Now that Novavax in Gaithersburg has federal emergency use authorization for its Covid-19 vaccine, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is optimistic that more residents will become vaccinated.
Some people chose not to receive either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for fear of what it could do to their bodies.
“I don’t agree with their reasoning. I think they were fundamentally wrong,” Elrich said Wednesday. However, he added, “The more people who are vaccinated, the better for us.”
Until now, the two available COVID-19 vaccines have been mRNA based. Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccine utilize mRNA to teach a person’s body how to make a specific protein to help its immune system prevent or treat a disease.
Novavax developed a protein-based non mRNA vaccine.
“Covid-19 is not over. I know we are fatigued,” said Silvia Taylor, Novavax executive vice president, during a news briefing with Elrich. She added, “The threat remains. It is very serious.”
Novavax expects to begin shipping its vaccine “in a matter of days” to retail outlets like CVS and Rite Aid as well as health care facilities, Taylor said.
She touted her company’s vaccine, noting that people now have a choice. Taylor said between 25 to 30% of the population “are looking for a protein-based non mRNA.”
Novavax can create and manufacture new versions of its vaccine within three to six months to counter new COVID-19 variants as they arise, said Taylor.
The vaccine that was approved deals with the XXB variant. A decision to target that variant was made in June, according to Taylor.
“We expect Covid variants will continue to rise,” she noted.
When Novavax settled in Gaithersburg, it had 150 employees. The company now has almost 2,000. The “vast majority” work in Gaithersburg but some are spread throughout the world, according to Taylor.
The company also is working on an influenza vaccine.
“We have a bright future,” she said.
Elrich agreed, noting, “Any success story in the biotech industry becomes a success for us.” He added, “This is good news for them, and it’s good news for us.”
Elrich also pointed to news from Deka Biosciences in Germantown that announced recently it successfully closed on a $20 million Series B2 financing with a syndicate of life science investors led by MPM BioImpact.
“This financing round is a significant milestone. We appear to be the only company that has dissociated IL-2 potency from toxicity,” said Dr. John Mumm, CEO of Deka Biosciences. “It is gratifying to be supported by investors who recognize the potential of our innovative science to radically improve immunotherapy treatments by evaluating each patient’s immune system and combining biology with the power of precision medicine.
Mumm explained in a news release that his company is combining multiple cytokines, or small proteins, in a single therapeutic designed to help those suffering from cancer and autoimmunity.
