The US government has invested $176 million in Moderna to develop an mRNA-based pandemic influenza vaccine to combat bird flu, aiming to be more prepared for health crises following the lessons learned from Covid. While bird flu currently poses little threat to humans, experts advocate for a fast-acting vaccine in case the virus mutates and becomes a problem. Utilizing mRNA technology, which Moderna’s Covid jab is also based on, allows for quicker vaccine production, enhancing the government’s ability to respond swiftly to bird flu outbreaks.
The funding will support the late-stage development and testing of Moderna’s vaccine against H5N1 avian influenza, a strain that has mainly affected birds but could potentially spread to humans with serious consequences. Moderna initiated early testing with adult volunteers in 2023, with results expected later this year to guide future steps in the vaccine’s development.