US Government Nears Funding Deal for Moderna's mRNA Bird Flu Vaccine

Federal support aims to advance late-stage trials amid ongoing H5N1 outbreak in livestock and potential human health risks.

Moderna and Pfizer are competing for federal contracts to develop mRNA bird flu vaccines.
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) may provide tens of millions in funding.
Bird flu has spread to poultry and cattle in multiple states, with two human cases reported.
Current bird flu vaccines are egg-based and slower to produce than mRNA alternatives.
The CDC maintains that the public health risk from bird flu remains low despite recent developments.