April 15 (Reuters) - U.S.-based hedge fund Shah Capital

wrote to the Novavax ( NVAX ) board on Monday to push for the

instalment of two new independent directors, the Financial Times

reported on Monday.

Shah Capital also wants a pivot in the biotech company's

sales strategy for its Covid-19 shot, which is based on

traditional vaccine technology, to target older people unnerved

by rare side effects associated with mRNA jabs from Pfizer and

Moderna, FT reported, citing a letter.

The hedge fund called for Suresh Katta and Venkat Peri, who

are chief executives of other biotech firms, to be nominated for

the independent board roles, FT said. Shah Capital owns 6.7% of

Novavax ( NVAX ).

Shah Capital and Novavax ( NVAX ) did not immediately respond to

Reuters requests for comment.

The hedge fund wants Novavax ( NVAX ) to strike royalties'

partnerships for funding to resume clinical studies into other

vaccines for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and H5N1

bird flu, FT said.

Himanshu Shah, managing partner of Shah Capital, said

Novavax's ( NVAX ) failure to compete for market share among Covid-19

jabs as the disease has become endemic was "self-inflicted" and

resulted from "reactive leadership and outdated and

old-fashioned marketing", the newspaper reported.