Peer-Reviewed Data Reinforces GeoVax's Multi-Antigen Strategy With GEO-CM02 and Supports Advancement of GEO-CM04S1 Clinical Programs
ATLANTA, GA - April 16, 2025 (NEWMEDIAWIRE) - GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing human vaccines and immunotherapies against infectious diseases and cancer, today announced the publication of a peer-reviewed article in Vaccines (MDPI) titled "Preclinical Evaluation of a Multi-Antigen SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Candidate GEO-CM02." The study provides compelling preclinical evidence of the benefits of GeoVax's multi-antigen COVID-19 vaccine approach, utilizing the well-recognized MVA (Modified Vaccinia Ankara) platform.
The findings further validate the approach taken by GeoVax with its lead clinical candidate, GEO-CM04S1, currently being evaluated in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials, especially focused on addressing the current unmet COVID-19 vaccine needs of immunocompromised populations.
Dr. Mukesh Kumar, lead author and Associate Professor at Georgia State University, stated: "We are excited to share these compelling results based upon our collaboration with GeoVax. This study highlights the potential of multi-antigen vaccines to overcome the limitations of first-generation, spike-only vaccines. GeoVax's GEO-CM02 vaccine demonstrates promising protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants, offering a strategy that may sustain vaccine effectiveness as the virus continues to evolve."
The publication supports the rationale for advancing next-generation COVID-19 vaccines capable of delivering broader, more durable immune responses. Notably, the study demonstrated that GEO-CM02 conferred superior protection in animal models against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants compared to spike-only vaccines.
David Dodd, Chairman and CEO of GeoVax, commented: "GeoVax has an active, advancing clinical program in support of demonstrating the critically important value of GEO-CM04S1, addressing the limitations of first-generation COVID-19 vaccines: (a) more robust immune protection, (b) increased durability, and (c) providing protection to those immunocompromised individuals - over 40 million adults in the U.S. and more than 400 million worldwide - who do not respond adequately to first-generation vaccines. In addition, GEO-CM02 provides encouraging demonstrative data for future multi-antigen COVID-19 vaccines, especially in providing protective immunity against future variants."
These results come at a time when public health leaders are emphasizing the importance of evolving beyond single-antigen vaccine strategies. Last week, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy acknowledged the critical value of multi-antigen vaccines as part of the next phase of pandemic preparedness and biodefense.
Dodd added: "SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, and it remains critically important that next-generation COVID-19 vaccines such as GEO-CM04S1 and GEO-CM02 continue to progress. GeoVax remains committed to advancing these programs, including our ongoing clinical studies supporting vulnerable populations who remain underserved by currently approved, single-antigen vaccine options."
GeoVax's GEO-CM04S1 is currently being evaluated in three clinical trials, including a completed trial among healthy volunteers and ongoing studies focused on patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other blood cancers. Interim data from the CLL study have demonstrated promising safety and immunogenicity, further supporting the role of this candidate in broadening protection against COVID-19.
About GeoVax
GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel vaccines against infectious diseases and therapies for solid tumor cancers. The Company's lead clinical program is GEO-CM04S1, a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine 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(R), having recently completed a multicenter Phase 1/2 clinical trial for advanced head and neck cancers. The Company is also developing GEO-MVA, a vaccine targeting Mpox and smallpox. GeoVax has a strong IP portfolio in support of its technologies and product candidates, holding worldwide rights for its technologies and products. 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.
