Moderna Gets Bird Flu Shot Funding After HHS Ends Contract

Moderna Inc. will get as much as $54.3 million for a late-stage trial of its bird flu vaccine in a sign of how outside groups could help fill the void after the Trump administration slashed federal research grants.

The funding will come from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, a partnership between public, private, philanthropic and civil groups to develop vaccines for pandemics and other health threats. Moderna’s trial is set to begin early next year, with the goal of getting the vaccine approved, the company said in a statement.