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(The Hill) — The Department of Health and Human Services is winding down its mRNA vaccine development activities nether the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the bureau announced Tuesday.
“We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said successful a statement. The winding down volition see the cancellation of immoderate contracts with a full worth of astir $500 million.
“BARDA is terminating 22 mRNA vaccine improvement investments due to the fact that the information amusement these vaccines neglect to support efficaciously against precocious respiratory infections similar COVID and flu. We’re shifting that backing toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that stay effectual adjacent arsenic viruses mutate.”
The Food and Drug Administration has approved mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer to dainty COVID-19.
HHS’s determination comes aft it said it conducted a “comprehensive review” of mRNA-related investments that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it signals a broader displacement successful national vaccine argumentation nether Kennedy, who has admitted to being skeptical of mRNA technology.
The bureau volition not commencement immoderate caller mRNA-based projects with BARDA present focusing connected platforms with “stronger information records” and “transparent objective and manufacturing practices,” the bureau said.
HHS added that vaccine technologies that were funded during the pandemic but failed to conscionable “current technological standards” volition beryllium phased retired successful favour of whole-virus vaccines and caller platforms.
Some mRNA vaccine contracts successful their last stages, similar those with Arcturus and Amplitude, volition beryllium allowed to decorativeness to grant payer investments.
Cancelations see an grant to Moderna for mRNA H5N1 vertebrate flu mRNA vaccine arsenic good arsenic existing contracts with Emory University and Tiba Biotech. HHS is besides changing its mRNA-related enactment successful its contracts with CSL Seqirus and AstraZeneca, according to a release.
A spokesperson for Moderna told NewsNation spouse The Hill that they were unsure what grant HHS is referring to and that they are not progressive successful processing an mRNA vaccine for H5N1 vertebrate flu.
HHS could beryllium referring to a declaration with Moderna related to a pandemic flu vaccine that was canceled successful May, the spokesperson said.
On apical of this, HHS is rejecting oregon cancelling aggregate declaration bids from Pfizer and CSL Seqirus. The announcement volition not interaction different uses of mRNA exertion astatine HHS, according to a property release.
“Let maine beryllium perfectly clear: HHS supports safe, effectual vaccines for each American who wants them. That’s wherefore we’re moving beyond the limitations of mRNA and investing successful amended solutions,” Kennedy said.
AstraZeneca, CSL Seqirus, Pfizer, Tiba Biotech, and Emory University did not instantly reply requests for comment.
