Moderna Secures $590M U.S. Grant to Advance Bird Flu Vaccine Development

The funding aims to accelerate mRNA vaccine trials for avian influenza strains as human cases increase globally.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Moderna $590 million to develop mRNA-based vaccines for bird flu strains H5 and H7.
Moderna's mRNA-1018 vaccine candidate showed positive results in Phase 1/2 trials and is now progressing to Phase 3 testing.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 67 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the U.S., with one death, but maintains the current public health risk is low.
Scientists warn of potential mutations that could make bird flu more transmissible among humans, increasing pandemic risks.
The grant also supports the development of additional mRNA vaccines targeting other influenza strains to prepare for future outbreaks.