Novavax and European Commission Finalize COVID-19 Vaccine Purchase Agreement

On August 4th, 2021, Novavax announced that it had reached an agreement with the European Commission for the purchase of up to 200 million doses of their prospective COVID-19 vaccine. Novavax has been working on NVX-CoV2373, a recombinant nanoparticle protein-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Per the terms of the agreement, member states will be able to request up to 100 million doses of this vaccine. There is an option to order an additional 100 million doses throughout 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Novavax’s vaccine passed through a Phase III clinical trial conducted by 30,000 adult participants in the United States and Mexico. In that study, it demonstrated 90.4% efficacy against moderate and severe disease. This number increased to 100% as it concerns the original strain of the virus. Another trial, done with 15,000 adults in the United Kingdom, demonstrated 89.7% and 96% rates, respectively.

Novavax is expected to complete the application process in the third quarter of 2021. Dispersal of the vaccine is slated to begin shortly after approval.

"As new coronavirus variants are spreading in Europe and around the world, this new contract with a company that is already testing its vaccine successfully against these variants is an additional safeguard for the protection of our population,” said Ursula von der Layen, president of the European Commission, in a organization press release.

Sources: Novavax, European Commission