CNN
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The US Department of Health and Human Services will award $590 million to Moderna to continue developing a vaccine to protect against bird flu, the pharmaceutical company announced Friday.
In 2023, Moderna initiated a study on a “pandemic influenza vaccine” to protect against H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses. In July, the company received $176 million from HHS toward its vaccine efforts. Moderna plans to advance research on the mRNA vaccine into a phase 3 trial after receiving positive results in earlier phases, which it plans to present at a scientific conference in the near future.
“Avian flu variants have proven to be particularly unpredictable and dangerous to humans in the past. That is why this response has been a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration and HHS,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement Friday. “Accelerating the development of new vaccines will allow us to stay ahead and ensure that Americans have the tools they need to stay safe.”
Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a broad term that refers to several types of influenza that normally infect birds. The H5N1 virus has raised concern among health officials because it has sickened dozens of people in the United States over the past several months; the first human death from a severe case of the virus was reported in Louisiana this month.
“The project will provide additional support for late-stage development and licensure of pre-pandemic mRNA-based vaccines. The agreement will also support the expansion of clinical studies for up to five additional subtypes of pandemic influenza,” Moderna said in a statement Friday.
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The US does have vaccines against H5 viruses in its Strategic National Stockpile, but they are made with older technology.
Separately, the Biden administration announced this month that it would invest more than $300 million to help monitor bird flu and prepare for potential spread. That money would be put toward programs focused on hospital preparedness, increased testing and surveillance, and awareness around emerging pathogens.
Most of the recent H5N1 transmission has been among animals, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still considers the risk from bird flu to the general public to be low, with no evidence of human-to-human spread. But the Biden administration has emphasized the importance of continued collaboration among stakeholders to “protect human health, animal health, and food safety.”
CNN’s Meg Tirrell contributed to this report.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a significant investment of nearly $600 million in Moderna’s development of a bird flu vaccine. This funding will support the research and clinical trials necessary to bring this potentially life-saving vaccine to market.
Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a highly contagious virus that primarily affects birds but can also infect humans. In the event of a bird flu outbreak, a vaccine would be crucial in preventing the spread of the virus and protecting public health.
Moderna, a pharmaceutical company known for its innovative mRNA technology, has been at the forefront of vaccine development, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. With this substantial investment from HHS, Moderna will be able to accelerate its efforts to create a safe and effective bird flu vaccine.
This investment demonstrates the government’s commitment to preparedness for potential health threats and highlights the importance of continued research and development in the field of vaccines. With Moderna’s expertise and resources, there is hope that a bird flu vaccine will soon be available to protect individuals from this deadly virus.
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- HHS
- Moderna
- Bird flu vaccine
- Vaccine development
- Health and Human Services
- Public health
- Government investment
- Preventative medicine
- Influenza
- Pandemic preparedness
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