Trump government terminates $766 million agreement with Moderna, aimed at preparing for future epidemics, such as avian flu.
The Trump administration has terminated a $766 million contract awarded to drugmaker Moderna Inc. for the development of a vaccine against potential pandemic influenza viruses, including the H5N1 bird flu.
In an official statement, Moderna revealed that the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) withdrew the funds originally awarded in July 2024 and January, which were intended for the development and purchase of its investigational vaccine. The contract was part of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a program focusing on medical treatments for potential pandemics.
The terminated vaccine, known as mRNA-1018, utilizes the same technology employed in developing vaccines to combat Covid-19, allowing for record-breaking timelines. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his deep skepticism about mRNA vaccines, has expressed his concerns despite their real-world evidence of safety and the lives saved.
Moderna recently announced positive interim results from an early-stage trial of the vaccine targeting the H5 bird flu virus, tested on 300 healthy adults. The company, however, faces uncertainty due to the cancellation of funding, stating in a statement, "While the termination of funding from HHS adds uncertainty, we are pleased by the robust immune response and safety profile observed in this interim analysis."
This year, H5N1 bird flu viruses were detected in cattle in the U.S., infecting hundreds of animals in several states. Since 2003, at least 70 people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu, with the majority of cases being mild. One fatality was reported due to the infection. Scientists fear the continued mutation of the virus could lead to increased virulence or easier human transmission, posing the risk of a potential pandemic.
The July 2024 award provided $176 million, while the January award, which would have supported a late-stage clinical trial determining the vaccine's efficacy against pandemic viruses, including bird flu, totaled $590 million. A company spokesman noted that the latter award's termination effectively ended one of the Biden-era efforts aimed at pandemic influenza vaccine preparedness.
- The Health and Human Services Department (HHS) withdrew funds, initially awarded in July 2024 and January, that were meant for Moderna's investigation on a vaccine against the H5N1 bird flu, as part of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) program.
- Despite positive interim results from an early-stage trial of the mRNA-1018 vaccine, Moderna faces uncertainty due to the cancellation of funding from HHS, which terminated the January award that would have supported a late-stage clinical trial for the vaccine's effectiveness against pandemic viruses, including bird flu.
