Moderna Stock Jumps as Biotech Gets $590M From US To Develop Bird-Flu Vaccine

Moderna's Vaccine Development - Moderna received a $590 million grant from the U S Department of Health and Human Services to accelerate the development of mRNA-based pandemic influenza vaccines, including mRNA-1018 [1][5] - The company initiated Phase 1/2 testing of mRNA-1018 in 2023, targeting healthy adults aged 18 and above, with positive preliminary results leading to the launch of a Phase 3 study [2][5] Bird Flu Impact and Market Response - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported widespread bird flu in wild birds and outbreaks in poultry and U S dairy cows, with several human cases among dairy and poultry workers [3] - Cal-Maine Foods, the largest U S egg producer, noted rising egg prices due to production limits caused by the bird flu outbreak [4] - Despite a 5% increase in Moderna's stock price, shares remain nearly 65% lower over the past year due to declining COVID-19 vaccine sales [4]