Moderna in Talks with US Government for Funding of Potential Bird Flu Vaccine, mRNA-1018

Boston, Massachusetts United States of America
H5N1 bird flu virus spreading rapidly among poultry and cattle in the US, two human cases reported
Moderna expects to have data soon from early-stage trials of mRNA-1018
Moderna in talks with US government for funding of potential bird flu vaccine, mRNA-1018
Moderna stock rose 3% during pre-market trading on news of potential government funding
mRNA-1018 could be purchased by the US government if final-phase studies are successful
Traditional bird flu vaccines take up to six months to produce, mRNA vaccines can be produced quickly once viral DNA is sequenced
US government also in discussions with Pfizer about an mRNA bird flu vaccine
Moderna in Talks with US Government for Funding of Potential Bird Flu Vaccine, mRNA-1018

Moderna is in discussions with the U.S. government to advance its mRNA H5N1 bird flu vaccine, mRNA-1018, after confirming that funding from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) could come as soon as next month. The potential deal includes a commitment to purchase doses if final-phase studies are successful.

The H5N1 bird flu virus has been spreading rapidly among poultry and cattle in the United States, with two human cases reported so far. Moderna has already completed dosing for early-stage trials of mRNA-1018 and expects to have data soon.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are also developing their own mRNA vaccine to combat the spread of H5N1. Traditional bird flu vaccines, which are made by injecting fertilized chicken eggs with a dominant viral strain, can take up to six months to produce. However, mRNA vaccines can be produced as soon as scientists sequence the DNA of a virus and instruct cells to produce a protein that will trigger an immune response against the virus.

The U.S. government is also in discussions with Pfizer about an mRNA bird flu vaccine, according to Reuters.

Moderna stock rose about 3% during pre-market trading on Thursday following the news of potential government funding for its bird flu vaccine trial.

U.S. officials are weighing whether to vaccinate workers that are in close contact with the virus, and a second dairy farm worker was reported to have been infected with the virus this month.

The U.S. has moved forward with filling about 4.8 million doses of bird flu vaccine into vials from a national stockpile of bulk vaccines.



Confidence

96%

Doubts
  • Are there any other companies developing a bird flu vaccine besides Moderna and Pfizer?
  • What is the current status of human trials for mRNA-1018?

Sources

99%

  • Unique Points
    • The U.S. government is close to funding Moderna’s bird flu vaccine development.
    • Moderna has finished dosing participants in Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies for its bird flu vaccine.
    • Two dairy workers have tested positive for the H5 bird flu virus in the US.
    • Funding from BARDA for Moderna could come as soon as next month, potentially including a commitment to buy doses if final-phase studies are successful.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

  • Unique Points
    • Scientists express concerns over eggs used in bird flu vaccine production
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

  • Unique Points
    • Researchers are developing an mRNA-based vaccine against the H5N1 bird flu virus.
    • Animals that were vaccinated with the experimental mRNA vaccine survived infection, while all unvaccinated animals died in a study.
    • mRNA vaccines are faster to develop and target specific virus strains compared with traditional vaccines.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The author makes several statements in the article that are factual and do not contain any logical fallacies. However, there is one instance of an appeal to authority when the author quotes Scott Hensley making a claim about the agility of mRNA vaccines compared to traditional vaccines. This does not detract significantly from the overall quality of the article and does not warrant a significant reduction in score.
    • “The mRNA technology allows us to be much more agile in developing vaccines; we can start creating a mRNA vaccine within hours of sequencing a new viral strain with pandemic potential,”
    • “During previous influenza pandemics, like the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, vaccines were difficult to manufacture and did not become available until after the initial pandemic waves subsided.”
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

95%

  • Unique Points
    • The US is close to a deal to fund Moderna’s bird flu vaccine trial
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

  • Unique Points
    • Moderna is in discussions with the US government to advance its mRNA H5N1 bird flu vaccine, mRNA-1018.
    • The U.S. government is close to finalizing a deal to fund a late-stage trial of Moderna’s bird flu vaccine.
    • Funding from BARDA for Moderna could come as soon as next month, potentially including a commitment to buy doses if final-phase studies are successful.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication