The U.S. government has granted $72 million to European pharma giants GSK Plc
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bird flu was detected in 254 dairy herds across 14 states.
Including the most recent two cases in California, 16 human cases of H5 have been reported in the United States during 2024, bringing the total to 17 cases since 2022.
As part of the agreement, GSK, Sanofi, and CSL will produce extra bulk vaccine components tailored to the circulating strains of avian influenza.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Dawn O'Connell, the assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services, noted that the companies plan to allocate the funds to fill vials and pre-filled syringes with stored vaccine components. The goal is to increase the nation's total supply of ready-to-administer doses to 10 million by the first quarter of 2025.
According to O'Connell, the virus responsible for the ongoing outbreak has not changed in a manner that would compromise the effectiveness of the vaccines stored in stockpiles.
Additionally, some traditional flu vaccines are produced using eggs. Sanofi will ensure a steady supply of these vaccines to the United States to prepare for potential bird flu outbreaks and other needs.
The Bloomberg report added that Finland is the sole nation vaccinating its population against bird flu.
Richard Webby, a bird flu researcher at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, noted that similar actions may be contemplated elsewhere if genetic mutations in the H5 viruses are in circulation. However, he emphasized that "it's a bit early to initiate any type of mass vaccination at this point."
The latest award from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response of $72 million includes $37.9 million for CSL, $23.4 million for Sanofi, and $10.5 million for GSK.
