UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
For the quarterly period ended | |
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.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
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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.
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).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 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.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | ☒ | |
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | |
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Emerging growth company |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ◻
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's Common Stock, $0.01 par value, was
NOVAVAX, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
NOVAVAX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share information)
| September 30, | December 31, | |||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||||
(unaudited) | |||||||
ASSETS |
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Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | $ | | |||
Marketable securities |
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Restricted cash |
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Accounts receivable | | | |||||
Unbilled services | | — | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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Total current assets |
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Restricted cash |
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Property and equipment, net |
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Intangible assets, net |
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Goodwill |
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Other non-current assets |
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Total assets | $ | | $ | | |||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT |
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Current liabilities: |
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Accounts payable | $ | | $ | | |||
Accrued expenses |
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Accrued interest |
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Deferred revenue |
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Current portion of finance lease liabilities | | — | |||||
Other current liabilities |
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Total current liabilities |
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Deferred revenue |
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Convertible notes payable |
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Non-current finance lease liabilities | | — | |||||
Other non-current liabilities |
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Total liabilities |
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Commitments and contingencies |
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Preferred stock, $ |
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Stockholders' equity (deficit): |
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Common stock, $ |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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Accumulated deficit |
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Treasury stock, |
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Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
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Total stockholders’ equity (deficit) |
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Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit) | $ | | $ | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
1
NOVAVAX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share information)
(unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended | For the Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 |
| 2019 |
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
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Revenue: |
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Grant and other | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Government contract | | — | | — | ||||||||
Total revenue |
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Expenses: |
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Research and development |
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Gain on Catalent transaction | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||
General and administrative |
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Total expenses |
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Loss from operations |
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Other income (expense): |
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Investment income |
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Interest expense |
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Other income (expense) |
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Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||
Basic and diluted net loss per share | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||
Basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding |
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| For the Three Months Ended | For the Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
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Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||
Other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities available-for-sale |
| ( |
| — |
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Foreign currency translation adjustment |
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Other comprehensive income (loss) |
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Comprehensive loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
2
NOVAVAX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019
(unaudited)
Additional | Other | Stockholders' | ||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid-in | Accumulated | Treasury | Comprehensive | Equity | |||||||||||||||
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| Shares |
| Amount |
| Capital |
| Deficit |
| Stock |
| Income (Loss) |
| (Deficit) | ||||||
| (in thousands, except share information) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balances at June 30, 2020 |
| | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | ||||||
Preferred stock beneficial conversion feature | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Non-cash stock-based compensation |
| — |
| — |
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| — |
| — |
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Stock issued under incentive programs |
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| — |
| ( |
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Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs of $ |
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Unrealized loss on marketable securities |
| — |
| — |
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| ( |
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Foreign currency translation adjustment |
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Net loss |
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| ( |
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Balance at September 30, 2020 |
| | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | ||||||
Balances at June 30, 2019 |
| | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||
Non-cash stock-based compensation |
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Stock issued under incentive programs | | | | — | ( | — | | |||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs of $ |
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Foreign currency translation adjustment |
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Net loss |
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Balance at September 30, 2019 |
| | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
3
NOVAVAX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019
(unaudited)
Additional | Other | Stockholders' | ||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid-in | Accumulated | Treasury | Comprehensive | Equity | |||||||||||||||
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| Amount |
| Capital |
| Deficit |
| Stock |
| Income (Loss) |
| (Deficit) | ||||||
| (in thousands, except share information) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2019 |
| | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||
Preferred stock beneficial conversion feature | | | | ( | | | | |||||||||||||
Non-cash stock-based compensation |
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Stock issued under incentive programs |
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Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs of $ | | | | — | — | — | | |||||||||||||
Unrealized gain on marketable securities |
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Foreign currency translation adjustment |
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Net loss |
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Balance at September 30, 2020 |
| | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | ||||||
Balance at December 31, 2018 |
| | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||
Non-cash stock-based compensation |
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Stock issued under incentive programs |
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Fractional shares purchased in stock split |
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Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs of $ |
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Unrealized gain on marketable securities |
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Foreign currency translation adjustment |
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Net loss |
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Balance at September 30, 2019 |
| | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
4
NOVAVAX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
Nine Months Ended | |||||||
| September 30, |
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| 2020 |
| 2019 |
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Operating Activities: | |||||||
Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
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Loss on disposal of property and equipment |
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Gain on Catalent transaction | — | ( | |||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs |
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Non-cash stock-based compensation |
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Write off of right-of-use assets | | — | |||||
Other |
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Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets |
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Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
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Deferred revenue |
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Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
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Investing Activities: |
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Capital expenditures |
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Acquisition of Novavax CZ, net of cash acquired | ( | ||||||
Proceeds from Catalent transaction | — | | |||||
Purchases of marketable securities |
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Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities |
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Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities |
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Financing Activities: |
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Net proceeds from sale of preferred stock | | ||||||
Net proceeds from sales of common stock |
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Proceeds from the exercise of stock-based awards |
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Treasury stock related to tax withholding on stock-based awards | ( | — | |||||
Finance lease payments | ( | — | |||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
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Effect of exchange rate on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
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Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
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Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period |
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Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | | $ | | |||
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities: |
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Sale of common stock under the Sales Agreement not settled at quarter-end | $ | | $ | | |||
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | | $ | | |||
Right-of-use assets from new lease agreements | $ | | $ | — | |||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
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Cash interest payments | $ | | $ | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
5
NOVAVAX, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2020
(unaudited)
Note 1 – Organization
Novavax, Inc. (“Novavax,” and together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, Novavax AB and Novavax CZ (formerly, Praha Vaccines a.s.), the “Company”) is a late-stage biotechnology company that promotes improved global health through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases and address urgent, global health needs. The Company’s vaccine candidates, including both its coronavirus vaccine candidate, NVX-CoV2373, and its lead influenza vaccine candidate, NanoFluTM, are genetically engineered, three-dimensional nanostructures of recombinant proteins critical to disease pathogenesis and may elicit differentiated immune responses, which may be more efficacious than naturally occurring immunity or traditional vaccines. The Company’s technology targets a variety of infectious diseases. The Company is also developing proprietary immune stimulating saponin-based adjuvants at Novavax AB, its wholly owned Swedish subsidiary. The Company’s lead adjuvant, Matrix-M™, has been shown to enhance immune responses and has been well-tolerated in multiple clinical trials.
Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2020, the consolidated statements of operations and the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 are unaudited, but include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) that the Company considers necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results, comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows, respectively, for the periods presented. Although the Company believes that the disclosures in these unaudited consolidated financial statements are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, certain information and footnote information normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted as permitted under the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Novavax, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Novavax AB and Novavax CZ. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars. The functional currency of Novavax AB, which is located in Sweden, is the local currency (Swedish Krona), and the functional currency of Novavax CZ, which is located in the Czech Republic, is the local currency (Czech Koruna). The translation of assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries to U.S. dollars is made at the exchange rate in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date, while equity accounts are translated at historical rates. The translation of the statement of operations data is made at the average exchange rate in effect for the period. The translation of operating cash flow data is made at the average exchange rate in effect for the period, and investing and financing cash flow data is 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 loss in the accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheets. The foreign currency translation adjustment balance included in accumulated other comprehensive loss was $
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Results for this or any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for any future interim period or for the entire year. The Company operates in one business segment.
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Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with 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.
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 and cash equivalents consist of the following at (in thousands):
| September 30, |
| December 31, | |||
| 2020 |
| 2019 | |||
Cash | $ | | $ | | ||
Money market funds | |
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Government-backed securities | |
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Treasury securities | | — | ||||
Corporate debt securities | |
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Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | $ | |
Cash equivalents are recorded at cost, which approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.
Marketable Securities
Marketable securities consist of debt securities with maturities greater than three months from the date of purchase that include commercial paper, government-backed securities, treasury securities, corporate notes and agency securities. Classification of marketable securities between current and non-current is dependent upon the maturity date at the balance sheet date taking into consideration the Company's ability and intent to hold the investment to maturity.
Interest and dividend income are recorded when earned and included in investment income in the consolidated statements of operations. Premiums and discounts, if any, on marketable securities are amortized or accreted to maturity and included in investment income in the consolidated statements of operations. The specific identification method is used in computing realized gains and losses on the sale of the Company's securities.
The Company classifies its marketable securities with readily determinable fair values as “available-for-sale.” Investments in securities that are classified as available-for-sale are measured at fair market value in the consolidated balance sheets, and unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities are reported as a separate component of stockholders' deficit until realized. Marketable securities are evaluated periodically to determine whether a decline in value is “other-than-temporary.” The term “other-than-temporary” is not intended to indicate a permanent decline in value. Rather, it means that the prospects for a near term recovery of value are not necessarily favorable, or that there is a lack of evidence to support fair values equal to, or greater than, the carrying value of the security. Management reviews criteria, such as the magnitude and duration of the decline, as well as the Company's ability to hold the securities, including whether the Company will be required to sell a security prior to recovery of its amortized cost basis, the investment issuer's financial condition and business outlook to predict whether the loss in value is other-than-temporary. Realized gains and losses and declines in value determined to be other-than-temporary are recorded as other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method.
Restricted Cash
The Company’s current and non-current restricted cash includes payments received under the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (“CEPI”) funding agreements (see Note 12), payments received under the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (“BMGF”) grant agreements (see Note 12), escrow funds paid in connection with the acquisition of Novavax CZ (see Note 5), escrow funds received in connection with a transaction in 2019 with Catalent Maryland, Inc. (formerly Paragon Bioservices, Inc.), a unit of Catalent Biologics (“Catalent”), and cash collateral accounts under letters of credit that serve as security deposits for certain facility leases. The Company will utilize the CEPI and BMGF funds as it incurs expenses for services performed under these agreements.
7
As of September 30, 2020, the restricted cash balances (both current and non-current) consisted of $
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the statement of cash flows (in thousands):
| September 30, |
| December 31, | |||
| 2020 |
| 2019 | |||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | $ | | ||
Restricted cash current |
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Restricted cash non-current |
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Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | | $ | |
Acquisitions
The Company applies the acquisition method of accounting to business combinations in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations. The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the operating results of an acquired entity from the date on which it obtains control of the business acquired. The Company recognizes and measures the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as of the acquisition date, based on their estimated fair value with the excess purchase consideration, if any, recognized as goodwill. In determining fair value, the Company uses various recognized valuation methods, including the cost and market approaches. The Company initially performs these valuations based on preliminary estimates and assumptions by management or independent valuation specialists under Company supervision, where appropriate, and makes revisions as estimates and assumptions are finalized. The final determination of fair values must be completed no later than the first anniversary of the date of acquisition. The Company expenses acquisition related costs as incurred. See Note 5 for further discussion around the Company’s recent acquisition of Novavax CZ.
Lease Accounting
The Company determines at the inception of a contract if an arrangement is, or contains, a lease, which exists when the contract conveys the right to control the use of identified property or equipment for a period of time in exchange for consideration. 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, may be different than the inception date of the contract. Leases are classified as either operating or finance leases based on the economic substance of the agreement.
The Company enters into non-cancelable lease agreements for office space and certain equipment. Further, the Company enters into supply agreements with contract manufacturing organizations and contract development and manufacturing organizations to manufacture its vaccine candidates. Certain of these supply agreements include the use of identified manufacturing facilities and equipment that are controlled by the Company and may qualify as an embedded lease. Supply agreements that contain a lease are treated as lease arrangements in their entirety.
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
8
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 reevaluates short-term leases that are modified and if they no longer meets the requirements to be treated as short-term leases, recognizes and measures the lease liability and ROU asset as if the date of the modification is the lease commencement date.
For operating leases, the Company recognizes lease expense related to fixed payments on a straight-line basis over 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 Topic 730, Research and Development, 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 lease represents an operating or finance lease, the discount rate used to determine the present value of lease obligations and the term of a lease embedded in its supply agreements.
Revenue Recognition
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 NVX-CoV2373. The Company’s U.S. government contracts are with the U.S. Department of Defense (the “DoD”) and its participation in Operation Warp Speed (“OWS”) (see Note 12). Other funding arrangements primarily include a grant and forgivable loan funding from CEPI (see Note 12).
At contract inception, the Company analyzes the revenue arrangement 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 (Topic 606) (“ASC 606”) or are contributions under the scope of 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 applies the five-step model to contracts 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.
Under the U.S. government contracts, the Company is entitled to receive funding of up to $
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on the contract and indirect costs that are applied in the form of rates to the direct costs. 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 audit 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 reimbursable-cost-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. As of September 30, 2020, $
The Company’s other funding agreements currently include funding from CEPI of $
Net Loss per Share
Net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. As of September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company had outstanding stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) and unvested restricted stock units (“RSUs”) totaling
As of September 30, 2020, the Company’s Notes (see Note 8) would have been convertible into approximately
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Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted
In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) (“ASU 2017-04”), which will simplify the goodwill impairment calculation by eliminating Step 2 from the current goodwill impairment test. The new standard does not change how a goodwill impairment is identified. The Company will continue to perform its quantitative goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of its reporting unit to its carrying amount, but if the Company is required to recognize a goodwill impairment charge, under the new standard, the amount of the charge will be calculated by subtracting the reporting unit's fair value from its carrying amount. Under the current standard, if the Company is required to recognize a goodwill impairment charge, Step 2 requires it to calculate the implied value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the amount of the charge is calculated by subtracting the reporting unit's implied fair value of goodwill from the goodwill carrying amount. The standard was effective January 1, 2020 for the Company and will be applied prospectively from the date of adoption. The adoption of ASU 2017-04 did not have a material impact on the Company’s historical financial statements.
Not Yet Adopted
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”), which will simplify the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including certain convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’s own equity. Specifically, the new standard will remove the separation models required for convertible debt with cash conversion features and convertible instruments with beneficial conversion features. It will also remove certain settlement conditions that are currently required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception and will simplify the diluted earnings per share calculation for convertible instruments. ASU 2020-06 will be effective January 1, 2022 for the Company and may be applied using a full or modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than January 1, 2021 for the Company. Management is evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2020-06 and whether it will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 3 – Fair Value Measurements
The following table represents the Company's fair value hierarchy for its financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value (in thousands):
| Fair Value at September 30, 2020 |
| Fair Value at December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||
Assets |
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Level 3 |
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Level 3 | ||||||
Money market funds(1) | $ | | $ | ― | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Government-backed securities(2) |
| ― |
| |
| ― |
| ― |
| |
| ― | ||||||
Treasury securities(3) | — | | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Corporate debt securities(4) |
| ― |
| |
| ― |
| ― |
| — |
| ― | ||||||
Agency securities | $ | ― | | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
Total cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | ||||||
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
Convertible notes payable | $ | ― | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | — |
(1) | Classified as cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets. |
(2) | Includes $ |
(3) | Includes $ |
(4) | Includes $ |
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, e.g., interest rates and yield curves observable at
11
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 Notes (see Note 8) has been estimated using other observable inputs, including the price of the Company's common stock, implied volatility, interest rates and credit spreads among others.
During the
ended and , the Company did not have any between levels.The amount recorded in the Company's unaudited consolidated balance sheets for accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates its fair value due to its short-term nature.
Note 4 – Marketable Securities
Marketable securities classified as available-for-sale as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were comprised of (in thousands):
| September 30, 2020 |
| December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gross | Gross | Gross | Gross | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortized |
| Unrealized |
| Unrealized |
|
| Amortized |
| Unrealized |
| Unrealized |
| |||||||||||
Cost | Gains | Losses | Fair Value | Cost | Gains | Losses | Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||
Treasury securities | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Corporate debt securities |
| |
| |
| ( |
| |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | ||||||||
Agency securities | | | — | | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — |
The primary objective of the Company's investment policy is the preservation of capital; thus, the Company's investment policy limits investments to certain types of instruments with high-grade credit ratings, places restrictions on maturities and concentrations in certain industries and requires the Company to maintain a certain level of liquidity.
Note 5 – Acquisition of Novavax CZ
On May 27, 2020 (the “Acquisition Date”), the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Deed”) by and among Novavax AB, the Company’s wholly-owned Swedish subsidiary (the “Buyer”), and De Bilt Holdings B.V., Poonawalla Science Park B.V., and Bilthoven Biologicals B.V. (collectively, the “Sellers”) and, solely as guarantors, each of Serum International B.V. and the Company. Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Deed, the Buyer acquired all the issued and outstanding shares of Novavax CZ (formerly, Praha Vaccines a.s.), a vaccine manufacturing company (the “Acquisition”). The assets of Novavax CZ acquired as part of the Acquisition include a biologics manufacturing facility and associated assets in Bohumil, Czech Republic and will be used by the Company to expand its manufacturing capacity.
The Purchase Price includes €
Preliminary Allocation of Purchase Price to Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed
The Company has accounted for the Acquisition as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting, with the Company as the acquirer. The acquisition method requires the Company to record the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at fair value. The amount by which the purchase price exceeds the fair value of net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. The Company has commenced the appraisal process necessary to assess the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed to determine the amount of goodwill to be recognized as of the Acquisition Date. These appraisals are not yet complete and therefore, the amounts recorded for certain assets and liabilities are preliminary and are subject to adjustment as additional information is obtained about the facts and circumstances that existed as of the Acquisition Date. The final determination of the fair value of certain assets and liabilities will be completed within the measurement period of up to one year from the Acquisition Date. The final values may also result in changes to depreciation and amortization expense related to certain assets such as buildings and equipment. Any potential adjustments made could be material in relation to the preliminary values presented in the table below.
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The table below summarizes the preliminary allocation of the Purchase Price based upon the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the Acquisition Date, adjusted for an increase in the Purchase Price of $
Prepaid expense and other current assets |
| $ | |
Property and equipment |
| | |
Goodwill |
| | |
Accounts payable |
| ( | |
Accrued expenses |
| ( | |
Other non-current liabilities |
| ( | |
Purchase Price, net of cash acquired | $ | |
The fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed were preliminarily determined using market and cost valuation methodologies. The fair value measurements are based on significant unobservable inputs that were developed by the Company using publicly available information, market participant assumptions, and cost and development assumptions. Because of the use of significant unobservable inputs, the fair value measurements represent a Level 3 measurement as defined in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures. The market approach is a valuation technique that uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets, liabilities, or a group of assets or liabilities. The cost approach estimates value by determining the current cost of replacing an asset with another of equivalent utility. The cost to replace a given asset reflects the estimated reproduction or replacement cost for the property, less an allowance for loss in value due to depreciation.
The cost approach was the primary approach used to value fixed assets, including the real property. Fixed assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their expected remaining useful lives, ranging from
The Company recorded $
Current assets and current liabilities were recorded at their contractual or historical acquisition amounts, which approximate their fair value.
Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires the exercise of significant professional judgment. Use of different estimates and judgments could yield different results.
Impact to Financial Results for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
The results of operations from Novavax CZ have been included in the consolidated financial statements since the Acquisition Date. As a result, the consolidated financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 does not reflect a full nine months of Novavax CZ results. From the Acquisition Date through September 30, 2020, Novavax CZ has not recognized any revenue and recorded a net loss of $
The Company incurred approximately $
Supplemental Pro Forma Financial Information (Unaudited)
The unaudited pro forma financial information for the periods set forth below gives effect to the Acquisition as if it had occurred as of January 1, 2019. The pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have been achieved had the Acquisition been consummated as of that time.
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Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||
September 30, 2020 | September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||
Revenue | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Net loss |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Basic and diluted net loss per share |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
Pro forma adjustments include the recognition of depreciation expense based on the Acquisition Date fair value and remaining useful lives of Novavax CZ’ fixed assets (net of historical depreciation expense) and the elimination of costs related to the Acquisition, which are non-recurring in nature.
Note 6 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill
The change in the carrying amounts of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was as follows (in thousands):
| Amount | |||
Balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | | ||
Goodwill resulting from the acquisition of Novavax CZ | | |||
Currency translation adjustments |
| | ||
Balance at September 30, 2020 | $ | |
Identifiable Intangible Assets
Purchased intangible assets consisted of the following as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 (in thousands):
| September 30, 2020 |
| December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross |
|
|
| Gross |
|
| |||||||||||
Carrying | Accumulated | Intangible | Carrying | Accumulated | Intangible | |||||||||||||
Amount | Amortization | Assets, Net | Amount | Amortization | Assets, Net | |||||||||||||
Finite-lived intangible assets: | ||||||||||||||||||
Proprietary adjuvant technology | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | ||||||
Collaboration agreements |
| |
| ( |
| — |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||||
Total identifiable intangible assets | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | |
Amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $
Estimated amortization expense for existing intangible assets for the remainder of 2020 and for each of the five succeeding years ending December 31 will be as follows (in thousands):
Year |
| Amount | |
2020 | $ | | |
2021 |
| | |
2022 |
| | |
2023 |
| | |
2024 |
| | |
2025 |
| |
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Note 7 - Leases
During the three months ended September 30, 2020, there were no material new or modified real estate lease arrangements.
During the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company entered into multiple supply agreements with contract manufacturing organizations and contract development and manufacturing organizations to manufacture the Company’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, NVX-CoV2373. The agreements include the use of identified manufacturing facilities, contain fixed or minimum commitments and include variable costs related to production and material costs in excess of the fixed or minimum commitment specified in the agreements. The Company evaluated the agreements at inception and determined that certain of these arrangements contain an embedded lease under ASC 842 as it has the exclusive use of, and control over, a portion of the manufacturing facility and equipment of the supplier during the contractual term of the arrangement. The Company recognized a financing lease liability and
Supplemental balance sheet information for embedded leases in supply agreements entered into by the Company during the three months ended September 30, 2020 is as follows (in thousands, except weighted-average remaining lease term and discount rate):
Lease Liabilities | Classification | Amount | ||||
Current operating lease liabilities | Other current liabilities | $ | | |||
Current portion of finance lease liabilities | Current portion of finance lease liabilities | | ||||
Non-current finance lease liabilities | Non-current finance lease liabilities | | ||||
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years): | ||||||
Operating lease | ||||||
Finance lease | ||||||
Weighted-average discount rate: | ||||||
Operating lease | ||||||
Finance lease |
Lease expense for the operating, finance and short-term embedded leases related to the supply agreements entered into by the Company during the three months ended September 30, 2020 was as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 | ||
Operating lease expense: | ||
Fixed lease expense | $ | |
Finance lease expense: | ||
Fixed lease expense | | |
Interest expense | | |
Short-term expense | | |
Total lease expense | $ | |
15
Supplemental cash flow information related to the embedded leases for three months ended September 30, 2020 was as follows (in thousands):
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: | Amount | |
Financing cash flows from finance lease | $ | |
As of September 30, 2020, maturities of embedded lease liabilities were as follows (in thousands):
Year | Operating | Finance | ||
2021 | $ | | $ | |
2022 | - | | ||
Total minimum lease payments | | | ||
Less: Imputed interest | ( | ( | ||
Total lease liabilities | $ | | $ | |
As of September 30, 2020, the Company had one agreement that contains an embedded finance lease for a manufacturing arrangement that is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2020 with a lease term of approximately
Note 8 – Long-Term Debt
Convertible Notes
The Company incurred approximately $
Total convertible notes payable consisted of the following at (in thousands):
| September 30, |
| December 31, | |||
2020 | 2019 | |||||
Principal amount of Notes | $ | | $ | | ||
Unamortized debt issuance costs |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Total convertible notes payable | $ | | $ | |
Interest expense incurred in connection with the Notes consisted of the following (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended |
| Nine Months Ended |
| |||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| |||||
Coupon interest at | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| ||||
Total interest expense on Notes | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
16
Note 9 – Preferred Stock
In June 2020, the Company entered into a redeemable Series A Convertible Preferred Stock Subscription Agreement (“Subscription Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell in a private placement
Each share of Preferred Stock is convertible into
Note 10 – Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
In June 2020, in advance of David M. Mott joining the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company agreed to sell
In May 2020, the Company entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement ("May 2020 Sales Agreement"), which allows it to issue and sell up to $
In March 2020, the Company entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (“March 2020 Sales Agreement”), which allowed it to issue and sell up to $
In January 2020, the Company entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement ("January 2020 Sales Agreement"), which allowed it to issue and sell up to $
In December 2018, the Company entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (“December 2018 Sales Agreement”), which allowed it to issue and sell up to $
In December 2017, the Company entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (“December 2017 Sales Agreement”), which allowed it to issue and sell up to $
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Agreement resulting in $
Note 11 – Stock-Based Compensation
Stock Options
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
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.
The 2015 Plan permits and the 2005 Plan permitted the grant of stock options (including incentive stock options), restricted stock, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units. In addition, under the 2015 Plan, unrestricted stock, stock units and performance awards may be granted. Stock options and stock appreciation rights generally have a maximum term of
Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
The following is a summary of stock options and stock appreciation rights activity under the 2015 Plan and 2005 Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2020:
| 2015 Plan |
| 2005 Plan | |||||||
|
| Weighted- |
|
| Weighted- | |||||
Average | Average | |||||||||
Stock | Exercise | Stock | Exercise | |||||||
Options | Price | Options | Price | |||||||
Outstanding at January 1, 2020 | | $ | | | $ | | ||||
Granted | | $ | | — | $ | — | ||||
Exercised | ( | $ | | ( | $ | | ||||
Canceled | ( | $ | | ( | $ | | ||||
Outstanding at September 30, 2020 | | $ | | | $ | | ||||
Shares exercisable at September 30, 2020 | | $ | | | $ | | ||||
Shares available for grant at September 30, 2020 | |
|
|
|
|
|
In 2019, the Company granted
Additionally, in 2019, due to limitations on the equity awards available under the 2015 Plan, the Company granted to certain employees
18
The fair value of stock options granted under the 2015 Plan was estimated at the date of grant or the date upon which the 2015 Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders for stock options discussed above using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 | 2020 |
| 2019 | |||||||
Weighted average Black-Scholes fair value of stock options and SARs granted |
| $ |
| $ | $ |
| $ | ||||||
Risk-free interest rate |
| ||||||||||||
Dividend yield |
| ||||||||||||
Volatility |
| ||||||||||||
Expected term (in years) |
|
|
| ||||||||||
Expected forfeiture rate |
|
|
|
The total aggregate intrinsic value and weighted-average remaining contractual term of stock options and stock appreciation rights outstanding under the 2015 Plan and 2005 Plan as of September 30, 2020 was $
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (the “ESPP”), was approved at the Company's annual meeting of stockholders in June 2013. The ESPP currently authorizes an aggregate of
The ESPP is considered compensatory for financial reporting purposes. As such, the fair value of ESPP shares was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 | 2020 |
| 2019 | |||||||
Range of Black-Scholes fair values of ESPP shares granted | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Risk-free interest rate |
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Dividend yield |
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Volatility |
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Expected term (in years) |
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Expected forfeiture rate |
|
|
|
|
19
Restricted Stock Units
The following is a summary of restricted stock units activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2020:
Per Share | |||||
Weighted- | |||||
Number of | Average | ||||
Shares | Fair Value | ||||
Outstanding and Unvested at January 1, 2020 |
| | $ | | |
Restricted stock units granted |
| | $ | ||
Restricted stock units vested |
| ( | $ | | |
Restricted stock units forfeited |
| ( | $ | | |
Outstanding and Unvested at September 30, 2020 |
| | $ | |
The Company recorded all stock-based compensation expense in the consolidated statements of operations as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 | 2020 |
| 2019 | |||||||
Research and development | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
General and administrative |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Total stock-based compensation expense | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
As of September 30, 2020, there was approximately $
Note 12 – U.S. Government Agreements, Grants and Licenses
Operation Warp Speed
In July 2020, the Company 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 OWS. OWS is a partnership 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 the Company entered into with ATI in June 2020 (the “Base Agreement”, together with the Project Agreement, the “OWS Agreement”). Under the OWS Agreement, the Company is entitled to receive funding of up to $
The OWS Agreement requires the Company to conduct certain clinical, regulatory and other activities, including a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial to determine the safety and efficacy of NVX-CoV2373, and to manufacture and deliver to the U.S. Government
20
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 OWS Agreement. The performance period under the Project Agreement extends from July 2020 through December 2021, subject to early termination by the U.S. Government or extension by mutual agreement of the parties. During the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recognized revenue from the OWS Agreement of $
U.S. Department of Defense
In June 2020, the Company entered into a letter contract (the “DoD Contract”) with the DoD Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (“JPEO-CRBND-EB”), under which JPEO-CRBND-EB agreed to provide funding of up to $
Under the DoD Contract, the Company is expected to deliver
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
In May 2020, the Company entered into a restated funding agreement which was modified in November 2020 (the “CEPI Funding Agreement”) with CEPI, under which CEPI agreed to provide funding of up to $
Under the terms of the CEPI Funding Agreement, among other things, the Company and CEPI agreed on the importance of global equitable access to any vaccines produced pursuant to the CEPI Funding Agreement. Any such vaccines, if approved, are expected to be procured and allocated through global mechanisms under discussion as part of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, an international initiative launched by the World Health Organization (“WHO”), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, CEPI and other global non-governmental organizations and governmental leaders in 2020.
21
The scope and continuation of the CEPI Funding Agreement may be modified depending on ongoing developments of the COVID-19 outbreak and the success of NVX-CoV2373 relative to other third-party COVID-19 vaccine candidates or treatments. If the WHO, CEPI or a regulatory authority having jurisdiction over a clinical trial of NVX-CoV2373 determines that a third-party product candidate has substantially greater potential than a Company vaccine product, the Company must cease its clinical trial in the relevant region, and will be reimbursed for any costs incurred as a result thereof. In addition, CEPI has the right to unilaterally terminate the CEPI Funding Agreement if CEPI reasonably determines that (i) there are material safety, regulatory or ethical issues with the development of NVX-CoV2373, (ii) NVX-CoV2373 development should be limited in scope or terminated, (iii) the Company becomes unable to discharge its obligations under the agreement, (iv) the Company fails to meet certain milestones, or (v) the Company commits fraud or a financial irregularity.
Payments received in advance that are related to future performance are deferred and recognized as revenue when the research and development activities are performed. Cash payments received under the funding agreements are restricted as to their use until expenditures contemplated in the funding agreements are incurred. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recognized revenue from the funding agreements of $
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
In support of the Company's development of ResVaxTM, in September 2015, the Company entered into the grant agreement with BMGF (the “BMGF Grant Agreement”), under which it was awarded a grant totaling up to $
In July 2020, the Company entered into a grant agreement with BMGF (the “BMGF SA Grant Agreement”) under which it was awarded a grant of $
Payments received in advance that are related to future performance are deferred and recognized as revenue when the research and development activities are performed. Cash payments received under the BMGF Grant Agreement and the BMGF SA Grant Agreement are restricted as to their use until expenditures contemplated in the agreements are incurred. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recognized revenue from the BMGF Grant Agreement of less than $
Serum Institute of India Private Limited
In July 2020, the Company entered into a supply and license agreement with Serum Institute of India Private Limited (“SIIPL”), as amended by the parties in September 2020, under which the Company granted exclusive and non-exclusive licenses to SIIPL for the development, co-formulation, filling and finishing, registration and commercialization by SIIPL of NVX-CoV2373. SIIPL has agreed to purchase Matrix-M adjuvant from the Company and the Company has granted SIIPL a non-exclusive license to manufacture the antigen drug substance component of NVX-CoV2373 in SIIPL’s licensed territory solely for use in the manufacture of NVX-CoV2373 under the terms of the agreement. The parties will equally split the revenue from sale of NVX-CoV2373 by SIIPL in its licensed territory, net of agreed costs. The Company granted to SIIPL (i) an exclusive license in India during the agreement, and (ii) a non-exclusive license (a) during the “Pandemic Period” (as declared by the World Health Organization), in all countries other than specified countries designated by the World Bank as upper-middle or high-income countries, with respect to which the Company retains rights, and (b) after the Pandemic Period, in only those countries designated as low or middle-income by the World Bank. Following the Pandemic Period, the Company may notify SIIPL of any bona fide opportunities for the Company
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to license NVX-CoV2373 to a third party in such low and middle-income countries and SIIPL would have an opportunity to match or improve such third party terms, failing which, the Company would have the discretion to remove one or more non-exclusive countries from SIIPL’s license.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
In August 2020, the Company announced a partnership with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) for the exclusive development, manufacturing and commercialization of NVX-CoV2373 in Japan. Takeda will receive funding from the Government of Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to support the technology transfer, establishment of infrastructure and scale-up of manufacturing. The Company will be entitled to receive payments based on the achievement of certain development and commercial milestones, as well as a portion of proceeds from the sale of the vaccine.
UK SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Supply Agreement
In October 2020, the Company entered into a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine supply agreement with The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, acting on behalf of the United Kingdom (“UK”) government (the “Authority”) under which the Authority agreed to purchase up to
Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the Company agreed to supply the initial
Note 13 – CARES Act
On March 27, 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") to provide certain relief as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amongst other items, the CARES Act lifts certain interest expense deduction limitations originally imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The enactment of the CARES Act did not result in any material adjustments to the Company's income tax provision or net deferred tax assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.
Note 14 – Subsequent Events
In October 2020, the Company entered into a lease for approximately
In addition, in October 2020, the Company purchased a parcel of land at 14 Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD that the Company plans to develop in the future to accommodate growth of the Company. The purchase price of the parcel of land was $
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Any statements in the discussion below and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report about expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance of Novavax, Inc. (“Novavax,” together with its wholly owned subsidiaries Novavax AB and Novavax CZ, 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; 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
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preclinical product candidates; 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 and delivery for NVX-CoV2373; our expectations with respect to the anticipated ongoing development and potential commercialization or licensure of NVX-CoV2373 and NanoFlu™; the expected timing and content of regulatory actions; funding from Operation Warp Speed (“OWS”), the U.S. Department of Defense (“DoD”) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (“CEPI”), and payments from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (“BMGF”); our available cash resources and usage and the availability of financing generally; plans regarding partnering activities, 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,” or “assume,” the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words.
Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. Any or all of our forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report may turn out to be inaccurate or materially different from actual results.
Risk factors discussed in this Quarterly Report, identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and those of which we are not currently aware, could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of us, therefore, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. We have included important factors that could cause results to differ in the cautionary statements included in this Quarterly Report, particularly those identified in Part II, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report and in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. These and other risks may also be detailed and modified or updated in our reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) from time to time. You are encouraged to read these filings as they are made.
We cannot guarantee future results, events, level of activity, performance or achievement. 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.
Overview
We are a late-stage biotechnology company promoting improved global health through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases and address urgent, global health needs. Our vaccine candidates, including both our coronavirus vaccine candidate, NVX-CoV2373, and our influenza vaccine candidate, NanoFlu, are genetically engineered, three-dimensional nanostructures of recombinant proteins critical to disease pathogenesis. We believe that our protein-based candidates elicit differentiated immune responses that may be more efficacious than naturally occurring immunity or other, more traditional vaccine approaches. Our technology may be used to target a variety of infectious diseases. We are also developing proprietary immune stimulating saponin-based adjuvants at Novavax AB, our wholly owned Swedish subsidiary. Our lead adjuvant, Matrix-M™, has been shown to enhance immune responses and has been well-tolerated in multiple clinical trials.
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Product Pipeline
Program |
| Current Development Stage |
Coronavirus |
|
|
● NVX-CoV2373(1)(2) |
| Phase 3(3) |
● Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (“MERS”) |
| Preclinical |
● Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (“SARS”) |
| Preclinical |
Seasonal Influenza |
|
|
● NanoFlu (Older Adults)(1) |
| Pre-BLA |
|
| |
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (“RSV”) |
|
|
● ResVax(4) (Infants via Maternal Immunization) |
| Phase 3 |
● Older Adults(1) |
| Phase 2 |
● Pediatrics |
| Phase 1 |
|
| |
Combination Vaccines |
|
|
● NanoFlu/NVX-CoV2373(1) | Preclinical | |
● NanoFlu/RSV(1) |
| Preclinical |
|
| |
Ebola Virus (“EBOV”)(1) |
| Phase 1 |
(1) | Includes Matrix-M adjuvant |
(2) | Supported by funding from OWS, DoD, CEPI and BMGF |
(3) | Ongoing U.S. Phase 2 and South Africa Phase 2b; initiated UK Phase 3 in September 2020; initiation of U.S. Phase 3 expected by the end of November 2020 |
(4) | Supported by a grant from BMGF |
A summary and status of these vaccine programs follows:
Coronavirus
Coronaviruses (“CoV”), so named for their “crown-like” appearance, are a large family of viruses, some of which are believed to have spread from animals to humans. These viruses cause human diseases such as MERS and SARS, and COVID-19, the disease resulting from the SARS CoV-2 coronavirus. COVID-19 first emerged in late 2019 in China, and, as of March 2020, the World Health Organization declared it a global pandemic. No vaccines proven to prevent COVID-19 have been approved for sale in the U.S., United Kingdom (“UK”), Japan, or European Union, although a range of vaccine candidates are under development.
NVX-CoV2373
We have successfully produced NVX-CoV2373, designed to provide protection against SARS-CoV-2. We engineered NVX-CoV2373 from the genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 using our recombinant nanoparticle technology to generate the antigen derived from the coronavirus spike (S) protein. NVX-CoV2373 includes our proprietary Matrix-M adjuvant.
Clinical Development
In October 2020, we announced we expect to begin a Phase 3 clinical trial in the U.S. and Mexico by the end of November 2020. This pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial is being conducted with support from the U.S. Government through OWS. The trial is expected to enroll up to 30,000 participants in the U.S. and Mexico, with proportional representation among diverse populations most vulnerable to COVID-19 distributed across race/ethnicity, age and those living with co-morbidities. In November 2020, we announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) granted NVX-CoV2373 Fast Track designation, which is intended for products that treat serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions and that demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for such diseases or conditions. The program is designed to facilitate development and expedite review of drugs to treat serious and life-threatening conditions so that approved products can reach the market expeditiously. Specifically, Fast Track designation facilitates meetings to discuss
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all aspects of development to support licensure and provides the opportunity to submit sections of a U.S. biologics license application (“BLA”) on a rolling basis as data become available. This permits the FDA to review modules of the BLA as they are received instead of waiting for the entire BLA submission.
In September 2020, we initiated our first Phase 3 study in the UK, in partnership with the UK Government’s Vaccines Taskforce. The trial is a randomized, placebo-controlled, observer-blinded study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of NVX-CoV2373 in subjects aged 18 to 84 years. In October 2020, we expanded enrollment from 10,000 to 15,000 volunteers, some of whom have been recruited through the National Health Service Vaccine Registry. The increased enrollment is likely to facilitate assessment of safety and efficacy in a shorter time period than originally anticipated. Half of the trial participants will receive two intramuscular injections of NVX-CoV2373 comprising 5 micrograms of antigen with 50 micrograms of Matrix-M, administered 21 days apart, while the other half of the trial participants will receive placebo. The trial is designed to enroll at least 25 percent of participants over the age of 65 as well as to prioritize groups that are most affected by COVID-19. Additionally, up to 400 participants will also receive a licensed seasonal influenza vaccine as part of a co-administration sub-study. The primary endpoint is first occurrence of PCR-confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 with onset at least seven days after the second study vaccination in volunteers who have not been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. The primary efficacy analysis will be an event-driven analysis based on the number of participants with symptomatic or moderate/severe COVID-19 disease. The trial protocol calls for unblinding of data once 152 participants have achieved mild, moderate or severe endpoints. Two interim analysis are planned once 66 and 110 endpoints have occurred. As of November 9, 2020, we have enrolled over 9,000 participants in this trial. We expect this trial to be fully enrolled by the end of November 2020, and dependent on the overall COVID-19 attack rate, interim data in this event-driven trial are expected as soon as early first quarter 2021. These data are expected to serve as the basis for global licensure.
In August 2020, we initiated a Phase 2b clinical trial in South Africa to evaluate the efficacy of NVX-CoV2373. The trial includes two cohorts. In October 2020, we expanded enrollment from 2,665 to 4,404. One cohort evaluates efficacy, safety and immunogenicity in approximately 4,164 healthy adults. The second cohort evaluates safety and immunogenicity in approximately 240 medically stable, HIV-positive adults. This allows for evaluation of the vaccine across a diverse, representative study population. The Phase 2b clinical trial is supported in part by a $15.0 million grant from the BMGF.
In August 2020, we announced positive preliminary immunogenicity and safety results from our Phase 1 portion of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial of NVX-CoV2373 initiated in May 2020. The Phase 1 portion was a randomized, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in 131 participants at two sites in Australia. The trial was designed to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of NVX-CoV2373, both adjuvanted with Matrix-M and unadjuvanted. The protocol’s two-dose trial regimen assessed two dose sizes (5 and 25 micrograms) with Matrix-M and without. Results from this trial showed that NVX-CoV2373 was generally well-tolerated, elicited robust antibody responses numerically superior to that seen in human convalescent sera and induced robust polyfunctional CD4+ T cell responses. In September 2020, the Phase 1 portion clinical results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine. In August 2020, we initiated the Phase 2 portion of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial. The Phase 2 portion is designed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of NVX-CoV2373 with Matrix-M in participants aged 18 to 84 years. The secondary objectives of the Phase 2 portion include preliminary evaluation of efficacy. The Phase 2 portion will assess two dose levels (5 and 25 micrograms), each with 50 micrograms of Matrix-M. We completed enrollment of 1,288 healthy volunteers in October 2020, with approximately 50 percent of participants 60 years of age and older, at up to 40 sites in the U.S. and Australia. In late October 2020, we reported favorable preliminary reactogenicity data from the Phase 2 portion of the trial during the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting.
Funding
In July 2020, we were selected to participate in OWS, a U.S. government sponsored program working to accelerate the development, manufacturing and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. Through a Base Agreement and a Project Agreement (together, the “OWS Agreement”) entered into with Advanced Technology International, Inc., the Consortium Management Firm acting on behalf of the Medical CBRN Defense Consortium in connection with OWS, we are entitled to receive funding up to $1.6 billion to support certain activities related to the development of NVX-CoV2373, and the manufacture and delivery of 100 million doses of NVX-CoV2373 to the U.S. government as early as late 2020. We expect this funding will assist in rapidly developing our large-scale manufacturing capacity and transitioning into ongoing production, including the capability to stockpile and distribute large quantities of NVX-CoV2373 for use in clinical trials and potentially for commercial sale, if licensed. We anticipate
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that the OWS Agreement will fund the late-stage clinical studies necessary to determine the safety and efficacy of NVX-CoV2373, including a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial with up to 30,000 subjects expected to begin by the end of November 2020. Funding under the OWS Agreement is also expected to support our plans to file submissions for licensure with the FDA.
In June 2020, we were awarded a contract by the U.S. DoD (the “DoD Contract”) under which we are entitled to receive funding of up to $60.0 million for the manufacturing of NVX-CoV2373.
In May 2020, we signed a restated funding agreement which was modified in November 2020, with CEPI (the “CEPI Funding Agreement”), under which we are entitled to receive funding of up to $399.5 million, in addition to the $3.9 million of funding CEPI provided in March 2020, to be used by us for the development of NVX-CoV2373. Pursuant to the CEPI Funding Agreement, if approved, a portion of the NVX-CoV2373 supply produced by us, other than vaccine manufactured under the OWS Agreement, is expected to be procured and allocated through the COVAX Facility component of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, an international equitable vaccine purchasing initiative launched by the World Health Organization, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, CEPI and other global non-governmental organizations and governmental leaders in 2020.
Manufacturing and Supply
To date, we have increased our projected global manufacturing capacity for NVX-CoV2373 to over two billion annualized doses when we are at full capacity, which we expect to occur in mid-2021. The antigen component of NVX-CoV2373 is being manufactured at Novavax CZ and at the following partnered manufacturing sites:
● | Biofabri S.L. in Spain |
● | FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies (“FDB”) in North Carolina and Texas in the United States |
● | FDB in the UK |
● | Serum Institute of India Private Limited (“SIIPL”) in India |
● | SK Bioscience Co., Ltd. (“SK bioscience”) in the Republic of Korea |
● | Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) in Japan |
Matrix-M adjuvant is being manufactured at Novavax AB and the following partnered manufacturing sites:
● | AGC Biologics in the United States and Denmark |
● | PolyPeptide Group (will manufacture two key intermediaries used in Matrix-M) in the U.S. and Sweden |
In November 2020, we signed a Heads of Terms with the Australian Federal Government to supply up to 40 million doses of NVX-CoV2373 beginning as early as the first half of 2021, subject to the successful completion of the Phase 3 clinical trial program and approval of NVX-CoV2373 by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
In October 2020, we entered into a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine supply agreement with The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, acting on behalf of the government of the UK (the “Authority”), for the purchase of up to 60 million doses of NVX-CoV2373, plus such additional orders as the Authority may make from time to time. We agreed to continue to conduct a UK-based Phase 3 clinical trial of NVX-CoV2373 to assess the efficacy of NVX-CoV2373 in the UK population, establish a dedicated supply chain for NVX-CoV2373 in the UK and seek regulatory approval for the NVX-CoV2373 in the UK. FDB’s UK site is expected to produce up to 180 million doses annually. We expect to supply up to 60 million doses of NVX-CoV2373 to the UK beginning as early as the first quarter of 2021. Excess supply of antigen manufactured at the FDB’s site in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees may be available for us to sell to additional markets outside the UK.
In August 2020, we reached an agreement in principle with the Government of Canada to supply up to 76 million doses of NVX-CoV2373. We and Canada expect to finalize an advance purchase agreement under which we will supply
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doses of NVX-CoV2373 to Canada beginning as early as the second quarter of 2021. This purchase arrangement will be subject to licensure of NVX-CoV2373 by Health Canada.
In August 2020, we entered into a development and supply agreement with SK bioscience for the antigen component of NVX-CoV2373 for supply to global markets including the COVAX Facility. In addition, we and SK bioscience signed a letter of intent with the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare to work toward broad and equitable access to NVX-CoV2373 for the global market as well as to make the vaccine available in South Korea. Under the terms of the agreement, SK bioscience will manufacture NVX-CoV2373 for use in the final drug product globally during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August 2020, we announced a partnership with Takeda for the exclusive development, manufacturing and commercialization of NVX-CoV2373 in Japan. Takeda will receive funding from the Government of Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to support the technology transfer, establishment of infrastructure and scale-up of manufacturing. We anticipate that Takeda has a manufacturing capacity of over 250 million doses per year. We will be entitled to receive payments based on the achievement of certain development and commercial milestones, as well as a portion of proceeds from vaccine sales.
In July 2020, we announced a manufacturing partnership with FDB allowing for the large-scale contract production of NVX-CoV2373 in connection with our OWS Agreement, beginning at FDB’s North Carolina facility.
Also in July 2020, we entered into a supply and license agreement with SIIPL, as amended by the parties in September 2020, under which we granted exclusive and non-exclusive licenses to SIIPL for the development, co-formulation, filling and finishing, registration and commercialization by SIIPL of NVX-CoV2373. SIIPL has agreed to purchase Matrix-M adjuvant from us and we have granted SIIPL a non-exclusive license to manufacture the antigen drug substance component of NVX-CoV2373 in SIIPL’s licensed territory solely for use in the manufacture of NVX-CoV2373 under the terms of the agreement. We will equally split with SIIPL the revenue from SIIPL’s sale of NVX-CoV2373 in its licensed territory, net of agreed costs. We granted to SIIPL (i) an exclusive license in India during the agreement, and (ii) a non-exclusive license (a) during the “Pandemic Period” (as declared by the World Health Organization), in all countries other than specified countries designated by the World Bank as upper-middle or high-income countries, with respect to which we retain rights, and (b) after the Pandemic Period, in only those countries designated as low or middle-income by the World Bank. Following the Pandemic Period, we may notify SIIPL of any bona fide opportunities for us to license NVX-CoV2373 to a third party in such low and middle-income countries and SIIPL would have an opportunity to match or improve such third party terms, failing which, we would have the discretion to remove one or more non-exclusive countries from SIIPL’s license. We anticipate SIIPL to manufacture approximately one billion doses of NVX-CoV2373 in 2021.
MERS/SARS
Historically, we developed a vaccine candidate against MERS, a novel coronavirus first identified in 2012, and a vaccine candidate against SARS in 2005. In 2012, within weeks of obtaining the sequence of the circulating MERS strain, we successfully produced a vaccine candidate designed to provide protection. Our MERS candidate was based on the major surface spike protein, which we had previously identified as the antigen of choice in our work with our SARS vaccine candidate. In 2014, in collaboration with the University of Maryland, School of Medicine, we published results that showed our MERS and SARS vaccine candidates both blocked infection in laboratory studies. Although not in active development, our MERS and SARS vaccine candidates remain viable opportunities to potentially develop independently or in conjunction with other coronavirus development activities.
Seasonal Influenza
NanoFlu Program (Older Adults)
Influenza is a world-wide infectious disease with serious illness generally occurring in more susceptible populations such as children under 18 years old and older adults, but also occurring in the general population. According to a 2019 Global Data forecast of influenza vaccines, the market for seasonal influenza vaccines is expected to grow from approximately $4.6 billion in 2018 to approximately $6.5 billion in 2028 (in the countries comprising the eight major markets). Recent flu seasons have shown an increase in the influenza disease burden. For the 2017-18 flu season, the
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that influenza in the U.S. resulted in 48.8 million illnesses, 959,000 hospitalizations and 79,400 deaths, a dramatic increase across all categories compared to previous years.
In March 2020, we announced positive top-line results from our Phase 3 clinical trial of our nanoparticle seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine candidate, which includes our proprietary Matrix-M adjuvant (“NanoFlu”). This positive data will support a BLA, which BLA will include process performance qualification and a lot consistency clinical trial, and licensure of NanoFlu using the FDA accelerated approval pathway.
In October 2020, we announced the formation of a leadership team within the Company focused on advancing NanoFlu to regulatory licensure. The leadership team will establish a separate NanoFlu development unit within our Company, which we expect to benefit from joint shared services with key cross-functional departments within the Company and to build on the Company’s established knowledge base in the discovery and development of innovative vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Currently, there is no approved RSV vaccine available to combat the estimated 64 million RSV infections that occur globally each year. We have identified three susceptible target populations that we believe could benefit from the development of our respiratory syncytial virus fusion (F) protein nanoparticle vaccine candidate (“RSV F Vaccine”) in different formulations: (1) infants via maternal immunization, (2) older adults (60 years and older) and (3) children six months to five years old (“pediatrics”). With our current estimates of the annual global cost burden of RSV in excess of $88 billion, we believe our RSV F Vaccine represents a multi-billion dollar worldwide opportunity.
ResVax Program (Infants via Maternal Immunization)
ResVax is our adjuvanted RSV F Vaccine for infants via maternal immunization. RSV is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections (“LRTI”) and the leading viral cause of severe lower respiratory tract disease in infants and young children worldwide. In the U.S., RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization of infants and, globally, is second only to malaria as a cause of death in children under one year of age.
In February 2019, we announced data from our Prepare trial, initiated in December 2015. The Prepare trial was conducted to determine whether ResVax reduced incidence of medically significant RSV-positive LRTI in infants through a minimum of the first 90 days of life and up through the first six months of life. While the data did not meet the trial’s primary efficacy endpoint, it did demonstrate efficacy against a secondary objective by reducing RSV LRTI hospitalizations in treated infants. In July 2020, these data were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. BMGF supported the Prepare trial for ResVax through a grant of up to $89.1 million pursuant to a grant agreement we entered into with BMGF in September 2015 (the “BMGF Grant Agreement”), including our efforts to conduct certain follow-on analyses of the Phase 3 data. We are assessing opportunities to bring ResVax to market, in conjunction with our pursuit of a regulatory licensure approach for the U.S., the European Union and other geographies.
RSV Older Adults Program
Older adults (60 years and older) are at increased risk for RSV disease due in part to immunosenescence, the age-related decline in the human immune system. RSV infection can also lead to exacerbation of underlying co-morbidities such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and congestive heart failure. In the U.S. alone, a reported RSV incidence rate of 5.5% in older adults would account for approximately 2.5 million infections per year. We estimate that approximately 900,000 medical interventions are caused by RSV disease in this U.S. population each year. We followed up the 2016 Phase 3 clinical trial of our RSV F Vaccine, which failed to meet its pre-specified primary or secondary efficacy objectives, with a 2017 Phase 2 clinical trial in older adults, to assess safety and immunogenicity of one and two dose regimens of our RSV F Vaccine, with and without aluminum phosphate or our proprietary Matrix-M adjuvant. Immunogenicity results from the 2017 trial indicate that both adjuvants increase the magnitude, duration and quality of the immune response versus the non-adjuvanted RSV F Vaccine. We continue to assess the development opportunities for our RSV F Vaccine in older adults.
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RSV Pediatrics Program
By the age of five, essentially all children will have been exposed to RSV and will likely develop natural immunity against the virus; however, children under five remain vulnerable to RSV disease, offering a strong rationale for a pediatric vaccine that could offer enhanced protection. In 2015, we announced positive results in our Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of our RSV F Vaccine in healthy children between two and six years of age. We continue to assess the development opportunities for our RSV F Vaccine for pediatrics.
Combination Vaccines
With the ongoing development of NanoFlu, NVX-CoV2373, and RSV F Vaccine, a strong rationale exists for developing two combination respiratory vaccines designed to protect susceptible populations against these diseases. Although testing is at an early stage, we believe that a combination vaccine against both influenza in combination with COVID-19, and influenza in combination with RSV, may be achievable since both vaccines are created using our recombinant nanoparticle technology and include our proprietary Matrix-M adjuvant.
Ebola Virus
EBOV is a filovirus that produces severe, often fatal illness in humans. Within the last decade, it has produced two large outbreaks in Sub-Saharan Africa with high mortality. There are currently two vaccines licensed to prevent EBOV.
We developed an EBOV glycoprotein vaccine candidate (“Ebola GP Vaccine”) expressed in insect cells, using our core recombinant baculovirus technology. Although not in active development, our Ebola GP Vaccine is a viable development opportunity in the event of dedicated funding or a partnership arrangement.
Sale of Preferred Stock
In June 2020, we entered into an agreement to sell 438,885 shares of newly designated Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”), at a purchase price of $455.70 per share, convertible into 4,388,850 shares of common stock, to an investment fund affiliated with RA Capital Management (“RA Capital”) in a private placement, at an effective purchase price per share of common stock equal to the June 12, 2020 closing price of our common stock. Upon closing, we received gross proceeds of approximately $200 million. Holders of Preferred Stock are not entitled to cumulative dividends, are not entitled to vote on matters submitted to common stockholders and have a liquidation preference over common stockholders (see “Note 9 – Preferred Stock” included in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).
Sales of Common Stock
In May 2020, we entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (“May 2020 Sales Agreement”), which allows us to issue and sell up to $250 million in gross proceeds of our common stock. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we sold 2.8 million shares of common stock under the May 2020 Sales Agreement resulting in $160.3 million in net proceeds (this amount excludes $3.9 million received in the fourth quarter of 2020 for shares traded in late September 2020). From October 1, 2020 through November 3, 2020, we sold 0.7 million shares of common stock resulting in $74.1 million in net proceeds, leaving $8.7 million remaining under the May 2020 Sales Agreement.
In March 2020, we entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (“March 2020 Sales Agreement”), which allowed us to issue and sell up to $150 million in gross proceeds of our common stock. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we sold 8.6 million shares of common stock under the March 2020 Sales Agreement resulting in $148.1 million in net proceeds. The March 2020 Sales Agreement was fully utilized at that time.
In January 2020, we entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (“January 2020 Sales Agreement”), which allowed us to issue and sell up to $100 million in gross proceeds of our common stock. During the first quarter of 2020, we sold 10.5 million shares of common stock under the January 2020 Sales Agreement resulting in $98.7 million in net proceeds. The January 2020 Sales Agreement was fully utilized at that time.
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In December 2018, we entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (“December 2018 Sales Agreement”), which allowed us to issue and sell up to $100 million in gross proceeds of our common stock. In January 2020, we sold 7.2 million shares of common stock under the December 2018 Sales Agreement resulting in $38.5 million in net proceeds. The December 2018 Sales Agreement was fully utilized at that time.
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 (unaudited) and the accompanying notes, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
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 at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates, assumptions and judgments particularly in relation to revenue recognition (discussed in greater detail below), lease accounting (discussed in greater detail below) and impairment of long-lived assets have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and are discussed in detail throughout our analysis of the results of operations discussed below. For additional discussion of our critical accounting policies and estimates, see Item 7 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the SEC.
Revenue Recognition
We perform research and development under government funding, grant, license and clinical development agreements. Our revenue primarily consists of funding under U.S. government contracts and other arrangements to advance the clinical development and manufacturing of NVX-CoV2373. Our U.S. government contracts include the DoD Contract and the OWS Agreement. Other funding arrangements primarily include a grant and forgivable loan funding from CEPI.
At contract inception, we analyze our revenue arrangements to determine the appropriate accounting under U.S. GAAP. Currently, our revenue arrangements represent customer contracts within the scope of ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASC 606”) or are contributions under the scope of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 958-605, Not-for-Profit Entities – Revenue Recognition (“ASC 958-605”). We recognize 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 obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) we satisfy a performance obligation. We only apply the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that we will collect the consideration we are entitled to in exchange for the goods or services we transfer to our customer. We recognize 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.
Under our U.S government contracts, we are entitled to receive funding, on a reimbursable-cost or reimbursable-cost-plus fixed fee basis to support certain activities related to the development, manufacture and delivery of NVX-CoV2373 to the U.S. Government. We analyzed these contracts and determined that they are within the scope of ASC 606. Our 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 we expect 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. We recognize revenue for these contracts over time as we transfer control over the goods and services and satisfy our performance obligation. We measure progress toward satisfaction of our 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 our performance obligation. Under this process, we consider 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 productivity, material and subcontractor costs, and identified risks. Estimating the total allowable cost at completion of our performance obligation under a contract is subjective and requires us 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 our contracts. Allowable contract costs include direct
31
costs incurred on the contract and indirect costs that are applied in the form of rates to the direct costs. Billings under the contracts are initially based on provisional indirect billing rates, agreed upon between us and the U.S. government. These indirect rates are subject to audit on an annual basis. The impact of changes in the indirect billing rates are recorded in the period when such changes are identified and 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. We recognize revenue on our U.S government contracts based on reimbursable allowable contract costs incurred in the period up to the transaction price. For our reimbursable-cost-plus fixed fee contracts, we recognize 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. Changes in estimates related to the EAC process are recognized in the period when such changes are made on a cumulative catch-up basis. We include the transaction price comprising both funded and unfunded portions of customer contracts, in this estimate.
Our other funding agreements primarily include the CEPI Grant Funding and CEPI Forgivable Loan Funding. Under our grant funding arrangements including the CEPI Grant Funding, we are entitled to reimbursement for costs that support development related activities of NVX-CoV2373. The CEPI Forgivable Loan Funding is designated for the prepayment of certain manufacturing activities. We 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 that satisfy the funder-imposed conditions. Payments received under the CEPI Forgivable Loan Funding agreements are only repayable if the proceeds of sales to one or more third parties of NVX-CoV2373 cover our costs of manufacturing such vaccine candidate, not including manufacturing costs funded by CEPI. As the financial risk remains with CEPI, we have determined that the use of the CEPI Forgivable Loan Funding is outside the scope of ASC Topic 470, Debt. The research and development risk is considered substantive, such that it is not yet probable that the development will be successful. Therefore, we have concluded that ASC Topic 730, Research and Development is 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, we will account for our obligation under the CEPI Forgivable Loan Funding as a contract to perform research and development for others. We have 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 our policy of presenting such amounts as revenue. In reaching this determination, we considered a number of factors, including whether we are principal under the arrangement, and whether the arrangement is significant to, and part of, our core operations. We will record revenue as we perform the contractual research and development services.
Lease Accounting
We determine at the inception of a contract if an arrangement is, or contains, a lease, which exists when the contract conveys the right to control the use of identified property or equipment for a period of time in exchange for consideration. 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, may be different than the inception date of the contract. We classify leases as either operating or finance leases based on the economic substance of the agreement.
We enter into non-cancelable lease agreements for office space and certain equipment. We also enter into supply agreements with contract manufacturing organizations and contract development and manufacturing organizations to manufacture our vaccine candidates. Certain of these supply agreements include the use of identified manufacturing facilities and equipment that are controlled by us and may qualify as an embedded lease. We treat supply agreements that contain a lease as lease arrangements in their entirety.
For leases that have a lease term of more than 12 months at the lease commencement date, we recognize lease liabilities, which represent our 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. We calculate the present value of future payments using the discount rate implicit in the lease, if available, or our 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), we have 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
32
accordance with contractual agreements. In determining the lease period, we evaluate facts and circumstances that could affect the period over which we are reasonably certain to use the underlying asset while taking into consideration the non-cancelable period over which we have the right to use the underlying asset and any option period to extend or terminate the lease if we are reasonably certain to exercise the option. We reevaluate short-term leases that are modified and if they no longer meets the requirements to be treated as short-term leases, we recognize and measure the lease liability and ROU asset as if the date of the modification is the lease commencement date.
For operating leases, we recognize lease expense related to fixed payments on a straight-line basis over 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, we recognize the amortization of the ROU asset over the shorter of the lease term or useful life of the underlying asset. We expense ROU assets acquired for research and development activities under ASC Topic 730, Research and Development, if they do not have an alternative future use, in research and development projects or otherwise.
We use significant assumptions and judgment in evaluating our lease contracts and other agreements under ASC 842, including the determination of whether an agreement is or contains a lease, whether a lease represents an operating or finance lease, the discount rate used to determine the present value of lease obligations and the term of embedded leases in our supply agreements.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
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
The following is a discussion of the historical financial condition and results of the Company’s operations that should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes set forth in this Quarterly Report.
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (amounts in tables are presented in thousands, except per share information or as otherwise indicated)
Revenue:
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||
September 30, | ||||||||||
Change 2019 | ||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | to 2020 | ||||||||
Revenue (in thousands): | ||||||||||
Total revenue |
| $ | 157,024 |
| $ | 2,507 |
| $ | 154,517 |
|
Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $157.0 million as compared to $2.5 million for the same period in 2019, an increase of $154.5 million. Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily comprised of revenue for services performed under the CEPI Funding Agreement, participation in OWS and the DOD contract. Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was primarily comprised of revenue for services performed under the BMGF Grant Agreement and revenue from Novavax AB. The significant increase in revenue was due to increased development activities relating to NVX-CoV2373 under the CEPI Funding Agreement, participation in OWS and the DOD contract.
We expect revenue in 2020 to significantly increase due to our NVX-CoV2373 program, which we anticipate will be primarily funded by OWS, CEPI, DoD and/or other potential non-dilutive funding sources.
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Expenses:
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||
September 30, | ||||||||||
Change 2019 | ||||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| to 2020 | |||||
Expenses (in thousands): |
|
|
| |||||||
Research and development | $ | 294,087 | $ | 18,611 | $ | 275,476 | ||||
Gain on Catalent transaction |
| — |
| (9,016) |
| 9,016 | ||||
General and administrative |
| 56,879 |
| 7,899 |
| 48,980 | ||||
Total expenses | $ | 350,966 | $ | 17,494 | $ | 333,472 |
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses include salaries, stock-based compensation, laboratory supplies, consultants and subcontractors, including external contract research and manufacturing organizations, and other expenses associated with our process development, program-related manufacturing, clinical, regulatory and quality assurance activities for our programs. Indirect costs such as fringe benefits and overhead expenses related to research and development activities, are also included in research and development expenses. Research and development expenses increased to $294.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 from $18.6 million for the same period in 2019, an increase of $275.5 million. The increase was primarily due to increased development activities relating to NVX-CoV2373, including the write-off of $187.2 million of ROU assets associated with our manufacturing supply agreements for NVX-CoV2373 that we determined do not currently have an alternative future use, and increased employee-related costs, primarily stock-based compensation expense. As of September 30, 2020, we had 433 employees dedicated to our research and development programs versus 127 employees as of September 30, 2019. For 2020, we expect research and development expenses to increase significantly due to our anticipated development activities for our NVX-CoV2373 program (see discussion on our NVX-CoV2373 program above) and increases in employee-related costs.
Expenses by Functional Area
We track our research and development expenses according to the type of costs incurred during identification, development, manufacture and testing of vaccine candidates. We evaluate and prioritize our activities according to functional area and therefore believe that project-by-project information would not form a reasonable basis for disclosure to our investors. Historically, we did not account for internal research and development expenses by project, since our employees’ work time is spread across multiple programs and our internal manufacturing clean-room facility produces multiple vaccine candidates.
The following summarizes our research and development expenses by functional area for the three months ended September 30 (in millions):
| 2020 |
| 2019 | |||
Manufacturing | $ | 266.4 | $ | 9.7 | ||
Vaccine Discovery |
| 2.8 |
| 1.4 | ||
Clinical and Regulatory |
| 24.9 |
| 7.5 | ||
Total research and development expenses | $ | 294.1 | $ | 18.6 |
We do not provide forward-looking estimates of costs and time to complete our research projects 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 on 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; |
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● | the time to enroll participants; |
● | the duration of treatment and follow-up; |
● | the safety and efficacy profile of the vaccine candidate; and |
● | the cost, timing, and ability to secure, regulatory approvals. |
As a result of these uncertainties, we are unable to determine with any significant degree of certainty 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.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased to $56.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 from $7.9 million for the same period in 2019, an increase of $49.0 million. The increase in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to increased employee-related costs, primarily stock-based compensation expense, and increased professional fees relating to the integration of Novavax CZ and supporting our NVX-CoV2373 program. As of September 30, 2020, we had 89 employees dedicated to general and administrative functions versus 41 employees as of September 30, 2019. For 2020, we expect general and administrative expenses to significantly increase due to increased activities related to supporting our NVX-CoV2373 program and increases in employee-related costs.
Other Income (Expense):
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||
September 30, | ||||||||||
Change 2019 | ||||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| to 2020 | |||||
Other Income (Expense) (in thousands): |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Investment income | $ | 140 | $ | 342 | $ | (202) | ||||
Interest expense |
| (4,460) |
| (3,403) |
| (1,057) | ||||
Other income (expense) |
| 952 |
| 5 |
| 947 | ||||
Total other income (expense), net | $ | (3,368) | $ | (3,056) | $ | (312) |
We had total other expense, net of $3.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to $3.1 million for the same period in 2019. In the three months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded a $1.0 million gain on the intercompany loan with Novavax CZ due to changes in the exchange rates and additional interest expense of $1.1 million for finance leases.
Net Loss:
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||
September 30, | ||||||||||
Change 2019 | ||||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| to 2020 | |||||
Net Loss (in thousands, except per share information): |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Net loss | $ | (197,310) | $ | (18,043) | $ | (179,267) | ||||
Net loss per share | $ | (3.21) | $ | (0.74) | $ | (2.47) | ||||
Weighted average shares outstanding |
| 61,554 |
| 24,327 |
| 37,227 |
Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $197.3 million, or $3.21 per share, as compared to $18.0 million, or $0.74 per share, for the same period in 2019. The increase in net loss was primarily due to increased development activities relating to NVX-CoV2373, including the write off of $187.2 million of ROU assets associated with our manufacturing supply agreements for NVX-CoV2373 and increased employee-related costs, primarily stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by increased revenue under the CEPI Funding Agreement, the OWS Agreement and the DoD Contract.
The increase in weighted average shares outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2020 is primarily a result of sales of our common stock in 2020 and 2019.
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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (amounts in tables are presented in thousands, except per share information or as otherwise indicated)
Revenue:
Nine Months Ended | |||||||||
| September 30, | ||||||||
Change 2019 | |||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||||
Revenue (in thousands): | |||||||||
Total revenue |
| $ | 195,939 |
| $ | 9,846 |
| $ | 186,093 |
Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $195.9 million as compared to $9.8 million for the same period in 2019, an increase of $186.1 million. Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily comprised of revenue for services performed under the CEPI Funding Agreement, the OWS Agreement and the DoD Contract. Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was primarily comprised of revenue for services performed under the BMGF Grant Agreement and revenue from Novavax AB. The significant increase in revenue was due to increased development activities relating to NVX-CoV2373 under the CEPI Funding Agreement, the OWS Agreement and the DoD Contract.
Expenses:
Nine Months Ended | |||||||||
September 30, | |||||||||
Change 2019 | |||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| to 2020 | ||||
Expenses (in thousands): |
|
|
| ||||||
Research and development | $ | 345,828 | $ | 84,502 | $ | 261,326 | |||
Gain on Catalent transaction |
| — |
| (9,016) |
| 9,016 | |||
General and administrative |
| 83,977 |
| 26,236 |
| 57,741 | |||
Total expenses | $ | 429,805 | $ | 101,722 | $ | 328,083 |
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses include salaries, stock-based compensation, laboratory supplies, consultants and subcontractors, including external contract research and manufacturing organizations, and other expenses associated with our process development, program-related manufacturing, clinical, regulatory and quality assurance activities for our programs. In addition, indirect costs such as fringe benefits and overhead expenses related to research and development activities, are also included in research and development expenses. Research and development expenses increased to $345.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from $84.5 million for the same period in 2019, an increase of $261.3 million. This increase was primarily due to increased development activities relating to NVX-CoV2373, including the write off of $187.2 million of ROU assets associated with our manufacturing supply agreements for NVX-CoV2373 that we determined do not currently have an alternative future use, and increased employee-related costs, primarily stock-based compensation expense. As of September 30, 2020, we had 433 employees dedicated to our research and development programs versus 127 employees as of September 30, 2019.
Expenses by Functional Area
The following summarizes our research and development expenses by functional area for the nine months ended September 30 (in millions):
| 2020 |
| 2019 | |||
Manufacturing | $ | 295.3 | $ | 50.6 | ||
Vaccine Discovery |
| 7.8 |
| 4.9 | ||
Clinical and Regulatory |
| 42.7 |
| 29.0 | ||
Total research and development expenses | $ | 345.8 | $ | 84.5 |
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General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased to $84.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from $26.2 million for the same period in 2019, an increase of $57.7 million. The increase in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to increased employee-related costs, primarily stock-based compensation expense and increased professional fees relating to the acquisition and integration of Novavax CZ and supporting our NVX-CoV2373 program. As of September 30, 2020, we had 89 employees dedicated to general and administrative functions versus 41 employees as of September 30, 2019.
Other Income (Expense):
Nine Months Ended | |||||||||
September 30, | |||||||||
Change 2019 | |||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| to 2020 | ||||
Other Income (Expense) (in thousands): |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Investment income | $ | 872 | $ | 1,236 | $ | (364) | |||
Interest expense |
| (11,266) |
| (10,209) |
| (1,057) | |||
Other income (expense) |
| 3,565 |
| (15) |
| 3,580 | |||
Total other income (expense), net | $ | (6,829) | $ | (8,988) | $ | 2,159 |
We had total other expense, net of $6.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to $9.0 million for the same period in 2019. In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded a $3.5 million gain on the intercompany loan with Novavax CZ due to changes in the exchange rates and additional interest expense of $1.1 million for finance leases.
Net Loss:
Nine Months Ended | |||||||||
September 30, | |||||||||
Change 2019 | |||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| to 2020 | ||||
Net Loss (in thousands, except per share information): |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Net loss | $ | (240,695) | $ | (100,864) | $ | (139,831) | |||
Net loss per share | $ | (4.39) | $ | (4.43) | $ | 0.04 | |||
Weighted average shares outstanding |
| 54,810 |
| 22,761 |
| 32,049 |
Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $240.7 million, or $4.39 per share, as compared to $100.9 million, or $4.43 per share, for the same period in 2019. The increase in net loss was primarily due to increased development activities relating to NVX-CoV2373, including the write off of $187.2 million of ROU assets associated with our manufacturing supply agreements for NVX-CoV2373 and increased employee-related costs, primarily stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by increased revenue under the CEPI Funding Agreement, the OWS Agreement and the DoD Contract.
The increase in weighted average shares outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 is primarily a result of sales of our common stock in 2020 and 2019.
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Liquidity Matters and Capital Resources
Our future capital requirements depend on numerous factors including, but not limited to, the commitments and progress of our research and development programs, the progress of preclinical and clinical testing, 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 manufacturing and distribution costs. We plan to continue to have multiple vaccines and product candidates in various stages of development, and we believe our operating expenses and capital requirements will fluctuate depending upon the timing of events, such as the scope, initiation, rate and progress of our preclinical studies and clinical trials and other research and development activities. We have primarily funded our recent operations with proceeds from the sale of common stock and preferred stock in equity offerings, revenue under the CEPI Funding Agreement, OWS Agreement and the DoD Contract. We anticipate our future operations to be additionally funded by OWS, CEPI, DoD and/or other potential non-dilutive funding sources.
As of September 30, 2020, we had $571.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash as compared to $82.2 million as of December 31, 2019. These amounts consisted of $334.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, $169.8 million in marketable securities and $67.6 million in restricted cash as of September 30, 2020 as compared to $78.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and $3.4 million in restricted cash as of December 31, 2019.
The following table summarizes cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):
Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||
September 30, | ||||||||||
2019 to | ||||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| 2020 | |||||
Summary of Cash Flows (in thousands): |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Net cash (used in) provided by: |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Operating activities | $ | 86,027 | $ | (112,880) | $ | 198,907 | ||||
Investing activities |
| (346,656) |
| 38,708 |
| (385,364) | ||||
Financing activities |
| 580,152 |
| 68,212 |
| 511,940 | ||||
Effect on exchange rate on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
| 33 |
| (69) |
| 102 | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
| 319,556 |
| (6,029) |
| 325,585 | ||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period |
| 82,180 |
| 81,959 |
| 221 | ||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | 401,736 | $ | 75,930 | $ | 325,806 |
Net cash provided by operating activities increased to $86.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared cash used in operating activities to $112.9 million for the same period in 2019. The increase in cash provided is primarily due to payments received under the CEPI Funding Agreement and OWS Agreement, and the timing of payments to third-parties.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, our investing activities consisted of purchases and maturities of marketable securities, our acquisition of Novavax CZ in 2020, proceeds from the Catalent transaction in 2019 and, to a much lesser extent, capital expenditures. Capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were $12.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively. For 2020, we expect a significant increase in our capital expenditures due to our development activities for our NVX-CoV2373 program.
Our financing activities consisted primarily of sales of our common stock under our At Market Issuance Sales Agreements and issuance of preferred stock in a private placement, payments of finance lease liabilities and to a lesser extent, stock option exercises and purchases under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan. In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we received net proceeds of $445.6 million from selling shares of common stock through our At Market Issuance Sales Agreements and $200.0 million through the issuance of preferred stock in a private placement. In the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we received net proceeds of $67.2 million from selling shares of common stock through our At Market Issuance Sales Agreements.
Based on our most recent cash flow forecast, we believe our current capital is sufficient to fund our operating plans for a minimum of twelve months from the date that this Quarterly Report was filed. Additional capital may be
38
required in the future to develop our vaccine candidates through clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization.
Our ability to fund the Company’s operations is dependent upon management’s plans, which include receiving non-dilutive funding from domestic and international sources, raising additional capital in the near term primarily through a combination of equity and debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances and marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements and in the longer term, from revenue related to product sales, to the extent our product candidates receive marketing approval and can be commercialized. New financings may not be available to the Company 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.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We did not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements as of September 30, 2020.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The primary objective of our investment activities is preservation of capital, with the secondary objective of maximizing income. As of September 30, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents of $334.2 million, $169.9 million in marketable securities, all of which are current, $67.6 million in restricted cash and working capital of $432.0 million.
Our exposure to market risk is primarily confined to our investment portfolio, which historically has been classified as available-for-sale. 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.
We are headquartered in the U.S. where we conduct the vast majority of our business activities. We have two foreign consolidated subsidiaries, Novavax AB, which is located in Sweden, and Novavax CZ (formerly Praha Vaccines a.s.), which is located in the Czech Republic. A 10% decline in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and Swedish Krona would result in a decline of stockholders’ equity (deficit) of approximately $3.3 million as of September 30, 2020. A 10% decline in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and Czech Koruna would result in a decline of stockholders’ equity (deficit) of approximately $10.1 million as of September 30, 2020.
Our 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 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the assistance of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of September 30, 2020. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving such control objectives. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2020, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
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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 quarterly period ended September 30, 2020, and has concluded that there was no change that occurred during the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting did not include the internal controls related to the operations acquired in the acquisition of Novavax CZ that are included in our September 30, 2020 consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Novavax CZ.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Other than the additional risk factors disclosed below, there are no material changes to the Company’s risk factors as described in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
Although there has been rapid progress, the regulatory and commercial success of our COVID-19 vaccine candidate, NVX-CoV2373, remains uncertain. We may be unable to produce a successful vaccine in a timely manner, if at all.
In response to the outbreak of COVID-19, we are pursuing the development and manufacture of our vaccine candidate, NVX-CoV2373, which is currently in Phase 3 of clinical testing. Even though we observed positive results in pre-clinical and early clinical trials, such results may not be predictive of future clinical trial results and whether they will be sufficient to support regulatory approval, accelerated or otherwise. We may be unable to produce a vaccine that successfully prevents COVID-19 in a timely manner, if at all.
Additionally, our ability to develop an effective vaccine to respond to COVID-19 depends on our ability to effectively scale up manufacturing capabilities at our own locations and those of our manufacturing partners and contractors. We recently acquired Novavax CZ (formerly Praha Vaccines, a.s.) including its vaccine manufacturing facility in Bohumil, Czech Republic and approximately 150 of its employees. Strategic transactions, such as our acquisition of Novavax CZ, 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. We are also actively entering into agreements with third parties to manufacture the antigen component of NVAX-CoV2373 and our proprietary Matrix-M adjuvant, as well as to distribute NVX-CoV2373. Reliance on third parties involves many risks, including risks that such third parties may not complete manufacturing or distribution activities on schedule, in compliance with regulatory requirements, within budget or in accordance with our quality standards. Our reliance on third-party manufacturers and distributors may adversely affect our operations or result in unforeseen delays or other problems beyond our control. Because of contractual restraints and the limited number of third-party manufacturers with the expertise, required regulatory approvals and facilities to manufacture NVX-CoV2373 on a potentially commercial scale, replacement of a manufacturer may be expensive and time-consuming and may cause interruptions in production. Manufacturing of NVX-CoV2373 involves a complicated process that will require significant investments of time and financial resources to implement. In addition, we may 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 further delays. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to timely and effectively produce NVX-CoV2373 in adequate quantities to meet global demand.
The Company has not previously had a commercial launch of any vaccine product, and doing so in a pandemic environment with an urgent, critical global need creates additional challenges. In addition to scaling up our manufacturing capabilities, we will need to develop global distribution channels and form partnerships with third parties worldwide. Rapid and significant growth may strain our administrative and operational infrastructure and our efforts to establish these
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capabilities may not meet initial expectations as to timing, scale-up, yield, cost or quality. If we are unable 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.
There is significant competition in the development of a vaccine against COVID-19 and we may never see returns on the significant resources we are devoting to NVX-CoV2373.
We may be unable to produce a successful COVID-19 vaccine, and establish a competitive market share for our vaccine before a competitor, or before the COVID-19 outbreak is contained or significantly diminished. A large number of vaccine manufacturers, academic institutions and other organizations currently have programs to develop COVID-19 vaccine candidates. While we are not aware of all of our competitors’ efforts, there are reports that Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Moderna, Sanofi, Inovio, AstraZeneca and many other companies are all in various stages of developing vaccine candidates against COVID-19. 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. Our business could be materially and adversely affected if competitors develop and commercialize one or more COVID-19 vaccines before we can complete development and seek approval for our vaccine candidate, or if they develop and commercialize one or more COVID-19 vaccines that are safer, more effective, have fewer or less severe side effects, have broader market acceptance, are more convenient or are less expensive than any vaccine candidate that we may develop. Furthermore, if any competitors are successful in producing a more efficacious vaccine or other treatment for COVID-19, 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 working toward the large-scale development, manufacturing and distribution of NVX-CoV2373 through a variety of government and private funding sources. For instance, we entered into funding agreements with CEPI to fund up to $399.5 million for clinical development and manufacturing activities for NVX-CoV2373 and we entered into the OWS Agreement to fund up to $1.6 billion, of which we are currently authorized to make expenditures or incur obligations of up to $800 million, to support the development, manufacture and delivery of NVX-CoV2373 to the U.S. Government. To the extent pricing negotiations are ongoing, however, such funding sources have discretion over the distribution of funding commitments, and to the extent funding commitments in such agreements are conditioned on our meeting certain milestones, we may not ultimately receive the full amount of committed funds and could be exposed to urgent needs for additional funding to support our NVX-CoV2373 development, manufacturing and distribution activities and there can be no assurance that we will be able to timely obtain additional government or private funding, if at all. For example, our agreement with CEPI requires that we adhere to certain equitable access principles regarding allocation and pricing, which may impact our ability to make profits. Future third-party investors and strategic partners, if any, may also impose restrictions on or mandate input as to our conduct of clinical trials, manufacturing activities or distribution activities, which may cause delays in the event of disagreement. We can make no assurance that the OWS Agreement or the funding agreements with CEPI will have a positive impact on our financial results.
We are allocating significant financial and personnel resources to the development of NVX-CoV2373, 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 combatting a global health threat that is unpredictable or against which our vaccine, if developed, may not be partially or fully effective, and may ultimately prove unsuccessful or unprofitable.
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 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 NVX-CoV2373 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
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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.
The regulatory pathway for NVX-CoV2373 is continually evolving, and may result in unexpected or unforeseen challenges.
The regulatory pathway for NVX-CoV2373 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 OWS are uncertain and may evolve as the program progresses. Such rules or standards may adversely affect our plans to develop NVX-CoV2373 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.
The speed at which all parties are moving to create, test and approve a vaccine 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, including the FDA, may make decisions more rapidly than is typical. Evolving or changing plans or priorities at the FDA or other regulatory bodies, including based on new knowledge of COVID-19 and how the disease affects the human body, may significantly affect the regulatory pathway for NVX-CoV2373. 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 FDA’s or other regulators’ analysis of clinical data may differ from our interpretation and the FDA or other regulators may require that we conduct additional clinical trials or non-clinical studies. There can be no guarantee that the evolving regulatory pathway will not impede the development, commercialization and/or licensure of NVX-CoV2373.
In addition, since the path to licensure of any vaccine against COVID-19 is unclear, we may have a widely used vaccine in circulation in the U.S. or another country as an investigational vaccine or a product authorized for temporary or emergency use prior to our receipt of 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.
The outbreak of COVID-19 may materially and adversely affect our business and our financial results.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present substantial global economic and public health challenges, which may materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. In response to COVID-19, various aspects of our business operations have been, and could continue to be, disrupted. We continue to implement a work from home policy, with our administrative employees working outside of our offices, and on-site staff restricted to only those required to execute certain laboratory and related support activities. Working remotely could increase our cybersecurity risk, create data accessibility concerns, and make us more susceptible to communication disruptions, any of which could adversely impact our business operations. In addition, as a result of state or local restrictions, our on-site staff conducting research and development may not be able to access our laboratories, and these core activities may be significantly limited or curtailed, possibly for extended periods of time. Travel restrictions and other governmental measures may also result in a disruption or delay in the performance of our third-party contractors and suppliers. If such third parties are unable to adequately satisfy their contractual commitments to us in a timely manner, our business could be adversely affected.
Our clinical trials, whether planned or ongoing, may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Study procedures (particularly any procedures that may be deemed non-essential), site initiation, participant recruitment and enrollment, participant dosing, shipment of our product candidates, distribution of clinical trial materials, study monitoring, site inspections and data analysis may be paused or delayed due to changes in hospital or research institution policies, federal, state or local regulations, prioritization of hospital and other medical resources toward efforts to treat or prevent COVID-19, or other reasons related to the pandemic. In addition, there could be a potential effect of COVID-19 to the operations of the FDA or other health authorities, which could result in delays of reviews and approvals, including with respect to
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our product candidates. Any prolongation or de-prioritization of our clinical trials or delay in regulatory review resulting from such disruptions could materially affect the development and study of our product candidates.
The trading prices for our common stock and that of other biopharmaceutical companies have been highly volatile due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as a result of investor concerns and uncertainty related to the impact of the outbreak on the economies of countries worldwide. These broad market and industry fluctuations, as well as general economic, political and market conditions, may negatively impact the market price of shares of our common stock.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rapidly evolve. The extent to which the outbreak impacts our business, preclinical studies and clinical trials will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, such as the ultimate geographic spread of the disease, the duration of the pandemic, travel restrictions and social distancing in the U.S. and other countries, business closures or business disruptions and the effectiveness of actions taken in the U.S. and other countries to contain and treat the disease.
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 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 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 as of December 31, 2019 was $1.4 billion. Our revenue for the last three fiscal years was $18.7 million in 2019, $34.3 million in 2018, and $31.2 million in 2017. Though we have received or anticipate receiving a significant amount of funding from OWS, the DoD and CEPI in connection with the development and potential commercialization of NVX-CoV2373, we may be unable to produce a successful vaccine in a timely manner, if at all. Our net losses for the last three fiscal years were $132.7 million in 2019, $184.7 million in 2018, and $183.8 million in 2017.
Historically, our losses have resulted predominantly from research and development expenses for our vaccine candidates, manufacturing-related expenses, 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 research and development efforts to support our vaccine development efforts, and, if our product candidates are approved, future commercialization efforts.
By the end of fiscal year 2020, we expect our total investment in the development and manufacture of NVX-CoV2373 to be significant and to continue through 2021 and beyond, although the precise magnitude of our investment will be subject to clinical trial data results, the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, including our competitive landscape and regulatory outcomes. If we are unable to timely commercialize a vaccine against COVID-19, we may never recoup this investment. Although certain specified costs associated with the development of NVX-CoV2373 are expected to be reimbursed under the OWS Agreement, the DoD Contract and the CEPI Funding Agreement, we expect to continue to incur significant operating expenses and anticipate significant losses over time as we seek to:
● | conduct clinical trials and seek regulatory approval for NVX-CoV2373 and other potential vaccine candidates; |
● | conduct preclinical studies for other potential vaccine candidates; |
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● | expand our global manufacturing and distribution capacity; 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 fund our operations. We may never achieve profitability and may not sustain profitability, if achieved.
Our existing funding agreements with the U.S. government and CEPI do not assure success of NVX-CoV2373 or that we will be able to fully fund NVX-CoV2373
The OWS Agreement, the DoD Agreement and the CEPI Funding Agreement each reimburse a portion of the expenses associated with the development and potential commercialization of NVX-CoV2373. However, we remain fully responsible for conducting these development and commercialization activities, not all of which may be reimbursed. Furthermore, none of the OWS Agreement, the DoD Agreement, or the CEPI Funding Agreement guarantees that any of these activities will be successful. Our inability to succeed with key clinical or development activities could jeopardize our ability to obtain licensure from the FDA or other regulatory authorities to sell NVX-CoV2373.
Collaborations and contracts of our wholly owned subsidiaries Novavax AB and Novavax CZ, with regional partners, as well as with international providers, expose us to additional risks associated with doing business outside the U.S.
Swedish-based Novavax AB and its wholly-owned subsidiary Novavax CZ are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Novavax, Inc. We also have formed a joint venture with Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited in India, established clinical development agreements with CEPI and BMGF and entered into other agreements and arrangements with international companies, including SIIPL in India, among others. We plan to continue to enter into collaborations or partnerships with companies, non-profit organizations and national and local governments in various parts of the world, particularly to expand our global manufacturing and distribution capacity with respect to NVX-CoV2373. Risks of conducting business outside the U.S. include negative consequences of:
● | The complexity and costs associated with seeking to comply with separate regulatory requirements that govern our ability to develop, manufacture, license and commercialize our vaccine candidates in local markets; |
● | the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on specific countries or regions; |
● | failure to comply with anti-bribery laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act and similar anti-bribery laws in other jurisdictions; |
● | new or changes in interpretations of existing trade protections measures, including tariffs, embargoes and import and export licensing requirements; |
● | increased legal and compliance burden associated with establishing, maintaining and operating legal entities in foreign countries; |
● | 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; |
● | 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.
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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 trials; however, we may not be able to maintain insurance coverage at a reasonable cost or in sufficient amounts to protect us against losses due to liability. Furthermore, coverage is relatively expensive, and the market pricing fluctuates significantly. We may not be able to maintain our existing insurance coverage or obtain coverage for the use of our other products in the future. This 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 NVX-CoV2373 in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, a global pandemic, we may have a widely used vaccine in the U.S. and other countries as an investigational vaccine or a product authorized for temporary or emergency use prior to our receipt of marketing approval. 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; |
● | impairment of our business reputation; |
● | withdrawal of clinical trial participants; |
● | costs of related litigation; |
● | substantial monetary awards to participants or other claimants; |
● | loss of revenue; and |
● | inability to commercialize our vaccine candidates. |
We are increasingly a target for public scrutiny, and our business may be impacted by unfavorable publicity.
Given that COVID-19 represents an unprecedented urgent public health crisis, that we are developing NVX-CoV2373 as a COVID-19 vaccine candidate, and that we have received significant funding from the U.S. government and other sources to support the development and potential commercialization of NVX-CoV2373, 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, and manufacturing and potential allocation and pricing of NVX-CoV2373. 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 NVX-CoV2373 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 clinical outcomes regarding the 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.
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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 disclosures 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 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 6. Exhibits
3.1 |
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10.1*± |
| Base Agreement, entered into June 25, 2020, between the Company and Advanced Technology International |
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10.3*± | ||
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10.5*± | ||
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10.6*± | ||
31.1* |
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31.2* |
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32.1* |
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32.2* |
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101 |
| The following financial information from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, formatted in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language (Inline XBRL): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
* | Filed herewith or furnished. |
± | Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted because they are both (i) not material and (ii) would be competitively harmful if publicly disclosed. |
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SIGNATURES
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.
NOVAVAX, INC. | ||
Date: November 10, 2020 | By: | /s/ Stanley C. Erck |
Stanley C. Erck | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
(Principal Executive Officer) | ||
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Date: November 10, 2020 | By: | /s/ John J. Trizzino |
John J. Trizzino | ||
Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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