The U.S. government will pay the vaccine maker Moderna $176 million to accelerate development of a pandemic influenza vaccine that could be used to treat bird flu in people, as concern grows about cases in dairy cows across the country, federal officials announced Tuesday.
Moderna already has a bird flu vaccine in very early-stage testing that uses the same mRNA technology that allowed rapid development and rollout of vaccines to protect against COVID-19. The new funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services include continued development of the vaccine, including a late-stage trial next year if those early study results are positive.
But the project can be quicky redirected to target another form of influenza if a different threat than the H5N1 form of bird flu emerges, HHS officials stressed.
The award was made through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, a program that focuses on medical treatments for potential pandemics.
The H5N1 virus was detected earlier this year in dairy cows and has spread to more than 135 herds in 12 states and infected three people to date, all with mild cases. Federal health officials stress that the risk to the wider population remains low.
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Rephrased content:
The U.S. government has decided to provide $176 million to Moderna, a vaccine manufacturer, to hasten the development of a pandemic influenza vaccine that could potentially be utilized to combat bird flu in humans. This announcement comes as concerns rise regarding cases of the virus in dairy cows across the country, according to federal authorities on Tuesday.
Moderna is currently in the early stages of testing a bird flu vaccine that utilizes mRNA technology, the same technology that enabled the rapid development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services aims to support the ongoing development of the vaccine. If initial study results prove promising, there are plans for a late-stage trial next year.
Authorities from the Department of Health and Human Services emphasize that the project can swiftly shift focus to address a different strain of influenza if a new threat emerges, other than the current H5N1 strain of bird flu. The funding award was facilitated through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a program dedicated to developing medical solutions for potential pandemics.
Earlier this year, the H5N1 virus was detected in dairy cows and has since spread to more than 135 herds across 12 states. So far, the virus has infected three individuals, all of whom experienced mild cases. Federal health officials note that the overall risk to the general population remains low.
