The funding will be disbursed through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) as part of the Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle (RRPV) Consortium.

The aim of the program is to establish partnerships with industry players in order to enhance the country's preparedness for pandemic threats and develop effective medical countermeasures, as announced by the Department of Health and Human Services. This comes as the H5N1 virus continues to spread extensively among US dairy cattle.

Moderna, a prominent biotech firm, disclosed that it had already initiated a Phase 1/2 trial for a pandemic influenza vaccine last year, focusing on H5 and H7 variants of bird flu viruses. The company plans to release the trial results this year, which will guide the design of a Phase 3 trial scheduled to commence in 2025.

The funding agreement will primarily support the late-stage development of a "pre-pandemic vaccine against H5 influenza virus," according to Moderna. Additionally, the deal includes provisions for further vaccine development to address any emerging public health threats.

Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel expressed optimism regarding the collaboration with BARDA, highlighting the advantages of mRNA vaccine technology in terms of efficacy, speedy development, and scalability. He emphasized the company's commitment to expediting the development of mRNA-based pandemic influenza vaccines and supporting global public health initiatives in pandemic preparedness.

US health officials revealed that discussions with Moderna and Pfizer regarding the development of a pandemic bird flu vaccine had been ongoing. This upcoming vaccine would complement the existing protein-based bird flu vaccines already in use. Furthermore, the Department of Health and Human Services recently announced plans to manufacture 4.8 million vials of H5 influenza vaccine in the coming months to address the ongoing outbreak.

However, the US response to the H5N1 dairy outbreak has faced criticism from both national and international experts. It was discovered that the virus had been spreading among dairy cattle since late last year, but the confirmation of infected herds in Texas and Kansas did not occur until March 25. Since then, the outbreak has spread to approximately 140 herds in 12 states.

Despite the widespread presence of inactivated H5N1 in the commercial milk supply, some farms are hesitant to conduct tests, and the true extent of undocumented infections remains uncertain. Additionally, it is unknown whether infected cows can become reinfected and at what rate.

Although the risk to the general public is currently considered low, farm workers are at a higher risk of contracting the infection. So far, three cases of infection among dairy farm workers have been confirmed. Efforts to test people for H5 influenza have been limited, with only 53 individuals tested nationwide.

One of the key challenges faced in addressing the H5N1 outbreak is resistance from farmers and farm workers to collaborate with state and federal health officials. While federal agencies have provided assistance programs for dairy farms, including compensation and personal protective equipment, voluntary participation from the farming community has been minimal.

Movement of cattle, workers, and equipment between farms has been identified as the primary mode of H5N1 transmission among dairies. Although the USDA mandated testing of cows prior to their interstate movement, movement within states remains under state jurisdiction. A significant number of farmers admitted to continuing the movement of cattle from infected farms even after the onset of clinical signs of infection.

The ongoing concern is that as the virus spreads among US dairy farms, adapts to mammalian hosts, and potentially comes into contact with humans, the likelihood of it jumping to humans and acquiring the ability to spread increases.

Dawn O'Connell, assistant secretary for Preparedness and Response, emphasized the urgency of addressing the H5N1 outbreak, stating that the awarded funding to Moderna aligns with the commitment to strengthen pandemic influenza preparedness. She added that incorporating mRNA vaccine technology into the pandemic flu toolkit enhances the nation's ability to respond swiftly and effectively to circulating strains and potential variants.

With Moderna's substantial funding boost, hopes are high for the development of an effective pandemic flu vaccine that could safeguard public health and contribute to global pandemic preparedness efforts.