U.S. FDA flags risk of heart inflammation after Novavax COVID vaccine

Shares of the company fell nearly 14% after the FDA's analysis of data from the company's trial

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasraised concerns about a possible risk of heart inflammation from Novavax Inc's (NVAX.O)COVID-19 vaccine, even as the company's data showed it could reduce the chances of mild-to-severe disease, Qazet.az reports.

In Novavax's nearly 30,000 patient trial, conducted between December 2020 and September 2021, there were four cases of a type of heart inflammation calledmyocarditis detected within 20 days of taking the protein-based shot.

"These events raise the concern for a causal association with this vaccine, similar to the association documented with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines," FDA staff wrote in briefing documents released on Friday.

Shares of the company fell nearly 14% after the FDA's analysis of data from the company's trial.

The agency said it had requested Novavax to flag myocarditis and another kind of heart inflammation called pericarditis as an "important identified risk" in its materials. The company has not yet agreed to do so.