The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) agreed to provide up to $54.3 million to Moderna to advance its mRNA‑1018 H5 avian influenza vaccine into Phase 3 testing after U.S. federal funding had been scaled back earlier in the year. Under the agreement Moderna pledged that, if approved during a pandemic, 20% of production would be reserved for low‑ and middle‑income countries at affordable pricing. The CEPI grant follows the earlier termination of some U.S. government contracts and reflects international actors stepping in to sustain mRNA pandemic preparedness programs. Moderna previously received BARDA funding and expects Phase 3 to generate pivotal safety and efficacy data that would inform regulatory filings. Public‑private funding continuity for pandemic vaccines remains a priority for global health bodies; CEPI’s intervention preserves a high‑speed mRNA candidate that could be critical if H5 evolves greater human transmissibility. The move also signals ongoing global support for mRNA platforms despite political shifts in U.S. health policy.