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Novavax Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 2 narrowed, 1 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Total revenue fell 3%: Total revenue was $68 million against $70 million a year earlier. Product sales rose while licensing, royalties and other revenue fell. Source
  • Net loss narrowed to $31 million: Net loss was $31 million, against $202 million a year earlier. The prior-year figure included an impairment of assets held for sale of $97 million. Source
  • R&D spend fell on Sanofi wind-down: R&D expense was $52 million against $98 million a year earlier. GAAP R&D fell 47% and non-GAAP R&D fell 7%. Source
  • Adjusted revenue framework raised: The full-year Adjusted Total Revenue framework moved to $385 million to $415 million from $235 million to $275 million in the August release. Source
  • Sanofi milestone of $125M earned: Novavax earned the $125 million milestone when Sanofi launched its Phase 3 influenza-COVID-19 combination trial in Europe. The company reported it in October 2026. Source
  • Cash fell to $627M: Cash, including marketable securities and restricted cash, was $627 million, down from $724 million at June 30, 2026 and $751 million at December 31, 2025. Source

“This quarter, we continued to execute across all three pillars of our strategy,”

John C. Jacobs, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted Total Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$385 million to $415 millionRaised from $235 million to $275 million
Combined R&D and SG&A expenses (GAAP) Sourcefull year 2026$375 million to $395 millionNarrowed from $370 million to $410 million
Non-GAAP combined R&D and SG&A expenses Sourcefull year 2026$315 million to $335 millionKept
R&D reimbursements Sourcefull year 2026$60 millionNarrowed, top end cut from $60 million to $70 million
Nuvaxovid product sales Sourcefull year 2026$40 million to $50 millionRaised from $35 million to $45 million
Adjusted supply sales Sourcefull year 2026$50 million to $60 millionRaised from $45 million to $55 million
Other partner related revenue Sourcefull year 2026$70 million to $80 millionRaised from $60 million to $70 million
Adjusted licensing, royalties and other revenue Sourcefull year 2026$170 million to $180 millionRaised from $155 million to $175 million
Amortization of Sanofi upfront and database lock payments Sourcefull year 2026$40 millionRaised from $35 million
Sanofi CIC milestone Sourcefull year 2026$125 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 Adjusted Total Revenue guidance was raised to $385 million to $415 million from $235 million to $275 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: GAAP combined R&D and SG&A expense guidance was lowered by $5 million at the mid-point. Source
  • Guidance kept: Non-GAAP combined R&D and SG&A expense guidance was maintained, according to the release. Source
  • New: A $125 million milestone was earned in October 2026 when Sanofi began a Phase 3 combination vaccine trial in Europe. The August release had described this milestone as payable on initiation. Source

Quarter results and drivers

  • Total revenue fell 3%: Total revenue was $68 million against $70 million a year earlier. Product sales rose while licensing, royalties and other revenue fell. Source
  • Net loss narrowed to $31 million: Net loss was $31 million, against $202 million a year earlier. The prior-year figure included an impairment of assets held for sale of $97 million. Source
  • Licensing revenue fell on reimbursement: Licensing, royalties and other revenue was $43 million, 25% lower, mainly because R&D reimbursement revenue fell $42 million as Sanofi clinical support nears completion. Source

Partner revenue and segments

  • Sanofi revenue fell to $19 million: Sanofi revenue was $19 million against $48 million a year earlier. Sanofi revenue covers upfront payments, milestones, royalties and transition services reimbursement under the license agreement. Source
  • Other partner revenue was non-cash: The $11 million in other partner revenue is non-cash deferred royalty recognition on prior SK bioscience Nuvaxovid sales to the South Korean government. Source

“Our partner Sanofi initiated their Phase 3 influenza-COVID-19 combination vaccine trial vaccine trial in Europe, triggering a $125 million milestone payment.”

John C. Jacobs, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax

Products and Sanofi commercial activity

  • Product sales came from supply: Product sales rose 91% from a year earlier. They consisted of Nuvaxovid supply to Sanofi and Matrix-M supply to license partners. Source
  • XFG Nuvaxovid approved in August: Commercial partners received approvals in August 2026 for the XFG-adapted Nuvaxovid formulation in the U.S., EU and Japan. Takeda started 2026-2027 season activities in Japan. Source
  • Sanofi widening Nuvaxovid reach: Sanofi started 2026-2027 season commercial activities in the U.S. and select international markets and is expanding reach through physician, pharmacy and direct-to-consumer work. Source

Operating costs

  • R&D spend fell on Sanofi wind-down: R&D expense was $52 million against $98 million a year earlier. GAAP R&D fell 47% and non-GAAP R&D fell 7%. Source
  • Sanofi support and cost program drove R&D: Management attributes lower R&D to near completion of Sanofi clinical support, less seasonal strain change support and the ongoing cost reduction program. Source
  • SG&A fell on commercial handover: SG&A was $24 million against $32 million a year earlier. Management attributes the decrease mainly to lead commercial activities moving to Sanofi and removal of commercial infrastructure. Source
  • Cost of sales rose modestly: Cost of sales was $23 million against $21 million a year earlier. Source

“And we have been doing this while continuing to reduce expenses and operate with financial discipline.”

John C. Jacobs, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax

2026 guidance changes

  • Adjusted revenue framework raised: The full-year Adjusted Total Revenue framework moved to $385 million to $415 million from $235 million to $275 million in the August release. Source
  • Expense guidance lowered at midpoint: GAAP combined R&D and SG&A guidance is $375 million to $395 million, against $370 million to $410 million previously. Non-GAAP guidance is $315 million to $335 million. Source
  • Nuvaxovid product sales range raised: Nuvaxovid product sales by Novavax are now guided to $40 million to $50 million, up from $35 million to $45 million. Source

Sanofi milestones and royalties

  • Sanofi milestone of $125M earned: Novavax earned the $125 million milestone when Sanofi launched its Phase 3 influenza-COVID-19 combination trial in Europe. The company reported it in October 2026. Source
  • $225M due on U.S. launch: Novavax is eligible for an additional $225 million milestone on a U.S. commercial launch of a combination vaccine, after Sanofi completes clinical and FDA requirements. Source
  • Royalties on Sanofi CIC sales: Novavax is eligible for royalties in the high single digits to sub-teens on Sanofi global net sales of combination vaccine products. Nuvaxovid royalties are in the high teens to low twenties. Source

Pipeline and Matrix-M research

  • Preclinical C. diff data presented: Preclinical C. diff data were presented at the 9th International C. Difficile Symposium in September 2026, covering immune responses and protection in lethal challenge models. Source
  • Matrix-M studies broadening: Novavax, partners and material transfer agreement collaborators are running Matrix-M evaluations in infectious disease and oncology, and management expects them to add to the data set. Source

Cash and balance sheet

  • Cash fell to $627M: Cash, including marketable securities and restricted cash, was $627 million, down from $724 million at June 30, 2026 and $751 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Long-term debt rose; deficit widened: Long-term debt was $292 million against $244 million at December 31, 2025. Total stockholders' deficit was $217 million against $128 million. Source

Strategy and partnering model

  • Three-pillar strategy continues: The company describes its strategy as three pillars: partnering its technology, targeted and capital-efficient R&D, and a lean and efficient operating model. Source
  • Matrix-M per-vaccine milestones: For each new vaccine using Matrix-M, Novavax is eligible for up to $200 million in launch and sales milestones and mid-single digit royalties for 20 years. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Tech transfer milestone expected mid-2027: Completion of the Nuvaxovid manufacturing technology transfer to Sanofi is expected in mid-2027 and would trigger a $75 million milestone to Novavax. Source
  • U.S. combination trial planned for 2027: Sanofi confirmed its intent to start a U.S. Phase 3 combination vaccine trial in 2027 to support U.S. approval. Source
  • C. diff program to clinic as early as 2027: The C. difficile vaccine program is anticipated to advance into the clinic as early as 2027. Source
  • Sanofi supply for 2026-2027 season: Novavax will sell Nuvaxovid commercial supply to Sanofi for the 2026-2027 season, with reimbursement recorded as product sales. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Product sales Source$26 million, up 91%
R&D expenses Source$52 million
Approvals SourceXFG-adapted Nuvaxovid approved in U.S., EU and Japan (August 2026)
Pipeline milestone SourceC. diff program into clinic as early as 2027
Trial start and milestone SourceSanofi Phase 3 combination trial started in Europe, October 2026; $125 million milestone

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Some revenue components depend on Sanofi sales forecasts, so Sanofi supply sales, royalties and future milestones are excluded from the 2026 revenue framework. Source
  • Financial: Revenue from the Sanofi upfront payment amortization ends, with less than $5 million expected in 2027 to complete the amortization. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The August release said initiation of the Sanofi trial in the U.S. or EU would trigger the $125 million milestone. The November release says it was earned in October. Source
  • On track: The August release said the C. difficile program was on track to enter the clinic as early as 2027. The November release says it is anticipated to do so.
  • Not stated: Management cites the ongoing cost reduction program as one driver of lower R&D expense. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.