022, between the Company and Serum Life Sciences Limited (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended June 30, 2022, filed on August 9, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Statement of Work No. 1 to the Contract Development Manufacture Agreement, effective as
of April 29, 2022, between the Company and Serum Life Sciences Limited (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended June 30, 2022, filed on August 9, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Collaboration and Exclusive License Agreement between the Company and SK bioscience
Company Limited, dated as of February 12, 2021 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, filed on
May 10, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
First Amendment to Collaboration and Exclusive License Agreement between the Company
and SK bioscience Company Limited, dated as of December 23, 2021 (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2021, filed on March 1, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Statement of Work No. 1 to Collaboration and Exclusive License Agreement between the
Company and SK bioscience Company Limited, dated as of December 23, 2021
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2021, filed on March 1, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Change Order No. 1 to Statement of Work No. 1 to Collaboration and Exclusive License
Agreement between the Company and SK bioscience Company Limited, dated as of March
31, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, filed on May 9, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
103
10.56^
10.57**
Collaboration and Exclusive License Agreement between the Company and Takeda
Pharmaceutical Company Limited, dated as of February 24, 2021 (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 2021, filed on May 10, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Global Access Commitments Agreement between Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the
Company, dated as of September 25, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the
Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, filed on
November 9, 2015 (File No. 000-26770))
10.58^
Asset Purchase Agreement between Company and Paragon Bioservices, Inc., dated June 26,
2019 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, filed on August 7, 2019 (File No. 000-26770))
10.59^
10.60^
10.61^
10.62^
10.63^
10.64^
10.65^
10.66^
Amended and Restated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Supply Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2022,
between the Company and The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy,
acting on behalf of the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, filed on November 9, 2022 (File No. 000-
26770))
Letter of Amendment to the Amended and Restated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Supply Agreement,
dated as of September 26, 2022, between the Company and The Secretary of State for
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, acting on behalf of the government of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to
the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022,
filed on November 9, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Advanced Purchase Agreement, effective as of December 31, 2020, between the Company
and the Commonwealth of Australia as represented by the Department of Health
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2020, filed on March 1, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Amendment to Advanced Purchase Agreement between the Company, and the
Commonwealth of Australia as represented by the Department of Health, dated as of
December 23, 2021 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.47 to the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed on March 1, 2022 (File No.
000-26770))
Amendment No. 2 to Advanced Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2022, between the
Company and the Commonwealth of Australia as Represented by the Department of Health
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
filed on August, 8 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Amendment No. 3 to Advanced Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2023, between the
Company and the Commonwealth of Australia as Represented by the Department of Health
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
filed on August, 8 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Amendment No. 4 to Advanced Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 5, 2023, between the
Company and the Commonwealth of Australia as Represented by the Department of Health
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
filed on August, 8 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Advanced Purchase Agreement, effective as of January 19, 2021, between the Company
and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Public Works
and Government Services (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed on March 1, 2021
(File No. 000-26770)
104
10.69^
10.70^
10.71^
10.72^
10.73^
10.74^
10.75^
10.76^
10.77^
10.78^
10.79^
10.80^
Amendment No. 3 to Advanced Purchase Agreement, effective as of April 25, 2023, between
the Company and His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of
Public Works and Government Services, as successor in interest to Her Majesty the Queen in
Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Public Works and Government Services
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
filed on August, 8 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Amendment No. 4 to Advanced Purchase Agreement, effective as of June 30, 2023, between
the Company and His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of
Public Works and Government Services, as successor in interest to Her Majesty the Queen in
Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Public Works and Government Services
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
filed on August, 8 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Advance Purchase Agreement, dated August 16, 2021, between the Company, Novavax CZ
and the European Commission (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, filed on November
5, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Base Agreement between the Company and Advanced Technology International, dated
June 25, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 01 to Base Agreement between the Company and Advanced Technology
International, dated as of March 23, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, filed on May
9, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 02 to Base Agreement between the Company and Advanced Technology
International, dated as of August 2, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the
Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, filed on
November 9, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 03 to Base Agreement between the Company and Advanced Technology
International, dated as of November 30, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.56 to
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on February 28, 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 1 between the Company and Advanced Technology
International, dated July 6, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 01 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 1 between the Company and
Advanced Technology International, dated July 9, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
2020 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 02 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, entered into September 10,
2020, between the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2020, filed on March 1, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 03 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, entered into September 18,
2020, between the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.42 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2020, filed on March 1, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 04 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, entered into December 23,
2020, between the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.43 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2020, filed on March 1, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
105
10.81^
10.82^
10.83^
10.84^
10.85^
10.86^
10.87^
10.88^
10.89^
10.90^
10.91^
10.92^
Modification No. 05 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, dated January 12, 2021,
between the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.44 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2020, filed on March 1, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 06 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, entered into January 19, 2021,
between the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.45 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2020, filed on March 1, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 07 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, dated April 23, 2021, between
the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021,
filed on August 5, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 08 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, dated June 4, 2021, between
the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.7 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021,
filed on August 5, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 09 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, dated July 16, 2021, between
the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
2021, filed on November 5, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 10 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, dated August 6, 2021, between
the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
2021, filed on November 5, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 11 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, dated August 26, 2021,
between the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2021, filed on November 5, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 12 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, dated December 20, 2021,
between the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.64 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2021, filed on March 1, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 13 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, dated February 1, 2022,
between the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.65 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2021, filed on March 1, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 14 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, dated July 1, 2022, between
the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
2022, filed on November 9, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 15 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, dated August 9, 2022, between
the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
2022, filed on November 9, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Modification No. 16 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 01, dated September 9, 2022,
between the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2022, filed on November 9, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
106
10.93^
10.94^
10.95^
10.96^
10.97^
10.98^
10.99^
10.100^
10.101^*
14
Modification No. 17 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 1, dated February 6, 2023,
between the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May, 9 2023 (File No.
000-26770))
Modification No. 18 to Undefinitized Project Agreement No. 1, dated May 25, 2023, between
the Company and Advanced Technology International (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August, 8 2023 (File No. 000-
26770))
Series A Convertible Preferred Subscription Agreement, dated June 15, 2020, between the
Company and RA Capital Healthcare Fund, L.P. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 19, 2020 (File No. 000-26770))
Restated Funding Agreement, entered into on May 11, 2020, between the Company and the
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 (File No.
000-26770))
Amendment Number 1 to the iPDP and Budget of the Outbreak Response Funding Agreement
(Step 2), entered into on November 2, 2020, between the Company and the Coalition for
Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.56 to the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed on
March 1, 2021 (File No. 000-26770))
Settlement Agreement, dated September 30, 2022, between the Company and FUJIFILM
Diosynth Biotechnologies UK Limited, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Texas, LLC, and
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies USA, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the
Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, filed on
November 9, 2022 (File No. 000-26770))
Settlement Agreement and General Release, dated August 8, 2023, between the Company
and SK bioscience Co., Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, filed on November,
9 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2023, between the Company and
SK bioscience Co., Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K filed on August 8, 2023 (File No. 000-26770))
Termination and Settlement Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2024, between the
Company and Gavi Alliance
Code of Conduct (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 to the Company’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed on March 1, 2022 (File No. 000-
26770))
21*
Subsidiaries of the Company
23.1*
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
31.1*
31.2*
32.1*
32.2*
97*
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(e) of the Securities
Exchange Act
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(e) of the Securities
Exchange Act
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Novavax, Inc. Amended and Restated Recoupment Policy
107
101
The following financial information from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2023, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, (ii) the Consolidated
Statements of Operations for the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, (iii) the
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2023, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
(Deficit) for the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, (v) the Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and (vi)
the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
Item 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
Not applicable.
108
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SIGNATURES
NOVAVAX, INC.
By: /s/ John C. Jacobs
John C. Jacobs
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: February 28, 2024
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by
the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Name
Title
Date
/s/ John C. Jacobs
John C. Jacobs
President and Chief Executive Officer
and Director (Principal Executive
Officer)
February 28, 2024
/s/ James P. Kelly
James P. Kelly
/s/ James F. Young
James F. Young
/s/ Gregg H. Alton
Gregg H. Alton
/s/ Richard H. Douglas
Richard H. Douglas
/s/ Rachel K. King
Rachel K. King
/s/ Margaret G. McGlynn
Margaret G. McGlynn
/s/ David M. Mott
David M. Mott
/s/ Richard J. Rodgers
Richard J. Rodgers
Executive Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer, and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting
Officer)
February 28, 2024
Chairman of the Board of Directors
February 28, 2024
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
February 28, 2024
February 28, 2024
February 28, 2024
February 28, 2024
February 28, 2024
February 28, 2024
109
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
Contents
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID:42)
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the years
ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the years ended
December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F- 2
F- 5
F- 6
F- 7
F- 8
F- 8
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Novavax, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Novavax, Inc. (the Company) as of
December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, changes
in stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31,
2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion,
the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company
at December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based
on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 28, 2024 expressed
an unqualified opinion thereon.
The Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will
continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered
recurring losses, has negative working capital, and an accumulated deficit and has stated that substantial doubt
exists about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s evaluation of the events and
conditions and management’s plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 2. The consolidated
financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm
registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance
with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the
risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing
procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation
of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial
statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1)
relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially
challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matters do not alter in
any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by
communicating the critical audit matters below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on
the account or disclosures to which they relate.
F-2
Description of
the Matter
How We
Addressed the
Matter in Our
Audit
Description of
the Matter
Inventory Excess and Obsolescence Reserve
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $41.7 million of inventory. As disclosed in Note 2,
inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The Company assesses its
inventory levels each reporting period and writes down inventory that is either expected to be at
risk of expiration prior to sale, or for which there are inventory quantities in excess of expected
requirements. For the year ended December 31, 2023, inventory write-downs were $72.4 million
and losses on firm purchase commitments were $73.5 million. In addition, for the year ended
December 31, 2023, the Company recorded recoveries on firm purchase commitments of $40.2
million related primarily to negotiated reductions to previously recognized firm purchase
commitments.
Auditing management's estimates for excess and obsolete inventory involved subjective auditor
judgment because the estimates rely on a number of factors that are affected by market and
economic conditions outside the Company's control. In particular, the obsolete and excess
inventory calculations are sensitive to significant assumptions, including the expected demand
for the Company’s products, assumptions about the vaccine’s life cycle, the effect on demand
of competitive products and the Company's purchase commitments.
We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of
internal controls over the Company's excess and obsolete inventory reserve process including
management’s review of the significant assumptions described above and controls over the
completeness and accuracy of the information used to develop the estimate.
Our substantive audit procedures
included, among others, evaluating methodologies,
assumptions and data utilized in the analysis for inventory expected to be at risk for expiration or
excess. We evaluated and compared forecasted demand to historical trends, compared actual
inventory levels to forecasted demand requirements and evaluated the sensitivity of sales
forecast assumptions on the amount of inventory reserves recorded.
Product Return Reserve Estimate- U.S. Commercial Sales
As of December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a liability for product returns related to US
commercial sales of $82.5 million. As disclosed in Note 2, the Company offers U.S. commercial
customers the right to return its product. These return rights include the right of wholesale
distributors to return unsold and expired doses and indirect customers the right to return any partial
or unused vials upon expiry. The Company estimates variable consideration resulting from these
product returns based on quantitative and qualitative data from various internal and external
sources.
Auditing management’s estimate of product returns was complex and judgmental given the
Company’s limited history of US commercial sales, and management considers the level of
inventory in the distribution channel, projected market demand, utilization data, returns claims
received, and product shelf life.
How We
Addressed the
Matter in Our
Audit
We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of
internal controls over the product return reserve estimation process for U.S. commercial sales,
including management’s review of the level of inventory in the distribution channel, as well as
inputs and assumptions used to develop the estimate of the product returns reserve.
Our substantive audit procedures included, among others, testing the level of product in the
channel held by a sample of wholesale distributors at December 31, 2023. For indirect customers,
we obtained and reviewed the Company’s estimated channel mix, and compared relevant
inputs to underlying actual sales data. In addition, we assessed management’s estimate of
projected market demand for the product through the expiration dates, by analyzing available
internal and third party utilization data for the product for the current vaccination season, and
we also assessed management’s estimate of total U.S. commercial market size for the season by
analyzing available third party data. We also evaluated the sensitivities of changes in projected
demand on the product return reserve estimate recorded.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2014.
Tysons, Virginia
February 28, 2024
F-3
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Novavax, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Novavax, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria
established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Novavax, Inc. (the Company)
maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023,
based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the
related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit), and
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes and our report
dated February 28, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion that included an explanatory paragraph regarding the
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and
for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting included in Item 9A. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public
accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in
accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial
reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a
material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based
on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We
believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting
includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail,
accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable
assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being
made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of
the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures
may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Tysons, Virginia
February 28, 2024
F-4
NOVAVAX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share information)
Revenue:
Product sales
Grants
Royalties and other
Total revenue
Expenses:
Cost of sales
Research and development
Selling, general, and administrative
Total expenses
Loss from operations
Other income (expense):
Interest expense
Other income (expense)
Loss before income tax expense
Income tax expense
Net loss
Net loss per share:
Basic and diluted
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
$
531,389
427,323
24,993
983,705
$ 1,554,961
382,921
43,990
1,981,872
$
—
948,709
197,581
1,146,290
343,768
737,502
902,639
1,235,278
—
2,534,508
468,946
1,550,216
(566,511)
488,691
2,626,608
(644,736)
298,358
2,832,866
(1,686,576)
(14,416)
37,896
(543,031)
(2,031)
(545,062) $
(19,880)
10,969
(653,647)
(4,292)
(21,127)
(6,833)
(1,714,536)
(29,215)
(657,939) $ (1,743,751)
$
$
(5.41) $
(8.42) $
(23.44)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted
100,768
78,183
74,400
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(in thousands)
Net loss
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
available-for-sale, net of reclassifications
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive loss
$
$
Year Ended December 31,
2022
(657,939) $ (1,743,751)
2023
(545,062) $
2021
—
9,099
9,099
(535,963) $
—
(5,024)
(5,024)
(9)
(8,368)
(8,377)
(662,963) $ (1,752,128)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5
NOVAVAX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share information)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Accounts receivable
Inventory
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Right of use asset, net
Goodwill
Other non-current assets
Total assets
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Deferred revenue
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Current portion of finance lease liabilities
Convertible notes payable
Other current liabilities
Total current liabilities
Deferred revenue
Convertible notes payable
Non-current finance lease liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
December 31,
2023
2022
$
568,505
10,424
297,240
41,696
226,023
1,143,888
305,771
185,218
127,454
35,159
$ 1,336,883
10,303
82,375
36,683
237,147
1,703,391
294,247
106,241
126,331
28,469
$ 1,797,490
$ 2,258,679
$
132,610
394,668
241,310
5,142
—
861,408
1,635,138
622,210
168,016
55,923
33,130
2,514,417
$
216,517
591,158
370,137
27,196
324,881
930,055
2,459,944
179,414
166,466
31,238
55,695
2,892,757
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2023
and 2022; no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and 2022
—
—
Stockholders’ deficit:
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 600,000,000 shares authorized at December 31,
2023 and 2022; and 140,506,093 shares issued and 139,505,770 shares outstanding
at December 31, 2023 and 86,806,554 shares issued and 86,039,923 shares
outstanding at December 31, 2022
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated deficit
Treasury stock, 1,000,323 shares, cost basis at December 31, 2023 and 766,631
shares, cost basis at December 31, 2022
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Total stockholders’ deficit
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit
1,405
4,192,164
(4,820,951)
868
3,737,979
(4,275,889)
(92,267)
2,722
(716,927)
$ 1,797,490
(90,659)
(6,377)
(634,078)
$ 2,258,679
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6
NOVAVAX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(in thousands, except share information)
Balance at December 31, 2020
Stock-based compensation
Stock issued under incentive
program
Issuance of common stock, net of
issuance costs of $7,292
Unrealized gain on marketable
securities
Foreign currency translation
adjustment
Net loss
Balance at December 31, 2021
Stock-based compensation
Stock issued under incentive
programs
Issuance of common stock, net of
issuance costs of $7,216
Foreign currency translation
adjustment
Net loss
Balance at December 31, 2022
Stock-based compensation
Stock issued under incentive
programs
Issuance of common stock, net of
issuance costs of $6,171
Foreign currency translation
adjustment
Net loss
Balance at December 31, 2023
Common Stock
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
714 $ 2,535,476
—
183,626
Amount
$
—
Shares
71,350,365
Accumulated
Deficit
Treasury
Stock
$ (1,874,199) $ (41,806)
—
—
2,503,819
24
68,032
— (43,295)
2,578,967
26
564,833
—
—
—
76,433,151
—
701,005
—
—
—
—
—
—
764 3,351,967
—
131,967
4,912
7
—
—
—
—
—
—
(1,743,751)
—
(3,617,950) (85,101)
—
—
(5,558)
—
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
$
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
(Deficit)
7,024 $
—
627,209
183,626
24,761
564,859
(9)
—
—
(9)
(8,368)
—
(1,353)
—
—
(8,368)
(1,743,751)
(351,673)
131,967
(639)
9,672,39
97
249,133
—
—
—
249,230
—
—
86,806,554
—
902,742
—
—
—
—
868 3,737,979
85,850
—
1,758
9
—
(657,939)
—
—
(4,275,889) (90,659)
—
—
(1,608)
—
(5,024)
—
(6,377)
—
—
(5,024)
(657,939)
(634,078)
85,850
159
52,796,797
528
366,577
—
—
—
367,105
—
—
$
140,506,093
—
—
—
—
1,405 $ 4,192,164
—
—
—
(545,062)
$ (4,820,951) $ (92,267)
9,099
—
2,722 $
9,099
(545,062)
(716,927)
$
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-7
NOVAVAX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Operating Activities:
Net loss
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
Right-of-use assets expensed, net of credits received
Non-cash stock-based compensation
Provision for excess and obsolete inventory
Impairment of long-lived assets
Other items, net
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Inventory
Accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, and other assets
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities
Deferred revenue
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures
Internal-use software
Purchases of marketable securities
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
Financing Activities:
Net proceeds from sales of common stock
Proceeds from issuance of 2027 Convertible notes
Payments of costs related to issuance of 2027 Convertible notes
Net proceeds from the exercise of stock-based awards
Repayment of 2023 Convertible notes
Finance lease payments
Net cash provided by financing activities
Effect of exchange rate on cash, cash equivalents, and
restricted cash
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities:
Sale of common stock under the Sales Agreement not settled at year-end
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued
expenses
Right-of-use assets from new lease agreements
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash interest payments, net of amounts capitalized
Cash paid for income taxes
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
$
(545,062)
$
(657,939)
$ (1,743,751)
41,225
6,113
85,357
72,197
10,081
(7,042)
29,054
18,104
130,300
447,597
—
(21,903)
(74,457)
(274,442)
(378,805)
350,868
(713,967)
(477,801)
249,166
913,399
(1,045,914)
(415,937)
(53,771)
(5,035)
—
—
(58,806)
360,243
—
(3,591)
159
(325,000)
(27,345)
4,466
(89,056)
(3,929)
—
—
(92,985)
249,230
175,250
(5,258)
(639)
—
(93,595)
324,988
3,272
(765,035)
1,348,845
583,810
4,520
(179,414)
1,528,259
$ 1,348,845
12,661
144,433
183,626
—
—
(7,641)
(8,872)
(183,393)
600,326
1,325,557
322,946
(54,501)
(2,985)
(2,167)
159,807
100,154
564,859
—
—
24,761
—
(127,907)
461,713
(5,292)
879,521
648,738
$ 1,528,259
6,862
7,899
103,299
17,349
190
$
$
$
$
$
—
17,665
91,855
18,035
17,980
$
$
$
$
$
—
10,338
179,210
19,428
12,606
$
$
$
$
$
$
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-8
NOVAVAX, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 – Organization & Business
Novavax, Inc. (“Novavax,” and together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, the “Company”) is a
biotechnology company that promotes improved health by discovering, developing, and commercializing
innovative vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases. Novavax offers a differentiated vaccine platform
that combines a recombinant protein approach, innovative nanoparticle technology and patented
Matrix-M™ adjuvant to enhance the immune response. Novavax currently has one commercial program,
for vaccines to prevent COVID-19, which includes Nuvaxovid™ prototype COVID-19 vaccine ("NVX-
CoV2373,” or “prototype vaccine”) and Nuvaxovid™ updated COVID-19 vaccine (“NVX-CoV2601,” or
“updated vaccine”) (collectively, “COVID-19 Vaccine”). Local regulatory authorities have also specified
nomenclature for the prototype and updated vaccines within their territories (e.g., “Novavax COVID-19
Vaccine, Adjuvanted” and “Novavax COVID-19, Adjuvanted (2023-2024 Formula)”, respectively, for the
U.S.). The Company’s partner, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. (“SIIPL”), markets NVX-CoV2373 as
“Covovax™.”
Beginning in 2022, the Company received approval, interim authorization, provisional approval,
conditional marketing authorization, and emergency use authorization (“EUA”) from multiple regulatory
authorities globally for its prototype vaccine for both adult and adolescent populations as a primary series
and for both homologous and heterologous booster indications in select territories. In October 2023, the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“U.S. FDA”) amended the EUA for its prototype vaccine to include its
updated vaccine. The amended EUA authorizes use of the Company’s updated vaccine in individuals 12
years and older. In October 2023, the European Commission (“EC”) granted approval for the Company’s
updated vaccine for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals aged
12 and older. Currently, the Company significantly depends on its supply agreement with SIIPL and its
subsidiary, Serum Life Sciences Limited (“SLS”), for co-formulation, filling and finishing (other than in Europe)
and on its service agreement with PCI Pharma Services for finishing in Europe.
Novavax is advancing development of other vaccine candidates, including its COVID19-Influenza
Combination (“CIC”) vaccine candidate and additional vaccine candidates. The Company’s COVID-19
Vaccine and its other vaccine candidates incorporate the Company’s proprietary Matrix-M™ adjuvant to
enhance the immune response and stimulate higher levels of functional antibodies and induce a cellular
immune response.
Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Novavax, Inc. and its wholly owned
subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Liquidity and Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the
Company will continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are
issued and contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of
business. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the
recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities
that might result from the outcome of the uncertainty described below.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $568.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and had
a working capital deficiency. In January 2024, pursuant to the June 2023 Amendment to the advance
purchase agreement between the Company and the Canadian government (the “Canada APA”), the
Company received the second installment of $174.8 million from the Canadian government that was
F-9
contingent and payable upon the Company’s delivery of vaccine doses (see Note 3). During the year
ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred a net loss of $545.1 million and had net cash flows used
in operating activities of $714.0 million.
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 205-40, Presentation of
Financial Statements - Going Concern, the Company evaluated whether there are conditions and events,
considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern
within one year after the date that these consolidated financial statements are issued. While the
Company’s current cash flow forecast for the one-year going concern look forward period estimates that
there will be sufficient capital available to fund operations, this forecast is subject to significant uncertainty,
including as it relates to revenue for the next 12 months and the Company’s ability to execute on certain
cost-reduction initiatives. The Company’s revenue projections depend on its ability to successfully develop,
manufacture, distribute and market its updated vaccine for the 2024-2025 vaccination season, which is
inherently uncertain and subject to a number of risks, including the Company’s ability to obtain regulatory
authorizations, introduce a single-dose vial or pre-filled syringe product presentation for the U.S.
commercial and certain other markets, the incidence of COVID-19 during the 2024-2025 vaccination
season, the Company’s ability to timely deliver doses and achieve commercial adoption and market
acceptance of its updated vaccine.
Failure to meet regulatory milestones or achieve product volume or delivery timing obligations under
the Company’s advance purchase agreements (“APAs”) may require the Company to refund portions of
upfront and other payments or result in reduced future payments which would adversely affect the
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Management believes that, given the history of recurring losses, negative working capital and
accumulated deficit, conditions or events exist that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to
continue as a going concern through one year from the date that these financial statements are issued.
Management’s plans to alleviate the conditions that exist include restructuring and cost reduction
measures and successful execution of its commercial plans.
In May 2023, the Company announced a global restructuring and cost reduction plan (the
“Restructuring Plan”), which includes a more focused investment in its COVID-19 Vaccine, reduction to its
pipeline spending, the continued rationalization of its manufacturing network, a reduction to the
Company’s global workforce, as well as the consolidation of facilities, and infrastructure. In January 2024,
as part of reducing combined research and development and selling, general and administrative
expenses, the Company announced further reductions in its global workforce (the “2024 Cost Reduction
Plan”) (see Note 18). The Company intends to prioritize improvements to its long-term supply chain
efficiency. The Company expects the full annual impact of the Restructuring Plan to be realized in 2024 and
the full annual impact of the 2024 Cost Reduction Plan to be realized in 2025 and approximately 85% of the
annual impact, excluding one-time charges, to be realized in 2024. During the year ended December 31,
2023, the Company recorded a charge of $4.5 million related to one-time employee severance and benefit
costs and recorded an impairment charge of $10.1 million related to the consolidation of facilities and
infrastructure (see Note 17) and expects to record an additional charge of approximately $4 million to $7
million related to one-time employee severance and benefit costs, the majority of which is expected to be
incurred in the first quarter of 2024.
Management’s plans may also include raising additional capital through a combination of equity
and debt financing, collaborations, strategic alliances, asset sales, and marketing, distribution, or licensing
arrangements. New financings may not be available to the Company on commercially acceptable terms,
or at all. Also, any collaborations, strategic alliances, asset sales and marketing, distribution, or licensing
arrangements may require the Company to give up some or all of its rights to a product or technology,
which in some cases may be at less than the full potential value of such rights. If the Company is unable to
obtain additional capital, the Company will assess its capital resources and may be required to delay,
reduce the scope of, or eliminate some or all of its operations, or further downsize its organization, any of
which may have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations, and
ability to operate as a going concern.
F-10
Due to the uncertainties associated with management’s plans, there is substantial doubt about the
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for at least one year from the date that these financial
statements are issued.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets
and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue
and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition
At contract inception, the Company analyzes its revenue arrangements to determine the
appropriate accounting under U.S. GAAP. Currently, the Company’s revenue arrangements represent
customer contracts within the scope of ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC
606”), or are contributions subject to the guidance in ASC Topic 958-605, Not-for-Profit Entities – Revenue
Recognition (“ASC 958-605”). The Company recognizes revenue from arrangements within the scope of
ASC 606 following the five-step model: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the
performance obligation(s) in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction
price to the performance obligation(s) in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) it satisfies a
performance obligation. The Company only recognizes revenue under the five-step model when it is
probable that it will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers
to its customer. The Company recognizes contribution revenue within the scope of ASC 958-605 when the
funder-imposed conditions have been substantially met. Contributions are recorded as deferred revenue
until the period in which research and development activities are performed that satisfy the funder-imposed
conditions.
Product Sales - Advance Purchase Agreements
Product sales include sales associated with COVID-19 Vaccine supply agreements, sometimes
referred to as APAs, with various international governments. The Company recognizes revenue from
product sales related to these APA’s based on the transaction price per dose calculated in accordance
with ASC 606 at the point in time when control of the product transfers to the customer and customer
acceptance has occurred, unless such acceptance provisions are deemed perfunctory. The APAs typically
contain terms that include upfront payments which are reflected in Deferred revenue. The Company
constrains the transaction price for APA’s until it is probable that a significant reversal in revenue recognized
will not occur. Specifically, if an APA includes a provision whereby the customer may request a discount,
return, or refund, or includes a term that may have the effect of decreasing the price per dose of previously
delivered shipments, revenue is constrained based on an estimate of the impact of the transaction price
until it is probable that a significant reversal in revenue recognized will not occur.
Product Sales - U.S. Commercial
In the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company commenced sales of COVID-19 Vaccine to the U.S.
commercial market. Product sales in the U.S. are primarily made through large pharmaceutical wholesale
distributors at the wholesale acquisition cost (“WAC”). The Company recognizes revenue upon title transfer
(which is typically at time of delivery), provided all other revenue recognition criteria have been met. The
transaction price includes estimates of variable consideration for which reserves are established that
primarily result from invoice discounts for prompt payment, wholesale distributor fees, chargebacks, and
product returns (collectively, “gross-to-net deductions”). These estimates are based on the amounts earned
or to be claimed for related sales and are classified as either reductions of gross accounts receivable or a
current liability based on the nature of the estimate, the expected settlement method, and net position by
individual customer. Where appropriate, these estimates are based on factors such as industry data and
forecasted customer buying and payment patterns, the Company’s experience, current contractual and
F-11
statutory requirements, specific known market events, and trends. Variable consideration is included in the
transaction price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative
revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is
subsequently resolved. If actual results vary from estimates, the Company will adjust the estimates, which
would affect product sales in the period such variances become known.
Gross-to-net deductions include the following:
• Wholesale distributor fees, discounts, and chargebacks: The Company has arrangements under
which indirect customers such as retailers, healthcare providers, and others receive discounts to the
WAC. The chargeback represents the difference between the WAC and this negotiated discounted
price. For distribution and related services, the Company incurs service fees to its wholesale
distributors. In addition, the Company typically offers wholesale distributor customers invoice
discounts on product sales for prompt payments. The Company estimates chargebacks, discounts,
and fees it will owe and deducts these amounts from gross product sales at the time the revenue is
recognized based on the contractual terms and the Company’s expectations regarding future
customer behaviors.
• Product returns: The Company offers U.S. customers the right to return COVID-19 Vaccine. These
return rights include the right of wholesale distributors to return unsold and expired doses and the
right of indirect customers to return any partial or unused vials upon expiry. Estimated returns for
COVID-19 Vaccine are determined considering levels of inventory in the distribution channel,
projected market demand, utilization data, returns claims received, and product shelf life. The
estimated amount for product returns is deducted from gross product sales in the period the related
product sales are recognized.
• Other: Fees payable to retailers, healthcare providers, and buying groups, including certain patient
assistance programs, are deducted from gross product sales in the period the related product sales
are recognized.
Grants
Grant revenue includes both revenue from government contracts and grants from organizations
such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (“CEPI”). The Company performs research and
development under government funding, grant, license, and clinical development agreements. The
revenue primarily consists of funding under U.S. government contracts and other arrangements to advance
the clinical development and manufacturing of COVID-19 Vaccine.
Under U.S. government contracts, the Company is entitled to receive funding on a cost-
reimbursable or cost-reimbursable-plus-fixed-fee basis, to support certain activities related to the
development, manufacture, and delivery of COVID-19 Vaccine to the U.S. government. The Company
analyzed these contracts and determined that they are within the scope of ASC 606. The obligations under
each of the contracts are not distinct in the context of the contract as they are highly interdependent or
interrelated and, as such, they are accounted for as a single performance obligation. The transaction price
under these arrangements is the consideration the Company is expecting to receive and consists of the
funded contract amount and the unfunded variable amount to the extent that it is probable that a
significant reversal of revenue will not occur. The Company recognizes revenue for these contracts over
time as the Company transfers control over the goods and services and satisfies the performance
obligation. The Company measures progress toward satisfaction of the performance obligation using an
Estimate-at-Completion (“EAC”) process, which is a cost-based input method that reviews and monitors
the progress towards the completion of the Company’s performance obligation. Under this process,
management considers the costs that have been incurred to-date, as well as projections to completion
using various inputs and assumptions, including, but not limited to, progress towards completion, labor costs
and level of effort, material and subcontractor costs, indirect administrative costs, and other identified risks.
Estimating the total allowable cost at completion of the performance obligation under a contract is
subjective and requires the Company to make assumptions about future activity and cost drivers. Changes
in these estimates can occur for a variety of reasons and, if significant, may impact the timing of revenue
F-12
and fee recognition on the Company’s contracts. Allowable contract costs include direct costs incurred
on the contract and indirect costs that are applied in the form of rates to the direct costs. Progress billings
under the contracts are initially based on provisional indirect billing rates, agreed upon between the
Company and the U.S. government. These indirect rates are subject to review on an annual basis. The
Company records the impact of changes in the indirect billing rates in the period when such changes are
identified. These changes reflect the difference between actual indirect costs incurred compared to the
estimated amounts used to determine the provisional indirect billing rates agreed upon with the U.S.
government. The Company recognizes revenue on the U.S. government contracts based on reimbursable
allowable contract costs incurred in the period up to the transaction price. For cost-reimbursable-plus-fixed-
fee contracts, the Company recognizes the fixed-fee based on the proportion of reimbursable contract
costs incurred to total estimated allowable contract costs expected to be incurred on completion of the
underlying performance obligation as determined under the EAC process. The Company recognizes
changes in estimates related to the EAC process in the period when such changes are made on a
cumulative catch-up basis. The Company includes the transaction price comprising both funded and
unfunded portions of customer contracts in this estimate.
The Company’s other funding agreements currently include funding from CEPI in the form of a grant
(“CEPI Grant Funding”) and one or more forgivable no interest term loans (“CEPI Forgivable Loan Funding”).
Under the Company’s grant funding arrangements, including the CEPI arrangement, the Company is
primarily entitled to reimbursement for costs that support development related activities of COVID-19
Vaccine. The Company analyzed these other funding arrangements and determined that they are not
within the scope of ASC 606 as they do not provide a direct economic benefit to the grantor. Payments
received under the grant funding arrangements are considered conditional contributions under the scope
of ASC 958-605 and are recorded as deferred revenue until the period in which such research and
development activities are actually performed in a manner that satisfies the funder-imposed conditions.
Payments received under the CEPI Forgivable Loan Funding are only repayable if project vaccine, as
defined under the CEPI funding agreement, manufactured by the contract manufacturing organization
(“CMO”) network funded by CEPI is sold to one or more third parties (which could include sales credited
under the Gavi Settlement Agreement), and such sales cover the Company’s costs of manufacturing such
vaccine, not including manufacturing costs funded by CEPI. As the financial risk remains with CEPI, the
Company determined that the use of the funds from the CEPI agreement is outside the scope of ASC Topic
470, Debt. The research and development risk was considered substantive, such that it was not probable
that the development would be successful at the inception of the contract. Therefore, the Company
concluded that ASC Topic 730, Research and Development (“ASC 730”) was considered applicable and
most appropriate. Given the financial risk associated with the research and development activities lies with
CEPI because repayment of any funds provided by CEPI depends solely on the results of the research and
development activities having future economic benefit, the Company has accounted for the obligation
under the CEPI Forgivable Loan Funding as a contract to perform research and development for others.
The Company has determined that payments received under these agreements should be recorded as
revenue under ASC 958-605 rather than a reduction to research and development expenses. This is
consistent with the Company’s policy of presenting such amounts as revenue. In reaching this
determination, the Company considered a number of factors, including whether it is principal under the
arrangement, and whether the arrangement is significant to, and part of, the Company’s core operations.
The Company will record revenue as it performs the contractual research and development services.
Payments received in advance related to arrangements where revenue is recognized under ASC
958-605 that are related to future performance are deferred and recognized as revenue when the research
and development activities are performed. Such cash payments are restricted as to their use and are
reflected in Restricted cash until expenditures contemplated in the funding agreements are incurred.
Royalties and Other
The Company also has various arrangements that include a right for a customer to use the
Company's intellectual property as a functional license, where the Company’s performance obligation is
satisfied at the point in time at which the license is granted. These licensing arrangements include sales-
based royalties, certain development and commercial milestone payments, and the sale of proprietary
F-13
Matrix-MTM adjuvant. Because development milestone payments are contingent on the achievement of
milestones, such as regulatory approvals, that are not within the Company or licensee's control, the
payments are not considered probable of being achieved and are excluded from the transaction price
until the milestone is achieved, at which point the Company recognizes revenue. For arrangements that
include sales-based royalties related to a previously granted license, including milestone payments based
upon the achievement of a certain level of product sales, the license is deemed to be the sole or
predominant item to which the royalties relate and the Company recognizes revenue when the related
sales occur.
The Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation based on a relative
standalone selling price basis. It develops assumptions that require judgment to determine the standalone
selling price for each performance obligation in consideration of applicable market conditions and
relevant entity-specific factors, including factors that were contemplated in negotiating the agreement
with the customer.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales includes cost of raw materials, production, and manufacturing overhead costs
associated with the Company’s product sales during the period. Cost of sales also includes adjustments for
excess, obsolete, or expired inventory; idle capacity; and losses on firm purchase commitments to the
extent the cost cannot be recovered based on estimates about future demand. Cost of sales does not
include certain expenses related to raw materials, production, and manufacturing overhead costs that
were expensed prior to regulatory authorization as described under the caption “Inventory.”
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses include salaries; stock-based compensation; laboratory
supplies; consultants and subcontractors, including external contract research organizations (“CROs”),
CMOs, and contract development and manufacturing organizations (“CDMOs”); and other expenses
associated with the Company’s process development, manufacturing, clinical, regulatory, and quality
assurance activities for its clinical development programs. In addition, related indirect costs such as fringe
benefits and overhead expenses are also included in research and development expenses.
The Company estimates its research and development expense related to services performed
under its contracts with external service providers based on an estimate of the level of service performed
in the period. Research and development activities are expensed as incurred.
Accrued Research and Development Expenses
The Company accrues research and development expenses, including clinical trial-related
expenses, as the services are performed, which may include estimates of those expenses incurred, but not
invoiced. The Company uses information provided by third-party service providers and CRO, CMO, and
CDMO invoices and internal estimates to determine the progress of work performed on the Company’s
behalf. Assumptions based on clinical trial protocols, contracts, and participant enrollment data are also
used to estimate these accruals.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. The Company had advertising costs of $91.5 million,
$84.0 million and $8.9 million during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation related to grants of stock options, stock
appreciation rights (“SARs”), and restricted stock awards (“RSUs”), and purchases under the Company’s
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”), at fair value. The Company recognizes compensation expense
F-14
related to such awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period)
of the equity awards, based on the award's fair value at the grant date. The requisite service period is
typically one to four years. Forfeitures for all awards are recognized as incurred. The Company generally
settles stock-based awards with newly issued shares.
The fair value of stock options and SARs is measured on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes
option pricing model. The expected term of stock options and SARs is based on the Company’s historical
option exercise experience and post-vesting forfeiture experience using the historical expected term from
the vesting date, and the expected term for purchases under the ESPP is based on the purchase periods
included in the offering. The expected volatility is determined using historical volatilities based on stock
prices over a look-back period corresponding to the expected term. The risk-free interest rate is determined
using the yield available for zero-coupon U.S. government issues with a remaining term equal to the
expected term. The Company has never paid a dividend and the Company does not intend to pay
dividends in the foreseeable future, and as such, the expected dividend yield is zero.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less
from the date of purchase. Cash equivalents are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value due to
their short-term nature.
Fair Value Measurements
The Company applies ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), for
financial and non-financial assets and liabilities. ASC 820 discusses valuation techniques, such as the market
approach (comparable market prices), the income approach (present value of future income or cash
flow), and the cost approach (cost to replace the service capacity of an asset or replacement cost). The
statement utilizes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure
fair value into three broad levels. The following is a brief description of those three levels:
•
•
•
Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets
or liabilities.
Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly
or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted
prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.
Restricted Cash
The Company’s current and non-current restricted cash includes payments received under grant
agreements and cash collateral accounts under letters of credit that serve as security deposits for certain
facility leases. Payments received under grant agreements become unrestricted as the Company incurs
expenses for services performed under these agreements. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, restricted
cash balances (both current and non-current) consisted primarily of payments under the CEPI funding
agreements and letter of credits.
Accounts Receivable
The Company recognizes amounts due from customers as accounts receivable when its right to
payment is unconditional. Gross-to-net deductions are classified as reductions of gross accounts receivable
if settlement is expected to occur through a reduction in the amount paid to Novavax by its customer.
Account receivables are recorded net of any allowance for credit losses. The Company’s estimate for the
allowance for credit losses, which has not been significant to date, is determined based on the credit risk
of its customers based on historical loss experience, economic conditions, the aging of receivables, and
customer-specific risks.
F-15
Concentration of Risk
Financial instruments expose the Company to concentration of credit risk and consist primarily of
cash and cash equivalents. The Company’s investment policy limits investments to certain types of
instruments, including asset-backed securities, high-grade corporate debt securities, and money market
funds; places restrictions on maturities and concentrations in certain industries; and requires the Company
to maintain a certain level of liquidity. At times, the Company maintains cash balances in financial
institutions that may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses relating
to such accounts and believes it is not exposed to a significant credit risk on its cash and cash equivalents.
The Company's accounts receivable arise from revenue arrangements with customers in different
countries. The Company's revenue is primarily due to product sales, grants made by government-sponsored
and private organizations, and royalties from its collaboration and license partners. The following customers
accounted for more than 10% of total revenue or accounts receivable for the periods presented:
Percentage of Revenue
for Year Ended December 31,
2022
2023
2021
Percentage of Accounts
Receivable as of
December 31,
2022
2023
European Commission
Government of Australia
Government of Canada
Government of Israel
U.S. government(1)
CEPI
SK bioscience, Co., Ltd.
27%
18%
*
*
43%
*
*
40%
21%
10%
*
19%
*
*
*
*
*
*
71%
12%
14%
28%
*
59%
*
*
*
*
10%
*
*
21%
46%
*
*
*Amounts represent less than 10%
(1) Including the USG Agreement (as defined in Note 3) and the U.S. Department of Defense.
The Company currently depends significantly on one supplier for co-formulation, filling, and finishing
of COVID-19 Vaccine. The loss of this supplier could prevent or delay the Company’s delivery of customer
orders.
Inventory
Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value under the First In, First Out
methodology, taking into consideration the expiration of the inventory item. The Company determines the
cost of raw materials using moving average costs and the cost of semi-finished and finished goods using a
standard cost method adjusted on a periodic basis to reflect the deviation in the actual cost from the
standard cost estimate. Standard costs consist primarily of the cost of manufacturing goods, including
direct materials, direct labor, and the services and products of third-party suppliers. Manufacturing
overhead costs are applied to semi-finished and finished goods based on expected production levels. The
Company utilizes third-party CMOs, CDMOs, and other suppliers and service organizations to support the
procurement and processing of raw materials, management of inventory, packaging, and the delivery
process. Adjustments to reduce the cost of inventory to its net realizable value, if required, are made for
estimated excess, obsolete, or expired inventory through cost of sales. At each reporting period, the
Company assesses whether there are excess firm, non-cancelable, purchase commitment liabilities,
resulting from supply agreements with third-party CMOs and CDMOs. The determination of net realizable
value of inventory and firm purchase commitment liabilities requires judgment, including consideration of
many factors, such as estimates of future product demand, current and future market conditions, potential
product obsolescence, expiration and utilization of raw materials under firm purchase commitments, and
contractual minimums.
Prior to initial regulatory authorization for its product candidates, the Company expenses costs
relating to raw materials, production, and manufacturing overhead costs as research and development
F-16
expenses in the consolidated statements of operations, in the period incurred. Subsequent to initial
regulatory authorization for a product candidate, the Company capitalizes the costs of production for a
particular supply chain as inventory when the Company determines that it has a present right to the
economic benefit associated with the product.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. and are
depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Repairs and
maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. The estimated useful lives of property and equipment are
described below:
Buildings
Machinery and equipment
Computer hardware
Leasehold improvements
Lease Accounting
Useful Life
25 years
5 - 7 years
3 years
Shorter of useful life or
remaining term of the lease
The Company enters into manufacturing supply agreements with CMOs and CDMOs to
manufacture its vaccine candidates. Certain of these manufacturing supply agreements include the use
of identified manufacturing facilities and equipment that are controlled by the Company and for which
the Company obtains substantially all the output and may qualify as an embedded lease. The Company
treats manufacturing supply agreements that contain an embedded lease as lease arrangements in their
entirety. The evaluation of leases that are embedded in the Company’s CMO and CDMO agreements is
complex and requires judgment in determining whether the contract, either explicitly or implicitly, is for the
use of an identified asset and the Company has the right to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of
the benefit from, the identified asset which generally is the use of a portion of the manufacturing facility of
the CMO or CDMO, the term of the lease, and the fixed lease payments under the contract. Depending
on the contract, the lease commencement date, defined as the date on which the lessor makes the
underlying asset available for use by the lessee and on which the Company is required to accrue lease
expenses, may be different than the inception date of the contract. The Company determines the non-
cancellable lease term of its embedded leases based on the impact of certain expected milestones on its
option to terminate the lease where it is reasonably certain to not exercise that option. The Company
evaluates changes to the terms and conditions of a lease contract to determine if they result in a new lease
or a modification of an existing lease. For lease modifications, the Company remeasures and reallocates
the remaining consideration in the contract and reassesses the lease classification at the effective date of
the modification. Leases are classified as either operating or finance leases based on the economic
substance of the agreement. The Company also enters into non-cancelable lease agreements for facilities
and certain equipment.
For leases that have a lease term of more than 12 months at the lease commencement date, the
Company recognizes lease liabilities, which represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments
arising from the lease, and corresponding right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, which represent the right to use an
underlying asset for the lease term, based on the present value of the fixed future payments over the lease
term. The Company calculates the present value of future payments using the discount rate implicit in the
lease, if available, or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. For all leases that have a lease term of
12 months or less at the commencement date (referred to as “short-term” leases), the Company has
elected to apply the practical expedient in ASC Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”), to not recognize a lease
liability or ROU asset but, instead, recognize lease payments as an expense on a straight-line basis over the
lease term and variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or rate as an expense in the
period in which the variable lease costs are incurred based on performance or usage in accordance with
lease period, the Company evaluates facts and
contractual agreements.
In determining the
F-17
circumstances that could affect the period over which it is reasonably certain to use the underlying asset
while taking into consideration the non-cancelable period over which it has the right to use the underlying
asset and any option period to extend or terminate the lease if it is reasonably certain to exercise the option.
The Company re-evaluates short-term leases that are modified and if they no longer meet the requirements
to be treated as a short-term lease, recognizes and measures the lease liability and ROU asset as if the date
of the modification is the lease commencement date. For short-term leases that are modified and continue
to meet the requirements to be treated as a short-term lease, the Company remeasures the fixed lease
payments under the modified lease and recognize lease payments as an expense on a straight-line basis
over the modified lease term.
For operating leases, the Company recognizes lease expense related to fixed payments on a
straight-line basis from the lease commencement date through the end of the lease term and lease
expense related to variable payments as incurred based on performance or usage in accordance with the
contractual agreements. For finance leases, the Company recognizes the amortization of the ROU asset
over the shorter of the lease term or useful life of the underlying asset. The Company expenses ROU assets
acquired for research and development activities under ASC 730 if they do not have an alternative future
use, in research and development projects or otherwise.
The Company uses significant assumptions and judgment in evaluating its lease contracts and other
agreements under ASC 842, including the determination of whether an agreement is or contains a lease;
whether a change in the terms and conditions of a lease contract represent a new or modified lease;
whether a lease represents an operating or finance lease; the discount rate used to determine the present
value of lease obligations; the term of a lease embedded in its manufacturing supply agreements; and the
Company’s incremental borrowing rate, which is determined using estimates such as the estimated value
of the underlying leased asset and financial profile of comparable companies.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, including property and equipment, internal-use software, and ROU assets, are
reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount
of an asset (or asset group) may not be recoverable based on the criteria for accounting for the impairment
or disposal of long-lived assets under ASC Topic 360, Property, Plant and Equipment. If such events or
changes in circumstances occur, the Company assesses the recoverability of the long-lived assets (or asset
group) by comparing their projected future undiscounted net cash flows over their remaining lives against
their respective carrying amounts. If the cash flows are not expected to be sufficient to recover the carrying
amount of the assets (or asset group), they are written down to their estimated fair values.
Restructuring
The Company recognizes restructuring charges when such costs are incurred. The Company’s
restructuring charges consist of employee severance and other termination benefits related to the
reduction of its workforce, the consolidation of facilities and infrastructure and other costs. Termination
benefits are expensed on the date the Company notifies the employee, unless the employee must provide
future service, in which case the benefits are expensed ratably over the future service period. Ongoing
benefits are expensed when restructuring activities are probable and the benefit estimable.
See Note 17 for additional information on the severance and employee benefit costs for terminated
employees and impairment of long-lived assets in connection with the Company’s Restructuring Plan and
Note 18 for information on the expected severance and employee benefit costs as a result of the
Company’s workforce reduction announced on January 31, 2024.
Goodwill
Goodwill is subject to impairment tests annually or more frequently should indicators of impairment
arise. The Company has determined that, because its only business is the development and
commercialization of innovative vaccines, it operates as a single operating segment and has one reporting
F-18
unit. The one-step impairment test, which requires a comparison of the fair value of a reporting unit to its
carrying value, including goodwill, is required to be applied to all reporting units including reporting units
with zero or negative carrying value. A reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying value likely will not
have an impairment. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, step two of the
impairment analysis is performed. In step two of the analysis, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the
excess of the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill over its implied fair value, should such a
circumstance arise.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had a negative carrying value and did not have
any impairment of goodwill.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. Under
the liability method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to
differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their
respective tax basis and operating loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using
enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year in which those temporary differences
are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of changes in tax rates on deferred tax assets and
liabilities is recognized in income in the period such changes are enacted. A valuation allowance is
established when necessary to reduce net deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
The Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) provisions under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of
2017 impose U.S. tax on certain foreign income in excess of a deemed return on tangible assets of foreign
corporations. The Company has elected to treat any potential GILTI inclusions as period costs.
Tax benefits associated with uncertain tax positions are recognized in the period in which one of the
following conditions is satisfied: (1) the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is satisfied; (2) the position
is ultimately settled through negotiation or litigation; or (3) the statute of limitations for the taxing authority
to examine and challenge the position has expired. Tax benefits associated with an uncertain tax position
are reversed in the period in which the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is no longer satisfied.
The Company has historically generated significant federal, state, and foreign tax net operating
losses, which may be subject to limitation in future periods. Management has fully reserved the related
deferred tax assets with a valuation allowance in the current reporting period as it is more likely than not
that the related benefit will not be realized. The Company is currently subject to examination in all open tax
years.
Net Loss per Share
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares
of common stock outstanding for the period and excludes the effects of any potentially dilutive securities.
Diluted net loss per share is computed using the treasury stock method by dividing net loss by the weighted-
average number of common shares outstanding after giving consideration to the dilutive effect of certain
securities outstanding during the period. As of December 31, 2023, the Company's 2027 Notes (see Note
10) would have been convertible into approximately 14 million shares of the Company's common stock
assuming the common stock price is equal to or greater than $12.50. These shares, after giving effect to the
add back of interest expense and unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs on the Notes and any
shares due to the Company upon settlement of its capped call transactions, are excluded from the
computation, as their effect is antidilutive under the if-converted method. In addition, all stock options,
SARs, and unvested RSUs are excluded from the computation as their effect is antidilutive.
Foreign Currency
The accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars. The functional
currency of the Company’s international subsidiaries is generally the local currency. The financial
F-19
statements of international subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars using the exchange rate in effect at the
consolidated balance sheet date for assets and liabilities, historical rates for equity accounts, and average
exchange rates for the consolidated statement of operations. Cash flows from operations are translated at
the average exchange rate in effect for the period, while cash flows from investing and financing activities
are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the date of the underlying transaction. Translation gains
and losses are recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The foreign currency translation adjustment balance
included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) was $2.7 million of income and $6.4 million
losses at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The aggregate foreign currency transaction gains and
losses resulting from the conversion of the transaction currency to functional currency were $7.9 million of
gains, $2.5 million of losses, and $5.3 million of losses for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and
2021, respectively, which are reflected in Other income (expense).
Segment Information
The Company manages its business as one operating segment, the development and
commercialization of innovative vaccines. The Company does not operate separate lines of business with
respect to its vaccine or vaccine candidates. Accordingly, the Company does not have separately
reportable segments as defined by ASC Topic 280, Segment Reporting.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Not Yet Adopted
In October 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards
Update (“ASU”) 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements (“ASU 2023-06”), to clarify or improve disclosure and
presentation requirements of a variety of topics and align the requirements in the FASB ASC with the SEC's
regulations. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2023-06 to determine its impact on the Company's
consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU
2023-09”). The standard enhances transparency in income tax disclosures by requiring, on an annual basis,
certain disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation and income
taxes paid. The ASU also requires disaggregated disclosure related to pre-tax income (or loss) and income
tax expense (or benefit) and eliminates certain disclosures related to the balance of an entity’s
unrecognized tax benefit and the cumulative amount of certain temporary differences. The ASU is effective
for the Company beginning on January 1, 2025. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2023-09 to
determine its impact on the Company's disclosures.
Adopted
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326):
Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”), with amendments in 2018, 2019,
2020, and 2022. The ASU sets forth a “current expected credit loss” model that requires companies to
measure all expected credit losses for financial instruments held at the reporting date based on historical
experience, current conditions, and reasonable supportable forecasts. ASU 2016-13 applies to financial
instruments that are not measured at fair value, including receivables that result from revenue transactions.
The Company adopted ASU 2020-06 on January 1, 2023, using a modified retrospective approach, and it
did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 3 – Revenue
The Company's accounts receivable, net, included $286.4 million and $53.8 million related to
amounts that were billed to customers and $10.8 million and $28.6 million related to amounts which had
not yet been billed to customers as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. During the years ended
December 31, 2023 and 2022, changes in the Company's accounts receivables, deferred revenue, and
F-20
allowance for doubtful accounts balances were as follows (in thousands):
Accounts receivable:
Year ended December 31, 2023 $
Year ended December 31, 2022
Allowance for doubtful
accounts(1):
Year ended December 31, 2023
Year ended December 31, 2022
Deferred revenue(2):
Year ended December 31, 2023
Year ended December 31, 2022
Balance,
Beginning of
Period
Additions
Deductions
Balance,
End of Period
96,210
$
454,993
1,472,768
1,768,457
$
(1,264,062) $
(2,127,240)
304,916
96,210
(13,835)
—
549,551
1,595,472
—
(13,835)
—
6,159
581,569
46,908
(267,599)(3)
(1,092,829)
(7,676)
(13,835)
863,521
549,551
(1) Bad debt expense was $13.8 million in the year ended 2022. There was no bad debt expense in the year
ended December 31, 2023 or 2021. There was a $6.2 million reversal of a bad debt expense during the
year ended December 31, 2023 due to the collection of a previously recognized allowance for doubtful
accounts. To estimate the allowance for doubtful accounts, the Company evaluates the credit risk
related to its customers based on historical loss experience, economic conditions, the aging of
receivables, and customer-specific risks.
(2) Deductions from Deferred revenue generally related to the recognition of revenue once performance
obligations on a contract with a customer are met. Amount is comprised of $241.3 million, $0.4 billion,
and $1.4 billion current Deferred revenue and $622.2 million, $179.4 million, and $172.5 million non-
current Deferred revenue as of December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 respectively.
(3) In 2023, deductions from Deferred revenue included $151.1 million that was realized in Revenue and
$112.5 million related to the Amended and Restated UK Supply Agreement (as described below), that
was reclassified to Other current liabilities, as described below. In 2022, deduction from Deferred
revenue included $273.8 million that was realized in Revenue and $819.0 million, including $697.4 million
related to the Advance Payment Amount (as described below) related to the Gavi arbitration and
$112.5 million related to the Amended and Restated UK Supply Agreement, that was reclassified to
Other current liabilities, as described below.
As of December 31, 2023, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to performance
obligations that were unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied), excluding amounts related to sales-based
royalties, the Gavi APA, and the reduction in doses related to the Amended and Restated SARS-CoV-2
Vaccine Supply Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2022 (as amended on September 26, 2022, the “Amended
and Restated UK Supply Agreement”) between the Company and The Secretary of State for Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy (as assigned to the UK Health Security Agency), acting on behalf of the
government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the “Authority”), which amended
and restated the Original UK Supply Agreement, was approximately $2 billion of which $863.5 million was
in Deferred revenue. Failure to meet regulatory milestones, obtain timely supportive
included
recommendations from governmental advisory committees, or achieve product volume or delivery timing
obligations under the Company’s APAs may require the Company to refund portions of upfront payments
or result in reduced future payments, which could adversely impact the Company’s ability to realize
revenue from its unsatisfied performance obligations. The timing to fulfill performance obligations related to
APAs will depend on timing of product manufacturing, receipt of marketing authorizations for additional
indications, delivery of doses based on customer demand, and the ability of the customer to request variant
vaccine in place of the prototype vaccine under certain of the Company’s APAs. The remaining unfilled
performance obligations not related to APAs are expected to be fulfilled in less than one year.
F-21
Under the terms of the Gavi APA and a separate purchase agreement between Gavi and SIIPL, 1.1
billion doses of the prototype vaccine were to be made available to countries participating in the COVAX
Facility. The Company expected to manufacture and distribute 350 million doses of the prototype vaccine
to countries participating under the COVAX Facility. Under a separate purchase agreement with Gavi, SIIPL
was expected to manufacture and deliver the balance of the 1.1 billion doses of prototype vaccine for
low- and middle-income countries participating in the COVAX Facility. The Company expected to deliver
doses with antigen and adjuvant manufactured at facilities directly funded under the Company's funding
agreement with CEPI, with initial doses supplied by SIIPL and SLS under a supply agreement. The Company
expected to supply significant doses that Gavi would allocate to low-, middle- and high-income countries,
subject to certain limitations, utilizing a tiered pricing schedule and Gavi could prioritize such doses to low-
and middle- income countries, at lower prices. Additionally, the Company could provide additional doses
of prototype vaccine, to the extent available from CEPI-funded manufacturing facilities, in the event that
SIIPL could not materially deliver expected vaccine doses to the COVAX Facility. Under the agreement, the
Company received an upfront payment of $350.0 million from Gavi in 2021 and an additional payment of
$350.0 million in 2022 related to the Company’s achieving an emergency use license for the Company’s
prototype vaccine by the World Health Organization (“WHO”) (the “Advance Payment Amount”).
On November 18, 2022, the Company delivered written notice to Gavi to terminate the Gavi APA
on the basis of Gavi’s failure to procure the purchase of 350 million doses of the Company’s prototype
vaccine from the Company as required by the Gavi APA. As of November 18, 2022, the Company had only
received orders under the Gavi APA for approximately 2 million doses. On December 2, 2022, Gavi issued
a written notice purporting to terminate the Gavi APA based on Gavi’s contention that the Company
repudiated the agreement and, therefore, materially breached the Gavi APA. Gavi also contended that,
based on its purported termination of the Gavi APA, it was entitled to a refund of the Advance Payment
Amount less any amounts that have been credited against the purchase price for binding orders placed
by a buyer participating in the COVAX Facility. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the remaining Gavi
Advance Payment was $696.4 million and $697.4 million, respectively, pending resolution of the dispute with
Gavi related to the return of the remaining Advance Payment Amount, and was classified within Other
current liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. On January 24, 2023, Gavi filed a demand
for arbitration with the International Court of Arbitration based on the claims described above. The
Company filed its Answer and Counterclaims on March 2, 2023. On April 5, 2023, Gavi filed its Reply to the
Company’s Counterclaims. On February 16, 2024, the Company and Gavi entered into a Termination and
Settlement Agreement (the “Gavi Settlement Agreement”) terminating the Gavi APA, settling the
arbitration proceedings and releasing both parties of all claims arising from, under or otherwise in
connection with the Gavi APA. Pursuant to the Gavi Settlement Agreement, the Company is responsible
for payment to Gavi of (i) an initial settlement payment of $75 million, which the Company paid on February
20, 2024, and (ii) deferred payments, in equal annual amounts of $80 million payable each calendar year
through a deferred payment term ending December 31, 2028. The deferred payments are due in variable
quarterly installments beginning in the first quarter of 2024 and total $400 million during the deferred
payment term. Such deferred payments may be reduced through Gavi’s use of an annual vaccine credit
equivalent to the unpaid balance of such deferred payments each year, which may be applied to
qualifying sales of any of the Company’s vaccines for supply to certain low-income and lower-middle
income countries. The Company has the right to price the vaccines offered to such low-income and lower-
middle income countries in its discretion, and, when utilized by Gavi, the Company will credit the actual
price per vaccine paid against the applicable credit. The Company intends to price vaccines offered via
the tender process, consistent with its shared goal with Gavi to provide equitable access to those countries.
Also, pursuant to the Gavi Settlement Agreement, the Company granted Gavi an additional credit of up
to $225 million that may be applied against qualifying sales of any of the Company’s vaccines for supply
to such low-income and lower-middle income countries that exceed the $80 million deferred payment
amount in any calendar year during the deferred payment term. In addition, the Company and Gavi
entered into a security agreement pursuant to which Novavax granted Gavi a security interest in accounts
receivable from SIIPL under the SIIPL R21 Agreement (see Note 4), which will continue for the deferred
payment term of the Gavi Settlement Agreement. On February 22, 2024, the claims and counterclaims
were dismissed with prejudice.
F-22
Product Revenue
Product revenue by the Company’s customer’s geographic location was as follows (in thousands):
North America
Europe
Rest of the world
Total product revenue
December 31,
2023
$ 29,959
268,361
2022
$ 194,480
823,542
233,069
531,389
536,939
$ 1,554,961
$
In the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company commenced sales of COVID-19 Vaccine to the U.S.
commercial market, in addition to continuing sales to various international governments. Product sales in
the U.S. are primarily made through large pharmaceutical wholesale distributors at the WAC. Product sales
in the U.S. are recorded net of gross-to-net deductions, as described in Note 2.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, changes in the Company’s gross-to-net deductions
balances were as follows (in thousands):
Balance as of December 31, 2022
Amounts charged against product sales
Payments
Balance as of December 31, 2023
$
Wholesale
Distributor Fees,
Discounts, and
Chargebacks Product Returns
—
$
—
$
Total
$
—
47,028
(25,956)
21,072
84,688
(72)
131,716
(26,028)
$
84,616
$ 105,688
As of December 31, 2023, $103.1 million of gross-to-net deductions were included in Accrued
expenses and $2.6 million were included in Accounts receivable on the consolidated balance sheet.
The Company has an APA with the Commonwealth of Australia for the purchase of doses of
COVID-19 Vaccine (the “Australia APA”). In May 2023, the Company extended a credit for certain doses
delivered and recognized within product revenue in 2022 that qualified for replacement under the Australia
APA. This credit is the result of a single lot sold to the Australian government that upon pre-planned 6-month
stability testing was found to have fallen below the defined specifications and the lot therefore was
removed from the market. The credit will be applied against the future sale of doses to Australia and, during
the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a reduction of $64.7 million in product sales,
with a corresponding increase to Deferred revenue, non-current. In July 2023, the Company amended the
Australia APA to provide for replacement doses and to extend the delivery schedule through 2025. As of
February 2024, the Company had not yet received Therapeutic Goods Administration (“TGA”) authorization
or delivered doses as contemplated in the July 2023 amendment and is in active discussions with the
Australian government on both the TGA authorization and delivery of the doses previously scheduled for
the fourth quarter of 2023. In February 2024, the Company received notice from the Australian government
purporting to cancel its order for such prototype vaccine doses. The Company believes the cancellation
was not proper under the amended Australia APA. However, if such a cancellation were determined to be
allowable, $6.0 million of the deferred revenue would become a credit towards future deliveries of doses
and approximately $48 million of the contract value related to future deliverables would no longer be
available.
The Company has an APA with the European Commission (“EC”) acting on behalf of various
European Union member states to supply a minimum of 20 million and up to 100 million initial doses of
prototype vaccine, with the option for the EC to purchase an additional 100 million doses up to a maximum
F-23
aggregate of 200 million doses in one or more tranches, through 2023. Under the terms of the APA, the
Company agreed to manufacture the vaccine in facilities located in the European Union and ensure
continued efficacy of the vaccine against variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Pursuant to the terms of the
APA, the Company is prohibited from supplying prototype vaccine to any third party if such delivery would
impede or limit the fulfillment of the Company’s obligations to the EC under the APA, except with respect
to the Company’s obligations under the Gavi APA. In 2022, the Company was notified by the EC that it was
cancelling approximately 7 million doses of its prior commitment originally scheduled for delivery in the first
and second quarters of 2022, in accordance with the APA, and reducing the order to approximately 63
million doses. In January 2023, the Company finalized a revised delivery schedule for the remaining 20 million
committed doses under the APA that were originally scheduled for delivery during the first and second
quarters of 2022. The APA expired in August 2023 and required that any open and outstanding orders from
European Union member states be satisfied by February 2024. Since August 2023, any additional doses have
been managed by amending outstanding orders with deliveries made by February 2024.
The Company has an APA with His Majesty the King in Right of Canada as represented by the
Minister of Public Works and Government Services, as successor in interest to Her Majesty the Queen in Right
of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Public Works and Government Services (the “Canadian
government”), for the purchase of doses of COVID-19 Vaccine (the “Canada APA”). In April 2023, the
Company amended the “Canada APA”, pursuant to which the Canadian government forfeited certain
doses originally scheduled for delivery in 2022 for a payment of $100.4 million, which the Company received
in the second quarter of 2023. In June 2023, the Company entered into an additional amendment (the
“June 2023 Amendment”) to the Canada APA. Pursuant to the June 2023 Amendment, (i) the Canadian
government forfeited certain doses of COVID-19 Vaccine previously scheduled for delivery and agreed to
pay a total amount of $349.6 million to the Company in two equal installments, which total amount equaled
the remaining balance owed by the Canadian government with respect to such forfeited vaccine doses,
(ii) the amount of doses of COVID-19 Vaccine due for delivery was reduced, (iii) the delivery schedule for
the remaining doses of COVID-19 Vaccine to be delivered was revised, and (iv) the parties agreed Novavax
would use the Biologics Manufacturing Centre (“BMC”) Inc. to produce bulk antigen for doses in 2024 and
2025. The June 2023 Amendment maintained the total contract value of the original Canada APA. The first
Installment of $174.8 million was payable upon execution of the June 2023 Amendment and received by
Novavax in July 2023, and the second installment of $174.8 million was contingent and payable upon the
delivery of vaccine doses in the second half of 2023 and received by Novavax in January 2024. The
Canadian government may terminate the Canada APA, as amended, if the Company fails to receive
regulatory approval for its COVID-19 Vaccine using bulk antigen produced at BMC on or before December
31, 2024. The Company’s 2024 plans do not currently anticipate the submission for regulatory approval of
its COVID-19 Vaccine using bulk antigen produced at BMC, and it plans to work with the Canadian
government on an amendment that addresses possible alternatives, which may not be achievable. As of
December 31, 2023, $102.8 million was classified as short-term Deferred revenue and $485.3 million was
classified as long-term Deferred revenue with respect to the Canadian APA in the Company’s consolidated
balance sheet. If the Canadian government terminates the Canada APA, $28.0 million of the deferred
revenue would become refundable and approximately $224 million of the contract value related to future
deliverables would no longer be available. Pursuant to the June 2023 Amendment, Novavax and the
Canadian government will endeavor to expand the previously agreed in-country commitment to Canada
and to further partner to provide health, economic, and future pandemic preparedness benefits to
Canada, which value may be provided through a number of activities, including without limitation, capital
investments, the performance of activities or services, or the provision of technology or intellectual property
licenses. Further, the parties will endeavor to enter into a memorandum of understanding (the “MOU”) to
illustrate the Company’s ability to deliver such benefits over a 15-year period with an aggregate value of
not less than 100% of the amount remaining to be paid under the June 2023 Amendment and ultimately
received by the Company. As of December 31, 2023, discussions regarding the MOU were ongoing. The
Company agreed to hold, when received, $20.0 million of the second installment payment in escrow for
the benefit of the Canadian government, which amount is the sole recourse available to the Canadian
government in the event of non-performance under the MOU.
In July 2022, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Supply
Agreement (as amended on September 26, 2022, the “Amended and Restated UK Supply Agreement”)
F-24
with The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (as assigned to the UK Health Security
Agency), acting on behalf of the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(the “Authority”), which amended and restated in its entirety the SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Supply Agreement,
dated October 22, 2020, between the parties (the “Original UK Supply Agreement”). Under the Original UK
Supply Agreement, the Authority agreed to purchase 60 million doses of prototype vaccine and made an
upfront payment to the Company. Under the terms of the Amended and Restated UK Supply Agreement,
the Authority agreed to purchase a minimum of 1 million doses and up to an additional 15 million doses
(the “Conditional Doses”) of prototype vaccine, with the number of Conditional Doses contingent on, and
subject to reduction based on, the Company’s timely achievement of supportive recommendations from
the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (the “JCVI”) that is approved by the UK Secretary
of State for Health, with respect to use of the vaccine for (a) the general adult population as part of a SARS-
CoV-2 vaccine booster campaign in the United Kingdom or (b) the general adolescent population as part
of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine booster campaign in the United Kingdom or as a primary series SARS-CoV-2
vaccination, excluding where that recommendation relates only to one or more population groups
comprising less than one million members in the United Kingdom. If the Authority did not purchase the
Conditional Doses or the number of such Conditional Doses was reduced below 15 million doses of
prototype vaccine, the Company would have to repay up to $225.0 million related to the upfront payment
previously received from the Authority under the Original UK Supply Agreement. Under the Amended and
Restated UK Supply Agreement, the Authority also has the option to purchase up to an additional 44 million
doses, in one or more tranches, through 2024.
As of November 30, 2022, the JCVI had not made a supportive recommendation with respect to
prototype vaccine, thereby triggering, under the terms of the Amended and Restated UK Supply
Agreement, (i) a reduction of the number of Conditional Doses from 15 million doses to 7.5 million doses,
which reduced number of Conditional Doses are contingent on, and subject to further reduction based
on, the Company’s timely achievement by November 30, 2023 of a supportive recommendation from JCVI
that is approved by the UK Secretary of State for Health as described in the paragraph above, and (ii) an
obligation for the Company to repay $112.5 million related to the upfront payment previously received from
the Authority under the Original UK Supply Agreement. In April 2023, the Company repaid the $112.5 million
related to the November 30, 2022 triggering event. As of November 30, 2023, the JCVI had not made a
supportive recommendation with respect to the prototype vaccine, thereby triggering a reduction in the
number of Conditional Doses from 7.5 million doses to zero. As of February 2024, the Company is in
discussions with the Authority regarding the treatment of the remaining upfront payment previously
received of $112.5 million, which is reflected in Other current liabilities.
Grants
The Company recognized grant revenue as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2023
2021
USG Agreement
U.S. DoD
CEPI
Other grant revenue
Total grant revenue
U.S. Government
$
$
427,323
—
—
—
427,323
$
$
380,996
1,925
—
—
382,921
788,953
21,683
135,445
2,628
948,709
$
$
The Company’s U.S. government agreement consists of a Project Agreement (the “Project
Agreement”) and a Base Agreement with Advanced Technology International, the Consortium
Management Firm acting on behalf of the Medical CBRN Defense Consortium in connection with the
partnership formerly known as Operation Warp Speed (the Base Agreement together with the Project
Agreement the “USG Agreement”).
F-25
The original USG Agreement required the Company to conduct certain clinical, regulatory, and
other activities, including a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial to determine the safety and efficacy of prototype
vaccine, and to manufacture and deliver to the U.S. government 100 million doses of the vaccine
candidate. Funding under the USG Agreement is payable to the Company for various development,
clinical trial, manufacturing, regulatory, and other activities. The USG Agreement contains terms and
conditions that are customary for U.S. government agreements of this nature, including provisions giving the
U.S. government the right to terminate the Base Agreement or the Project Agreement based on a
reasonable determination that the funded project will not produce beneficial results commensurate with
the expenditure of resources and that termination would be in the U.S. government’s interest. If the Project
Agreement is terminated prior to completion, the Company is entitled to be paid for work performed and
costs or obligations incurred prior to termination and consistent with the terms of the USG Agreement. As of
December 31, 2023, the Company has recognized the full $1.8 billion funding under the USG Agreement in
revenue.
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
In May 2020, the Company entered into a restated funding agreement which was amended in
November 2020 with CEPI, under which CEPI agreed to provide funding of up to $399.5 million to the
Company to support the development of prototype vaccine. The agreement provided up to $257.0 million
in CEPI Grant Funding and up to $142.5 million in CEPI Forgivable Loan Funding, which are loans in the form
of one or more forgivable no-interest term loans to fund certain manufacturing activities and are not subject
to restrictive or financial covenants. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had recognized total
revenue related to CEPI of $358.6 million, with the unused amounts primarily related to CEPI Forgivable Loan
Funding. Payments received under the CEPI Forgivable Loan Funding are only repayable if project vaccine,
as defined under the CEPI funding agreement, manufactured by the CMO network funded by CEPI is sold
to one or more third parties (which could include sales credited under the Gavi Settlement Agreement),
and such sales cover the Company’s costs of manufacturing such vaccine, not including manufacturing
costs funded by CEPI. The timing and amount of any loan repayments is currently uncertain.
Royalties and Other
Royalties and other includes royalty milestone payments, sales-based royalties, and Matrix-M™
adjuvant sales.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized $8.5 million in revenue related
to license fees, and $16.5 million in revenue related to a Matrix-M™ adjuvant sales. During the year ended
December 31, 2023, the Company did not recognize revenue related to milestone payments.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized $9.0 million in revenue related
to sales-based royalties, $20.0 million related to milestone payments, and $15.0 million in revenue related to
a Matrix-M™ adjuvant sales.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized $178.6 million in revenue
related to sales-based royalties and $20.0 million related to milestone payments.
Note 4 – Collaboration, License, and Supply Agreements
SIIPL
The Company previously granted SIIPL exclusive and non-exclusive licenses for the development,
co-formulation, filling and finishing, registration, and commercialization of its prototype vaccine, its
proprietary COVID-19 variant antigen candidate(s), and its CIC vaccine candidate. SIIPL agreed to
purchase the Company's Matrix-M™ adjuvant and the Company granted SIIPL a non-exclusive license to
manufacture the antigen drug substance component of the Company’s COVID-19 Vaccine in SIIPL’s
licensed territory solely for use in the manufacture of COVID-19 Vaccine. The Company and SIIPL equally
split the revenue from SIIPL’s sale of COVID-19 Vaccine in its licensed territory, net of agreed costs. The
F-26
Company also has a supply agreement with SIIPL and SLS under which SIIPL and SLS supply the Company
with prototype vaccine, its proprietary COVID-19 variant antigen candidate(s), and its CIC vaccine
candidate for commercialization and sale in certain territories, as well as a contract development
manufacture agreement with SLS, under which SLS manufactures and supplies finished vaccine product to
the Company using antigen drug substance and Matrix-M™ adjuvant supplied by the Company. In March
2020, the Company entered into an agreement with SIIPL that granted SIIPL a non-exclusive license for the
use of Matrix-M™ adjuvant supplied by the Company to develop, manufacture, and commercialize
R21/Matrix-M™ adjuvant (“SIIPL R21 Agreement”), a malaria vaccine created by the Jenner Institute,
University of Oxford (“R21/Matrix-M™”). In December 2023 received prequalification by the WHO. Under
the SIIPL R21 Agreement, SIIPL purchases the Company's Matrix-M™ adjuvant for use in development
activities at cost and for commercial purposes at a tiered commercial supply price, and pays a royalty in
the single-to low- double-digit range based on vaccine sales for a period of 15 years after the first
commercial sale of the vaccine in each country.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
The Company has a collaboration and license agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
Limited (“Takeda”) under which the Company granted Takeda an exclusive license to develop,
manufacture, and commercialize the Company’s COVID-19 Vaccine in Japan. Under the agreement,
Takeda purchases Matrix-M™ adjuvant from the Company to manufacture doses of COVID-19 Vaccine,
and the Company is entitled to receive milestone and sales-based royalty payments from Takeda based
on the achievement of certain development and commercial milestones, as well as a portion of net profits
from the sale of COVID-19 Vaccine. In September 2021, Takeda finalized an agreement with the
Government of Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ("MHLW") for the purchase of 150 million
doses of its prototype vaccine. In February 2023, MHLW canceled the remainder of doses under its
agreement with Takeda. As a result, it is uncertain whether the Company will receive future sales-based
royalty payments from Takeda under the terms and conditions of their current collaboration and licensing
agreement. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized $6.0 million of revenue as
consideration for changes to certain terms of the license agreement which is included in Royalties and
other revenue on the consolidated statements of operations. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the
Company recognized $20.0 million, upon the sale of prototype vaccine in Japan, which is included in
Royalties and other revenue on the consolidated statements of operations.
Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute
In May 2023, the Company entered into a 3-year agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical
Research Institute to provide the Company’s Matrix-M™ adjuvant for use in preclinical vaccine research.
SK bioscience, Co., Ltd.
In February 2021, the Company entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (“CLA”) with
SK bioscience, Co., Ltd. (“SK”) to manufacture and commercialize its prototype vaccine for sale to the
government of South Korea. The CLA was amended in December 2021 and July 2022 to include the sale of
its prototype vaccine to Thailand and Vietnam and to supply the Company with the antigen component
of prototype vaccine for use in the final drug product globally, including product to be distributed by the
COVAX Facility. Under the CLA, as amended, SK agreed to pay the Company a royalty on the sale of its
prototype vaccine in the low to middle double-digit range. The CLA was in addition to the Company's
existing manufacturing arrangement with SK under a Development and Supply Agreement (“DSA”) entered
into in August 2020. In July 2022, the Company signed an additional agreement with SK for the technology
transfer of the Company’s proprietary COVID-19 variant antigen materials so that SK can manufacture the
drug substance targeting COVID-19 variants, including the Omicron subvariants. The companies also signed
an agreement to manufacture and supply its prototype vaccine in a prefilled syringe.
In June 2023, the Company entered into a material transfer agreement with SK for the use by SK of
the Company’s Matrix-M™ adjuvant in preclinical vaccine experiments for shingles, influenza, and pan-
sarbecovirus vaccine.
F-27
In August 2023, the Company and SK entered into a Settlement Agreement and General Release
(the “Settlement Agreement”) regarding mutual release by the parties of all claims arising from or in relation
to statements of work (“SOWs”) canceled by the Company under the DSA and the CLA (collectively the
“Business Agreements”), and other SOWs under the Business Agreements (collectively, the “Subject SOWs”),
in each case, in connection with the cessation of all drug substance and drug product manufacturing
activity at SK for supply to the Company. Subject SOWs canceled by the Company under the Settlement
Agreement included (i) Statement of Work No. 1 dated as of December 23, 2021 as amended to date
under the CLA; (ii) Statement of Work No. 5 dated as of July 18, 2022 under the DSA; and (iii) Statement of
Work No. 6 dated as of July 18, 2022, and as amended as of December 28, 2022 under the DSA.
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company is responsible for payment of $149.8 million to
SK in connection with the cancellation of manufacturing activity for the SOWs under the Business
Agreements, of which (i) $130.4 million was paid in August 2023 and (ii) the remaining balance was paid in
November 2023. Under the Settlement Agreement, the Company and SK agreed to a wind down plan with
respect to the remaining products, materials and equipment under the SOWs.
Under the Settlement Agreement, the Company and SK agreed to remove certain restrictions under
the CLA that have been triggered by the launch of SK’s competing vaccine SKYCovione™ in the Republic
of Korea. In addition, the Company agreed to extend the term of an exclusive license to SK under the CLA
for the exploitation of antigen and vaccine products utilizing Company’s proprietary coronavirus vaccine
antigens and Matrix-M adjuvant in certain territories. The Company recorded $4.0 million to Deferred
revenue related to the extended licenses granted to SK under the Settlement Agreement.
In August 2023, the Company also entered into a Securities Subscription Agreement (the
“Subscription Agreement”) with SK, pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell and issue to SK, in a
private placement (the “Private Placement”), 6.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock, par value
$0.01 per share (the “Shares”) at a price of $13.00 per share for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company
of approximately $84.5 million. The closing of the Private Placement occurred on August 10, 2023. The fair
value of the Company’s common stock on the date of closing, based on the quoted market price, was
$46.5 million, which results in a premium paid by SK of approximately $38 million.
The Settlement Agreement and the Subscription Agreement were negotiated concurrently
between the parties, and therefore were combined for accounting purposes and analyzed as a single
arrangement. As a result, the Company recorded the $46.5 million fair value of common stock issued to SK,
based on the quoted market price on the date of close, as an equity transaction. The remaining elements
of the arrangement were deemed to relate to the settlement of the Company’s outstanding liabilities due
to SK. These elements consist primarily of the cash payable to SK of $149.8 million, offset by the premium
paid on the common stock purchase by SK of $38.0 million, which resulted in a net gain upon derecognition
of the liabilities due to SK of $79.2 million in connection with the settlement. As a result, during the year
ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded this net gain of $79.2 million between research and
development expense, for $57.7 million, and cost of sales, for $21.5 million, proportionally based on the
where the underlying costs were originally recorded.
Other Supply Agreements
On September 30, 2022, the Company, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies UK Limited (“FDBK”),
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Texas, LLC (“FDBT”), and FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies USA, Inc.
(“FDBU” and together with FDBK and FDBT, “Fujifilm”) entered into a Confidential Settlement Agreement
and Release (the “Fujifilm Settlement Agreement”) regarding amounts due to Fujifilm in connection with
the termination of manufacturing activity at FDBT under the Commercial Supply Agreement (the “Fujifilm
CSA”) dated August 20, 2021 and Master Services Agreement dated June 30, 2020 and associated
statements of work (the “Fujifilm MSA”) by and between the Company and Fujifilm. The Fujifilm MSA and
Fujifilm CSA established the general terms and conditions applicable to Fujifilm’s manufacturing and supply
activities related to prototype vaccine under the associated statements of work.
F-28
Pursuant to the Fujifilm Settlement Agreement, the Company agreed to pay up to $185.0 million (the
“Settlement Payment”) to Fujifilm in connection with cancellation of manufacturing activity at FDBT under
the CSA, of which (i) $47.8 million, constituting the initial reservation fee under the CSA, was credited against
the Settlement Payment on September 30, 2022 and (ii) the remaining balance was to be paid in four equal
quarterly installments of $34.3 million each, which began on March 31, 2023. Under the Fujifilm Settlement
Agreement, the final two quarterly installments due to Fujifilm were subject to Fujifilm’s obligation to use
commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate losses associated with the vacant manufacturing capacity
caused by the termination of manufacturing activities at FDBT under the CSA. Any replacement revenue
achieved by Fujifilm’s mitigation efforts between July 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023 would offset the final
two settlement payments owed by the Company. On October 2, 2023, the Company sent a notice of
breach under the Fujifilm Settlement Agreement to Fujifilm setting forth the Company’s position that Fujifilm
had not used commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate losses. The Company withheld two installments
of $34.3 million due to Fujifilm on September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2023, pending resolution of the
issues identified in the notice of breach. On October 30, 2023, FDBT filed a demand for arbitration with
Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (“JAMS”) seeking payment of the third quarter installment of the
Settlement Payment. As of December 31, 2023, the remaining payment of $68.6 million was reflected in
Accrued expenses.
The Company continues to assess its manufacturing needs and intends to modify its global
manufacturing footprint consistent with its contractual obligations to supply, and anticipated demand for,
its COVID-19 Vaccine, and in doing so, recognizes that significant costs may be incurred.
Note 5 – Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported
on the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the statement
of cash flows (in thousands):
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash current
Restricted cash non-current(1)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
$
$
2023
December 31,
2022
1,336,883
568,505
$
10,424
4,881
$
583,810
$
10,303
1,659
$
1,348,845
2021
1,515,116
11,490
1,653
1,528,259
(1) Classified as Other non-current assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
F-29
Note 6 – Fair Value Measurements
The following table represents the estimated fair value of the Company’s financial assets and
liabilities (in thousands):
Fair Value at December 31, 2023 Fair Value at December 31, 2022
Level 3
Level 1
Level 1
Level 2
Level 2
Level 3
Assets
Money market funds (1)
Government-backed securities
(1)
Corporate debt securities (1)
Agency securities(1)
Total cash equivalents
$ 171,824
$
—
—
—
— $
200,000
45,622
—
$ 171,824
$ 245,622
$
— $ 398,834
—
—
—
— $ 398,834
$
—
—
—
— $
296,000
—
104,536
$ 400,536
$
Liabilities
3.75% Convertible notes due 2023 $
5.00% Convertible notes due 2027
Total convertible notes payable $
— $
— $
—
100,909
— $ 100,909
$
— $
—
— $
— $ 322,111
172,789
—
— $ 494,900
$
$
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(1) All investments are classified as Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, on the
consolidated balance sheets.
Fixed-income investments categorized as Level 2 are valued at the custodian bank by a third-party
pricing vendor’s valuation models that use verifiable observable market data, such as interest rates and
yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals and credit spreads, bids provided by brokers or
dealers, or quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics. Pricing of the Company’s convertible notes
has been estimated using observable inputs, including the price of the Company’s common stock, implied
volatility, interest rates, and credit spreads.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not have any transfers
between Levels.
The amount in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for accounts payable and accrued
expenses approximates its fair value due to its short-term nature.
Note 7 – Inventory
Inventory consisted of the following (in thousands):
Raw materials
Semi-finished goods
Finished goods
Total inventory
December 31,
2023
2022
$
6,614 $
13,912
7,392
21,410
27,690
1,361
$
41,696 $
36,683
Inventory write-downs as a result of excess, obsolescence, expiry, or other reasons, and losses on
firm purchase commitments are recorded as a component of Cost of sales in the consolidated statements
of operations. For the year ended December 31, 2023, inventory write-downs were $72.4 million and losses
on firm purchase commitments were $73.5 million. In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2023, the
Company recorded recoveries on firm purchase commitments of $40.2 million related primarily to
negotiated reductions to previously recognized firm purchase commitments. Also, during the year ended
F-30
December 31, 2023, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $6.1 million in Cost of sales related
to an embedded lease agreement with a CMO for production capacity in excess of production needs. For
the year ended December 31, 2022, inventory write-downs and losses on firm purchase commitments were
$447.6 million and $155.9 million respectively. There were no inventory write-downs or losses on firm purchase
commitments during 2021. Inventory reserves for write-downs are relieved when the inventory is disposed of
through scrap or sale. Activity in the reserve for excess and obsolete inventory was as follows (in thousands):
Balance at January 1,
Charged to Cost of sales, including impairments
Other additions
Deductions
Balance at December 31,
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
$
$
368,383
$
72,441
65,049
(239,814
)
$
266,059
—
447,597
—
(79,214
)
368,383
Other additions include receipts of inventory previously recorded as losses on firm purchase
commitments.
Note 8 – Goodwill
The Company has one reporting unit, which has a negative carrying amount as of December 31,
2023 and 2022, The change in the carrying amounts of goodwill was as follows (in thousands):
Beginning balance
Currency translation adjustments
Ending balance
Note 9 – Leases
Year Ended December
31,
2023
126,331
$
2022
131,479
$
1,123
$
127,454
$
(5,148)
126,331
The Company has embedded leases related to multiple manufacturing supply agreements with
CMOs and CMOS to manufacture COVID-19 Vaccine, as well as operating and finance leases for its
research and development and manufacturing facilities, corporate headquarters and offices. During the
year ended December 31, 2023, the Company continued to align its global manufacturing footprint as a
result of its ongoing assessment of manufacturing needs consistent with its contractual obligations related
to the supply, and anticipated demand for, its COVID-19 Vaccine.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company modified certain of its CMO
and CDMO agreements that had previously been determined to represent embedded leases and, in
accordance with its policy, the Company remeasured and reallocated the remaining consideration under
the contracts and reassessed the lease classification as of the effective dates of the respective
modifications. During the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, as a result of new or modified leases,
the Company recognized ROU assets, net of credits on modifications, and a corresponding lease liability
of $6.8 million and $18.6 million, respectively, for its long-term finance and operating leases embedded in
CMO and CDMO manufacturing supply agreements. Also, during the year ended December 31, 2023, the
Company recorded an impairment charge of $6.1 million in Cost of sales related to an embedded lease
agreement with a CMO for production capacity in excess of production needs.
During 2020, the Company entered into a lease agreement for the premises located at 700 Quince
Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland ("700QO"). The lease is for approximately 170,000 square feet of
space that the Company is using for manufacturing, research and development, and offices. The term of
F-31
the lease expires in 2035 with options to extend the lease. The lease provides for an annual base rent of $5.8
million that is subject to future rent increases and obligates the Company to pay building operating costs.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company obtained the right to direct the use of, and
obtain substantially all of the benefit from, certain floors located at the premises and recognized an ROU
asset and related lease obligation of $73.2 million as lease commencement for accounting purposes
occurred in 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company obtained the right to direct
the use of, and obtain substantially all of the benefit from, the remaining floors located at the premises and
recognized a ROU asset and related lease obligation of $96.5 million as the lease commencement dates
for accounting purposes had occurred for such remaining floors. The lease obligation was reduced by $73.4
million for prepaid rent and prior costs incurred on behalf of the landlord during 2023.
As of December 31, 2023, facility leases, including the 700QO lease, have expirations that range
from approximately two to thirteen years, some of which include options to extend the lease term. The
facility leases contain provisions for future rent increases and obligate the Company to pay building
operating costs.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $5.9
million related to ROU facility leases used for research and development, manufacturing and offices space
that are impacted by the Restructuring Plan (see Note 17).
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was
as follows (in thousands, except weighted-average remaining lease term and discount rate):
Lease Assets and Liabilities
Assets:
ROU assets, operating, net
ROU assets, finance, net
Total non-current ROU assets
Classification
Right of use asset, net
Right of use asset, net
December 31,
2023
2022
$ 24,985 $ 36,384
69,857
$ 185,218 $ 106,241
160,233
Liabilities:
Current portion of operating lease
liabilities
Current portion of finance lease
liabilities
Total current lease liabilities
Other current liabilities
Current portion of finance lease
liabilities
$ 22,977 $ 16,867
27,19
6
$ 28,119 $ 44,063
5,142
Non-current portion of operating lease
liabilities
Non-current portion of finance lease
liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Non-current finance lease
liabilities
Total non-current lease liabilities
Weighted-average remaining lease term
(years):
Operating leases
Finance leases
Weighted-average discount rate:
Operating leases
Finance leases
$ 28,577 $ 50,085
55,923
31,238
$ 84,500 $ 81,323
3.9
11.6
4.6
8.3
6.0%
8.9%
6.4%
5.4%
F-32
Lease expense for the operating and short-term leases for the years ended December 31, 2023,
2022, and 2021 was as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2023
Operating lease expense
Short-term lease expense (benefit (1))
Variable lease expense
Finance lease expense:
ROU assets expensed
Interest expense
Total finance lease expense
$
6,929 $
(48,009)
10,292
6,903 $
94,726
6,836
37,027
468,210
116,435
$
$
12,876 $
2,605
15,481 $
7,759 $
1,472
9,231 $
112,528
7,241
119,769
(1) During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized a short-term lease benefit of
$48.0 million due to gains on the settlement of manufacturing supply agreements with CMOs and
CDMOs that included embedded leases.
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the year ended December 31, 2023, 2022,
and 2021 was as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2023
2021
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease
liabilities:
Operating cash flows used in operating leases
Operating cash flows used in finance leases
Financing cash flows used in finance leases
$
101,297
$
2,605
27,345
190,158
$
1,472
93,595
203,991
7,241
127,907
ROU assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations $
ROU assets obtained in exchange for finance lease obligations
— $
103,299
30,675 $
73,240
66,682
112,528
As of December 31, 2023, maturities of lease liabilities were as follows (in thousands):
Year
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
Thereafter
Total minimum lease payments
Less: imputed interest
Total lease liabilities
Amount
$
$
34,353
17,192
13,616
14,000
14,375
67,296
160,832
48,213
112,619
F-33
Note 10 – Long-Term Debt
The Company’s long-term debt consisted of the following (in thousands):
Current portion:
3.75% Convertible notes due 2023
Unamortized debt issuance costs
Total current convertible notes payable
Non-current portion:
5.00% Convertible notes due 2027
Unamortized debt issuance costs
Total non-current convertible notes payable
December 31,
2023
2022
$
$
$
$
— $
—
— $
325,000
(119)
324,881
175,250
$
(7,234)
168,016
$
175,250
(8,784)
166,466
Interest expense incurred in connection with the convertible notes payable consisted of the
following (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2023
2021
Coupon interest
Amortization of debt issuance costs
Total interest expense on convertible notes payable
$
$
9,779 $
1,689
11,468 $
12,542 $
1,497
14,039 $
12,188
1,424
13,612
2027 Convertible Notes
In December 2022, the Company issued $175.3 million aggregate principal amount of convertible
senior unsecured notes that will mature on December 15, 2027 (the “2027 Notes”), unless earlier converted,
redeemed, or repurchased. The 2027 Notes were issued in a private placement to qualified institutional
buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and pursuant to an indenture
dated December 20, 2022 (the “2027 Indenture”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon
Trust Company, N.A., as trustee. Concurrently with the issuance of the 2027 Notes, the Company completed
a public offering of shares of its common stock (see Note 11). The Company received $166.4 million in net
proceeds from the issuance of the 2027 Notes after deducting the initial purchasers’ fees and the
Company’s offering expenses. The 2027 Notes bear cash interest at a rate of 5.00% per year, payable
semiannually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2023.
The 2027 Notes are convertible at the option of the holders at any time prior to the close of business
on the business day immediately preceding September 15, 2027, only under the following circumstances:
(1) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on March 31, 2023 (and
only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock for at
least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending
on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or
equal to 130% of the conversion price for the 2027 Notes on each applicable trading day; (2) during the
five business day period after any ten consecutive trading day period (the “measurement period”) in which
the trading price (as defined in the 2027 Indenture) per $1,000 principal amount of the 2027 Notes for each
trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of
the Company’s common stock and the conversion rate for the 2027 Notes on each such trading day; (3) if
the Company calls such 2027 Notes for redemption, at any time prior to the close of business on the
scheduled trading day immediately preceding the redemption date, but only with respect to the 2027
Notes called (or deemed called) for redemption; and (4) upon the occurrence of specified corporate
events as set forth in the 2027 Indenture. On or after September 15, 2027, until the close of business on the
business day immediately preceding the maturity date (December 15, 2027), holders of the 2027 Notes may
F-34
convert all or any portion of their 2027 Notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing conditions. Upon
conversion, the Company may satisfy its conversion obligation by paying or delivering, as the case may be,
cash, shares of the Company’s common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s
common stock, at the Company’s election, in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions
provided in the 2027 Indenture.
The conversion rate for the 2027 Notes will initially be 80.0000 shares of the Company’s common
stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2027 Notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of $12.50
per share of common stock. The initial conversion price of the 2027 Notes represents a conversion premium
of 25% of the public offering price in the Company’s concurrent common stock offering that closed on
December 20, 2022 (see Note 11). The conversion rate for the 2027 Notes is subject to adjustment under
certain circumstances in accordance with the terms of the 2027 Indenture. In addition, following certain
corporate events that occur prior to the maturity date of the 2027 Notes or if the Company delivers a notice
of redemption in respect of the 2027 Notes, the Company will, under certain circumstances, increase the
conversion rate of the 2027 Notes for a holder who elects to convert its 2027 Notes (or any portion thereof)
in connection with such a corporate event or convert its 2027 Notes called (or deemed called) for
redemption during the related redemption period (as defined in the 2027 Indenture), as the case may be.
The Company may not redeem the 2027 Notes prior to December 22, 2025. The Company may
redeem for cash all or any portion of the 2027 Notes, at its option, on or after December 22, 2025, if the last
reported sale price of the common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price for the 2027 Notes
then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading
day period (including the last trading day of such period) ending on, and including, the trading day
immediately preceding the date on which the Company provides notice of redemption at a redemption
price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2027 Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid
interest, to, but excluding, the redemption date. If the Company redeems less than all the outstanding 2027
Notes, at least $50 million aggregate principal amount of 2027 Notes must be outstanding and not subject
to redemption as of the date of the relevant notice of redemption. No sinking fund is provided for the 2027
Notes.
If the Company undergoes a Fundamental Change (as defined in the 2027 Indenture), holders may
require, subject to certain conditions and exceptions as set forth in the 2027 Indenture, the Company to
repurchase for cash all or any portion of their 2027 Notes at a Fundamental Change repurchase price equal
to 100% of the principal amount of the 2027 Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest,
to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change repurchase date. If a holder of the 2027 Notes converted upon
a Make-Whole Fundamental Change (as described in the 2027 Indenture), they may be eligible to receive
a make-whole premium through an increase to the conversion rate up to a maximum of 20.0000 shares per
$1,000 principal amount of 2027 Notes (subject to other adjustments as described in the 2027 Indenture).
In accounting for the issuance of the 2027 Notes, the Company determined that the scope
exceptions provided under ASC Topic 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity
(“ASC 815-40”) apply to all but one of the conversion features embedded in the 2027 Notes. This remaining
conversion feature, which is associated with a Fundamental Change of the Company, was determined to
have a de minimis value as of December 31, 2023, and 2022.
The initial purchasers’ fees and the Company’s issuance costs related to the 2027 Notes totaled $8.8
million, which were recorded as a reduction to the 2027 Notes on the consolidated balance sheet. The $8.8
million of debt issuance costs is being amortized and recognized as additional interest expense over the
five-year contractual term of the 2027 Notes using an effective interest rate of 6.2%.
2023 Convertible Notes
In 2016, the Company issued $325 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior
unsecured notes that matured on February 1, 2023 (the “2023 Notes”). The 2023 Notes were senior
unsecured debt obligations and were issued at par. On January 31, 2023, the Company funded the
outstanding principal amount of $325 million on the 2023 Notes, due February 1, 2023 and the indenture
F-35
governing the 2023 Notes was subsequently satisfied and discharged in accordance with its terms. The
Company’s related “capped call transactions” expired by their terms on January 27, 2023. The Company
repaid the outstanding principal amount of $325 million together with accrued but unpaid interest on the
maturity date. The repayment was funded by the issuance of the 2027 Notes and the concurrent common
stock offering, as well as cash on hand.
The 2023 Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture dated January 29, 2016 (the “2023 Indenture”)
between the Company and the trustee. The Company received $315.0 million in net proceeds from the
offering after deducting underwriting fees and offering expenses. The 2023 Notes bore cash interest at a
rate of 3.75%, payable on February 1 and August 1 of each year. The 2023 Notes were not redeemable
prior to maturity and were convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock. As a result of the
Company’s one-for-twenty reverse stock split in 2019 and pursuant to Section 14.04(a) of the 2023 Indenture,
the 2023 Notes were initially convertible into approximately 2,385,800 shares of the Company’s common
stock based on the initial conversion rate of 7.3411 shares of the Company’s common stock per $1,000
principal amount of the 2023 Notes. This represents an initial conversion price of approximately $136.20 per
share of the Company’s common stock, representing an approximate 22.5% conversion premium based
on the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock of $111.20 per share on January 25, 2016.
In addition, the holders of the 2023 Notes may have required the Company to repurchase the 2023 Notes
at par value plus accrued and unpaid interest following the occurrence of a Fundamental Change (as
described in the 2023 Indenture). If a holder of the 2023 Notes converted upon a Make-Whole Adjustment
Event (as described in the 2023 Indenture), they may have been eligible to receive a make-whole premium
through an increase to the conversion rate up to a maximum of 8.9928 shares per $1,000 principal amount
of 2023 Notes (subject to other adjustments as described in the 2023 Indenture).
The 2023 Notes are accounted for in accordance with ASC 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other
Options (“ASC 470-20”) and ASC 815-40. Under ASC 815-40, to qualify for equity classification (or non-
bifurcation, if embedded) the instrument (or embedded feature) must be both (1) indexed to the issuer’s
stock and (2) meet the requirements of the equity classification guidance. Based upon the Company’s
analysis, it was determined the 2023 Notes did contain embedded features indexed to its own stock, but
did not meet the requirements for bifurcation, and therefore do not need to be separately accounted for
as an equity component. Since the embedded conversion feature met the equity scope exception from
derivative accounting, and also since the embedded conversion option did not need to be separately
accounted for as an equity component under ASC 470-20, the proceeds received from the issuance of the
convertible debt were recorded as a liability on the consolidated balance sheets.
In connection with the issuance of the 2023 Notes, the Company also paid $38.5 million, including
expenses, to enter into privately negotiated capped call transactions with certain financial institutions (the
“capped call transactions”). The capped call transactions expired by their terms on January 27, 2023. The
capped call transactions were generally expected to reduce the potential dilution upon conversion of the
2023 Notes in the event that the market price per share of the Company’s common stock, as measured
under the terms of the capped call transactions, was greater than the strike price of the capped call
transactions, which initially corresponded to the conversion price of the 2023 Notes, and was subject to
anti-dilution adjustments generally similar to those applicable to the conversion rate of the 2023 Notes. The
cap price of the capped call transactions was initially $194.60 per share, which represented a premium of
approximately 75% based on the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock of $111.20 per
share on January 25, 2016, and was subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the capped call
transactions. If, however, the market price per share of the Company’s common stock, as measured under
the terms of the capped call transactions, exceeded the cap price, there would nevertheless have been
dilution upon conversion of the 2023 Notes to the extent that such market price exceeded the cap price.
The Company evaluated the capped call transactions under ASC Topic 815-10, Derivatives and Hedging –
Overall and determined that they should be accounted for as a separate transaction and that the capped
call transactions would be classified as an equity instrument.
The Company incurred approximately $10 million of debt issuance costs in 2016 relating to the
issuance of the 2023 Notes, which were recorded as a reduction to the 2023 Notes on the consolidated
balance sheet. The $10.0 million of debt issuance costs was amortized and recognized as additional interest
F-36
expense over the seven-year contractual term of the 2023 Notes on a straight-line basis, which
approximated the effective interest rate method. The Company also incurred $0.9 million of expenses
related to the capped call transactions, which were recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in-capital.
Note 11 – Stockholders’ Deficit
In August 2023, the Company entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the "August
2023 Sales Agreement"), which allows it to issue and sell up to $500 million in gross proceeds of shares of its
common stock, and terminated its then-existing At Market Issuance Sales agreement entered in June 2021
(the “June 2021 Sales Agreement”). During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company sold 38.3
million shares of its common stock under its August 2023 Sales Agreement and 7.9 million shares of its
common stock under its June 2021 Sales Agreement, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $321 million,
of which $6.9 million was included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets as of December 31, 2023
and received in cash in January 2024. As of December 31, 2023, the remaining balance available under
the August 2023 Sales Agreement was approximately $242 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company sold 2.2 million shares of its common stock
resulting in net proceeds of approximately $179 million, under its June 2021 Sales Agreement.
In August 2023, pursuant to the Securities Subscription Agreement with SK, the Company agreed to
sell and issue to SK 6.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $13.00 per share (the
“Shares”) in a Private Placement for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $84.5
million. The Company recognized the Shares at the settlement date fair value of $46.5 million (see Note 4
for additional discussion of the Securities Subscription Agreement with SK). The closing of the Private
Placement occurred on August 10, 2023.
In December 2022, the Company completed a public offering of 7,475,000 shares of its common
stock, including 975,000 shares of common stock that were issued upon the exercise in full of the option to
purchase additional shares granted to the underwriters, at a price of $10.00 per share resulting in net
proceeds, net of offering costs of $4.9 million, of approximately $70 million. The Company completed this
public offering concurrent with the issuance of the 2027 Notes (see Note 10).
Note 12 – Stock-Based Compensation
Equity Plans
In January 2023, the Company established the 2023 Inducement Plan (the “2023 Inducement Plan”),
which provides for the granting of share-based awards to individuals who were not previously employees,
or following a bona fide period of non-employment, as an inducement material to such individuals entering
into employment with the Company. The Company reserved 1.0 million shares of common stock for grants
under the 2023 Inducement Plan. As of December 31, 2023, there were 0.2 million shares available for
issuance under the 2023 Inducement Plan.
The 2015 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (“2015 Plan”), was approved at the Company’s annual
meeting of stockholders in June 2015. Under the 2015 Plan, equity awards may be granted to officers,
directors, employees, and consultants of and advisors to the Company and any present or future subsidiary.
The 2015 Plan authorizes the issuance of up to 21.0 million shares of common stock under equity
awards granted under the 2015 Plan, which includes an increase of 6.2 million shares approved for issuance
under the 2015 Plan at the Company’s 2023 annual meeting of stockholders. All such shares authorized for
issuance under the 2015 Plan have been reserved. The 2015 Plan will expire on March 30, 2033. As of
December 31, 2023, there were 6.9 million shares available for issuance under the 2015 Plan.
The Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (“2005 Plan”) expired in February 2015 and
no new awards may be made under such plan, although awards will continue to be outstanding in
accordance with their terms.
F-37
The 2015 Plan permits and the 2005 Plan permitted the grant of stock options (including incentive
stock options), restricted stock, SARs, and RSUs. In addition, under the 2015 Plan, unrestricted stock, stock
units, and performance awards may be granted. Stock options and SARs generally have a maximum term
of ten years and may be or were granted with an exercise price that is no less than 100% of the fair market
value of the Company’s common stock at the time of grant. Grants of stock options are generally subject
to vesting over periods ranging from one to four years.
The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense in the consolidated statements of
operations as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2023
2021
Cost of sales
Research and development
Selling, general, and administrative
Total stock-based compensation expense
$
$
3,417 $
41,211
40,729
85,357 $
1,032 $
66,565
62,703
$
130,300
—
86,928
96,698
183,626
During the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, total stock-based compensation capitalized
in inventory was $0.5 million and $1.7 million, respectively. No stock-based compensation was capitalized
in inventory during the year ended December 31, 2021.
As of December 31, 2023, there was approximately $81.4 million of total unrecognized
compensation expense related to unvested stock options, SARs, RSUs, and the ESPP. This unrecognized non-
cash compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of
approximately 1.0 year and will be allocated between cost of sales, research and development, and
general and administrative expenses accordingly. This estimate does not include the impact of other
possible stock-based awards that may be made during future periods.
The aggregate intrinsic value represents the total intrinsic value (the difference between the
Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the period and the exercise price, multiplied by
the number of in-the-money stock options and SARs) that would have been received by the holders had
all stock option and SARs holders exercised their stock options and SARs on December 31, 2023. This amount
is subject to change based on changes to the closing price of the Company’s common stock. The
aggregate intrinsic value of stock options and SARs exercises and vesting of RSUs for the years ending
December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 was approximately $5 million, $21 million, and $454 million, respectively.
F-38
Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
The following is a summary of stock options and SARs activity under the 2023 Inducement Plan,
2015 Plan and the 2005 Plan for the year ended December 31, 2023:
2023 Inducement Plan
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
Stock
Options
2015 Plan
2005 Plan
Stock
Options &
SARs
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
Stock
Options
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
Outstanding at
January 1, 2023
Granted
Exercised
Canceled
Outstanding at
December 31, 2023
Shares exercisable at
December 31, 2023
422,800
— $
$
— $
— $
10.67 1,021,596
— 4,053,290 $
$
(9,483) $
(278,361
$
)
—
—
46.07
7.04
6.07
41.38
63,725 $
— $
— $
(5,450) $
112.94
—
—
39.70
422,800 $
10.67 4,787,042 $
38.10
58,275 $
119.79
— $
— 3,436,339 $
41.51
58,275 $
119.79
The fair value of stock options granted under the 2023 Inducement Plan and the 2015 Plan was
estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
Weighted average Black-Scholes fair value of stock
options and SARs granted
Risk-free interest rate
Dividend yield
Volatility
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2023
$7.00
3.5%-4.8%
$55.32
1.4%-4.3%
$158.02
0.5%-1.3%
—%
—%
120.4%-140.3% 120.5%-140.1% 124.7%-142.0%
—%
Expected term (in years)
3.9-6.4
4.0-6.3
4.1-6.1
The total aggregate intrinsic value and weighted-average remaining contractual term of stock
options and SARs outstanding under the 2023 Inducement Plan, 2015 Plan and 2005 Plan as of December
31, 2023 was less than $0.1 million and 6.9 years, respectively. The total aggregate intrinsic value and
weighted-average remaining contractual term of stock options and SARs exercisable under the 2023
Inducement Plan, 2015 Plan and 2005 Plan as of December 31, 2023 was less than $0.1 million and 5.9 years,
respectively.
F-39
Restricted Stock Units
The following is a summary of RSU activity for the year ended December 31, 2023:
2023 Inducement Plan
2015 Plan
Outstanding and unvested at January 1, 2022
Restricted stock units granted
Restricted stock units vested
Restricted stock units forfeited
Outstanding and unvested at December 31, 2023
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Per Share
Weighted-
Average
Fair Value
—
10.66
—
—
10.66
— $
$
— $
— $
$
Per Share
Weighted-
Average
Fair Value
61.65
7.06
73.73
27.04
19.43
Number of
Shares
2,034,574
$
3,314,452
$
(696,553
$
)
(937,603
$
)
3,714,870
$
Number of
Shares
363,990
363,990
The ESPP was approved at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders in June 2013. The ESPP
currently authorizes an aggregate of 1.2 million shares of common stock to be purchased, and the
aggregate amount of shares will continue to increase 5% on each anniversary of its adoption up to a
maximum of 1.65 million shares. The ESPP allows employees to purchase shares of common stock of the
Company at each purchase date through payroll deductions of up to a maximum of 15% of their
compensation, at 85% of the lesser of the market price of the shares at the time of purchase or the market
price on the beginning date of an option period (or, if later, the date during the option period when the
employee was first eligible to participate). At December 31, 2023, there were 0.5 million shares available for
issuance under the ESPP.
Note 13 – Employee Benefits
The Company maintains a defined contribution 401(k) retirement plan, pursuant to which
employees may elect to contribute up to 100% of their compensation on a tax deferred basis up to the
maximum amount permitted by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Company matches
100% of the first 3% of the participants’ deferral, and 50% on the next 2% of the participants’ deferral, up to
a potential 4% Company match. The Company’s matching contributions to the 401(k) plan vest
immediately. Under its 401(k) plan, the Company has recorded expense of $7.0 million, $6.0 million, and
$3.4 million in 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
The Company’s foreign subsidiaries have pension plans under local tax and labor laws and are
obligated to make contributions to the plan. Contributions and other expenses related to this plan were
$3.0 million, $2.4 million, and $1.7 million in 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
Note 14 – Other Financial Information
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following as of (in thousands):
Prepaid expenses
Other current assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
F-40
December 31,
2023
$
$
70,297 $
155,726
226,023
$
2022
160,773
76,374
237,147
Property and Equipment, net
Property and equipment is comprised of the following as of (in thousands):
Land and buildings
Machinery and equipment
Leasehold improvements
Computer hardware
Construction in progress
Less: accumulated depreciation
Property and equipment, net
December 31,
2023
102,916
$
148,243
48,310
5,114
76,156
380,739
(74,968)
305,771 $
2022
101,342
134,809
18,895
4,927
81,566
341,539
(47,292)
294,247
$
$
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, approximately $155 million and $170 million, respectively, of net
assets used in operations were located in the Czech Republic. Depreciation expense was approximately
$41 million, $29 million, and $13 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consist of the following as of (in thousands):
Employee benefits and compensation
Gross-to-net deductions
U.S. product sales returns accrual
Research and development accruals
Other accrued expenses
Accrued expenses
Other Current Liabilities
Other current liabilities consist of the following as of (in thousands):
Refunds due to APA customers
Other current liability related to Gavi (see Note 3)
Other current liabilities
Total other current liabilities
Note 15 – Income Taxes
December 31,
2023
2022
$
55,952 $
20,616
82,506
131,027
104,567
$
394,668
$
52,569
—
—
468,214
70,375
591,158
December 31,
2023
142,165
696,390
$
2022
210,362
697,384
22,853
861,408 $
22,309
930,055
$
$
The Company’s loss before income tax expense by jurisdiction is as follows (in thousands):
Domestic
Foreign
Loss before income tax expense
F-41
2023
Year Ended December 31,
2022
$ (628,984) $ (712,183) $(1,633,016)
(81,520)
$ (543,031) $ (653,647) $(1,714,536)
85,953
58,536
2021
Significant components of the current and deferred income tax expense (benefit) are as follows (in
thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2023
2021
Current:
Domestic
State and local
Foreign
Total current income tax expense (benefit)
Deferred:
Foreign
Total income tax expense
$
(1,300) $
(157)
1,445
(12)
1,300 $
503
2,489
4,292
—
—
29,215
29,215
2,043
2,031 $
—
4,292 $
—
29,215
$
A reconciliation of income tax expense to the amount computed by applying the U.S. federal
statutory tax rate to the Company’s effective tax rate is as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2023
2021
Statutory federal tax rate
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
Research and development and other tax credits
Non-deductible expenses
Non-cash stock-based compensation
U.S. taxation of foreign operations
Cancellation of Indebtedness
Non-US tax credits
Other
Change in tax rate
Change in valuation allowance
Income tax expense
(1)
(4)
(1)
21 %
1 %
— %
— %
%
%
%
4 %
— %
— %
(20) %
— %
(1)
(1)
(3)
21 %
2 %
1 %
%
%
%
— %
— %
2 %
(20) %
%
(2)
%
(1)
(2)
21 %
6 %
1 %
%
4 %
— %
%
— %
%
— %
(30) %
%
(2)
(1)
(1)
As of December 31, 2023, the Company has available federal and state net operating losses of $2.4
billion, $877.6 million, respectively, that may be applied against future taxable income in the respective
jurisdiction. The federal net operating losses of $2.4 billion can be carried forward indefinitely, with all but
$11.3 million, which expires in 2037, limited to 80% of annual taxable income. State net operating losses of
$457.4 million have various expiration dates between 2028 and 2042. The remaining state net operating
losses of $420.2 million can be carried forward indefinitely. The Company also has research tax credits of
$51.9 million that will begin to expire in 2024 through 2043 and a foreign tax credit carryforward of $18.7
million that will expire in 2030. Utilization of the federal and state net operating loss carryforwards and
research tax credits may be subject to an annual limitation due to potential ownership changes of the
Company. As of December 31, 2023, the Company does not expect such limitation, if any, to impact the
use of its net operating losses and research tax credits.
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and in various states, as well as
in multiple foreign jurisdictions including Sweden and the Czech Republic. The Company has U.S. federal
and state net operating losses and credit carryforwards that are subject to examination from 2003 through
2023. The returns in Sweden are subject to examination from 2016 through 2023 and the returns for the
Czech Republic are subject to examination from 2019 through 2023.
F-42
The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31
were as follows (in thousands):
December 31,
2023
2022
Deferred tax assets:
Federal and state net operating loss carryforward
Foreign net operating loss carryforward
Research tax credits
Lease liability
Deferred revenue
Inventory reserve
Allowance for sales returns
Non-cash stock-based compensation
Capitalized research costs
Foreign tax credit carryforward
Other
Gross deferred tax assets
Valuation allowance
Total deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities:
ROU assets
Fixed assets
Intangibles
Other
Total deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)
$
550,272
$
—
51,878
25,207
479,134
5,752
45,560
27,625
195,049
213,076
266,392
79,386
20,756
30,727
132,500
—
27,599
49,309
—
13,695
1,056,799
1,186,793
(1,020,123
(1,128,941
)
)
36,676
18,679
10,996
57,852 $
$
(41,456
)
(17,160
)
(1,279)
—
(23,330
)
(11,587
)
(1,055)
(704)
$ (59,895) $ (36,676)
—
$
(2,043) $
The Company has evaluated the positive and negative evidence bearing upon the realization of
its deferred tax assets, including its history of significant losses in every year since inception and, in
accordance with U.S GAAP, has fully reserved the net deferred tax asset. The Company concluded that
realization of its net deferred tax assets is not more-likely-than-not to be realized as of December 31, 2023
and 2022. The valuation allowance increased by $108.8 million and $4.8 million for the years ended
December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The net deferred tax liability of $2.0 million at December 31, 2023 is included within other non-current
liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
F-43
The Company recognizes the effect of an income tax position when it is more likely than not, based
on the technical merits, that the income tax position will be sustained upon examination. A reconciliation
of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits in the year ended December 31, 2023,
2022, and 2021 is as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2023
Unrecognized tax benefits balance at January 1
Additions for tax positions of current year
Additions for tax positions of prior years
Reductions for tax positions of prior year
Settlements of tax positions of prior years
Unrecognized tax benefits balance at December 31,
$
$
5,194 $
271
—
(1,228)
—
4,237 $
11,154 $
1,260
807
(8,027)
—
5,194 $
8,766
4,158
—
(1,770)
—
11,154
The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income
tax expense. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had no accruals for interest or penalties.
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, could affect the effective tax rate was
$4.2 million and $5.2 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. However, the Company
maintains a full valuation allowance as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the recognition of any
unrecognized tax benefits would be offset with a change in the valuation allowance and therefore there
would be no income statement impact. As of December 31, 2023, the Company does not expect a
significant change in the recorded unrecognized tax benefits liability balance during the next twelve
months. The unrecognized tax benefits are presented in the financial statements as a reduction to the
deferred tax assets for all periods.
In 2021 the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”) developed
guidance on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“BEPS”) Pillar Two Model Rules (“Pillar Two”), which addresses
corporate tax planning strategies used by some large multinational corporations to shift profits from higher-
tax jurisdictions to lower-tax jurisdictions or zero-tax locations. This guidance imposes a 15% minimum tax on
the earnings of large multinational corporations. Pillar Two is expected to be effective in 2024 for the
jurisdictions in which the Company operates. The Company is currently evaluating the application of Pillar
Two and does not expect these rules to have a significant impact on its effective tax rate or its consolidated
financial statements.
Note 16 – Commitment and Contingencies
Legal Matters
Stockholder Litigation
On November 12, 2021, Sothinathan Sinnathurai filed a purported securities class action in the U.S.
District Court for the District of Maryland (the “Maryland Court”) against the Company and certain
members of senior management, captioned Sothinathan Sinnathurai v. Novavax, Inc., et al., No. 8:21-cv-
02910-TDC (the “Sinnathurai Action”). On January 26, 2022, the Maryland Court entered an order
designating David Truong, Nuggehalli Balmukund Nandkumar, and Jeffrey Gabbert as co-lead plaintiffs in
the Sinnathurai Action. The co-lead plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint on March 11, 2022,
alleging that the defendants made certain purportedly false and misleading statements concerning the
Company’s ability to manufacture prototype vaccine on a commercial scale and to secure the prototype
vaccine’s regulatory approval. The amended complaint defines the purported class as those stockholders
who purchased the Company’s securities between February 24, 2021 and October 19, 2021. On April 25,
2022, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint. On December 12,
2022, the Maryland Court issued a ruling granting in part and denying in part defendants’ motion to dismiss.
The Maryland Court dismissed all claims against two individual defendants and claims based on certain
public statements challenged in the consolidated amended complaint. The Maryland Court denied the
F-44
motion to dismiss as to the remaining claims and defendants, and directed the Company and other
remaining defendants to answer within fourteen days. On December 27, 2022, the Company filed its answer
and affirmative defenses. On March 16, 2023, the plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification and to
appoint class representatives and counsel. Due to the Maryland Court’s ruling on the dismissal motion, the
motion sought to certify a class of stockholders who purchased the Company’s securities between May 11,
2021, and October 19, 2021. The Company filed its opposition to the plaintiffs’ motion on September 22,
2023. On December 4, 2023, the parties agreed to a binding settlement in principle (the “Proposed
Settlement”) to fully resolve the surviving claims in the Sinnathurai Action. Under the Proposed Settlement’s
terms, the Company agreed to pay $47 million into a settlement fund, which will be funded by the
Company’s directors and officers’ liability insurance and paid to members of a putative settlement class.
On January 12, 2024, after the parties negotiated and executed a written agreement governing the
Proposed Settlement, plaintiffs filed an unopposed motion for the Proposed Settlement’s preliminary
approval. On January 23, 2024, the Maryland Court granted the motion for preliminary approval and, as
requested by the parties, preliminarily certified, for the purposes of settlement only, the settlement class. The
court also scheduled a settlement hearing to consider final approval of the settlement for May 23, 2024.
After the Sinnathurai Action was filed, eight derivative lawsuits were filed: (i) Robert E. Meyer v.
Stanley C. Erck, et al., No. 8:21-cv-02996-TDC (the “Meyer Action”), (ii) Shui Shing Yung v. Stanley C. Erck, et
al., No. 8:21-cv-03248-TDC (the “Yung Action”), (iii) William Kirst, et al. v. Stanley C. Erck, et al., No. C-15-CV-
21-000618 (the “Kirst Action”), (iv) Amy Snyder v. Stanley C. Erck, et al., No. 8:22-cv-01415-TDC (the “Snyder
Action”), (v) Charles R. Blackburn, et al. v. Stanley C. Erck, et al., No. 1:22-cv-01417-TDC (the “Blackburn
Action”), (vi) Diego J. Mesa v. Stanley C. Erck, et al., No. 2022-0770-NAC (the “Mesa Action”), (vii) Sean
Acosta v. Stanley C. Erck, et al., No. 2022-1133-NAC (the “Acosta Action”), and (viii) Jared Needelman v.
Stanley C. Erck, et al., No. C-15-CV-23-001550 (the “Needelman Action”). The Meyer, Yung, Snyder, and
Blackburn Actions were filed in the Maryland Court. The Kirst and Needelman Actions were filed in the Circuit
Court for Montgomery County, Maryland. The Mesa and Acosta Actions were filed in the Delaware Court
of Chancery (the “Delaware Court”). The derivative lawsuits name members of the Company’s board of
directors and certain members of senior management as defendants. The Company is deemed a nominal
defendant. The plaintiffs assert derivative claims arising out of substantially the same alleged facts and
circumstances as the Sinnathurai Action. Collectively, the derivative complaints assert claims for breach of
fiduciary duty, insider selling, unjust enrichment, violation of federal securities law, abuse of control, waste,
and mismanagement. Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as an award of monetary
damages and attorneys’ fees.
On February 7, 2022, the Maryland Court entered an order consolidating the Meyer and Yung
Actions (the “First Consolidated Derivative Action”). The plaintiffs in the First Consolidated Derivative Action
filed their consolidated derivative complaint on April 25, 2022. On May 10, 2022, the Maryland Court entered
an order granting the parties’ request to stay all proceedings and deadlines pending the earlier of dismissal
or the filing of an answer in the Sinnathurai Action. On June 10, 2022, the Snyder and Blackburn Actions
were filed. On October 5, 2022, the Maryland Court entered an order granting a request by the plaintiffs in
the First Consolidated Derivative Action and the Snyder and Blackburn Actions to consolidate all three
actions and appoint co-lead plaintiffs and co-lead and liaison counsel (the “Second Consolidated
Derivative Action”). The co-lead plaintiffs in the Second Consolidated Derivative Action filed a consolidated
amended complaint on November 21, 2022. On February 10, 2023, defendants filed a motion to dismiss the
Second Consolidated Derivative Action. The plaintiffs filed their opposition to the motion to dismiss on April
11, 2023. Defendants filed their reply brief in further support of their motion to dismiss on May 11, 2023. On
August 21, 2023, the court entered an order granting in part and denying in part the motion to dismiss; the
court allowed claims for alleged insider selling under Brophy v. Cities Service Co., et al., 70 A.2d 5 (Del. Ch.
1949) and unjust enrichment claims to proceed, but dismissed the remaining claims in the second
consolidated amended complaint. On September 5, 2023, the Company filed an Answer to the
consolidated amended complaint. On September 6, 2023, the court entered an order granting the
individual defendants an extension of time to file their answer until November 6, 2023. On October 6, 2023,
the Board of Directors of the Company formed a Special Litigation Committee (“SLC”) with full and
exclusive power and authority of the Board to, among other things, investigate, review, and analyze the
facts and circumstances surrounding the claims asserted in the pending derivative actions, including the
claims that remain following the court’s order on the motion to dismiss in the Second Consolidated
F-45
Derivative Action. On November 7, 2023, the court entered an order granting the parties’ request to stay
the Second Consolidated Derivative Action for up to six months from the date of entry of the order. This
includes staying the deadline for the individual defendants to respond to the consolidated amended
complaint.
The Kirst Action was filed on December 28, 2021, and the defendants immediately removed the
case to the Maryland Court. On July 21, 2022, the Maryland Court issued a memorandum opinion and order
remanding the Kirst Action to state court. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on December 30, 2022.
On January 23, 2023, defendants filed a motion to stay the Kirst action. On February 22, 2023, the parties in
the Kirst Action filed for the Court’s approval of a stipulation staying the Kirst Action pending the resolution
of defendants’ motion to dismiss in the Second Consolidated Derivative Action. On March 22, 2023, the
Court entered the parties’ stipulated stay of the Kirst Action pending resolution of the motion to dismiss in
the Second Consolidated Derivative Action.
On August 30, 2022, the Mesa Action was filed. On October 3, 2022, the Delaware Court entered
an order granting the parties’ request to stay all proceedings and deadlines in the Mesa Action pending
the earlier of dismissal of the Sinnathurai Action or the filing of an answer to the operative complaint in the
Sinnathurai Action. On January 18, 2023, defendants filed a motion to stay the Mesa Action pending a final
judgment in the Second Consolidated Derivative Action. The plaintiff filed his opposition on February 8,
2023. Defendants filed their reply on February 22, 2023. On February 28, 2023, the court granted the
defendants’ motion to stay. On August 31, 2023, the plaintiff filed a motion to lift the stay. On October 6,
2023, the Company filed an opposition to plaintiff’s motion to lift the stay. Plaintiff filed his reply on October
17, 2023. On December 27, 2023, the parties filed a letter informing the Court that the Second Consolidated
Derivative Action had been stayed for a period of six months and asked the Court to stay further
proceedings in the Mesa Action until expiration of that stay.
On December 7, 2022, the Acosta Action was filed. On February 6, 2023, defendants accepted
service of the complaint and summons in the Acosta Action. On March 9, 2023, the court entered an order
granting the parties’ request to stay the Acosta Action pending the entry of a final, non-appealable
judgment in the Second Consolidated Derivative Action. On October 13, 2023, the parties filed, and the
Delaware Court entered, a stipulated order providing that (i) if the Delaware Court declines to lift the stay
in the Mesa Action, the Acosta Action will also remain stayed, and (ii) if the Delaware Court lifts the stay in
the Mesa Action, the stay in the Acosta Action will also be lifted.
On April 17, 2023, the Needelman Action was filed. On July 12, 2023, the parties filed a stipulation
and proposed order to stay the Needelman Action pending the Maryland Court’s decision on the motion
to dismiss in the Second Consolidated Derivative Action. The court entered that order on July 17, 2023. The
parties continue to discuss next steps in the litigation following the Maryland Court’s ruling on the motion to
dismiss the Second Consolidated Derivative Action. The court entered that order on July 17, 2023.
On November 30, 2023, the court entered an order consolidating the Kirst and Needelman Actions.
On December 14, 2023, the parties filed a stipulation (i) extending the plaintiffs’ deadline to file a
consolidated complaint until January 29, 2024, and (ii) otherwise staying all other proceedings in the case
(including the defendants’ deadline to respond to the consolidated complaint) until February 12, 2024. The
stipulation entered by the court instructs the parties to discuss whether the stay should be further extended
in light of the then-current status of the SLC’s investigation. The financial impact of the derivative claims is
not estimable.
On November 18, 2022, the Company delivered written notice to Gavi to terminate the Gavi APA
based on Gavi’s failure to procure the purchase of 350 million doses of prototype vaccine from the
Company as required by the Gavi APA. As of November 18, 2022, the Company had only received orders
under the Gavi APA for approximately 2 million doses. On December 2, 2022, Gavi issued a written notice
purporting to terminate the Gavi APA based on Gavi’s contention that the Company repudiated the
agreement and, therefore, materially breached the Gavi APA. Gavi also contended that, based on its
purported termination of the Gavi APA, it was entitled to a refund of the Advance Payment Amount less
any amounts that have been credited against the purchase price for binding orders placed by a buyer
F-46
participating in the COVAX Facility. Since December 31, 2022, the remaining Gavi Advance Payment
Amount, which is $696.4 million as of December 31, 2023, pending resolution of the dispute with Gavi related
to a return of the remaining Advance Payment Amount, has been classified within Other current liabilities
in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. On January 24, 2023, Gavi filed a demand for arbitration
with the International Court of Arbitration based on the claims described above. The Company filed its
Answer and Counterclaims on March 2, 2023. On April 5, 2023, Gavi filed its Reply to the Company’s
Counterclaims. On February 16, 2024, the Company and Gavi entered into a Termination and Settlement
Agreement (the “Gavi Settlement Agreement”) terminating the Gavi APA, settling the arbitration
proceedings and releasing both parties of all claims arising from, under or otherwise in connection with the
Gavi APA. Pursuant to the Gavi Settlement Agreement, the Company is responsible for payment to Gavi of
(i) an initial settlement payment of $75 million, which the Company paid on February 20, 2024, and (ii)
deferred payments, in equal annual amounts of $80 million payable each calendar year through a
deferred payment term ending December 31, 2028. The deferred payments are due in variable quarterly
installments beginning in the first quarter of 2024 and total $400 million during the deferred payment term.
Such deferred payments may be reduced through Gavi’s use of an annual vaccine credit equivalent to
the unpaid balance of such deferred payments each year, which may be applied to qualifying sales of
any of the Company’s vaccines funded by Gavi for supply to certain low-income and lower-middle income
countries. The Company has the right to price the vaccines offered to such low-income and lower-middle
income countries at its discretion, and, when utilized by Gavi, the Company will credit the actual price per
vaccine paid against the applicable credit. The Company intends to price vaccines offered via the tender
process, consistent with its shared goal with Gavi to provide equitable access to those countries. On
February 22, 2024, the claims and counterclaims were dismissed with prejudice.
On September 30, 2022, the Company and Fujifilm entered into the Fujifilm Settlement Agreement
regarding amounts due to Fujifilm in connection with the termination of manufacturing activity at FDBT
under the CSA dated August 20, 2021 and the MSA by and between the Company and Fujifilm. The MSA
and CSA established the general terms and conditions applicable to Fujifilm’s manufacturing and supply
activities related to the Company’s prototype vaccine under the associated statements of work. Pursuant
to the Fujifilm Settlement Agreement, the Company agreed to pay up to $185.0 million (the “Settlement
Payment”) to Fujifilm in connection with cancellation of manufacturing activity at FDBT. Under the Fujifilm
Settlement Agreement, the final two quarterly installments due to Fujifilm were subject to Fujifilm’s obligation
to use commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate losses associated with the vacant manufacturing
capacity caused by the termination of manufacturing activities at FDBT under the CSA. Any replacement
revenue achieved by Fujifilm’s mitigation efforts between July 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023 would offset
the final two settlement payments owed by the Company. On October 2, 2023, the Company sent a notice
of breach under the Fujifilm Settlement Agreement to Fujifilm setting forth the Company’s position that
Fujifilm had not used commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate losses. The Company withheld two
installments of $34.3 million due to Fujifilm on September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2023, pending
resolution of the issues identified in the notice of breach. On October 30, 2023, FDBT filed a demand for
arbitration with Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (“JAMS”) seeking payment of the third quarter
installment of the Settlement Payment. An arbitration hearing has been scheduled for May 2024. As of
December 31, 2023, the remaining payment of $68.6 million was reflected in Accrued expenses.
The Company is also involved in various other legal proceedings arising in the normal course of
business. Although the outcomes of these other legal proceedings are inherently difficult to predict, the
Company does not expect the resolution of these other legal proceedings to have a material adverse
effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Purchase Commitments
The Company has entered into agreements in the normal course of business with CMOs and CDMOs
supplying the Company with production capabilities, and with vendors for preclinical studies, clinical trials,
and other goods or services. A number of these arrangements are within the scope of lease accounting
(see Note 9). Certain agreements provide for termination rights subject to termination fees. Under such
agreements, the Company is contractually obligated to make payments to vendors, mainly to reimburse
them for their estimated unrecoverable expenses. The exact amount of such obligations are dependent
F-47
on the timing of termination and the terms of the relevant agreement, and cannot be reasonably
estimated. As of December 31, 2023, most of these agreements were active ongoing arrangements and
the Company expects to receive value from these arrangements in the future. The Company recognizes
fees related to obligations for terminated contracts where such fees are reasonably estimable. The
Company did not accrue obligations that were not reasonably estimable. As of December 31, 2023, the
Company had no non-cancelable purchase commitments with a remaining term of more than one year.
Note 17 – Restructuring
As of December 31, 2023, the restructuring charge recorded by the Company comprised (in
thousands):
Severance and employee benefit costs
Impairment of assets
Total Restructuring charge (1)
Amount
$
$
$
4,503
10,081
14,584
(1) Restructuring charges of $0.5 million, $2.3 million and $11.5 million are included in Cost of sales,
Research and development and Selling, general, and administrative expenses, respectively, in the
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the period ended December 31, 2023. These charges
reflect substantially all expected restructuring charges under the Restructuring Plan.
Severance and employee benefit costs
Employees affected by the reduction in force under the Restructuring Plan are entitled to receive
severance payments and certain termination benefits. The Company recorded a severance and
termination benefit cost in full for employees who were notified of their termination during the year ended
December 31, 2023 and had no requirements for future service. The Company fully paid $4.5 million for
severance and employee benefit costs during the year ended December 31, 2023 and no remaining
liability for the severance and employee benefit costs is included in the Company’s consolidated balance
sheet as of December 31, 2023. There were no severance and employee benefit costs during the year
ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Impairment of long-lived assets
In connection with the Restructuring Plan, the Company evaluated its long-lived assets for
impairment including certain leased laboratory and office spaces located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The
evaluation is subject to judgment and actual results may vary from the estimates, resulting in potential future
adjustments to amounts recorded. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded an
impairment charge of $10.1 million related to the impairment of long-lived assets, including $5.9 million
related to ROU assets for facility leases. There were no impairment charges recorded during the year ended
December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Note 18 – Subsequent Events
On January 31, 2024, the Company announced that the Board of Directors of the Company
approved an approximately 12% reduction of its global workforce, comprised of an approximately 9%
reduction in the Company’s full-time employees and the remainder comprised of contractors and
consultants.
On February 16, 2024, the Company and Gavi entered into the Gavi Settlement Agreement
terminating the Gavi APA, settling the arbitration proceedings and releasing both parties of all claims arising
from, under or otherwise in connection with the Gavi APA. The terms of the Gavi Settlement Agreement are
outlined in Note 3 and Note 16.
F-48
Novavax
2023 Annual Report
Corporate Information
ANNUAL MEETING
June 13, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. EDT
Live virtual webcast link: www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NVAX2024
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Ernst & Young, LLP
1775 Tysons Boulevard
McLean, VA 22102
TRANSFER AGENT
Computershare, Inc.
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
NOVAVAX CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Novavax, Inc.
700 Quince Orchard Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
MARKET INFORMATION
Novavax is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under “NVAX”
Board of Directors
John C. Jacobs
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Director
Rachel K. King
Director
James F. Young, PhD
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Margaret G. McGlynn, RPh
Director
Gregg H. Alton, JD
Director
David Mott
Director
Richard H. Douglas, PhD
Director
Richard J. Rodgers, MBA
Director
Executive Leadership Team
John C. Jacobs
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Director
James P. Kelly
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Filip Dubovsky, MD, MPH
President,
Research and Development
Elaine O’Hara
Executive Vice President,
Chief Strategy Officer
John J. Trizzino
President,
Chief Operating Officer
Silvia Taylor
Executive Vice President,
Chief Corporate Affairs and Advocacy Officer
Mark Casey
Executive Vice President,
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
Ian Watkins
Executive Vice President,
Chief Human Resources Officer
Rick Crowley
Executive Vice President,
Chief Operations Officer
Troy Morgan, JD
Senior Vice President,
Chief Compliance Officer
158
158
Novavax
2023 Annual Report
Board of Directors
John C. Jacobs
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Director
Rachel K. King
Director
James F. Young, PhD
Margaret G. McGlynn, RPh
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Director
Gregg H. Alton, JD
Director
David Mott
Director
Richard H. Douglas, PhD
Director
Richard J. Rodgers, MBA
Director
Executive Leadership Team
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Executive Vice President,
James P. Kelly
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
John C. Jacobs
Director
Filip Dubovsky, MD, MPH
President,
Research and Development
John J. Trizzino
President,
Elaine O’Hara
Executive Vice President,
Chief Strategy Officer
Silvia Taylor
Executive Vice President,
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Corporate Affairs and Advocacy Officer
Mark Casey
Executive Vice President,
Ian Watkins
Executive Vice President,
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
Chief Human Resources Officer
Rick Crowley
Executive Vice President,
Chief Operations Officer
Troy Morgan, JD
Senior Vice President,
Chief Compliance Officer
Corporate Information
ANNUAL MEETING
June 13, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. EDT
Live virtual webcast link: www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NVAX2024
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Ernst & Young, LLP
1775 Tysons Boulevard
McLean, VA 22102
TRANSFER AGENT
Computershare, Inc.
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
NOVAVAX CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Novavax, Inc.
700 Quince Orchard Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
MARKET INFORMATION
Novavax is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under “NVAX”
159
159
We never rest in our quest
to protect the health of
PEOPLE
everywhere.
160