South Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Approves Gaithersburg-Based Novavax’s COVID-19 Vaccine

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Jan. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, and SK bioscience, Co. Limited, a vaccine business subsidiary of Korea-based SK Group, today announced that South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has approved a Biologics License Application (BLA) from SK bioscience for Nuvaxovid™ COVID-19 Vaccine (recombinant, adjuvanted) for active immunization in individuals 18 years of age and older for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2. Nuvaxovid™, Novavax’ COVID-19 vaccine also known as NVX-CoV2373, is the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine to be approved for commercial use in South Korea and will be manufactured and marketed in the country by SK bioscience.

“Novavax is proud to bring our COVID-19 vaccine to South Korea at a critical time in the pandemic as both the Delta and Omicron variants have taken hold,” said Stanley C. Erck, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax. “We thank our partners at SK bioscience for their commitment to this public health challenge and the MFDS for its thorough assessment of our data as we look forward to helping address major obstacles to controlling the pandemic through the additional option of our protein-based vaccine.”

SK bioscience has an advance purchase agreement with the South Korean government to supply 40 million doses of Novavax’ vaccine. The companies also recently announced expanded collaboration and license agreements that are expected to increase manufacturing capacity and provide SK bioscience with additional non-exclusive territories.

Novavax’ vaccine also recently received conditional marketing authorization (CMA) in the European Union and emergency use listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO) under the brand name Nuvaxovid. The Novavax/Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. vaccine (brand name, Covovax™) recently received emergency use authorization (EUA) in India, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as WHO EUL. Together, the WHO EULs for the vaccine from both companies reflect the potential opportunity for authorization in over 170 countries. The vaccine is also currently under review by multiple additional regulatory agencies worldwide and the company expects to receive additional worldwide authorizations in the first half of 2022. This includes the submission of its complete chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) data package to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the end of 2021. The company expects to submit a request for EUA for the vaccine in the U.S. after one month in accordance with guidance from the FDA regarding submission of all EUA vaccines.

For more information, including details on Nuvaxovid and where it has been authorized for use, please visit the following websites:

• Novavax global authorization website
• South Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
• SK bioscience

The brand name Nuvaxovid has not yet been authorized for use in the U.S. by the FDA.

Important Safety Information

• NVX-CoV2373 is contraindicated in persons who have a hypersensitivity to the active substance, or to any of the excipients.
• Events of anaphylaxis have been reported with administration of COVID-19 vaccines. Appropriate medical treatment and supervision should be available in case of an anaphylactic reaction following the administration of the vaccine. A second dose of the vaccine should not be given to those who have experienced anaphylaxis to the first dose of NVX-CoV2373.
• Anxiety-related reactions, including vasovagal reactions (syncope), hyperventilation, or stress-related reactions may occur in association with vaccination as a psychogenic response to the needle injection. It is important that precautions are in place to avoid injury from fainting.
• Vaccination should be postponed in individuals suffering from an acute severe febrile illness or acute infection.
• NVX-CoV2373 should be given with caution in individuals receiving anticoagulant therapy or those with thrombocytopenia or any coagulation disorder (such as hemophilia) because bleeding or bruising may occur following an intramuscular administration in these individuals.
• The efficacy of NVX-CoV2373 may be lower in immunosuppressed individuals.
• Administration of NVX-CoV2373 in pregnancy should only be considered when the potential benefits outweigh any potential risks for the mother and fetus.
• The effects with NVX-CoV2373 may temporarily affect the ability to drive or use machines.
• Individuals may not be fully protected until 7 days after their second dose. As with all vaccines, vaccination with NVX-CoV2373 may not protect all vaccine recipients.
• The most common adverse reactions observed during clinical studies (frequency category of very common ≥1/10) were headache, nausea or vomiting, myalgia, arthralgia, injection site tenderness/pain, fatigue, and malaise.

For additional information, please visit www.NovavaxCovidVaccine.com for the full Summary of Product Characteristics with Package Leaflet, Prescribing Information and Important Safety Information, adverse event reporting instructions, or to request additional information.