Los Angeles, May 2 (NationPress) The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) along with the National Institutes for Health (NIH) has unveiled Generation Gold Standard, a cutting-edge universal vaccine platform aimed at tackling pandemic-prone viruses.

This innovative platform employs a beta-propiolactone (BPL)

This initiative marks a pivotal transition towards transparency, effectiveness, and a well-rounded approach to preparedness. It funds NIH's internal efforts to develop universal vaccines against influenza and coronaviruses, including candidates BPL-1357 and BPL-24910, according to the NIH's announcement.

These vaccines are designed to offer extensive protection against various strains of pandemic-prone viruses, such as H5N1 avian influenza and coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and MERS-CoV, as per NIH's statement.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. remarked, “Our commitment is evident: every advancement in vaccine development must be rooted in gold standard science and transparency, subjected to the utmost standards of safety and efficacy testing.”

This program reconfigures the operations of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to align with its legal mandate under the Public Health Service Act, focusing on preparation for all influenza viral threats, not solely those currently circulating, reported Xinhua news agency.

This action comes amidst significant funding cuts at the agency, including halted NIH research grants and a workforce reduction that could affect nearly 20,000 HHS employees.

A recently leaked document highlighted unofficial plans from President Donald Trump’s administration to reduce the NIH budget by around 40 percent, dropping it from $47 billion to $27 billion.

The funding for this new project will originate from BARDA, an HHS organization aimed at financing medical responses to public health threats.

This initiative is intended to replace the Biden administration's Project NextGen, a $5 billion plan to expedite next-generation Covid-19 countermeasures to tackle declining immunity and resistance.

According to an HHS spokesperson, the Biden-era program was deemed “wasteful” and “neglectful” of wider pandemic preparedness.

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya stated, “Generation Gold Standard is a transformative shift. It expands vaccine protection beyond specific strains and prepares for future flu viral threats using traditional vaccine technology adapted for the 21st century.”

Clinical trials for these universal influenza vaccines are anticipated to commence in 2026, with the US Food and Drug Administration approval targeted for 2029, according to the NIH.