Biden admin makes deal with Moderna to develop mRNA flu vaccine

The Biden administration has signed a $176 million deal with Moderna that will see the ;pharmaceutical giant develop an mRNA vaccine. The intention of the Biden admin ;is to be prepared for a future flu pandemic. The funds, awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services, will aid Moderna in conducting late-stage clinical trials which are set to take place in 2025. The move comes as a strain of bird flu, known as H5N1, has wrecked havoc on farms across the country. While no human-to-human transmission has been reported, a number of workers have come down with the disease. 

During an interview with Bloomberg, DHHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O'Connell explained that the vaccine will be developed to be felxible depending on which strain of flu is circulating. The technology would allow the vaccine to be tailored to target whichever strain of influenza is widespread. Moderna has already conducted early studies on a bird flu vaccine, the results of which are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

"Our job is to be prepared should that change," O'Connell said, referring to the fact that no human has given the disease to another human. "If you had asked any expert in 2018 what they expected to be the next pandemic, they would have said a highly virulent flu."

The deal, made via the United States' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, gives the government the ability to purchase domestically produced vaccines and ensure "fair pricing" for consumers who choose to take them. While it is likely that other major producers such as Pfizer are also working on a bird flu vaccine, O'Connell did not comment on whether the US had entered into negotiations. 

The mRNA technology being used is the same as that which most companies used in their Covid-19 vaccines. It has been shown to be easily malleable, making it the go-to choice for situations where mutations and new strains of a virus are expected.