The U.S. government has cancelled a contract worth over $700 million awarded to Moderna, Inc. for late-stage development of an mRNA bird flu biologic for humans, as well as the right to purchase the shots. Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) issued the $590 million contract to Moderna. This was in addition to $176 million awarded in 2024 to complete the late-stage development and testing of the vaccine.1
DHHS Determines Moderna Failed to Meet Scientific Standards for Federal Funding
A DHHS spokesperson said that after a comprehensive internal review, the department had determined that the project failed to meet the scientific standards of safety expectations required to continue federal investment.1 In February, the Trump administration announced it would be re-evaluating the contract as part of a push to examine government expanding use of mRNA-based products.2
Bird Flu Shown to Not Transmit Between Humans
The mRNA bird flu vaccine is supposed to help protect humans against H5N1 avian influenza, even though the virus has not been shown to transmit from person to person. There is currently no existing bird flu vaccine for humans.1
Despite the fact that H5N1 avian influenza has not been demonstrated to be transmissable between humans, many proponents of bird flu vaccine development were quick to criticize the move.
“The cancellation means that the government is discarding what could be one of the most effective and rapid tools to combat an avian influenza outbreak,” said Amesh Adalja, MD senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.1
Moderna Seeking Ways to Make Up for Lack of Revenue from COVID-19 Vaccine
Moderna had been counting on revenue from sales of newer mRNA shots, including its mRNA bird flu biologic, to make up for waning demand for its mRNA Spikevax COVID-19 biologic. Moderna officials said the company plans to explore alternatives for late-stage development and manufacturing of its bird flu vaccine. The company recently withdrew its application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for licensure of its combination COVID and influenza mRNA vaccine. The decision came “in consultation with” the FDA just one day after the FDA announced the agency would require new placebo controlled clinical trials for approval of annual COVID boosters for healthy individuals under age 65.3
DHHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has previously noted that the FDA contradicts themselves by both telling Americans that there is little risk of bird flu to humans, while also stating they are ready to pull the trigger on use of bird flu vaccines if there is human-to-human transmission. Kennedy went on to state on X that there is no evidence that bird flu vaccines will work, and “they appear to be dangerous.”4
There are currently five pharmaceutical companies with H5N1 mRNA biological products labeled as a “vaccine” in development, including Moderna, GlaxoSmithKline/CureVac, Sanofi, and Arcturus Therapeutics.2
If you would like to receive an e-mail notice of the most recent articles published in The Vaccine Reaction each week, click here.
Click here to view References:1 Wingrove P. US cancles more than $700 million funding for Moderna bird flu vaccine. Reuters May 29, 2025.
2 Hobley N. USDA gives conditional license for bird flu vaccine given to chickens. The Vaccine Reaction Mar. 2, 2025.
3 Stieber Z. Moderna withdraws application for combination COVID-19-influenza vaccine. Epoch News May 22, 2025.
4 @RobertFKennedyJr. Bird Flu — The Bioweapons Connection. X June 23, 2024.
