The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has canceled funding previously committed to Moderna for the development of a bird flu vaccine, citing concerns over the use of messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, the Washington Post reports.
The decision was announced Wednesday, throwing the future of the vaccine candidate into uncertainty.
Moderna had been developing a vaccine to address the growing spread of the H5N1 virus, which has affected over 1,000 cattle herds in 17 states and infected at least 70 people, mostly farm workers. The virus, which is also prevalent among wild birds and various animal species, has raised concerns among public health officials, though recent human cases have been mild and infrequent.
Under the Biden administration, HHS initially pledged $176 million to Moderna last summer, followed by an additional $590 million in January, to support vaccine development using mRNA technology. This same technology was used in COVID-19 vaccines that were widely distributed beginning in 2020.
However, HHS, now led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., reversed course, expressing skepticism over the safety profile of mRNA platforms. Kennedy has previously voiced criticism of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines and recently announced that these shots would no longer be recommended for healthy children or pregnant women.
“This is not simply about efficacy — it’s about safety, integrity, and trust,” said HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon in a statement. “The reality is that mRNA technology remains under-tested, and we are not going to spend taxpayer dollars repeating the mistakes of the last administration, which concealed legitimate safety concerns from the public.”
Despite the funding withdrawal, Moderna reported positive interim results from a Phase 1 clinical trial involving approximately 300 healthy adults. The company said the early data support the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine and emphasized the role mRNA can play in preparing for future health threats.
“These clinical data in pandemic influenza underscore the critical role mRNA technology has played as a countermeasure to emerging health threats,” said Stéphane Bancel, Moderna’s CEO.
The company added that it is exploring alternative paths to continue development and eventual manufacturing of the vaccine.
