ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 5, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq:NVAX) today announced that it has been awarded a $1.3 million contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to develop a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine countermeasure to protect the United States from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious viral disease of livestock and a potential threat to U.S. agriculture. The Company will use these funds over the next two and a half years to develop a Novavax recombinant VLP-based vaccine which, unlike current FMD vaccines, would not require the use of infectious FMD virus to be manufactured. This would address the potential risk of releasing infectious virus during vaccine production and stockpiling in the U.S. or other FMD-free countries.
"We welcome this opportunity to apply our recombinant vaccine technology to address a major threat to U.S. livestock producers," said Stanley C. Erck, Novavax's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Although the United States remains free of FMD, an effective vaccine will help prevent the spread of disease if an outbreak should occur and may abolish the risk of infection if used through a national vaccination program of all susceptible livestock."
About Novavax
Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq:NVAX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company creating novel vaccines to address a broad range of infectious diseases worldwide. Using innovative virus-like particle (VLP) and recombinant nanoparticle technology, as well as new and efficient manufacturing approaches, the company produces potent vaccine candidates to combat diseases, with the goal of allowing countries to better prepare for and more effectively respond to rapidly spreading infections. Novavax is committed to using its technology platforms to create geographic-specific vaccine solutions and is therefore involved in several international partnerships, including collaborations with Cadila Pharmaceuticals of India and LG Life Sciences of Korea. Together, these companies have worldwide commercialization capacity and the global reach to create real and lasting change in the biopharmaceutical field. Additional information about Novavax is available on the company's website: www.novavax.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements herein relating to the award by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security of a contract for the development of an FMD vaccine and other future financial or business performance or matters 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 risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include those identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Novavax Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. You are encouraged to read our filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this document, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of the statements. Our business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above. Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties.