Health

US Grants Moderna $176M for Fast-Track Bird Flu Vaccine

Jul 2, 2024 1 min read

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Moderna Inc. has been awarded $176 million by the U.S. government to advance the development of an mRNA-based vaccine targeting pandemic influenza. The funding, provided by the Department of Health and Human Services through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), will support late-stage clinical trials starting in 2025. This initiative aims to address several influenza strains with pandemic potential, including the H5N1 strain, which has recently been affecting dairy farms and has led to infections in three farmworkers.

The agreement also includes options for the U.S. to purchase vaccine supplies domestically, contingent on additional funding. Moderna's CEO, Stéphane Bancel, highlighted the collaboration with BARDA as a step forward in global public health preparedness. The use of mRNA technology, previously employed in Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, is seen as a potential advantage in developing effective countermeasures against emerging influenza threats. The funding aims to bolster the U.S. vaccine stockpiles amid growing concerns over the spread of the H5N1 virus, which has been detected in 136 cattle herds across 12 states.

#coronavirus #avian-flu #business

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