U.S. Awards $590 Million to Moderna for Bird Flu Vaccine Development

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. government has awarded Moderna $590 million to accelerate the development of an mRNA-based bird flu vaccine, as health officials ramp up efforts to combat the spread of the virus among wild birds, poultry, and dairy cows. The funding, announced Friday by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), comes in addition to $176 million allocated last year for the late-stage development of a pre-pandemic vaccine targeting the H5N1 avian influenza strain.

Dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at HHS, emphasized the importance of mRNA technology in responding to emerging threats. “Because it can be manufactured quickly, if we began to see something sweep across the country quickly, it would allow us to move fast, to give the first line of protection to the American people,” O’Connell said.

The bird flu virus, which typically does not infect humans, has raised concerns since it began spreading among dairy cows in March. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the virus has infected at least 928 herds across 16 states, with the majority in California. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 67 human cases in the U.S., including one fatality in Louisiana. Nearly all cases involved individuals with close contact to infected animals.

Moderna’s mRNA vaccine, mRNA-1018, targets the H5N1 strain currently circulating in animals. The company is also developing a vaccine for the H7N9 strain, which is in phase 3 clinical trials. Robert Johnson, director of the medical countermeasures program at HHS’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, noted that the timeline for the vaccine’s readiness depends on scientific progress. “It’s really important that we look at the mRNA platform not just against H5, but against other strains of influenza, as well,” Johnson said.

Health officials have relied on antiviral medications like Tamiflu to treat infected patients and prevent the spread of the virus. However, as the virus continues to mutate, vaccines are seen as a critical tool for long-term protection. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced $11 million in funding for additional research into countermeasures, including antivirals and monoclonal antibodies.

Dr. Michael Ison, chief of the respiratory disease branch at the NIH, stressed the need for preparedness. “We always want to be prepared for if there becomes episodes or sustained human-to-human transmission,” Ison said. “Along those lines, the best approach to that is vaccination.”

Researchers are also exploring adjuvants to enhance the effectiveness of bird flu vaccines. Matthew Frieman, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, is developing an adjuvant that could move to early-stage clinical trials within a year. “You don’t want to wait until it’s everywhere and then you decide to make a vaccine,” Frieman said.

Meanwhile, Ted Ross, global director of vaccine development at Cleveland Clinic in Florida, is working on a universal flu vaccine that could protect against multiple strains, including H5N1. Ross’ vaccine has shown promise in neutralizing the current strain and is expected to enter phase 1 clinical trials by 2026, though the urgency of the bird flu threat may accelerate the timeline.

Dr. Ofer Levy, director of the precision vaccines program at Boston Children’s Hospital, is developing an adjuvant called PVP-037, which has shown strong immune responses in mice. “Every life is precious, and we want to protect our most vulnerable,” Levy said.

Despite the low risk to the general public, health officials warn that the virus’s ability to mutate underscores the need for vigilance. “The difference between what we’re doing and what maybe some other groups are doing is that our vaccine candidate is able to not only neutralize what circulates today, but it can circulate and neutralize what circulates next year and the year after,” Ross said.