The $5 billion Project NextGen coordinates across the federal government and private sector to advance innovative vaccines and therapeutics into clinical trials, regulatory review and potential commercial availability. The project builds on a better understanding of COVID-19, with HHS developing, using and constantly reevaluating the strengths and weaknesses of current vaccines and therapeutics over three years. The announced awards include:

$1 billion to four Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) clinical trial partners to support vaccine clinical trial studies;
$326 million to Regeneron to support the development of a next-generation monoclonal antibody for COVID-19 prevention;
$100 million to Global Health Investment Corp., the non-profit organization managing the BARDA Ventures investment portfolio, to expand investments in new technologies that will accelerate responses in the future; and
$10 million to Johnson & Johnson Innovation for a competition through Blue Knight, a BARDA-Johnson & Johnson partnership.

Related: CDC: 1 in 4 Americans has never caught COVID, after 3 years

The awards to BARDA's Clinical Studies Network will speed the development of new vaccine candidates, providing a network of at-the-ready trials with the flexibility to pivot to the most promising new vaccines as they mature. The partnership with Regeneron is advancing its efforts to prevent COVID-19 infections by developing a novel monoclonal antibody that will protect people who do not respond to or cannot take existing vaccines, which is a critical need and current gap in COVID-19 therapeutics. The remaining awards will fund technologies that enable more efficient development and manufacturing strategies, accelerating development timelines across the board and bolstering future vaccine and therapeutic availability.

Instant Insights /

Next-gen COVID treatments: HHS awards $1.4B in grants for future vaccines, antibody

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