Such a vaccine could be used to treat bird flu in people, as concern grows about H5N1 cases spreading in dairy cows across the country, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) noted.
“We have successfully taken lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and used them to better prepare for future public health crises. As part of that, we continue to develop new vaccines and other tools to help address influenza and bolster our pandemic response capabilities,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a news release announcing the investment. “The Biden-Harris Administration won’t stop until we have everything we need to prepare for pandemics and other public health emergencies that impact the American public.”
Moderna already has a bird flu vaccine in early-stage testing that uses the same mRNA technology that allowed a rapid rollout of COVID vaccines, the Associated Press reported.
Some of the new HHS funds will go toward a late-stage trial next year if early results with Moderna’s mRNA-based flu vaccine are positive.
“The award made today is part of our longstanding commitment to strengthen our preparedness for pandemic influenza,” Dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response, said in the HHS news release. “Adding this technology to our pandemic flu toolkit enhances our ability to be nimble and quick against the circulating strains and their potential variants.”
The vaccine development could also quickly target another form of influenza if a threat other than the H5N1 form of bird flu emerges, HHS officials stressed.
The award was made through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a program that focuses on medical treatments for potential pandemics.
The H5N1 virus was detected earlier this year in dairy cows and has spread to more than 135 herds in 12 states and has infected three people to date, all with mild cases.
In a bit of good news about bird flu, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released results of a preliminary study last week that found flash pasteurization kills virtually all bird flu virus in milk.
Check out our mRNA service to expedite your vaccine research
PackGene Biotech is a world-leading CRO and CDMO, excelling in AAV vectors, mRNA, plasmid DNA, and lentiviral vector solutions. Our comprehensive offerings span from vector design and construction to AAV, lentivirus, and mRNA services. With a sharp focus on early-stage drug discovery, preclinical development, and cell and gene therapy trials, we deliver cost-effective, dependable, and scalable production solutions. Leveraging our groundbreaking π-alpha 293 AAV high-yield platform, we amplify AAV production by up to 10-fold, yielding up to 1e+17vg per batch to meet diverse commercial and clinical project needs. Moreover, our tailored mRNA and LNP products and services cater to every stage of drug and vaccine development, from research to GMP production, providing a seamless, end-to-end solution.
Related News
AAV Gene Therapy Revolutionizes Treatment for LCA1, Improving Vision Significantly
Innovative AAV Gene Therapy Dramatically Restores Vision in LCA1 Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in treating Leber congenital amaurosis type 1 (LCA1), a severe inherited retinal disease that causes early childhood blindness, by using an innovative...
Cellular Origins & 3P Innovation Partner to Streamline Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing
Cellular Origins, a TTP Company focused on enabling scalable, cost-effective, and efficient manufacture of cell and gene therapies (CGTs), has partnered with 3P innovation, an engineering company and supplier of automated fill-finish equipment, to integrate 3P...
Voyager Therapeutics Expands Gene Therapy Portfolio with Novartis License for Next-Generation Capsid
Voyager Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VYGR), a biotechnology company focused on neurogenetic medicines, has entered into a licensing agreement with Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) for a novel capsid developed using Voyager’s TRACER™ capsid discovery platform. This license will...
BridgeBio ends development of gene therapy for adrenal gland disorder
BridgeBio said Tuesday night it won’t move forward with a gene therapy for a group of genetic disorders that impair adrenal glands and cause disruptions in producing cortisol. The California biotech made the decision because Phase 1/2 data were “not yet...
Related Services