Novavax ends COVID vaccine sale settlement with Gavi

Novavax Inc stated on Monday it had delivered a written discover to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, terminating with quick impact an settlement for the sale of the corporate’s COVID-19 vaccine to low- and middle-income nations.

The corporate cited Gavi’s failure to acquire the 350 million doses it had agreed to purchase in Could final 12 months for the COVAX facility.

The COVAX facility is a joint program between Gavi, the World Well being Group (WHO), and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Improvements for the equitable distribution of COVID vaccines in poorer nations.

The termination has not resulted in any penalties, the corporate stated.

Novavax acquired a non-refundable advance cost of $350 million from Gavi final 12 months and an extra $350 million this 12 months after the vaccine received the WHO’s emergency use itemizing, the corporate stated.

Novavax additionally has a pact with the Serum Institute of India for manufacturing a model of the vaccine beneath the model Covovax, which might even be equipped to the COVAX facility.

Serum Institute was anticipated to fabricate and promote round 750 million doses of Covovax to the power.

Novavax and Serum Institute weren’t instantly out there to reply on whether or not that deal was additionally terminated.

The announcement comes on the again of poor demand for the corporate’s shot amid a worldwide provide glut for COVID-19 vaccines and waning demand.

The corporate had earlier this month minimize its full-year forecast but once more, damage by late authorizations of its vaccine globally. Covovax and Serum’s vaccines had been the ninth and tenth vaccine, respectively, to get the WHO’s emergency itemizing.

Gavi was not instantly out there to reply to a request for remark.