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Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) are reportedly in talks with the U.S. government over setting up a possible vaccine program aimed at combatting the spread of the H5N1 virus, also known as avian flu.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary of Pandemic Preparedness Dawn O’Connell said on a call with reporters after market close on Wednesday that the department has been in discussions with both vaccine developers about producing mRNA-based vaccines to protect against avian flu, according to Barron’s.
O’Connell said negotiations with the vaccine makers are “ongoing” and that the agency was “hoping to wrap this up and have something to say very soon.” She added that HHS has been converting 4.8M doses of avian flu vaccine from the government’s bulk stockpile into finished doses.
The HHS assistant secretary added that converting the bulk vaccine into finished doses would take a “couple of months” and that the process shouldn’t interfere with vaccine production for the seasonal flu, Barron’s said.
Earlier Wednesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that while a second human case of avian flu had been reported in the U.S., the risk of the virus causing another pandemic was currently low.
Moderna confirmed to Barron’s on Wednesday that it has a vaccine in Phase 2 development targeting an avian flu variant.
Barron’s added that GSK (GSK) and CSL Seqirus (OTCQX:CSLLY) are also testing vaccines targeted at a strain of the H5N1 virus under a contract with the U.S. government. Sanofi (SNY) is also involved in the project.
Pfizer and Moderna did not immediately comment on the matter, Barron’s said.
