Moderna has secured new funding support for its mRNA-based avian influenza vaccine candidate as it continues development following the withdrawal of U.S. government backing. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which already has a strategic partnership with Moderna, has agreed to provide up to $54.3 million to support late-stage development of Moderna’s H5 pandemic influenza vaccine candidate, mRNA-1018.
The funding will contribute to a pivotal Phase III clinical trial for mRNA-1018, which is scheduled to begin in early 2026. According to a joint announcement released on Dec. 17, the study will evaluate the vaccine in populations across both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Moderna has previously reported positive Phase I/II results for the candidate in adults aged 18 and older. The company has also stated that data from a late-stage trial of its seasonal influenza vaccine will be used to help inform a potential approval pathway for the H5 vaccine candidate.
CEPI linked its financial commitment to its 100 Days Mission, a pandemic preparedness initiative that Moderna joined in 2023. The organizations stated that, if approved, Moderna’s mRNA-based avian influenza vaccine would expand the available tools for addressing H5 influenza by using an mRNA platform designed for rapid development and large-scale manufacturing.
“With this partnership, we are not just advancing vaccine science, we are fundamentally changing the game,” said Richard Hatchett, M.D., chief executive of CEPI. “By harnessing the speed and adaptability of mRNA technology, we could shave months off the response time, deliver vaccines at scale, and enable equitable access for all. This is how we plan to protect the world from the next flu pandemic.”
The companies noted that mRNA vaccines can be designed in hours or days and manufactured quickly at scale, compared with traditional influenza vaccines that require virus growth in eggs or cell culture, a process that can take several months.
As part of the funding agreement, Moderna has committed to allocating 20% of its manufacturing capacity for the H5 pandemic vaccine to ensure timely supply to low- and middle-income countries. Moderna and CEPI stated that these doses would be made available at affordable prices.
The CEPI funding follows changes in U.S. government support for Moderna’s pandemic influenza program. In January, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded Moderna $590 million to accelerate development of mRNA vaccines for potential influenza pandemics, including those caused by H5N1 strains, in collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
In May, HHS terminated the award covering late-stage development and the right to purchase pre-pandemic influenza vaccines. HHS also canceled a separate $760 million BARDA contract originally granted in July 2024 to develop mRNA-1018 and vaccines for five additional pandemic influenza subtypes.
At the time of the cancellation, Moderna said it was seeking alternative options for late-stage development and manufacturing of its bird flu vaccine candidate.
The agreement with CEPI builds on a broader partnership formed in 2023 to develop mRNA vaccines for viral disease outbreaks that threaten global health. That collaboration began with a project evaluating artificial intelligence–generated vaccine designs for multiple undisclosed viral families.
CEPI was established in 2017 with $460 million in funding from the governments of Germany, Japan, and Norway, along with the Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust, and previously supported Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine development in early 2020.
Advancing Pandemic-Ready mRNA Vaccine Technology
The H5 mRNA influenza vaccine trial aims to evaluate safety, immunogenicity, and the potential for rapid deployment during an outbreak. By supporting this mRNA vaccine program, CEPI is helping reduce the time required to move from pathogen identification to vaccine availability—an essential advantage in pandemic scenarios.
CEPI officials emphasized that mRNA technology offers flexibility and speed unmatched by traditional vaccine platforms. The collaboration with Moderna reinforces confidence in mRNA-based influenza vaccines as a cornerstone of future global health security.
