Novavax Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results and Operational Highlights

    --  Achieved revenues in Q4 2023 of $291 million and full year 2023 of $1.0
        billion
    --  Accelerating progress toward expanding pipeline via Phase 3
        COVID-19-Influenza Combination vaccine trial in second half 2024 and
        potential 2026 launch
    --  Rescaled global footprint with 30% total headcount reduction as compared
        to Q1 2023
    --  Announced settlement with Gavi related to 2021 advance purchase
        agreement, removing financial uncertainty and enabling focus on shared
        public health mission
    --  Provided full year 2024 total revenue guidance of $800 million to $1
        billion
    --  Company to host conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Feb. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a global company advancing protein-based vaccines with its Matrix-M(TM) adjuvant, today announced its financial results and operational highlights for the fourth quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

"2023 was a transition year for Novavax and we have made tremendous progress towards strengthening the financial profile of the Company, delivering the only protein-based non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine option to the U.S. and globally, and focusing our investment on the future expansion of our product portfolio," said John C. Jacobs, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax. "Moving into the next chapter of our business journey as a more lean and agile organization, we are laser focused on improving our commercial performance in 2024 and 2025 and diversifying our revenue opportunity with our potential combination vaccine launch which we expect in the fall of 2026."

Fourth Quarter 2023 and Recent Highlights

During the fourth quarter, Novavax continued to execute against its three key priorities for 2023.

Priority #1: Deliver an Updated COVID-19 Vaccine for the 2023 Fall Vaccination Season

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 Emergency Use
        Authorization with future efforts to focus on a recalibration of U.S.
        field teams to focus on the retail segment
    --  Progressed efforts to position the company 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
    --  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 Advance Purchase Agreement (APA) obligations in Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan.

    --  Potential APA deliveries for 2024 through 2026 of over $1 billion
        consisting primarily of deliveries to Australia, New Zealand, Canada,
        Israel and Europe
    --  For 2024, made strategic decision to prioritize and focus commercial
        effort in Europe on select key countries including Italy, Spain, France
        and the U.K.
    --  Spring 2024 U.K. private market launch expected for Novavax's COVID-19
        vaccine as enabled by the recent Green Book addition by the U.K. Health
        Security Agency

Priority #2: Reduce Rate of Spend, Manage Cash Flow and Evolve Scale and Structure

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
    --  Exceeded the previously announced global restructuring and cost
        reduction plan for 2023 by approximately $150 million for combined
        Research and Development (R&D) and Selling, General, and Administrative
        (SG&A) expenses
    --  Reduced workforce by a total of 30% compared to first quarter of 2023
    --  Delivered Q4 2023 doses under the Canada APA agreement and received $175
        million contingent payment in January 2024
    --  Settled arbitration with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), removing
        financial uncertainty and enabling focus on shared public health mission

Priority #3: Leverage Technology Platform, Capabilities, and Portfolio of Assets to Drive Additional Value Beyond Nuvaxovid(TM)

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 COVID-19-Influenza
        Combination (CIC) vaccine candidate in the second half of 2024, with
        potential for accelerated approval and anticipated launch in 2026
    --  R21/Matrix-M vaccine received prequalification by the World Health
        Organization (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

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results

    --  Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $291 million, compared
        to $357 million in the same period in 2022. Total revenue for the full
        year 2023 was $984 million, compared to $2 billion in the same period in
        2022.
    --  Cost of sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $155 million, compared
        to $182 million in the same period in 2022. These quarters included $30
        million and $99 million, respectively, related to excess, obsolete or
        expired inventory and losses on firm purchase commitments under
        third-party supply agreements. Cost of sales for the full year 2023 were
        $344 million compared to $903 million in same period of 2022. These full
        year periods included $112 million and $604 million, respectively,
        related to excess, obsolete or expired inventory and losses on firm
        purchase commitments under third-party supply agreements.
    --  R&D expenses for the fourth quarter of 2023 were $165 million, compared
        to $258 million in the same period in 2022. R&D expenses for the full
        year 2023 were $738 million compared to $1.2 billion in the same period
        2022. The decrease in both periods was primarily due to reductions in
        manufacturing and clinical research related spend.
    --  SG&A expenses for the fourth quarter of 2023 were $155 million, compared
        to $162 million for the same period in 2022.  SG&A expenses for the full
        year 2023 were $469 million, compared to $489 for the same period in
        2022. The decrease in both periods reflected commercial investment that
        was offset by reductions to spend by G&A functions compared to prior
        year.
    --  Net loss for the fourth quarter 2023 was $178 million, compared to a net
        loss of $182 million in the same period in 2022. Net loss for the full
        year 2023 was $545 million, compared to a net loss of $658 million in
        the same period in 2022.
    --  Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $584 million as of
        December 31, 2023, compared to $666 million as of September 30, 2023,
        and $1.3 billion as of December 31, 2022. Through sales of Novavax
        common stock pursuant to at-the-market offerings during the fourth
        quarter of 2023, Novavax raised net proceeds of $110 million.

Financial Framework

Novavax is providing Full Year 2024 Financial Guidance and expects to achieve the following objectives:



     
              
              Full Year 2024 Guidance




                                                                Full Year 2024

                                 
            $ in millions (as of February 28,
                                                                2024)



     Total Revenue1,2                                  
            $800 - $1,000





     Combined R&D and SG&A                               
            $700 - $800

First Quarter 2024 Total Revenue is expected to be approximately $100 million.

Total potential contract value for APAs outstanding as of December 31, 2023 were over $1 billion related to expected dose deliveries for 2024 through 2026. This amount excludes deferred revenue associated with the 2023 Canada amendments to forfeit doses.

    1. Total Revenue includes product sales and royalties & other revenue.
    2. Full year 2024 guidance reflects APA expected dose delivery schedules of
       $500 million to $600 million and non-APA related revenue of $300 million
       to $400 million from a combination of commercial market product sales
       plus royalties and other revenue from our partner-related activity,
       subject to updated variant manufacturing and regulatory approvals.

Conference Call

Novavax will host its quarterly conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET. To join the call without operator assistance, you may register and enter your phone number at https://emportal.ink/3SqJSJv to receive an instant automated call back. You may also dial direct to be entered to the call by an operator. The dial-in numbers for the conference call are (888) 664-6383 (Domestic) or (+1) (617) 892-4906 (International). Participants will be prompted to request to join the Novavax, Inc. call. A replay of the conference call will be available starting at 11:30 a.m. ET on February 28, 2024, until 11:59 p.m. ET on March 6, 2024. To access the replay by telephone, dial (416) 764-8677 (Domestic) or (+1) (888) 390-0541 (International) and use passcode 789473#.

A webcast of the conference call can also be accessed on the Novavax website at ir.novavax.com/events. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Novavax website until May 28, 2024.

Trade Name in the U.S.

The trade name Nuvaxovid(TM) has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

About Novavax

Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) promotes improved health by discovering, developing and commercializing innovative vaccines to help protect against serious infectious diseases. Novavax, a global company based in Gaithersburg, Md., U.S., offers a differentiated vaccine platform that combines a recombinant protein approach, innovative nanoparticle technology and Novavax's patented Matrix-M adjuvant to enhance the immune response. The Company's portfolio includes its COVID-19 vaccine and its pipeline includes a vaccine for COVID-19 and influenza combined. In addition, Novavax's adjuvant is included in the University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India's R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine. Please visit novavax.com and LinkedIn for more information.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements herein relating to the future of Novavax, its mission, its near-term priorities including delivering an updated single-dose vial COVID-19 vaccine for the start of the 2024-2025 vaccination season, initiating a pivotal Phase 3 trial for CIC in the second half of 2024, a possible combination vaccine launch in 2026, reducing rate of spend, managing cash flow and evolving its scale and structure, the amount and impact of Novavax's previously announced global restructuring and cost reduction plan and new cost reduction plan, its operating plans, objectives and prospects, full year 2024 financial guidance, its future financial or business performance, conditions or strategies, its ability to attain contract value under existing APAs are forward-looking statements. Novavax cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, Novavax's ability to successfully manufacture, distribute, or market its updated COVID-19 vaccine for the upcoming 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 its product candidates, including its updated COVID-19 vaccine in time for the 2024-2025 vaccination season in the U.S. and in foreign jurisdictions to meet APA commitments or for future COVID-19 variant strain changes; manufacturing, distribution or export delays or challenges; Novavax's 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 Novavax's 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, and constraints on Novavax's ability to pursue planned regulatory pathways, alone or with partners, in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously, leading to staggered regulatory filings, and potential regulatory actions; the potential for an unfavorable outcome in disputes; challenges in implementing its global restructuring and cost reduction plan; Novavax's ability to timely deliver doses; challenges in obtaining commercial adoption and market acceptance of its updated COVID-19 vaccine, NVX-CoV2373 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 those other risk factors identified in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of Novavax's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release. You are encouraged to read our filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov and www.novavax.com, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this document, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of the statements. Our business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above. Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties.


                                                      
              
                
                  NOVAVAX, INC.
                                                         CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                                          (in thousands, except per share information)




                                                                                                                                  Three Months Ended                    Twelve Months Ended


                                                                                                                                  December 31,                    December 31,


                                                                                                                 2023        2022         2023               2022


                                                                                                                                  (unaudited)





     Revenue:



        Product sales                                                                                       $251,452    $287,787     $531,389         $1,554,961



        Grants                                                                                                37,943      69,573      427,323            382,921



        Royalties and other                                                                                    1,947          39       24,993             43,990



     Total revenue                                                                                           291,342     357,399      983,705          1,981,872



     Expenses:



        Cost of sales                                                                                        154,976     181,765      343,768            902,639



        Research and development                                                                             164,697     257,850      737,502          1,235,278



        Selling, general, and administrative                                                                 155,237     161,663      468,946            488,691



     Total expenses                                                                                          474,910     601,278    1,550,216          2,626,608



     Loss from operations                                                                                  (183,568)  (243,879)   (566,511)         (644,736)



     Interest expense                                                                                        (4,117)    (4,601)    (14,416)          (19,880)



     Other income                                                                                             10,984      63,971       37,896             10,969



     Loss before income taxes                                                                              (176,701)  (184,509)   (543,031)         (653,647)



        Income tax benefit (expense)                                                                         (1,688)      2,260      (2,031)           (4,292)



     Net loss                                                                                             $(178,389) $(182,249)  $(545,062)        $(657,939)





     Net loss per share:



       Basic and diluted                                                                                     $(1.44)    $(2.28)     $(5.41)           $(8.42)



     Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:



       Basic and diluted                                                                                     123,679      79,822      100,768             78,183


                                  
     
       SELECTED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA

                                      
     
                (in thousands)




                                                                                 December 31,              December 31,

                                                                                         2023         2022







     Cash and cash equivalents                                                      $568,505 $1,336,883



     Total restricted cash                                                            15,305     11,962



     Total current assets                                                          1,143,888  1,703,391



     Working capital                                                               (491,250) (756,553)



     Total assets                                                                  1,794,490  2,258,679



     Convertible notes payable*                                                      168,016    491,347



     Total stockholders' deficit                                                   (716,927) (634,078)


     *Included in non-current liabilities as of December 31, 2023, and current and non-current liabilities as of December 31, 2022.

Contacts:
Investors
Erika Schultz
240-268-2022
ir@novavax.com

Media
Ali Chartan
240-720-7804
media@novavax.com

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SOURCE Novavax, Inc.