By Rashad Christian
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Novavax, a vaccine development company based in Gaithersburg, has announced plans to expand into Montgomery County, creating at least 400 new jobs, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Monday.
The company expects a majority of the new jobs to be added by March 2021. The company has purchased land in Montgomery County and will also add 122,000 square feet of space in Gaithersburg at 700 Quince Orchard Road to supplement growing research and development operations. It entered into a 15-year lease at that location.
In a press release, Hogan said that he is proud of the work they are doing and the work they will do once the expansion is complete.
“Novavax has been on the forefront in the fight against COVID-19,” Hogan said in a statement. “The work that Novavax is doing, right here in Maryland, will impact millions around the world as we continue on the road to recovery from this global pandemic.”
Novavax was one of a number of science companies trying to develop a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. They were awarded up to $1.6 billion to complete late-stage clinical development and deliver over 100 million doses of their vaccine through Operation Warp Speed, an initiative created by the Trump administration.
The company also received up to $388 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and $60 million from a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contract that will support Novavax’s vaccine production.
Novavax also received a $2 million conditional loan from the Maryland Department of Commerce, a $200,00 Partnership for Workforce Quality training grant, and a $500,000 grant from Montgomery County, contingent on “job creation and capital invest.”
The company said in a press release made public on Oct. 27 that it plans to begin clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine in the United States and Mexico by the end November. This is a different timeframe initially given by the company as it cited delays in the large-scale manufacturing processes affecting its original estimates.
Delays aside, there are efforts being made to further expedite the process. The city of Gaithersburg has pushed along the planning approval process to accommodate Novavax’s needs and timelines due to this “project’s association with the public health crisis and Operation Warp Speed.”
The President and CEO of Novavax, Stanley C. Erck, said he is thankful for the various partnerships his company has achieved.
“We appreciate the support, partnership and speed of the Maryland Department of Commerce, Montgomery County, and the city of Gaithersburg, which have enabled the expansion of our operations, enhanced our ability to retain and attract highly skilled employees, and reinforced our longstanding commitment to the biotechnology sector in Maryland,” Erck said.
Novavax began the Phase 3 clinical trial in the United Kingdom starting in September through a partnership with the U.K. Government’s Vaccines Taskforce.
“We are pleased with the significant progress made in our Phase 3 clinical trial since it began,” Gregory M. Glenn, president of R&D at Novavax, said.
Novavax Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Filip Dubovsky hosted a public meeting of the CDC’s ACIP on Oct. 30 to provide updates on the company’s progression.