Moderna shares up as investors eye US funding for bird flu trials

Moderna's stock traded higher on Thursday, up 2.4%, amid reports that the US government is close to funding a late-stage trial for an experimental mRNA bird-flu vaccine.

It would be based on the same sort of technology that Moderna used in its COVID-19 vaccine.

The funding, which could total ‘several tens of millions of dollars’, may also include a commitment to purchase vaccine doses if the trial is successful, according to reports across multiple media outlets.

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, an office within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is expected to provide the funding.

Meanwhile, dosing is complete for an earlier-stage trial of Moderna's bird-flu vaccine, with data expected soon.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently stated that the risk of bird flu to people in the US remains low, but, it noted that viruses can mutate to spread more easily among humans, potentially leading to a pandemic.

Moderna shares were up $3.57 or 2.41% changing hands at $151.49 – which marks a gain of around 35% for 2024 to date.