(Reuters) -Vaccine maker Novavax’s (NVAX) shares plunged over 22% on Thursday after Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. raised issues in regards to the firm’s COVID-19 vaccine in an interview with CBS Information.
The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration, an company that’s a part of the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers, missed its deadline final week for deciding on the normal approval of the vaccine. The vaccine has been offered below an emergency use authorization since 2022.
When requested if the delay resulted from “personnel being shuffled” on the FDA, Kennedy attributed it to the vaccine’s composition. He mentioned Novavax’s single antigen strategy “has by no means labored” for respiratory sicknesses.
The Maryland-based firm’s protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, provides a substitute for the mRNA-based applied sciences of rivals Pfizer (PFE) and Moderna (MRNA).
Novavax mentioned on Thursday it continues to imagine its software included information that confirmed the shot was secure and efficient in stopping COVID-19, and that it has not acquired an official response from the company relating to the standing of the applying.
Final week, Novavax informed Reuters that the corporate had responded to the FDA’s info requests by April 1 and mentioned its software is “prepared for approval.”
Kennedy, who has expressed skepticism about vaccine security and efficacy for years, initially hit biotech and vaccine firm shares in February after he was confirmed by the Senate to the place.
The sector has additionally been below stress following 10,000 layoffs undertaken by the Trump administration at well being companies, together with the FDA.
(Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru; Enhancing by Tasim Zahid)
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