Novavax Grants License for Use of Matrix-M Adjuvant to Pfizer

Novavax NVAX announced a non-exclusive license agreement with Pfizer PFE, granting the latter access to its proprietary Matrix-M adjuvant technology for use in up to two disease areas. The collaboration highlights the growing recognition of Matrix-M’s versatility and its potential role in supporting the development of innovative vaccines and therapeutics.Financial HighlightsPer the terms of the agreement, Novavax will receive an upfront payment of $30 million from Pfizer and is eligible to earn up to $500 million in potential development and commercial milestone payments.In addition, Pfizer will pay Novavax tiered, high, mid-single-digit royalties on net sales of any of its products incorporating Matrix-M adjuvant.Pfizer will take full responsibility for the development and commercialization of products using the adjuvant, while Novavax will supply Matrix-M.Over the past year, NVAX’s shares have declined 7.1% against the industry’s 15.1% rise.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchExpanding Role of Matrix-M in Global Vaccine ProgramsMatrix-M is Novavax’s proprietary, saponin-based adjuvant technology designed to enhance and broaden immune responses to vaccines. It is currently utilized in a globally approved vaccine.The Matrix-M adjuvant is a key component of Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid/Covovax, and its pipeline candidates for influenza and an influenza /COVID-19 combination vaccine.The University of Oxford used the Matrix-M adjuvant to develop the R21 vaccine for malaria, with commercialization rights licensed to the Serum Institute of India. Novavax claims that several other partners are also evaluating Matrix-M to develop their malaria vaccines.Additionally, Novavax maintains a co-exclusive licensing agreement with Sanofi SNY that includes a non-exclusive license to use the Matrix-M adjuvant in vaccine products. In September 2025, the agreement was amended to expand Sanofi's license to include the use of Novavax's Matrix-M adjuvant in its pandemic influenza vaccine candidate program. In return, Novavax is entitled to receive up to $210 million from Sanofi, plus mid-single-digit royalties.In 2023, the technology was also licensed to the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute and SK Bioscience for use in preclinical vaccine research and experiments, supporting broader global vaccine discovery efforts.Novavax’s Zacks Rank & Stock to ConsiderNVAX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).A better-ranked stock in the biotech sector is MannKind MNKD, which currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Over the past 60 days, estimates for MannKind’s 2026 earnings per share have increased from 7 cents to 9 cents. MNKD shares have declined 11.1% over the past year.MannKind’s earnings beat estimates in two quarters, missed in one and were in line in the remaining quarter, with the average surprise being 33.33%.Zacks' Research Chief Picks Stock Most Likely to "At Least Double"Our experts have revealed their Top 5 recommendations with money-doubling potential – and Director of Research Sheraz Mian believes one is superior to the others. Of course, all our picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier recommendations like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.See Our Top Stock to Double (Plus 4 Runners Up) >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Sanofi (SNY): Free Stock Analysis Report MannKind Corporation (MNKD): Free Stock Analysis Report Pfizer Inc. (PFE): Free Stock Analysis Report Novavax, Inc. (NVAX): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks