The US will pay Moderna $176 million to develop an mRNA pandemic flu vaccine
SUMMARY
The U.S. government announced on Tuesday that it will allocate $176 million to Moderna to develop a pandemic vaccine capable of treating bird flu in humans, amid growing cases among dairy cows nationwide. The funding, released through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will support Moderna's development efforts using mRNA technology, similar to that used for COVID-19 vaccines. Administered by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the funds will facilitate trials to assess safety and efficacy. The H5N1 virus, initially detected in dairy cows this year, has affected over 135 herds across 12 states, with three mild human cases reported.
