Moderna Inc. said Thursday it has secured up to $54.3 million in funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to support the late-stage development of its experimental bird flu vaccine, the company and coalition announced.
The vaccine candidate, mRNA-1018, would become the first mRNA-based bird flu vaccine to enter a pivotal clinical trial — a key step toward broader pandemic preparedness.
Funding and Trial Plans
Under the funding agreement, CEPI — a global public-private partnership that invests in vaccines for epidemic threats — will provide resources to help Moderna initiate late-stage clinical trials of mRNA-1018 in early 2026 in the United Kingdom and United States.
As part of the deal, Moderna has committed to reserve 20 % of its manufacturing capacity for low- and middle-income countries, ensuring affordable access if a pandemic arises.
Background & Global Preparedness Goals
The funding comes after last year’s cancellation of a U.S. government contract worth hundreds of millions tied to the same vaccine project, highlighting shifting federal support dynamics for pandemic vaccines.
CEPI’s mission includes accelerating vaccine development timelines as part of a global push to have effective vaccines ready within 100 days of a future pandemic threat, and Moderna’s mRNA platform is seen as a promising tool due to its flexibility and speed compared with traditional egg-based flu vaccines.
Why This Matters
Bird flu — particularly the H5N1 strain and related variants — remains a concern for global health authorities due to the potential for wider spread and pandemic risk. mRNA-based vaccines like mRNA-1018 aim to respond rapidly to emerging strains once their genetic sequences are identified, shortening development from months to days.
If successful, the vaccine could play a key role in future pandemic prevention strategies and help strengthen international readiness against influenza outbreaks.
