Department of Health and Human Services has shifted $500 million from research to next generation 2019 Coronavirus Disease Vaccineredirecting the money to a single vaccine program related to the former acting head of the NIH administration.
Several federal health officials said the announcement surprised them, which bypassed the usual procedures overseen by NIH’s career scientists and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Bureau, known as Barda. These comments are intended to ensure that federal research funding with the greatest scientific achievements enters the project.
HHS said the program, known as the "Gold Standard for Generations" and aims to start clinical trials next year to prevent any strains of the virus. It hopes to get a vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration by 2029.
All funds will be transferred to a flu vaccine program called Beta-Propiolactone or BPL, according to CBS News’ email. The decision to pour $500 million into a single vaccine platform is unusual given the limited data.
The transfer makes it effectively one of the largest awards to date, from Barda's efforts to accelerate funding for new experimental vaccines and treatments, the highest award was previously awarded to a $452 million award to a company developing an experimental oral Covid-19 vaccine.
A HHS spokesman told CBS News: "The decision to generate gold standards for projects is a collaborative process among HHS leaders to guide funding for all influenza threats, not just one influenza threat."
The Wall Street Journal previously reported on the project.
A small study led by NIH researchers Dr. Matthew Memoli and Dr. Jeffery Taubenberger, PhD, conducted safety results tests on vaccines earlier this year. This study is what scientists call the first phase of research, the first step in studying potential vaccines in humans.
Memoli was the performance leader at NIH Controversial transition In recent months, overseeing Trump administration directives, such as steep cuts Research funding and staff of medical research institutions lead.
Taubenberger, who owns a patent for the BPL vaccine platform, was selected as the acting head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases or NIAID. Removed.
Barda and NIH officials were ordered to redirect the money to study in Mollolly, Noah Miller, a special assistant hired by the Minister of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy Jr.according to the email seen by CBS News. It is unusual for political appointers to fund a project or researchers without having to review career scientists or external reviews, two officials said.
The money comes from the “NextGen” initiative, a $5 billion effort by Biden Administration, which has previously funded multiple research projects to study potential Covid-19-19-19 vaccines and treatments.
NIH has previously awarded a $62.4 million grant and has granted grants from researchers at seven universities working on the Pankona virus vaccine.
The department also supported four vaccine manufacturers to enter a larger phase of 2B clinical trials from Barda to study experimental Covid-19 vaccines, totaling $551 million.
Following NIH and Barda's requirements, researchers and vaccine companies are required to submit federally supported recommendations.
Vianca Rodriguez Feliciano, another HHS spokesman, said in an email that the department's new initiative "retuned Barda with its core mission: preparing all influenza virus pathogens, not just Covid-19."
"It provides a cost-effective, responsible alternative to the Biden administration's wasteful project NextGen, which spent $1.63 billion on Covid-19-19 vaccines and $1.19 billion in treatments, neglecting wider pandemic preparations," Feliciano said.
The department described the decision in its release as a “decisive shift towards transparency, effectiveness and comprehensive preparation” through a focus on “internal development” of vaccines rather than projects by external researchers.
It also plans to use BPL to develop other vaccines for Covid-19, which is called "traditional vaccine technology entering the 21st century."
"Our commitment is clear: Every innovation in vaccine development must be based on gold standard science and transparency and adhere to the highest standards of safety and efficacy testing," Kennedy said.