Is This the Ultimate Implosion of Novavax?

Novavax was pummeled by shareholders on Friday after the company reported top-line results from its RSV F Vaccine trials.

Published September 16, 2016, 10:35am ET · 2 min read

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Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX) was pummeled by shareholders on Friday after the company reported top-line results from its RSV F Vaccine trials. Essentially, the Resolve Phase 3 trial of RSV F Vaccine in 11,856 older adults (60 years of age and older), failed to meet the pre-specified primary or the secondary efficacy objectives and did not demonstrate vaccine efficacy.

RSV takes up a majority of the Novavax pipeline, with two of its indications in Phase 3. Novavax influenza treatment is the second closest to completion, with two of its vaccines in Phase 2. The remainder of the pipeline is still in Phase 1.

The primary objective of the Resolve trial was to demonstrate efficacy in the prevention of moderate-severe RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease (RSV msLRTD), as defined by the presence of multiple lower respiratory tract symptoms.

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The secondary objective of the trial was to demonstrate efficacy of the RSV F Vaccine in reducing the incidence of all symptomatic respiratory disease due to RSV (RSV ARD).

Gregory Glenn M.D., President, Research and Development, commented:

We are both surprised and disappointed by the outcome of the Resolve trial, which we recently unblinded. Our initial analyses and review of the key aspects of the trial do not indicate issues with trial execution, data collection, data integrity, or drug product quality. We expect to have preliminary immunogenicity data in the coming weeks to further our understanding of the trial results. … We are continuing to investigate potential root causes that could have impacted the outcome of this trial. We continue to believe that there is a path forward for our RSV vaccine and that there is an important unmet need for an RSV vaccine in older adults.

Apart from Friday’s implosion, Novavax had been more or less flat for the year thus far.

Shares of Novavax were last seen down about 85% at $1.27, with a consensus analyst price target of $14.11 and a 52-week trading range of $1.16 to $10.70.

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Chris Lange

Chris Lange is a financial and geopolitical writer with more than a decade of experience covering a myriad of topics. He has published thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St., with past coverage focused heavily on stocks, IPOs, healthcare, defense, global affairs, and technology.

His work has been quoted, or referenced by a number of outlets including Business Insider, USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, The Motley Fool, and many other publications. A graduate of Southwestern University, he studied business with a focus on investments and has previous experience in banking and startups.

When not reading or writing the news, he is following his passion for Lacrosse, playing chess, or building solar projects with his dad.

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