The U.S. government is nearing an agreement to fund the trial phase of Moderna’s bird flu vaccine

Last week, a second case of bird flu in humans was confirmed in the United States since the virus was first discovered in dairy cattle in late March | (Photo: Reuters)

The US government is nearing a deal to fund a late-stage trial of Moderna’s mRNA pandemic bird flu vaccine, the Financial Times reported Thursday, as an H5N1 outbreak spreads through egg farms and among livestock herds.

Federal funding from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) could come as soon as next month and would also include a pledge to purchase doses if the phase-three trials prove successful, the report said.

It is expected to cost several tens of millions of dollars in total and could come with a commitment to purchase doses if the phase three trials are successful, the report said.

Moderna and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

The United States, Canada and Europe are in active discussions with companies such as CSL Seqirus and GSK to acquire or manufacture H5N1 bird flu vaccines, which could be used to protect at-risk poultry and dairy workers, veterinarians and laboratory technicians.

Last week, a second case of bird flu in humans was confirmed in the United States since the virus was first discovered in dairy cattle in late March.

Bird flu has fueled concerns as the disease increasingly spreads to mammals, with the first-ever outbreaks detected in dairy cows in the United States, raising concerns about the disease spreading to humans through the country’s milk supply.

Since 2022, bird flu has infected more than 90 million chickens, 9,000 wild birds, 52 dairy herds and three people in the country.

First print: May 30, 2024 | 11:06 am IST