BARDA grants Moderna $176M for avian flu vaccine trials

Moderna has recently secured a substantial $176 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to advance the clinical development of a potential avian flu vaccine. This financial backing is part of the Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle, an initiative funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which aims to expedite medical solutions to counteract pandemic threats.

Currently, Moderna is engaged in a phase 1/2 clinical trial for an mRNA vaccine named mRNA-1018, which targets avian flu strains H5 and H7. The results of this trial are expected to be released later this year and will be pivotal in shaping the phase 3 development plans. Moderna's CEO, Stéphane Bancel, highlighted that mRNA technology has proven its effectiveness, speed of development, and reliability during the COVID-19 pandemic, making it a valuable tool for tackling infectious disease outbreaks.

The newly awarded funds will primarily support the late-stage development of the mRNA avian flu vaccine. However, the agreement also encompasses provisions to prepare and hasten responses to future public health threats. This collaboration is not a first for Moderna and BARDA. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, BARDA provided nearly $1 billion to facilitate the trials of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Bancel expressed satisfaction at the continued partnership with BARDA, emphasizing the importance of mRNA-based vaccines in global public health preparedness against potential outbreaks. This funding boost follows a recent expansion of BARDA’s avian flu preparedness efforts, which included a partnership with CSL Seqirus, a vaccine specialist tasked with completing the fill-finish processes for the shots.

This year, there have been three instances of H5N1 virus infection in humans in the U.S., all linked to exposure to dairy cattle. The only other reported human case in the U.S. occurred in 2022 and was believed to be due to contact with infected poultry, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In summary, Moderna's ongoing efforts and the significant funding from BARDA underscore the critical role of mRNA technology in addressing current and future infectious disease threats, particularly avian flu. The results from the current phase 1/2 trial of mRNA-1018 will be crucial in determining the next steps in vaccine development, potentially leading to a robust solution for avian flu and enhancing readiness for future public health emergencies.