Moderna has revealed that the Trump administration cancelled its contract for the late-stage development of a human bird flu vaccine and revoked its right to purchase the shots. The decision comes after the biotech company received a $590 million grant from the Biden administration earlier this year to support the project.
Earlier Funding and Development Efforts
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had previously awarded Moderna $176 million in 2024 to help complete the late-stage development and testing of a pre-pandemic mRNA vaccine for H5N1 avian influenza. Despite the cancellation, Moderna stated it “plans to explore alternatives for late-stage development and manufacturing of the vaccine.”
Mid-Stage Trial Shows Promising Results
The company also announced encouraging interim data from an ongoing mid-stage trial evaluating the safety and immune response of its bird flu vaccine targeting the H5 subtype of the virus.
