Moderna has received notice that the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will terminate its $766-million contract for the late-stage development and right to purchase the company’s avian influenza (i.e., bird flu) vaccine. mRNA-1018. 

Moderna had announced the award initially in July 2024, then valued at $176 million. The next announcement came in January 2025, with an additional award of $590 million. 

In 2023, Moderna initiated a Phase I/II study to generate safety and immunogenicity data of an investigational pandemic influenza vaccine (mRNA-1018) in healthy adults aged 18 years and older. The study included vaccine candidates against H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses. Based on the positive preliminary data from the Phase I/II study, Moderna announced in January (January 2025), that it was preparing to advance mRNA-1018 into Phase III development.  

Moderna says it will explore alternatives for late-stage development and manufacturing of the H5 program consistent with the company’s strategic commitment to pandemic preparedness. 

Source: Moderna