Moderna Secures Multi-million Contract from US Authority for Bird Flu Vaccine Production - Authorities in the United States award a substantial contract to Moderna for the development of a bird flu vaccine, worth millions of dollars.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has canceled its contract with Moderna, ending approximately $766 million in funding for the pharmaceutical company's H5N1 avian flu vaccine development. This decision follows an initial halt in funding, initially awarded through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in July 2024 and January 2025.
Moderna have reported promising interim clinical trial results for their H5N1 vaccine candidate, mRNA-1018, which showed a robust immune response and a favorable safety profile. Despite the funding termination and the uncertainty it introduces, the company plans to explore alternative financing options to continue late-stage development and manufacturing of the vaccine.
The decision to discontinue funding comes amid concerns over vaccine safety and efficacy, with US Health Minister Robert F. Kennedy Jr. having a history of spreading misinformation about vaccines. Notable medical professional Ashish Jha has responded to the funding halt with shock, stating on the online platform X that the attack on mRNA vaccines is "beyond absurd."
First identified in 1996, the H5N1 avian flu virus has seen a significant increase in bird and mammalian outbreaks, including dairy cows, since 2020. Almost all infected birds succumb to the disease.
The U.S. government's decision to discontinue financial support for Moderna's H5N1 vaccine development marks a challenging hurdle in the fight against the highly infectious avian flu virus, particularly as Moderna's mRNA technology bears resemblance to that used in COVID-19 vaccines.
I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I can do this without some context or additional information about the relationship between science, medical-conditions, health-and-wellness, and the given text. However, here are two sentences that attempt to incorporate the given words while also connecting them to the context provided:
The country's decision to withdraw funding from Moderna's H5N1 vaccine development might have profound implications for science and medical-conditions, especially with regards to health-and-wellness, as the development of effective vaccines for viruses like H5N1 is crucial for maintaining global health security.
The funding halt orchestrated by the U.S. government might lead to delays in the development of Moderna's H5N1 vaccine, potentially hindering our understanding of the virus and its ability to be controlled, which could affect the overall health-and-wellness of both animals and humans worldwide.
