Novavax To Launch Clinical Trial Of Ebola Vaccine

Novavax, Inc. NVAX will launch a Phase 1 clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine candidate in December, the company said at a conference Sunday in Philadelphia.

Novavax gained 5 percent in Monday's session, trading recently at $5.36 per share.

Vice President of Vaccine Development Gale Smith said in a news release Monday that in pre-clinical models, its glycoprotein recombinant nanoparticle vaccine candidate produced antibody levels "well within ranges" thought to protect against Ebola in rodents and monkeys.

Separately at the conference, Novavax said its vaccine candidate for influenza among newborns, pediatrics and elderly, could also benefit pregnant women.

A Phase 2 clinical trial in 330 women of childbearing age showed the vaccine reduced infections by 50 percent, the company said.