According to a Financial Times report, the U.S. government is about to finalise a deal to fund a late-stage trial for Moderna’s mRNA bird flu vaccine. This comes during an outbreak of the H5N1 virus affecting farm birds and herds.
The funding, expected from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), may be confirmed as soon as next month.
The agreement would also include a commitment to buy doses if the phase-three trials are successful.
According to the report, the funding will likely be several millions of dollars and may include a commitment to purchase doses if the trials succeed.
West Africa Weekly reported that the US, Canada, and Europe have been in talks with companies like CSL Seqirus and GSK about acquiring or producing H5N1 bird flu vaccines. These vaccines are aimed at protecting people at risk, such as poultry and dairy workers, veterinarians, and lab technicians.
Last week, the U.S. reported its second human case of bird flu since it was first detected in dairy cattle in late March. Concerns about bird flu have grown as the disease spreads to mammals.
Recent outbreaks in U.S. dairU.S.cows have raised fears about possible human transmission through the milk supply.
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