Overview
- CEPI’s commitment of up to $54.3 million will fund late-stage development of Moderna’s mRNA-1018, which the company says would be the first mRNA bird flu vaccine to enter a pivotal trial.
- Phase 3 testing is planned for early 2026 in the United States and the United Kingdom, drawing on earlier immunogenicity data and results from Moderna’s seasonal flu program to support approval.
- Under the agreement, Moderna will reserve 20% of production capacity for low- and middle-income countries with affordable pricing if an influenza pandemic occurs.
- The program aligns with CEPI’s 100 Days Mission, emphasizing mRNA’s rapid design and manufacturing timelines compared with traditional egg- or cell-based influenza vaccines.
- The funding shift follows HHS’s cancellation of a multihundred-million-dollar Moderna contract in May, as officials monitor increasing avian influenza activity with 71 human cases and two deaths reported and limited human-to-human spread.