The Ministry of Health and Social Services has informed Moderna that it cancels a contract of nearly $ 600 million with the company to develop, test and license vaccines for influenza strains that could trigger future pandemics, including the dangerous H5N1 bird flu virus.
Although the possibility of a cancellation has been planned – the new management of HHS told the company in February that He examined the contractSigned with the Biden administration – This decision is considered an important blow for the country’s ability to respond to the pandemic flu.
No other approach to the production of influenza vaccines can produce doses with the speed of the messenger RNA platform used by Moderna and other companies working with mRNA. But the vaccination platform is considered with a deep suspicion by the Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his political base.
This article is exclusive to stat + subscribers
Unlock this article – plus daily coverage and analysis of the biotechnological sector – in SUT +subscription.
Do you already have an account? Connect
