U.S. Awards $72 Million via BARDA to GSK, Sanofi, CSL Amid Rising Bird Flu Cases in 2024

Oct 4, 2024, 04:47 PM

The U.S. government has awarded $72 million to pharmaceutical companies GSK, Sanofi, and CSL to ramp up production of bird flu vaccines. The funding, provided by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), aims to double the number of ready-to-use shots within the first quarter of 2025 as part of national preparedness efforts. This initiative responds to the confirmation of two new human cases of bird flu in California and the impact on 254 dairy herds across 14 states. In 2024, there have been 17 confirmed cases of H5 avian influenza in the United States. Health officials are working to ensure vaccines are ready to distribute if needed.