The Trump administration has rescinded the $766 million allocated to Moderna Inc. for developing a vaccine against potential pandemic influenza viruses, including H5N1 avian influenza.
The company indicated that it was informed by the Department of Health and Human Services about the withdrawal of funds initially granted in July 2024 for the development and procurement of the experimental vaccine this January.
This funding was issued through the Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority (BARDA), a program dedicated to medical treatments for potential pandemics.
A new vaccine, mRNA-1018, utilizes the same technology that facilitated development and deployment of vaccines against Covid-19 in record time.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has voiced considerable skepticism regarding mRNA vaccines, despite substantial evidence showing that these vaccines are safe and have saved millions of lives.
The cancellation follows Moderna’s announcement of positive preliminary results from initial trials of a vaccine designed to target the H5 avian influenza virus, which was tested on 300 healthy adults.
“While the cessation of funds from HHS introduces uncertainty, we are encouraged by the strong immune response and safety profile observed in this preliminary assessment,” the company stated in a press release.
Last year, in the U.S., the H5N1 influenza virus transmitted from wild birds to cattle, infecting hundreds of animals across multiple states. At least 70 people in the U.S. were affected, primarily by mild avian flu infections, with one fatality. Researchers are concerned that ongoing mutations in the virus could make it more virulent or enable easier transmission to humans, potentially leading to a pandemic.
Moderna was awarded $176 million in July 2024 and an additional $590 million in January. According to a company representative, the January funding was intended to support late-stage clinical trials that would assess the vaccine’s effectiveness against a pandemic virus, including avian influenza.
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Source: apnews.com