08:12 AM EDT, 07/02/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Moderna ( MRNA ) said Tuesday it has been awarded a project worth $176 million through the Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle to boost development of mRNA-based pandemic influenza vaccines.

The biotech company said the project award will support late-stage development to create an mRNA-based pre-pandemic vaccine against the H5 influenza virus, which causes the highly infectious avian influenza or bird flu, and poses a risk to humans.

The RRPV is a Consortium funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority under the US Department of Health and Human Services. The agreement includes options to prepare and accelerate a response to future public health threats.