US Government Invests $176 Million in Bird Flu Vaccine Development with Moderna

Moderna has received $176 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to develop a messenger-ribonucleic-acid-based (mRNA) pandemic influenza vaccine. The funding is part of a new Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle Consortium (RRPV) aimed at preparing the country for pandemics and developing medical countermeasures. The vaccine will be designed to target several influenza strains with pandemic potential, including bird flu viruses currently in circulation. Specifically, it will focus on H5N1, which has been detected in 136 cattle herds across 12 states. While Moderna's goal is to be better prepared for public-health crises, experts are pushing for a working vaccine that can be quickly rolled out.