After the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States is preparing for another upcoming one, as the H5N1 virus is rising among cattle, now tasking Moderna to develop a new mRNA vaccine to fight against the bird flu. The renowned pharmaceutical company recently gave the government a $176 million contract to develop this new vaccine from the previously experimental base. 

Various companies are known for using mRNA for their vaccines, including  Pfizer, BioNTech, and Moderna. This proved to be one of the fastest ways to create immunization for the public.

Moderna Receives $176M Contract to Develop mRNA Bird Flu Vaccines

Moderna announced that it received a massive $176 million project award from the United States government to develop a new mRNA-based vaccine, now meant to fight against the H5N1 virus, a.k.a. bird flu. The company was awarded this through the Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle (RRPV),  funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). 

It will ensure that it is given a license to develop this 'pre-pandemic' vaccine against the H5 influenza virus, which is known for infecting birds and could later be transferred to humans. 

The company also revealed that in 2023, it had already begun its Phase 1/2 study among healthy adults using its mRNA vaccine candidates targeting both the H5 and H7 viruses. 

Read Also: Cancer Vaccine Developer Sees Limitations to mRNA's Effectiveness Despite Successful Trial

The US is Now Preparing for a Bird Flu Pandemic with Moderna

This follows the recent rise of bird flu infections around the country, with rising cases affecting the avian family and cattle. Once a cattle gets infected, the virus may also transfer to milk and other dairy products and could infect the consumers. 

The US is now looking to prepare for a possible bird flu pandemic with Moderna, now focusing on its mRNA vaccine development against the virus.

Moderna's mRNA Vaccine Development

One of the darkest moments of the modern age was the 2020 pandemic of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, later known as nCOV-19 and officially as COVID-19. Many pharmaceutical companies rushed to develop a vaccine that would immunize the world. Pfizer and Moderna are among the fastest ones to do so, using mRNA instead of the traditional Adenovirus base. 

These messenger RNAs were previously experimental, but they proved to be effective in fast-tracking the vaccine's development, which was available for human administration before 2021 ended. After this, Moderna developed other types of vaccines, including one for influenza, a.k.a. the common flu, with other researchers looking to have it treat other diseases, such as cancer. 

However, it did not take long before a new virus manifested itself in the world, with the United States among those gravely affected by the rising problem of a new strain of bird influenza. Its massive spread on cattle is now alarming the country's medical agencies and professionals yet again, but it is now tapping into Moderna and its mRNA vaccine development to fight against this new health threat.

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