The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine for use in adults, adding a fourth option to the nation's vaccination arsenal. The authorization, announced on Wednesday, July 13, introduces a more traditional vaccine technology to the US market, potentially offering an alternative for those hesitant to receive mRNA-based vaccines.
The two-dose protein-based vaccine still requires sign-off from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before becoming available to the public. A CDC advisory panel is expected to meet on Tuesday to discuss recommendations for the vaccine's use.
A Different Technological Approach
Unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines that use messenger RNA technology, Novavax's shot employs a protein-based platform that has been used for decades in vaccines against diseases such as hepatitis B and influenza. This established technology may appeal to some of the approximately 27 million American adults who remain unvaccinated.
"Today's authorization offers adults in the United States who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine another option that meets the FDA's rigorous standards," said FDA Commissioner Robert Califf in a statement.
The vaccine demonstrated strong efficacy in clinical trials, though the FDA did note concerns about the risk of myocarditis (heart inflammation), a condition also observed with mRNA vaccines primarily in young men.
Supply and Availability Challenges
The US government has secured 3.2 million doses of the Novavax vaccine, which it plans to release once the company completes quality testing in the coming weeks. However, an HHS spokesperson indicated that initial supplies may be limited.
Novavax's entry into the US market comes significantly later than planned. The company's original application faced nearly a year of delays due to development and production problems, making it a late entrant in a market where more than two-thirds of the US population has already been fully vaccinated with other available options.
Uncertain Market Demand
Despite hopes that Novavax's traditional technology would drive vaccine acceptance among the hesitant, early evidence from Europe suggests demand may be limited. Since its European launch in December, only about 242,000 doses of Novavax's vaccine have been administered out of 12.6 million distributed doses.
This tepid reception has prompted Novavax to increase its focus on lower-income countries. The company has projected between $4 billion and $5 billion in sales this year, though analysts expect results at the lower end of that range.
Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy
FDA official Peter Marks emphasized the importance of providing alternative vaccine options during the advisory committee meeting that recommended authorization.
"We do have a problem with vaccine uptake that is very serious in the United States," Marks told the panel. "Anything we can do to get people more comfortable to be able to accept these potentially life-saving medical products is something that we feel we are compelled to do."
The Novavax vaccine is being manufactured both by the company itself and by the Serum Institute of India. In the first quarter of this year, approximately 41 million doses were delivered across 41 countries, according to Novavax.
