HHS To Develop Universal Flu Vaccines Targeting Multiple Virus Strains

CNN (5/1, Tirrell, Goodman) reports HHS “said Thursday that it aims to accomplish within four years a scientific feat that hasn’t been achieved for the past 45: the development of a universal flu vaccine that could protect against multiple virus strains with pandemic potential, including H5N1 avian influenza.” HHS explained the in-house project is targeting FDA “approval of universal influenza vaccines in 2029, with human clinical trials scheduled to start next year.” Reuters (5/1, Mishra) says the government’s $500 million investment “is to come from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, a center within the HHS that funds measures to protect the public from threats such as pandemics.”