The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the start of a coordinated wind-down of its mRNA vaccine development efforts under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). This process includes canceling and scaling back several contracts and solicitations following a thorough review of mRNA-related investments made during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. explained that this decision came after reviewing scientific data and consulting experts. BARDA will terminate 22 mRNA vaccine development projects because the current vaccines have proven ineffective at protecting against upper respiratory infections such as COVID-19 and influenza. Instead, funding will be redirected toward vaccine platforms that are safer and maintain efficacy even as viruses evolve.
The wind-down involves terminating contracts with institutions like Emory University and Tiba Biotech and reducing the scope of mRNA-related work in existing contracts with Luminary Labs, ModeX, and Seqirus. Several pre-award solicitations from major pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur, and CSL Seqirus have been canceled. Additionally, collaborations with the Department of Defense’s Joint Program Executive Office (DoD-JPEO) involving vaccine projects with AAHI, AstraZeneca, HDT Bio, and Moderna/UTMB are being restructured.
Although some late-stage contracts such as those with Arcturus and Amplitude will continue to completion to preserve previous investments, no new mRNA vaccine projects will be initiated. HHS has also instructed its partner, Global Health Investment Corporation (GHIC), which manages BARDA Ventures, to halt all equity investments in mRNA technology. This move impacts 22 projects valued at nearly $500 million. Importantly, other mRNA uses within HHS remain unaffected.
Secretary Kennedy emphasized that HHS remains committed to providing safe and effective vaccines to Americans. The shift away from mRNA reflects a move toward vaccine platforms with stronger safety profiles and transparent clinical data. Platforms funded during the emergency that do not meet current scientific standards will be phased out in favor of more evidence-based and ethically grounded approaches, such as whole-virus vaccines and innovative new technologies.
