The Trump administration has withdrawn $766 million in funding previously awarded to Moderna Inc. for the development of a vaccine targeting potential pandemic influenza viruses, including the H5N1 bird flu strain.
Moderna announced it was informed on Wednesday that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had pulled back the funds granted in July 2024 and January, which were intended to support both the development and procurement of its experimental vaccine.
These funds were part of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) program, which focuses on preparing medical countermeasures for pandemic threats.
The vaccine, named mRNA-1018, employs the same mRNA technology that enabled the rapid creation and deployment of Covid-19 vaccines.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has publicly expressed strong doubts about mRNA vaccines, despite extensive evidence showing their safety and their role in saving millions of lives worldwide.
Moderna’s funding cancellation occurred just as the company released encouraging interim results from an early-stage clinical trial of the vaccine, which targets the H5 bird flu virus. The trial involved 300 healthy adult volunteers.
In response, Moderna stated, “While the termination of funding from HHS adds uncertainty, we are pleased by the robust immune response and safety profile observed in this interim analysis.”
Last year, H5N1 bird flu viruses spread from wild birds to cattle across several U.S. states, infecting hundreds of animals. Human cases have also been reported, with at least 70 individuals affected, most with mild symptoms, and one fatality. Scientists remain concerned that further mutations of the virus could increase its ability to infect humans and potentially spark a pandemic.
Moderna had originally received $176 million in July 2024 and an additional $590 million in January. The latter funding was intended to support a late-stage clinical trial to evaluate the vaccine’s effectiveness against pandemic influenza viruses, including the bird flu strain.
