Trump admin cancels $766M Moderna vaccine deal meant to fight future pandemics, bird flu
HHS pulled pandemic preparedness funding as Moderna reported positive results in early bird flu vaccine trials.
President Donald Trump's administration canceled a $766 million contract with Moderna Inc. to develop pandemic vaccines including potential vaccines for H5N1 bird flu virus. Moderna cancelled its pandemic vaccine development contract, as they had just reported from a small 300 subject early-stage trial promising interim data.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notified Moderna that the HHS had rescinded awards from the July 2024 and January contact in an HHS announcement through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Requires mRNA based platforms similar to vaccines that used the rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccine products.
Positive trial results amid contract termination
Even with the funding cut, Moderna affirmed they saw a “robust immune response and favorable safety profile” based on early testing of mRNA-1018. This vaccine was developed to target pandemic influenza threats, focusing on H5N1 strain, which has spread from wild birds to cattle in some states, raising public health worries.
So far, bird flu has infected at least 70 people in the U.S., mostly resulting in mild symptoms. There was, however, one fatality. Scientists warn the virus will continue to mutate, which means possible human illness and risk of transmission and pandemic, in addition to zoonotic disease.
Moderna is a healthcare industry company dedicated to developing vaccines for major viruses. Photo: CNA
ALSO SEE: Historic San Francisco hardware store to close after 120 years following pandemic and retail shift
BARDA funds pulled as Moderna prepared for late-stage trials
The $766 million package consisted of $176 million that was awarded in July and $590 million awarded in January which could have funded national clinical trials. Moderna stated that the cancellation of the funding creates uncertainty, but it hopes to maintain its support of pandemic preparedness and will depend on government entities to do the same.
The decision to remove funding coincides with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a critic of mRNA vaccines leading the agency. The agency did not provide much detail, but its decision has raised questions about the future of U.S. preparedness to proactively develop vaccines addressing emerging threats.
