"Project NextGen Funds $1.4 Billion for COVID-19 Vaccine and Therapeutic Development"

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded over $1.4 billion to Project NextGen, a program aimed at developing the future of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics. The funding includes $1 billion for vaccine clinical trials, $326 million for a new monoclonal antibody, and $100 million to explore novel vaccine and therapeutic technologies. The initiative, led by HHS' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), aims to accelerate the development of more effective and longer-lasting coronavirus vaccines, streamline manufacturing processes, and address the evolving nature of the virus.