The US government has allocated almost $600 million to accelerate Moderna’s development of bird flu vaccines, including mRNA vaccines for other influenza strains with pandemic potential. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has been working with Moderna since 2023 to develop mRNA vaccines.
Moderna plans to launch a phase 3 study of mRNA-1018, a vaccine against H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses. Preliminary data from a phase 1/2 study show promising results, and the company expects to unveil these findings at an upcoming medical conference.
The funding will allow Moderna to accelerate development of an H5N1 mRNA influenza vaccine and run a phase 3 trial for a vaccine against H7N9. The government agency also expects Moderna to design up to four new flu vaccines that can be put into phase 1 studies.
This initiative aims to create the necessary background data for accelerated development of mRNA vaccines targeted to various influenza virus subtypes with pandemic potential. Avian flu variants have proven to be unpredictable and dangerous, making this response a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration.
There have been 67 confirmed cases of avian influenza in humans in the US, with one death linked to the virus. Although the current public health risk is labeled as “low,” the CDC is monitoring the situation closely and working with states to track people with animal exposures.
Source: https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/hhs-gives-moderna-590m-accelerate-bird-flu-vaccine-trials