Moderna has been awarded approximately $590 million from the federal government to help speed up the development of an mRNA-based bird flu vaccine, alongside other influenza vaccines, health officials announced Friday.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said in a press release that the funding will allow the pharmaceutical company to accelerate the development of an H5N1 mRNA influenza vaccine “that is well matched to strains currently circulating in cows and birds and expands the clinical data supporting the use of mRNA vaccines that may be needed if other influenza strains emerge with pandemic potential.”
Moderna said the funding will support the expansion of clinical studies “for up to five additional subtypes of pandemic influenza.”
The U.S. government previously awarded the vaccine manufacturer $176 million in July 2024 to help expedite the development of an mRNA vaccine that could be used for bird flu.
mRNA technology is the same type that was used in the development of some COVID-19 vaccines. While some vaccines use a weakened or inactive virus to stimulate an immune response, mRNA vaccines teach the body how to make proteins that can trigger an immune response and fight off an infection.
Researchers can often design mRNA vaccines more quickly than they can produce the live or weakened pathogens needed for a live-attenuated or inactivated vaccine.
Avian influenza or bird flu.
Cavallini James/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The federal government already has two bird flu vaccine candidates, which use traditional vaccine technology, available in the nation’s stockpile. Officials previously noted they’d have 10 million ready-to-use doses within the beginning of 2025. Vaccines were being stockpiled as a precaution.
“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 on 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.”
Bird flu cases in humans have been spreading across the country since April 2024 with 67 confirmed cases as of Friday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The first death of a human bird flu patient was reported in Louisiana earlier this month. The patient was over the age of 65 and had underlying medical conditions, according to health officials.
Most human cases have occurred after coming into contact with infected cattle, infected poultry farms or other culling operations.
The CDC and other public health officials say there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission and the risk to the general public is low.
ABC News’ Mary Kekatos contributed to this report.
Moderna, a leading biotechnology company, has been awarded a significant grant of $590 million by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help accelerate the development of an mRNA-based bird flu vaccine. This funding comes as part of the government’s efforts to prepare for potential future pandemics and enhance our ability to respond to emerging infectious diseases.
The use of mRNA technology in vaccines has shown great promise in recent years, particularly with the successful development of COVID-19 vaccines. Moderna, which was one of the first companies to receive emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine, is now leveraging its expertise in mRNA technology to tackle other infectious diseases, such as bird flu.
The grant from HHS will enable Moderna to expedite the research and development process for a bird flu vaccine, potentially bringing it to market more quickly than traditional vaccine development methods. This is crucial in the face of the ongoing threat of avian influenza and the need to protect against potential future outbreaks.
By investing in cutting-edge technologies and supporting innovative approaches to vaccine development, the government is taking proactive steps to strengthen our public health infrastructure and better prepare for future health crises. The collaboration between Moderna and HHS represents a significant milestone in the fight against infectious diseases and demonstrates the importance of investing in research and development to safeguard public health.
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