"Federal Funding Boosts Next-Gen Covid Vaccines with $500 Million Investment"

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded over $500 million in funding to advance the development of next-generation Covid-19 vaccines. Three initial vaccine candidates, including two intranasal sprays and one self-amplifying mRNA injection, have been selected for Phase 2b clinical trials. The intranasal sprays aim to target viruses at the site of infection, while the self-amplifying mRNA vaccine candidate expresses additional antigens for a broader and longer-lasting immune response. Additionally, HHS has awarded $100 million to incentivize the development of vaccine delivery patches. These investments are part of the $5 billion Project NextGen initiative to develop more durable Covid-19 vaccines and treatments.