BRIEF—BARDA awards up to $500 million for vaccine clinical trials

15 June 2024

The USA’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has announced up to $500 million in Project NextGen funding to plan and execute multiple Phase IIb clinical trials evaluating novel vaccines administered as a nasal spray or as a pill to protect against symptomatic COVID-19.

The project awards were made through BARDA’s Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle (RRPV) to support the following companies in planning for and preparing the vaccine candidates for Phase IIb clinical trials:

Up to $453 million to Vaxart of San Francisco, California, developing an oral pill vaccine candidate, adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad-5). BARDA will provide an initial $65.7 million for early trial milestones, with remaining funds provided as the effort successfully advances toward trial execution. Vaxart will execute its own Phase 2b clinical trials.
Around $34 million to Castlevax, part of the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, developing an intranasal vaccine candidate, CVAX-01.
About $40 million to Cyanvac of Athens, Georgia, developing an intranasal vaccine candidate, CVXGA.

The BARDA is part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).