The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) agreed to fund Moderna’s mRNA‑1018 H5 influenza vaccine with up to $54.3 million to advance the program into Phase 3. The deal follows US funding cancellations earlier in the year and includes a commitment that, in a pandemic scenario, Moderna will reserve 20% of capacity for low‑ and middle‑income countries at affordable pricing. Moderna had previously received large BARDA contracts that were later canceled; CEPI’s support bridges the funding gap and preserves an mRNA candidate in the pandemic influenza arsenal. The move comes amid renewed H5 outbreaks in animals and sporadic human cases, underscoring ongoing preparedness needs. The agreement highlights global funders stepping in to sustain mRNA platforms when bilateral funding shifts, and it preserves a rapid‑manufacture vaccine option for pandemic response planning.