Moderna Reports Progress and Setback in Avian Flu Vaccine Program

Moderna, Inc. announced promising early results from a Phase 1/2 study of its avian flu vaccine, mRNA-1018, involving 300 healthy adults. The vaccine showed a robust immune response, with a significant increase in protective antibody levels after the second dose.

Despite the positive data, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has decided to terminate funding for the late-stage development of this vaccine. Moderna acknowledges this setback but remains committed to exploring alternative development paths for the program.

The investigational vaccine was well-tolerated with mostly mild adverse reactions. Moderna plans to present further data at an upcoming scientific meeting and continues to prioritize its strategic focus on pandemic preparedness.