HHS Awards Moderna $590 Million to Expedite Bird Flu Vaccine Development

Funding:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Moderna $590 million to accelerate the development of a bird flu vaccine124.

Vaccine Target:
Moderna’s vaccine is designed to target H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses, which have raised concerns due to their potential to infect humans124.

Clinical Trials:
The funding will support phase 3 clinical trials to test the vaccine in a larger group of people, following positive results in earlier phases124.

Previous Funding:
This award builds on the $176 million Moderna received from HHS last year for earlier stages of vaccine research124.

Pandemic Preparedness:
The project aims to provide additional support for late-stage development and licensure of pre-pandemic mRNA-based vaccines, as well as expand clinical studies for up to five additional subtypes of pandemic influenza124.

Public Health Risk:
While the current risk of bird flu to the public is considered low, with no evidence of human-to-human transmission, experts emphasize the importance of continued investment in monitoring and vaccine development to stay ahead of potential threats124.

Recent Outbreaks:
There have been nearly 70 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the U.S., including one death in Louisiana, highlighting the need for proactive measures124.

Sources:

1. https://www.empr.com/news/moderna-receives-590m-from-hhs-to-develop-bird-flu-vaccine/

2. https://www.drugs.com/news/moderna-receives-590m-hhs-develop-bird-flu-vaccine-123379.html

4. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/moderna-receives-590-million-from-hhs-to-develop-bird-flu-vaccine