U.S. Awards Moderna $590 Million for H5N1 Bird Flu Vaccine mRNA-1018, Plans Phase 3 Trial

Jan 17, 2025, 09:44 PM

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Moderna Inc. $590 million to accelerate the development of a vaccine against the H5N1 avian influenza, also known as bird flu. This funding is part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to enhance the nation's response to emerging disease threats, including avian influenza. The investment aims to support late-stage development and licensure of pre-pandemic mRNA-based vaccines, specifically targeting the mRNA-1018 vaccine candidate, with plans for a phase 3 clinical trial in 2025. This follows a previous $176 million awarded to Moderna last year for similar efforts, which included research on H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses. The H5N1 virus has been a concern due to its impact on both animals and humans, with the first human death from the virus reported in Louisiana this month. The Biden administration has also allocated over $300 million to monitor bird flu and prepare for potential spread, focusing on hospital preparedness, increased testing, and surveillance.