Some believe federal funding for a late-stage trial for Moderna’s mRNA bird flu vaccine could occur as early as next month.
The funding would come from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, called Barda, and is expected to cost millions of dollars, according to a report from the Financial Times.
The government may also be considering bankrolling a Pfizer mRNA vaccine targeting H5 viruses.
Pfizer announced last week that in late 2023, it “initiated a randomized Phase 1 study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of multiple doses of nucleoside-modified mRNA (modRNA) based pandemic influenza vaccine candidate.”
The vaccine candidate mirrored the avian strain, Pfizer explained, noting that its study produced successful preliminary results.
Based on the results, Pfizer would be “prepared to deploy the company’s capabilities to develop a vaccine for strategic stockpiles.”
The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response, Dawn O’Connell, told Barron’s that the agency is in the middle of “active conversations with both manufacturers, and the negotiations are ongoing,” American Faith reported.
O’Connell added that HHS “had begun the process of converting 4.8 million doses of avian influenza vaccine from bulk product in the government’s stockpile to finished doses ready to be administered,” Barron’s noted.
The news comes as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved another mRNA vaccine development from Moderna, one that targets respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for those aged 60 and older.
Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said, “The FDA approval of our second product, mRESVIA, builds on the strength and versatility of our mRNA platform.”
“mRESVIA protects older adults from the severe outcomes of RSV infection, and it is the only RSV vaccine available in a pre-filled syringe designed to maximize ease of administration, saving vaccinators’ time and reducing the risk of administrative errors,” he continued. “This approval is also the first time an mRNA vaccine has been approved for a disease other than COVID-19.”
