The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is allocating up to $500 million for mid-stage trials evaluating nasal spray and pill vaccines against COVID-19. This funding, part of Project NextGen, aims to develop innovative vaccines for broader protection. Companies Vaxart, Castlevax, and Cyanvac will receive significant support.
The funding is part of Project NextGen, a $5 billion initiative led by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), to advance a pipeline of new, innovative vaccines and therapeutics providing broader and more durable protection against COVID-19 infection. BARDA, which helps companies develop medical supplies to address public health threats, is a part of HHS. The project is awarding up to $453 million to Vaxart for a study that will evaluate its oral COVID vaccine.
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is setting aside up to $500 million in Project NextGen funding to plan and execute multiple Phase 2b clinical trials evaluating novel vaccines administered as a nasal spray or as a pill to protect against symptomatic COVID-19. BARDA is part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)