** Shares of Maryland-based vaccine maker Novavax NVAX.O up 1.6% at $7.44 premarket

** Company posts Q4 adj loss of 51 cents per share vs adj loss of $1.44 per share a year ago, as it ramps down spending on COVID vaccines, its only product on market

** Co signed a licensing deal worth at least $1.2 billion with French drugmaker SanofiSASY.PA in May to hand over the rights to sell its vaccines in several markets, including the U.S. and Europe

** NVAX reports quarterly sales of $88.3 million, beating analysts' avg estimate of $84.4 million - data compiled by LSEG

** Quarterly sales of COVID vaccines came in at $49.8 million, down 80.2% from a year earlier

** NVAX has risen 33% in the last 12 months

(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole)

((Siddhiprabhanjan.mahatole@thomsonreuters.com))