Trump administration cancels $766 million contract with Moderna to develop a vaccine against the pandemic flu virus
The Trump administration has cancelled the $766 million awarded to drugmakers Modern Inc. toDeveloping a vaccineAgainst potential pandemic influenza viruses including H5N1 avian influenza.
The company said it was notified Wednesday that the Department of Health and Human Services had withdrawn funds awarded in July 2024 and awarded in January to pay for the development and purchase of the investigation. vaccine.
The funding was awarded through the Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority (Barda), a program focusing on medical treatment for potential pandemics.
A new vaccine called mRNA-1018 used the same technologyDevelopment is permittedandVaccine deploymentFighting Covid-19 at a record time.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed deep skepticism about mRNA vaccines despite real-world evidence that vaccines are safe and save millions of lives.
The cancellation comes when Moderna announced positive preliminary results from early stage trials of a vaccine targeting the H5 avian influenza virus tested in 300 healthy adults.
“While the termination of funds from HHS adds uncertainty, we are pleased with the robust immune response and safety profile observed in this preliminary analysis,” the company said in a statement.
Last year, the influenza virus from H5N1 birds that spilled wild birds to cows in the United States, and infecting hundreds of animals in several states.At least 70 peopleIn the US, we are tired of mostly mild avian flu infections. One person died. Scientists fear that continuous mutations in the virus will be more toxic or allow them to spread easily to people, as they can cause a pandemic.
Moderna received $176 million in July 2024 and $590 million in January. The January award would have supported late-stage clinical trials that could determine the effectiveness of the vaccine against a pandemic virus, including avian influenza, a company spokesperson said.
This story was originally introduced Fortune.com