Pfizer/Valneva Aim for FDA Approval of mRNA Shot for Lyme Disease
On Mar. 23, 2026, Pfizer, Inc. of New York City, NY and Valneva SE of Saint-Herblain, France announced that they would seek regulatory approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an experimental mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) biologic shot against Lyme disease that they have jointly been developing since 2020. The shot, designated […]
FDA Greenlights Review of Moderna’s mRNA Flu Shot After Application Amended
On Feb. 18, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed to review Moderna’s application for its mRNA influenza shot, known as mRNA-1010, after the company amended its submission to address regulatory concerns. The agency accepted the updated biologics license application and set a target action date of Aug. 5, 2026, allowing the shot […]
U.S. Researcher Wins $1.9 Million USDA Grant to Develop Novel Bird Flu Vaccine
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has awarded a three-year, $1.9 million grant to a researcher at the University of Missouri School of Medicine and the College of Veterinary Medicine to develop a novel vaccine against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (“bird flu”) and Newcastle disease—another fatal, viral […]
Nipah Virus Cases in Asia Increase Pressure to Develop a Vaccine
On Jan. 26, 2026, the government of India confirmed two cases of Nipah virus (NiV) infection in its state of West Bengal. Both cases involved health care workers in a hospital in the district of North 24 Parganas. One of the individuals died after being hospitalized on Jan. 28. Contact tracing linked a total of […]
Scientists Suggest Massaging Vaccines Into the Skin Could Eliminate Needle Injections
Scientists in France and the United Kingdom are investigating an alternative to traditional needle-based vaccines, one that uses mechanical stimulation of the skin to trigger an immune response. The research team, led by Élodie Segura, PhD, at the Institut Curie and Inserm in France, along with researchers at King’s College London, England, examined whether vaccines […]
DHHS Cancels $500 Million in Funding for mRNA Vaccine Development
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced on Aug. 5, 2025 that DHHS is canceling $500 million in vaccine development projects, specifically those using mRNA technology. The decision affects 22 projects, including contracts with Emory University and Tiba Biotech. Proposals from Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur, CSL Seqirus, Gritstone, and others […]