Novavax (NASDAQ:NVAX) has signed an agreement with the Australian government to supply 40 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine candidate.
Novavax expects clinical results of NVX-CoV2373 in Q1 2021
The company has indicated that it expects early clinical data on its late-stage clinical tests in Q1 2021. As per the terms of the agreement, Novavax will commence the vaccine’s delivery as of 1H 2021. However, this is subject to Novavax’s NVX-C0V2373 vaccine candidate currently in clinical trials in the country and elsewhere receiving approval. Novavax didn’t reveal the supply agreement’s financial terms for the vaccine, which will be administered in two doses, 21 days apart.
Novavax is the fifth company to commence a pivotal third phase trial with other companies such as BioNTech and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) as well as Moderna (NASDAQ:MRN) also in late-stage trials. Also, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) are also not far behind with the companies proposing two dose regimens except Johnson & Johnson developing a single-dose vaccine.
Also, Novavax has signed supply agreements with the US to supply 100 million doses and also with the UK for 60 million doses. Novavax will also supply Canada with 76 million doses of the vaccine.
The Australian government in multiple vaccine supply agreements
Besides Novavax, the Australian government also has an agreement with Pfizer/BioNtech for the supply of 10 million doses. The government expects the vaccines to be available from early 2021 once they have proven to be effective and safe. Already Australia has lined up around 134 million doses for four COVID-19 vaccines. In September, the government signed an agreement with the AstraZeneca/university of Oxford for 33.8 million doses and the University of Queensland/CSL for 51 million doses.
Australia’s PM Scott Morrison said that securing multiple COVID-19 vaccines gives Australians the best chance to access vaccines once trials are successful. He said that the country is not relying on one vaccine, and they will continue pursuing other vaccines should medical experts recommend.
