In a significant turnaround, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to review Moderna's application for its new mRNA-based flu vaccine after initially rejecting it due to concerns over the adequacy of its clinical trial. This decision follows a U-turn by the Trump administration, which reversed its earlier move to block the trial after facing backlash from Moderna and the U.S. biotech industry. The FDA's decision comes after a 'constructive' meeting with Moderna, where the company proposed a revised approval pathway focusing on older adults. The application now seeks full approval for individuals aged 50 to 64 and accelerated approval for those 65 and older, with a commitment to conduct an additional study post-market. Moderna's CEO, Stephane Bancel, expressed optimism, stating, 'Pending FDA approval, we look forward to making our flu vaccine available later this year so that America's seniors have access to a new option to protect themselves against flu,' as reported by the Tribune Latest on February 18, 2026.