Nov 12 (Reuters) - Novavax (NVAX.O), opens new tab cut its annual revenue forecast on Tuesday, citing lower-than-expected sales of its COVID-19 vaccine, ahead of handing over the rights to sell the shot to French drugmaker Sanofi (SASY.PA), opens new tab.

Novavax has made a smaller splash in the U.S. Covid-19 vaccine market than it had hoped. But it's betting on licensing deals and a pipeline of new vaccines it's now evaluating for R&D.

Novavax has received the green light from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to resume clinical trials for its Covid-19 and influenza combination vaccine (CIC) and standalone influenza vaccines after a month-long clinical hold.

The Food and Drug Administration has lifted its clinical hold on a late-stage trial of Novavax's COVID-influenza and its standalone flu vaccines after identifying a safety concern.

After an investigation, the agency concluded that a case of muscle weakness in one of Novavax’s trials was actually ALS and unrelated to vaccination.