Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX) just earned a critical approval to expand its Gaithersburg campus, paving the way for the homegrown biotech to exponentially grow its local footprint and stand up facilities to support research, development and manufacturing for years to come.

The Gaithersburg city council unanimously approved Novavax’s development plan on Monday, marking the end of the approval process and giving the company the green light to advance the project — which could extend up to 605,000 square feet.

“Novavax is pleased with this next step in our continued progress, and we appreciate the support from Mayor Ashman and the City Council as we expand our important work in the Maryland biotech ecosystem,” Silvia Taylor, Novavax’s senior vice president of global corporate affairs and investor relations, said in an email Tuesday.

The project stands to swell the company’s Montgomery County footprint, which today comprises 79,000 square feet. It’s slated to include two seven-story buildings, a parking garage and green space in the center of the campus. The 180,000-square-foot facility would include laboratory, office and manufacturing space. It may also include up to 5,000 square feet of retail space. Read More