Moderna has begun a human clinical trial for an mRNA-based bird flu vaccine, pressing ahead after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services pulled its funding for the project. The trial is aimed at preparing for a potential pandemic caused by the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, which health authorities have monitored with growing concern as it spreads among animal populations.
The Washington Post reported the trial's launch, which also drew coverage from the BBC, The Telegraph, and New Scientist. A general practice medical center in Layton, in Blackpool, England, is among the trial sites, with a local GP leading what the Blackpool Gazette described as a "first-of-its-kind" study in that area.
The cancellation of HHS funding puts the financial burden of the trial on Moderna itself. The company has been among the most aggressive in applying its mRNA platform to infectious disease threats beyond COVID-19, and bird flu has emerged as one of the higher-priority targets given the strain's high mortality rate in humans who contract it through animal contact.
Scientists have noted that mRNA vaccines can be developed and scaled more quickly than traditional vaccine technologies, which could matter significantly if an H5N1 strain gains the ability to spread efficiently between humans. Regulators will need to see trial results before any vaccine could be authorized for broader use.
