Health experts slam RFK Jr.'s 'dangerous decision' to cut US$500M in funding for mRNA vaccine development
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday announced it would terminate 22 federal contracts for mRNA-based vaccines, questioning the safety of a technology credited with helping end the Covid pandemic and saving millions of lives.
Article content
The announcement, made by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., marks his latest effort to weave vaccine skepticism into the core of U.S. government policy.
Article content
Article content
'We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted,' Kennedy said in a statement.
Article content
Article content
The health department's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is 'terminating 22 mRNA vaccine development investments because the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu,' he added.
Article content
'We're shifting that funding toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate.'
Article content
Infectious disease experts say the mRNA technology used in vaccines is safe, and they credit its development during the first Trump administration with slowing the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Future pandemics, they warned, will be harder to stop without the help of mRNA.
Article content
'I don't think I've seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business,' said Mike Osterholm, a University of Minnesota expert on infectious diseases and pandemic preparations.
Article content
Article content
He noted mRNA technology offers potential advantages of rapid production, crucial in the event of a new pandemic that requires a new vaccine.
Article content
Article content
The shelving of the mRNA projects is short-sighted as concerns about a bird flu pandemic continue to loom, said Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Article content
Scientists are using mRNA for more than infectious disease vaccines, with researchers around the world exploring its use for cancer immunotherapies. At the White House earlier this year, billionaire tech entrepreneur Larry Ellison praised mRNA for its potential to treat cancer.
Article content
Traditionally, vaccines have required growing pieces of viruses, often in chicken eggs or giant vats of cells, then purifying that material. The mRNA approach starts with a snippet of genetic code that carries instructions for making proteins. Scientists pick the protein to target, inject that blueprint and the body makes just enough to trigger immune protection — producing its own vaccine dose.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Star
4 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Bad diets, too many meds, no exercise: A look inside the latest ‘Make America Healthy Again' report
WASHINGTON (AP) — A report that U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promised will improve the health of America's children does not call on the government to make significant changes to its food or farming policies, according to a draft document obtained by The Associated Press. The 'Make America Healthy Again' strategy report is supposed to be one of Kennedy's signature achievements as the nation's health secretary, giving the government a roadmap to help its citizens lose weight, reduce chronic diseases and exercise more. Before coming to Washington, Kennedy had spent much of his career decrying the harms of chemicals sprayed on crops, prescription drugs, ultraprocessed foods, and vaccines.
5 hours ago
Concordia students send Starsailor rocket flying and enter the history books
Students from Concordia University cheered and whistled as the Starsailor rocket lifted off on Cree territory, marking the first of its size to be launched by a student team. At 5:34 a.m. ET, the rocket blasted off in a flash of light, captured in a livestream (new window) posted to YouTube, from a base camp about 250 kilometres north of Mistissini, in northern Quebec. This is insane, said student Shua Kalmanson looking up at the cloud of smoke created by the rocket's separation. The mission is a collaborative effort between the Space Concordia Rocketry Division and members of the local Cree community. Mistissini council member Pamela MacLeod said when she first heard about the student's request to launch the rocket in Mistissini, she though it was strange but interesting. This is, you know, something very different ... never had something like this happen within our territory, she said. And at the same time really looking at it as an opportunity for all our community members, our elders, to see something like this happen within our territory and be part of that. Friday's launch was the team's third attempt after the first two launch dates were cancelled due to unfavourable meteorological conditions. The students hoped Starsailor would enter space, past the Kármán line which is at an altitude of 100 kilometres. But, the rocket separated earlier than expected, potentially stifling its ascent. Concordia professor Hoi Dick Ng said the team will only find out whether the rocket actually made it into space once it retrieves and analyzes the debris. If it travelled far enough, the Starsailor would be the world's first student-built liquid-fuel rocket to reach space, Canada's first space launch in over 25 years, and the first to be achieved by a team of students, according to the university. LISTEN | Daybreak Montreal: Concordia's student built rocket - Starsailor - takes off! (new window) Hannah Halcro, who's been involved with the project since its inception seven years ago, told livestream audiences that despite the setback, everyone is pretty darn happy. We haven't been able to test the structure itself, we can only do simulations and simulations are not reality, so now we know. Over the next couple of days, the recovery team will be working on finding and recovering the rocket with the help of local helicopter pilots. Originally built for a science competition, the rocket was left without a contest after the event was cancelled, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the team, made up of 700 members, pressed forward with the goal of making history and launching the biggest student-built rocket. See you in space next time, said Halcro, before turning away from the camera and joining a group of people celebrating in the background. Cassandra Yanez-Leyton (new window) · CBC News · Journalist Cassandra Yanez-Leyton is a journalist for CBC News based in Montreal. You can email her story ideas at With files from Gloria Henriquez, Vanna Blacksmith and CBC Daybreak
The Market Online
12 hours ago
- The Market Online
U.S. federal cannabis rescheduling: A game-changer for Canopy Growth?
The U.S. government is considering reclassifying cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, which would recognize its medical benefits, ease research restrictions, and offer tax relief to cannabis businesses Through its Canopy USA structure, Canopy Growth holds stakes in major U.S. cannabis companies like Acreage Holdings, Wana Brands, and Jetty, positioning itself to capitalize on federal policy changes Canopy Growth reported a 43 per cent year-over-year increase in Canadian adult-use cannabis revenue in Q1 FY2026, signaling operational momentum as it prepares for potential U.S. market expansion Canopy Growth stock (TSX:WEED) last traded at C$2.08 The United States could be on the cusp of a transformative shift in federal cannabis policy. Recent statements from President Donald Trump and widespread media coverage confirm that the administration is currently reviewing a proposal to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance. This content has been prepared as part of a partnership with Canopy Growth Corp. and is intended for informational purposes only. This reclassification would mark the most significant federal policy change in over 50 years, formally acknowledging cannabis's medical utility and opening new avenues for research, patient access, and industry growth. Currently, cannabis is classified alongside heroin and LSD under Schedule I, a category reserved for substances with no accepted medical use and high abuse potential. Moving it to Schedule III—alongside drugs like ketamine and anabolic steroids—would signal a federal recognition of its therapeutic potential and reduce regulatory burdens. Implications of Schedule III reclassification If cannabis is reclassified, the following changes are expected: Medical recognition : Cannabis would be federally acknowledged as having medical benefits, aligning U.S. policy more closely with countries like Canada, Germany, and Australia. : Cannabis would be federally acknowledged as having medical benefits, aligning U.S. policy more closely with countries like Canada, Germany, and Australia. Expanded research : Researchers would gain broader access to cannabis products for clinical trials, overcoming the restrictive barriers imposed by Schedule I classification. : Researchers would gain broader access to cannabis products for clinical trials, overcoming the restrictive barriers imposed by Schedule I classification. Tax relief: Cannabis businesses would no longer be subject to Section 280E of the IRS tax code, which currently prevents them from deducting ordinary business expenses. This could significantly improve profitability across the sector. Regulatory clarity: While not full legalization, Schedule III status would provide a more stable regulatory environment, encouraging institutional investment and broader market participation. With the U.S. retail cannabis market projected to reach approximately US$50 billion by 2026, the stakes are … high. Canopy Growth: Positioned for U.S. expansion Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:WEED, NASDAQ:CGC) has positioned itself to capitalize on the evolving U.S. cannabis landscape through its Canopy USA structure. This unconsolidated, non-controlling entity holds a portfolio of U.S. cannabis assets, including: Acreage Holdings, Inc. – A vertically integrated multi-state operator with a strong presence in the Northeast and Midwest. – A vertically integrated multi-state operator with a strong presence in the Northeast and Midwest. Wana Brands – An edibles company. – An edibles company. Jetty (Lemurian, Inc.) – A California-based producer of premium cannabis extracts and vape technology. – A California-based producer of premium cannabis extracts and vape technology. The Cima Group and Wana Wellness – Expanding Canopy's reach into wellness and lifestyle segments. This structure allows Canopy to maintain compliance with U.S. federal regulations while retaining exposure to the upside of U.S. market growth. Shareholders recently approved the creation of a new class of exchangeable shares; a move designed to accelerate Canopy's U.S. market entry and enhance flexibility. Financial momentum and solid readiness Canopy Growth's Q1 FY2026 results reflect a company regaining momentum: Canada adult-use cannabis net revenue rose 43 per cent year-over-year to C$27 million , driven by strong demand for new products like Claybourne infused pre-rolls. rose to , driven by strong demand for new products like Claybourne infused pre-rolls. Total cannabis revenue increased 24% , while consolidated net revenue grew 9 per cent to C$72.1 million . increased , while consolidated net revenue grew to . The company achieved CA$17 million of its CA$20 million annualized cost savings target and reduced SG&A expenses by 21 per cent. CEO Luc Mongeau emphasized the company's focus on high-demand product categories and retail distribution, while interim CFO Tom Stewart highlighted ongoing efforts to improve gross margins and operational efficiency, stating, 'Our financial discipline has already delivered meaningful operating expense reductions, and we see further opportunity to simplify and focus the business. Improving gross margin remains a key priority while maintaining topline performance in all areas of the business.' Investor takeaway: A catalyst for revaluation The potential rescheduling of cannabis to Schedule III could be a major catalyst for Canopy Growth and the broader cannabis sector. For Canopy, it would: Unlock tax savings and improve cash flow. Enable deeper integration of its U.S. assets under Canopy USA. Attract institutional investors previously deterred by regulatory uncertainty. Accelerate revenue growth in the world's largest cannabis market. While regulatory timelines remain uncertain, the momentum is clearly building. For investors, Canopy Growth represents a well positioned, financially disciplined player ready to seize the opportunities of a rescheduled U.S. cannabis market. About Canopy Growth Canopy Growth Corp. delivers products with a focus on premium and mainstream cannabis brands, in addition to vaporizer technology made in Germany. Canopy Growth stock (TSX:WEED) last traded around 8 per cent lower at C$2.08 on the TSX. Though it has risen 10 per cent since June, it has lost 47 per cent since the year began and 78 per cent since this time last year. On the NASDAQ, CGC stock also finished 8 per cent lower at US$1.50. It has risen more than 12 per cent since June but has lost 45 per cent since the year began and is 78 per cent lower since this time last year. Join the discussion: Find out what the Bullboards are saying about Canopy Growth and check out Stockhouse's stock forums and message boards. Stockhouse does not provide investment advice or recommendations. All investment decisions should be made based on your own research and consultation with a registered investment professional. The issuer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the information contained herein. For full disclaimer information, please click here .
