Vaxart Inc

You should consider the risks and uncertainties described under Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2024, together with all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, when evaluating our business and our prospects. There are no material changes to the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, except as described below.

A significant portion of the funding to further develop our XBB COVID-19 vaccine candidate is currently expected to come from HHS BARDA funds. If HHS BARDA were to eliminate, reduce, delay, or object to funding available to us under either the 2024 ASPR-BARDA Contract or the 2024 ATI-RRPV Contract, this could have a significant, negative impact on our revenues and cash flows, and we may be forced to suspend or terminate the continued development of the product candidate or obtain alternative sources of funding.

In January 2024, we were awarded the 2024 ASPR-BARDA Contract to fund preparation for a Phase 2b clinical study involving 10,000 patients. This study will evaluate our XBB COVID-19 vaccine candidate compared to an approved mRNA vaccine comparator to measure efficacy for symptomatic and asymptomatic disease, systemic and mucosal immune induction, and adverse events. As of June 30, 2024, we have recognized $7.8 million in revenue pursuant to the 2024 ASPR-BARDA Contract based on the achievement of certain milestones.

In addition, in June 2024, we entered into the 2024 ATI-RRPV Contract with Advanced Technology International, the Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle’s Consortium Management Firm funded by HHS BARDA. The 2024 ATI-RRPV Contract provides for an initial award in the aggregate amount of up to approximately $65.7 million, consisting of a fixed fee of approximately $64.7 million and reimbursement of costs incurred in trial preparation activities. The 2024 ATI-RRPV Contract further contemplates additional funding up to approximately $387.2 million if the Company and HHS BARDA decide to continue with the related study. As of June 30, 2024, we have recognized $0.2 million in revenue pursuant to the 2024 ATI-RRPV Contract based on costs incurred.

We anticipate that a significant portion of the funding to further develop our XBB COVID-19 vaccine candidate will come from the remaining amounts to be received under the 2024 ASPR-BARDA Contract and the 2024 ATI-RRPV Contract. HHS BARDA is entitled to terminate the 2024 ASPR-BARDA Contract for convenience at any time, and is not required to provide continued funding beyond reimbursement of amounts currently incurred and obligated by us as a result of contract performance. The 2024 ATI-RRPV Contract provides that the government has the right to determine whether to fund the continued performance of the study after the initial funding. If either the 2024 ASPR-BARDA Contract or the 2024 ATI-RRPV Contract is terminated or suspended, or if there is any government decision not to continue funding or reduction or delay in funding under the 2024 ASPR-BARDA Contract or the 2024 ATI-RRPV Contract, our revenues and cash flows would be significantly and negatively impacted and we may be forced to seek alternative sources of funding, which may not be available on no-dilutive terms, terms favorable to us, or at all.

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market, which imposes, among other requirements, a $1.00 minimum bid price requirement set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). Our common stock traded for less than $1.00 for 30 consecutive trading days, and we received notice of this from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market on July 2, 2024. Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), we were granted a 180-calendar day grace period, or until December 30, 2024, to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. The minimum bid price requirement would be met if our common stock had a minimum closing bid price of at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days during the 180-calendar day grace period. If at any time during this 180-calendar day period the bid price of the Company’s common stock closes at or above $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days, the Nasdaq staff stated that it will provide the Company with a written confirmation of compliance and the matter will be closed. However, under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Nasdaq staff may exercise its discretion to extend this ten-day period as discussed in Rule 5810(c)(3)(H).

Alternatively, if we fail to regain compliance with Rule 5550(a)(2) prior to the expiration of the initial 180-calendar day period, we may be eligible for an additional 180-calendar day compliance period, provided (i) we meet the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other applicable requirements for initial listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market (except for the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement) and (ii) we provide written notice to Nasdaq of our intention to cure this deficiency during the second compliance period by effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary. In the event we do not regain compliance with Rule 5550(a)(2) prior to the expiration of the initial 180-calendar day period, and if it appears to the Staff that we will not be able to cure the deficiency, or if we are not otherwise eligible, the Staff stated that it will provide us with written notice that our securities are subject to delisting from The Nasdaq Capital Market. At that time, we may appeal the delisting determination to a Hearings Panel. There can be no assurance that we will be able to regain compliance or that Nasdaq will grant us a further extension of time to regain compliance, if necessary.

The delisting of our common stock from Nasdaq may make it more difficult for us to raise capital on favorable terms in the future, or at all. Such a delisting would likely have a negative effect on the price of our common stock and would impair our stockholders’ ability to sell or purchase our common stock when they wish to do so. Further, if our common stock were to be delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market, our common stock would cease to be recognized as a covered security and we would be subject to additional regulation in each state in which we offer our securities. Moreover, there is no assurance that any actions that we take to restore our compliance with the Nasdaq minimum bid requirement would stabilize the market price or improve the liquidity of our common stock, prevent our common stock from falling below the Nasdaq minimum bid price required for continued listing again, or prevent future non-compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements.

There can be no assurance that we will continue to meet the minimum bid price requirement, or any other requirement in the future. If we fail to meet the minimum bid price requirement, or other applicable Nasdaq listing requirements, including maintaining minimum levels of stockholders’ equity or market values of our common stock, our common stock could be delisted. If our common stock were to be delisted, the liquidity of our common stock would be adversely affected, and the market price of our common stock could decrease.

Unless our common stock continues to be listed on a national securities exchange it will become subject to the so-called “penny stock”rules that impose restrictive sales practice requirements.

If we are unable to maintain the listing of our common stock on Nasdaq or another national securities exchange, our common stock could become subject to the so-called “penny stock” rules if the shares have a market value of less than $5.00 per share. The SEC has adopted regulations that define a penny stock to include any stock that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions, including an exception for stock traded on a national securities exchange. The SEC regulations impose restrictive sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell penny stocks to persons other than established customers and “accredited investors” as defined by relevant SEC rules. These additional requirements may discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in securities that are classified as penny stocks, which could severely limit the market price and liquidity of such securities and the ability of purchasers to sell such securities in the secondary market. This means that if we are unable to maintain the listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange, the ability of stockholders to sell their common stock in the secondary market could be adversely affected.

If a transaction involving a penny stock is not exempt from the SEC’s rule, a broker-dealer must deliver a disclosure schedule relating to the penny stock market to each investor prior to a transaction. The broker-dealer also must disclose the commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and its registered representative, current quotations for the penny stock, and, if the broker-dealer is the sole market-maker, the broker-dealer must disclose this fact and the broker-dealer’s presumed control over the market. Finally, monthly statements must be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the customer’s account and information on the limited market in penny stocks.