EQS-News: GeoVax Highlights the Role of MVA-Based Vaccines in Advancing Public Health Preparedness

Recent Studies Support Diversified Vaccine Strategies, Aligning with GeoVax’s MVA-Based GEO-CM04S1 for Enhanced Protection, Particularly for Immunocompromised Populations

ATLANTA, GA - February 24, 2025 (NEWMEDIAWIRE) - GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in immunotherapies and vaccines, today reaffirms the critical role that mRNA vaccines have played in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the growing recognition of the need for complementary vaccine platforms, particularly for immunocompromised patients and those requiring broader, more durable immunity.

The rapid development and deployment of mRNA vaccines were pivotal in mitigating the initial impact of the pandemic, offering a timely and effective response. However, the scientific literature continues to underscore the importance of a diversified vaccine strategy directed towards enhanced durability and expanded protection against variants for populations that may not mount a sufficiently strong immune response to a single vaccine platform. GeoVax’s Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-based vaccine candidates, such as GEO-CM04S1 (COVID-19), may complement other existing vaccine platforms by addressing specific challenges.

Building a More Resilient Vaccine Landscape

Recent scholarly analyses, including research from leading experts [1] and a strategic review by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) [2], stress the importance of broadening vaccine portfolios beyond mRNA. These publications highlight areas where alternative vaccine platforms, such as viral-vector and live-attenuated vaccines, may provide advantages in durability, cellular immunity, and accessibility.

GeoVax’s MVA-based vaccines may offer an alternative approach, by utilizing a well-established vaccine vector, particularly in high-risk populations. Unlike current mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, GEO-CM04S1 expresses both the Spike (S) and Nucleocapsid (N) antigens, to elicit a broader immune response. This enhanced immunogenicity may be especially valuable for immunocompromised individuals, including transplant recipients and cancer patients, who often exhibit suboptimal responses to mRNA vaccines.

GeoVax’s MVA-based COVID-19 vaccine can serve as an important addition to the global immunization strategy by offering:

• Enhanced Immune Response: The inclusion of both Spike and Nucleocapsid antigens in GEO-CM04S1 is intended to elicit a more comprehensive immune response, potentially reducing the need for frequent boosters.
• Durability and Broader Variant Protection: Studies suggest measures of T-cell responses induced by GEO-CM04S1 elicit protection against emerging variants, minimizing the need for frequent reformulation.
• Better Suitability for Immunocompromised Populations: Clinical trials demonstrate that GEO-CM04S1 elicits robust T-cell responses in patients unable to generate adequate antibody responses to conventional (spike-only) COVID-19 vaccines. This is critical for individuals with immune systems compromised by disease (e.g. cancers, genetic defects) or immunosuppressive therapies.
• Scalability and Global Accessibility: GeoVax is further addressing vaccine availability with plans to transition manufacturing to a Next-Generation MVA manufacturing platform, with the potential for improved production efficiency and reduced costs, facilitating global distribution.

A Proven Technology with a Strong Safety Record

MVA was originally developed as a safer smallpox vaccine. MVA-based vaccines have been safely administered for decades.  MVA’s extensive track record aligns with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) emphasis on vaccine safety, durability, and transparency. The well-documented safety and efficacy of MVA-based vaccines positions them as an important complement to existing mRNA-based approaches.

Government and Industry Support for Diversified Vaccine Strategies

Under BARDA’s $5 billion Project NextGen initiative, GeoVax was awarded a contract to conduct a 10,000-participant Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating an Omicron-updated version of GEO-CM04S1 in a comparison format against an approved mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. This study aims to validate the value of multi-antigen MVA-based COVID-19 vaccines in long-term pandemic preparedness and protection against future health threats.

Positioning for the Future of Vaccine Innovation

“The success of mRNA vaccines in responding to COVID-19 has been remarkable, but the evolving nature of infectious diseases calls for a diversified, complementary approach to immunization,” said David Dodd, Chairman & CEO of GeoVax. “Our MVA-based vaccines offer enhanced protection for those who need it most, including immunocompromised patients and populations requiring longer-lasting immunity. We are committed to advancing vaccine innovation in collaboration with public and private stakeholders.”

As the industry moves towards a more integrated and diversified vaccine ecosystem, GeoVax’s MVA-based vaccines should provide a scalable, durable, and globally accessible solution that enhances the existing landscape, ensuring broader protection for all populations.

References:

1. Plotkin, S. A., Robinson, J. M., Fitchett, J. R. A., & Gershburg, E. (2024). Vaccine development should be polytheistic, not monotheistic. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 79(6), 1518–1520. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciae460
2. Parish, L. A., Rele, S., Hofmeyer, K. A., Luck, B. B., & Wolfe, D. N. (2025). Strategic and technical considerations in manufacturing viral vector vaccines for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority threats. Vaccines, 13(73). https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13010073

About GeoVax

GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel vaccines for many of the world’s most threatening infectious diseases and therapies for solid tumor cancers. The company’s lead clinical program is GEO-CM04S1, a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine for which GeoVax was recently awarded a BARDA-funded contract to sponsor a 10,000-participant Phase 2b clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of GEO-CM04S1 versus an approved COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, GEO-CM04S1 is currently in three Phase 2 clinical trials, being evaluated as (1) a primary vaccine for immunocompromised patients such as those suffering from hematologic cancers and other patient populations for whom the current authorized COVID-19 vaccines are insufficient, (2) a booster vaccine in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and (3) a more robust, durable COVID-19 booster among healthy patients who previously received the mRNA vaccines. In oncology the lead clinical program is evaluating a novel oncolytic solid tumor gene-directed therapy, Gedeptin®, having recently completed a multicenter Phase 1/2 clinical trial for advanced head and neck cancers. A Phase 2 clinical trial in first recurrent head and neck cancer, evaluating Gedeptin® combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor is planned. GeoVax has a strong IP portfolio in support of its technologies and product candidates, holding worldwide rights for its technologies and products. The Company has a leadership team who have driven significant value creation across multiple life science companies over the past several decades. For more information about the current status of our clinical trials and other updates, visit our website: www.geovax.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements regarding GeoVax’s business plans. The words “believe,” “look forward to,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Actual results may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors, including whether: GeoVax is able to obtain acceptable results from ongoing or future clinical trials of its investigational products, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines can provoke the desired responses, and those products or vaccines can be used effectively, GeoVax’s viral vector technology adequately amplifies immune responses to cancer antigens, GeoVax can develop and manufacture its immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines with the desired characteristics in a timely manner, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines will be safe for human use, GeoVax’s vaccines will effectively prevent targeted infections in humans, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines will receive regulatory approvals necessary to be licensed and marketed, GeoVax raises required capital to complete development, there is development of competitive products that may be more effective or easier to use than GeoVax’s products, GeoVax will be able to enter into favorable manufacturing and distribution agreements, and other factors, over which GeoVax has no control.

Further information on our risk factors is contained in our periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K that we have filed and will file with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. 

Company Contact:
info@geovax.com
678-384-7220                                                                                                       

Investor Relations Contact:
austin.murtagh@precisionaq.com
212-698-8696

Media Contact:
sr@roberts-communications.com
202-779-0929

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