Avian flu: Moderna to accelerate mRNA vaccines with US funding

The emergence of animal infections and recent human cases of the H5N1 virus have led to concerns among experts regarding the potential for spillover. To enhance the response to other emerging infectious diseases, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a $590 million grant to Moderna for developing messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines against influenza pandemics. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the grant will enable the American pharmaceutical company to accelerate the development of an mRNA vaccine against H5N1 influenza that closely matches strains currently circulating in cows and birds. The goal of this initiative is to ensure that the American population has the tools necessary to address emerging pandemic challenges, outgoing Health Secretary Xavier Becerra said. He further noted that avian flu variants have proven particularly unpredictable and dangerous to humans in the past. Dawn O’Connell, HHS Deputy Secretary for Preparedness and Response, explained the company’s plan to develop up to four new pandemic flu vaccines to generate the necessary safety and immunogenicity data in Phase 1 trials. This initiative aims to facilitate the accelerated development of an mRNA vaccine capable of targeting multiple influenza virus subtypes that could cause a pandemic.