Moderna coronavirus vaccine candidate receives fast-track designation from the FDA

Moderna headquarters on May 08, 2020 in Cambridge
(Image credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given a "fast track" designation to a COVID-19 vaccine candidate in development from Moderna Therapeutics.

Moderna announced on Tuesday that its vaccine candidate has received fast track approval from the FDA, Time reports, with its chief medical officer, Dr. Tal Zaks, saying this "underscores the urgent need for a vaccine against the novel coronavirus." Moderna President Dr. Stephen Hoge also told Time this is "validation that the FDA believes this is a very credible exercise."

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.