ROCKVILLE, Md., March 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Novavax, Inc. today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.
Novavax reported a net loss of $14 million, or $0.15 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to a net loss of $11.1 million, or $0.16 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2008. For 2009, the company reported a net loss of $38.4 million, or $0.45 per share, compared to a net loss of $36 million, or $0.53 per share, for 2008. The primary reason for the increased loss in the comparative fourth quarter and year-over-year results are the number and size of the clinical trials that were performed in 2009, compared to 2008.
At December 31, 2009, Novavax had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $43 million compared to $33.9 million at December 31, 2008. Working capital increased from $7.4 million in 2008 to $36.5 million in 2009.
Dr. Rahul Singhvi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Novavax, stated: "During 2009, Novavax made substantial progress across every part of our business and in each of our vaccine programs. We raised $56 million in new capital, launched a pivotal study of our 2009 H1N1 VLP pandemic influenza vaccine in Mexico with encouraging results to date, demonstrated safety and immunogenicity of our trivalent seasonal VLP influenza vaccine and identified a viable vaccine candidate to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We have now conducted five human clinical studies for our pandemic and seasonal VLP vaccine candidates in over 4,200 subjects, demonstrating safety and immunogenicity. We plan to begin Phase III studies of our influenza vaccines, subject to the expected results of the ongoing Phase IIa trial in older subjects and future clinical pathway discussions with the FDA. The Company ended 2009 with a solid balance sheet and a strong scientific position that will enable us to continue to advance our pipeline products."
Key highlights of 2009:
Anticipated events in 2010:
Conference Call
Novavax's management will host its quarterly conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time today. The live conference call will be accessible via Novavax's website at www.novavax.com under Investor/Events or by telephone at 1 (866) 804-3550 (U.S. or Canada) or 1 (703) 639-1330 (International). An archive of the conference call will be available on Novavax's website approximately one hour after the event for 90 days and a replay of the conference call will also be available by telephone beginning March 12, 2010 at 1:00 pm through March 14, 2010 at 11:59 pm. To access the replay, dial 1 (888) 266-2081 and enter pass code 1412843.
About Novavax
Novavax, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company creating novel vaccines to address a broad range of infectious diseases worldwide, including H1N1, using advanced proprietary virus-like-particle (VLP) technology. The company produces potent VLP-based recombinant vaccines utilizing new and efficient manufacturing approaches. Novavax is committed to using its VLP technology to create country-specific vaccine solutions. The company has formed a joint venture with Cadila Pharmaceuticals, named CPL Biologicals, to develop and manufacture vaccines, biological therapeutics and diagnostics in India. Additional information about Novavax is available on the company's website: www.novavax.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements herein relating to future financial or business performance, conditions or strategies and other financial and business matters, including expectations regarding revenue, operating expenses, use of cash, and clinical developments and anticipated milestones, including a BARDA contract, Phase III studies and seeking approval in Mexico, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Novavax cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or historical experience include, among other things, the following: our ability to progress any product candidates into pre-clinical or clinical trials; the scope, initiation, rate and progress of our pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and other research and development activities; clinical trial results; even if the data from pre-clinical studies or clinical trials is positive, the product may not prove to be safe and efficacious; regulatory approval is needed before any vaccines can be sold in or outside the United States and, to date, no governmental authority has approved any of our vaccine candidates for sale; influenza is seasonal in nature, and if approval or commercial launch after approval is not timely in relation to the influenza season, we may not be able to manufacture or sell our influenza vaccines on terms favorable to us until the next influenza season, if at all; we have not manufactured any of our vaccine candidates at a commercial level; we utilize a unique manufacturing process and the scale-up of that process may prove difficult and costly; our dependence on third parties to manufacture and distribute our vaccines; risks associated with conducting business outside of the United States; the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights; competition for clinical resources and patient enrollment from drug candidates in development by other companies with greater resources and visibility; our ability to enter into future collaborations with industry partners and the terms, timing and success of any such collaboration; our ability to obtain adequate financing in the future through product licensing, co-promotional arrangements, public or private equity or debt financing or otherwise; the inability to win any government grants, including BARDA in a timely manner or if at all and other factors referenced herein. Further information on the factors and risks that could affect Novavax's business, financial conditions and results of operations, is contained in Novavax's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this earnings release and Novavax assumes no duty to update such statements.
CONTACT: Tricia J. Richardson, Senior Manager, Investor Relations,
Novavax, Inc., +1-240-268-2031
Web site: http://www.novavax.com/
