Pfizer CEO Supports Moderna Amid Funding Cuts for Bird Flu Vaccine
In the competitive pharmaceutical landscape, Pfizer and Moderna have long been rivals. Recently, however, Pfizer’s CEO stepped in to defend Moderna after the Trump administration decided to halt its funding intended for the development of a bird flu vaccine.
The Health and Human Services Department (HHS) pulled back a $766 million grant, initially granted by the Biden administration, aimed at funding the creation and procurement of Moderna’s experimental vaccine. Officials stated that an investigation revealed the project failed to meet required scientific standards and safety benchmarks, which some interpret as part of the new health secretary RFK Jr’s shift toward an anti-vaccine approach.
Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer, criticized this funding decision during a recent conference. He emphasized that Moderna’s new mRNA-1018 vaccine is “extremely well tested” and based on proven science. Highlighting the global distribution of around 1.5 billion mRNA vaccine doses related to Covid-19 from Pfizer alone, Bourla claimed these vaccines are likely “the most utilized vaccines in history.” He warned that a decline in vaccination rates could lead to a rapid resurgence of diseases.
Utilizing the technology developed during the Covid pandemic, mRNA vaccines are also undergoing trials as potential cancer treatments, and early results seem promising.
A research paper from Penn State College of Medicine argues that mRNA vaccines can serve as a powerful immunotherapeutic platform against cancer, offering high potency, specificity, and safety. Bourla reassured that Pfizer, which does not depend on government funding, will persist in its vaccine investments.
The new HHS head, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has shown considerable skepticism regarding vaccines, including those for Covid, despite strong evidence of their life-saving potential. Bourla critiqued this viewpoint, claiming that recent changes in U.S. health agency policies lack scientific backing and instead seem rooted in belief.
Nonetheless, Bourla stated that there are “several topics” where the pharmaceutical industry aligns with the government, with cancer being one of them. He added, “We are working to address those things as we agree to disagree on the things that divide us.”
The mRNA-based bird flu vaccine operates on similar principles to the Covid vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna. It uses mRNA to instruct the body to produce a harmless segment of the bird flu virus, allowing the immune system to recognize and defend against it if exposed in the future.
This vaccine has shown a strong immune response in animal trials with mice and ferrets, leading to optimism for human late-stage trials, which are now paused. Currently, RFK Jr’s funding cuts come during rising concerns over the H5N1 bird flu strain affecting poultry and dairy farms in the U.S. Reports indicate at least 70 illnesses and one fatality associated with the strain, triggering fears of potential mutations that could make the virus more virulent or transmissible among humans, increasing the risk of a pandemic.
Moderna previously received $176 million for its efforts in July 2024 and expected an additional $590 million after a funding package from January approved under Biden. This funding was crucial for a late-stage clinical trial that could demonstrate the vaccine’s effectiveness against potential pandemic strains, including bird flu. At that point, the vaccine had already been tested for safety on 300 healthy adults.
A spokesperson for Moderna commented at the time that while the funding termination introduces uncertainty, they remain encouraged by the immune response and safety noted in early analyses. Whether Moderna will continue to pursue development of its bird flu vaccine remains unclear without government support.
Meanwhile, Pfizer recently announced progress with a drug called Braftovi. Initially designed to treat skin cancer in adults, trials show it could potentially double the survival period for patients with an aggressive form of colorectal cancer. Bourla heralded this as a critical discovery, particularly as the incidence of colorectal cancer surges, especially among younger individuals.
