The HEK293 fetal line mentioned by Novavax is derived from an elective abortion in the 1970s is routinely used to produce proteins and cultivate viruses. HEK is an acronym for human embryonic kidney cells.

HEK293 is not the only human fetal cell line. It is rather suspicious that Novavax would specifically cite that particular cell line and claim that it was not used in the "development, manufacture or production" of its COVID-19 vaccine when it turns out that Novavax, indeed, used that very cell line when "testing" the efficacy of its vaccine. Is not testing part of the development of the vaccine? Absolutely!

It seems that Novavax has been caught in a subtle deception. It is more properly described as a bald-faced lie. Novavax funded research that studied the efficacy and safety of their COVID-19 vaccine. That study expressly states that it involved the use of "human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293F cells."