Trump Administration Cancels Moderna $766M Bird Flu Vaccine Contract

The Trump administration has canceled over $700 million in funding for Moderna's development and purchase of its mRNA-based bird flu vaccine, including a $590 million award made in January and a prior $176 million grant. This decision comes despite Moderna reporting positive interim results from an early-stage trial demonstrating robust immune response and safety of the vaccine targeting the H5N1 avian influenza. The bird flu virus has infected around 70 people and caused one death in the U.S., raising concerns about its potential to become more transmissible and trigger a pandemic. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has expressed skepticism about mRNA vaccine safety, has influenced the funding withdrawal, contrasting with experts who support the vaccines' proven efficacy and safety. Moderna plans to seek alternative paths for the late-stage development and manufacturing of the vaccine amid the funding uncertainty. The cancellation reflects ongoing tensions between federal health officials and the pharmaceutical industry on pandemic preparedness strategies.