Moderna's bird flu vaccine development, US government grants 180 million dollars

July 3, 2024 8:46 AM GMT+9

Moderna announced on the 2nd that support money of 176 million dollars was provided by the US government for the purpose of accelerating vaccine development for highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1). The background is that the infection has spread to livestock since March this year, and there are concerns that cases of human infections have also appeared.
According to scientists, the risk of the general public getting infected is low at the moment. However, it is said that a new pandemic could occur if the virus spreading at poultry farms and dairy farms mutates and becomes capable of being transmitted from person to person.
Under these circumstances, Moderna invested support money, completed work at the final stage of development of an avian influenza vaccine based on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology adopted in the novel coronavirus vaccine, and carried out various tests.

According to the explanation of US government officials, depending on the “Phase 1” test results that will be revealed in the next few weeks, the final test focusing on safety and immune response will begin within next year.