NVAX shares continue steady advance

Shares of Novavax, a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine manufacturer, continued its steady climb today amid continuing concerns about the mutation influenza strains. FDA approval is several years away, but NVAX's novel approach to manufacturing recombinant vaccines has given them contracts to work with the National Institute of Health (NIH) and commercial commitments in India (with parrtner Cadila) and Spain (with partner Rovi).

http://www.scienceprogress.org/2009/08/influenza-vaccine/

NVAX's VLP manufacturing platform accelerates vaccine production, reducing ramp up time from 6 - 8 months to 4 weeks. Facilities cost are also reduced by 90%. Yields are increased due to elimination of egg-based manufacturing process used by traditional vaccine makers. Most importantly, the VLP process could potentially enable the production of a "super vaccine", which provides immunogenicity for all mutated strains of influenza.

Disclosure: I am long NVAX shares.

NVAX and SVA swine flu vaccines are effective

Shares of NVAX and SVA rose approximately 10% this morning on positive results of their respective swine flu vaccines. NVAX's VLP vaccine immunized ferrets from the flu, while the SVA egg-based vaccine displayed immunogenicity among humans.

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idINN1834168720090818?rpc=44

NVAX has multiple partnership agreements with India's Cadila and Spain's Rovi to manufacture the VLP vaccine for Asian, European, and Latin American countries. NVAX is also working with the NIH and FDA in clinical-stage trials in the US.

SVA has an order for a minimum of 10 million doses to cover Beijing, but will likely garner additional orders for domestic Chinese provinces as well as other Asian countries, including a distribution deal for the Philippines.