The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a substantial investment of approximately $590 million to accelerate the advancement of Moderna's (MRNA) mRNA-based pandemic influenza vaccines. This initiative is intended to enhance the capabilities of the mRNA platform and bolster the nation's preparedness against emerging infectious diseases.
The funding is directed towards expediting the development of an H5N1 mRNA influenza vaccine, meticulously aligned with the strains currently prevalent in livestock and avian populations. This initiative also aims to broaden the clinical data pool supporting the application of mRNA vaccines for potential pandemic influenza strains.
Moderna's candidate for an influenza vaccine utilizes conventional mRNA technology, which proved highly effective during the COVID-19 pandemic response, culminating in one of the first FDA-authorized—and subsequently FDA-licensed—vaccines for COVID-19.
Further, Moderna plans to design and conduct a phase 3 clinical trial for an H7N9 mRNA pandemic influenza vaccine. If successful, this could lead to the first officially licensed vaccine for H7N9.
Moreover, Moderna is tasked with the design of up to four additional innovative pandemic influenza vaccines, with assessments of their preliminary safety and immunogenicity (immune response generation) being conducted in phase 1 clinical trials.
