Moderna has secured $54.3 million in funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to advance its avian influenza mRNA vaccine candidate, mRNA-1018. This funding comes after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services canceled a previous contract with Moderna earlier this year.
The new funds will support a pivotal Phase III clinical trial for the investigational H5 pandemic influenza vaccine. According to Moderna, this would mark the first time a pandemic-level influenza virus vaccine using mRNA technology enters such an advanced stage of testing.
“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,” said CEPI CEO Richard Hatchett in a statement. “This is how we plan to protect the world from the next flu pandemic.”
Under the agreement with CEPI, Moderna will reserve 20% of its manufacturing capacity for mRNA-1018 to ensure timely supply to low- and middle-income countries at affordable prices.
Previously, Moderna had received support from BARDA under a $760 million contract that was canceled in May 2025. That agreement included development of vaccines for several subtypes of pandemic influenza.
In May, Moderna reported positive results from a Phase I/II study of mRNA-1018: 97.8% of participants who received two doses developed high antibody levels within three weeks, indicating immune protection.
The partnership between CEPI and Moderna builds on an existing collaboration started in 2023 to create mRNA vaccines targeting various viral threats using AI-generated designs. CEPI, founded in 2017 by governments including Germany, Japan, and Norway as well as philanthropic organizations such as the Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust, aims to develop new vaccines to prevent future pandemics. The group previously provided $900,000 in early funding for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine development.
