April 30, 2013
VIA EDGAR
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attention: | Austin Stephenson |
Daniel Greenspan
Re: | Novavax, Inc. |
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-187267)
Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Novavax, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby respectfully requests that the effective date for its Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-187267) (the “Registration Statement”) be accelerated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) so that it will be declared effective by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 2, 2013 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The Company hereby acknowledges the position of the staff of the Commission (the “Staff”) that:
(i) | should the Commission or the Staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the filing effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; |
(ii) | the action of the Commission or the Staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the filing effective, does not relieve the Company from its full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing; and |
(iii) | the Company may not assert Staff comments and the declaration of effectiveness as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States. |
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It would be appreciated if, as soon as the Registration Statement is declared effective, you would inform John Donnelly of Ropes & Gray LLP, counsel to the Company, at (617) 235-4773.
Very truly yours,
Novavax, Inc.
By: | /s/John A. Herrmann III | ||
Name: | John A. Herrmann III | ||
Title: | Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary |