The Trump administration has canceled $766 million awarded to drugmaker Moderna Inc. to develop a vaccine towards potential pandemic influenza viruses, together with the H5N1 chicken flu.
The corporate mentioned it was notified Wednesday that the Well being and Human Companies Division had withdrawn funds awarded in July 2024 and in January to pay for growth and buy of its investigational vaccine.
The funds had been awarded by means of the Biomedical Superior Analysis and Improvement Authority, or BARDA, a program that focuses on medical therapies for potential pandemics.
The brand new vaccine, known as mRNA-1018, used the identical know-how that allowed growth and rollout of vaccines to battle Covid-19 in file time.
Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed deep skepticism relating to the protection of mRNA vaccines.
The cancelation got here as Moderna introduced optimistic interim outcomes from an early-stage trial of the vaccine that focused H5 chicken flu virus, examined in 300 wholesome adults.
“Whereas the termination of funding from HHS provides uncertainty, we’re happy by the sturdy immune response and security profile noticed on this interim evaluation,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement.
H5N1 chicken flu viruses spilled from wild chicken into cattle within the U.S. final yr, infecting a whole lot in a number of states. Not less than 70 individuals within the U.S. have been sickened by chicken flu infections, largely gentle. One individual died. Scientists worry that continued mutation of the virus may enable it to develop into extra virulent or extra simply unfold in individuals, with the chance that it may set off a pandemic.
Moderna obtained $176 million in July 2024 and $590 million in January. The January award would have supported a late-stage scientific trial that would have decided the vaccine’s efficacy towards pandemic viruses, together with chicken flu, an organization spokesman mentioned.
The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Instructional Media Group and the Robert Wooden Johnson Basis. The AP is solely answerable for all content material.
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