Moderna has received a $176 million grant from the US government to create a bird flu vaccine. With this financing, researchers and developers hope to produce a vaccine that would effectively fight avian influenza, a virus that primarily affects birds but can also occasionally infect humans.
At least 132 dairy cow herds in 12 states have been affected by the continuing influenza A (H5N1) outbreak, also referred to as “bird flu.” Three confirmed human cases have been connected to contact with sick cows. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of June 28, the virus was discovered in cows for the first time on March 25.
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced funds to address the outbreak.
The COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna, one of the first two vaccines approved and subsequently licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), effectively employed this technique.
The funding will help with material preparation, safety and immunological response evaluation in clinical studies, and FDA approval application. According to the HHS, it will also guarantee that the vaccine is prepared for large-scale manufacture in the case of a public health emergency.
