The US Department of Agriculture has granted a conditional approval to Zoetis’ bird flu vaccine for use in poultry, as the country struggles with a surge in human cases. The conditional license is based on safety and efficacy concerns.
Bird flu has infected nearly 70 people in the US since April, resulting in one death. Most affected individuals are farm workers exposed to infected poultry or cattle. However, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that the risk to the general public from bird flu is low.
Zoetis’ vaccine will be used in commercial flocks and wild birds, following a recommendation by the USDA to rebuild its stockpile of bird flu vaccines. The company’s vaccine was developed with Merck, Ceva, and US government researchers.
Separately, Moderna is developing a bird flu vaccine for humans, which has received $766 million in funding from the US government. The company is preparing to advance its experimental shot into late-stage trials based on preliminary data from early- to mid-stage studies.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-grants-conditional-clearance-zoetis-bird-flu-vaccine-poultry-2025-02-14