Novavax has been building up supplies of the recombinant nanoparticle adjuvanted vaccine candidate ahead of an authorization.  When the green light comes, the US-headquartered CMO is poised to handle fill-finish operations for the European and UK markets from its plant at Halle in eastern Germany as part of a worldwide manufacturing network.

Stan Erck, CEO of the vaccine maker based at Gaithersburg, Maryland, said Novavax intends to be able to make 2 billion doses per year from 2021 onward, with 110 million doses to be distributed in the US in the second quarter of this year. The UK has ordered 60 million doses, Australia has signed on for 51 million doses and New Zealand for 10.7 million.

In May 2020, Novavax acquired Praha Vaccines in the Czech Republic, with the deal including a plant that can produce 1 billion doses. It also tapped CDMO Fujifilm to produce clinical supplies as well as AGC Biologics and PolyPeptide to help produce its Matrix-M adjuvant, in summer bringing  the Serum Institute of India and generics player Endo on board.

The company is receiving $1.6 billion from the US Warp Speed project and along with substantial funding from other initiatives.

Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist