GlobeNewswire Inc | Dec 27, 2021 03:55PM EST

December 27, 2021

NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Novavax, Inc. (Novavax or the Company) (NASDAQ: NVAX) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Southern Division, and docketed under 21-cv-02910, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Novavax securities between March 2, 2021 and October 19, 2021, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.

If you are a shareholder who purchased Novavax securities during the Class Period, you have until January 11, 2022 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Novavax is a biotechnology company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases and address health needs. The Companys product candidates include, among others, NVX-CoV2373, which is in development as a vaccine for COVID-19. Prior to the start of the Class Period, Novavax announced that it planned to complete Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) submissions for NVX-CoV2373 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the second quarter of 2021.

Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Novavax overstated its manufacturing capabilities and downplayed manufacturing issues that would impact its approval timeline for NVX-CoV2373; (ii) as a result, Novavax was unlikely to meet its anticipated EUA regulatory timelines for NVX-CoV2373; (iii) accordingly, the Company overstated the regulatory and commercial prospects for NVX-CoV2373; and (iv) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On May 10, 2021, The Washington Post reported that Novavaxs EUA filing was delayed by manufacturing regulatory issues, until June at the earliest, according to four people who had recently been briefed on the [C]ompanys plans. Later that day, during after-market hours, on a call that Novavax hosted with investors and analysts to discuss the Companys first quarter 2021 financial and operational results (the 1Q21 Investor Call), Novavax confirmed that it was unlikely to seek an EUA for NVX-CoV2373 in the U.S. until July 2021 at the earliesti.e., the third quarter of 2021.

Following publication of The Washington Post article, Novavaxs stock price fell $15.50 per share, or 8.81%, to close at $160.50 per share on May 10, 2021. Moreover, following the Companys 1Q21 Investor Call, Novavaxs stock price continued to fall an additional $22.32 per share, or 13.91%, to close at $138.18 per share on May 11, 2021.

Then, on August 5, 2021, Novavax issued a press release reporting its financial results and operational highlights for the second quarter of 2021. Among other news, Novavax reported that it expected to file for NVX-CoV2373s EUA in the fourth quarter of 2021, rather than the third quarter of 2021.

On this news, Novavaxs stock price fell $46.31 per share, or 19.61%, to close at $189.89 per share on August 6, 2021.

Finally, on October 19, 2021, Politico published an article entitled They rushed the process: Vaccine makers woes hamper global inoculation campaign. The Politico article reported, in relevant part, that Novavax faces significant hurdles in proving it can manufacture a shot that meets regulators quality standards with respect to NVX-CoV2373. The Politico article cited anonymous sources as stating that Novavaxs issues are more concerning than previously understood and that the Company could take until the end of 2022 to resolve its manufacturing issues and win regulatory authorizations and approvals.

On this news, Novavaxs stock price fell $23.69 per share, or 14.76%, to close at $136.86 per share on October 20, 2021.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

CONTACT:Robert S. WilloughbyPomerantz LLPrswilloughby@pomlaw.com888-476-6529 ext. 7980