Trump Administration Cancels $766M Moderna Contract
Introduction to the Cancellation
The Trump administration has canceled $766 million awarded to drugmaker Moderna Inc. to develop a vaccine against potential pandemic influenza viruses, including the H5N1 bird flu.
The company said it was notified Wednesday that the Health and Human Services Department had withdrawn funds awarded in July 2024 and in January to pay for development and purchase of its investigational vaccine.
Background on the Funding
The funds were awarded through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, a program that focuses on medical treatments for potential pandemics. The new vaccine, called mRNA-1018, used the same technology that allowed development and rollout of vaccines to fight Covid-19 in record time.
Reason Behind the Cancellation
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed deep skepticism regarding the safety of mRNA vaccines. The cancelation came as Moderna announced positive interim results from an early-stage trial of the vaccine that targeted H5 bird flu virus, tested in 300 healthy adults.
Impact of the Cancellation
“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,” the company said in a statement. H5N1 bird flu viruses spilled from wild bird into cattle in the U.S. last year, infecting hundreds in several states. At least 70 people in the U.S. have been sickened by bird flu infections, mostly mild. One person died. Scientists fear that continued mutation of the virus could allow it to become more virulent or more easily spread in people, with the possibility that it could trigger a pandemic.
Details of the Funding
Moderna received $176 million in July 2024 and $590 million in January. The January award would have supported a late-stage clinical trial that could have determined the vaccine’s efficacy against pandemic viruses, including bird flu, a company spokesman said.
Conclusion
The cancellation of the $766 million contract by the Trump administration to Moderna Inc. for the development of a vaccine against potential pandemic influenza viruses, including the H5N1 bird flu, has significant implications. Despite the challenges posed by this decision, Moderna remains positive about the vaccine’s potential based on interim results. The situation underscores the complexities and uncertainties in the development of vaccines against pandemic threats.
FAQs
Q: Why was the contract canceled?
A: The contract was canceled due to the Trump administration’s decision, with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressing skepticism about the safety of mRNA vaccines.
Q: What was the vaccine intended for?
A: The vaccine, called mRNA-1018, was intended to protect against potential pandemic influenza viruses, including the H5N1 bird flu.
Q: What were the results of the early-stage trial?
A: The early-stage trial showed positive interim results with a robust immune response and safety profile in 300 healthy adults.
Q: How much funding was awarded to Moderna?
A: Moderna received $176 million in July 2024 and $590 million in January, totaling $766 million.
Q: What are the implications of the cancellation?
A: The cancellation adds uncertainty to the development of the vaccine but does not diminish the potential of the vaccine based on the interim analysis.
