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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 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 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.
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 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 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 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 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.
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,		Percentage of Accounts Receivable as of December 31,
20232022202120232022
European Commission27 %40%*28 %10%
Government of Australia18 %21%***
Government of Canada*10%*59%*
Government of Israel****21%
U.S. government(1)
43 %19 %71 %*46%
CEPI**12 %**
SK bioscience, Co., Ltd.**14 %**
*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 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:
Useful Life
Buildings25 years
Machinery and equipment
5 - 7 years
Computer hardware3 years
Leasehold improvements
Shorter of useful life or remaining term of the lease
Lease Accounting
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 contractual agreements. In determining the lease period, the Company evaluates facts and 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 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 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.