GeoVax Marburg Vaccine Data Presented at the 23rd Annual World Vaccine Congress
April 05 2023 - 1:30PM
via NewMediaWire – GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a
biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines
against cancers and infectious diseases, today announced the
presentation of encouraging data from recent nonhuman primate
studies of GeoVax’s vaccine candidate (GEO-MM01) against Marburg
virus, during the 23rd Annual World Vaccine Congress taking place
in Washington, DC.
The data were presented by Dr. Jason Comer, Associate Professor,
Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical
Branch (UTMB), in a presentation titled “Preclinical Capabilities
at the University of Texas Medical Branch: Evaluating Candidate
Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics against Sudan Ebola Virus,” during
the session on Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases. Dr.
Comer’s presentation focused on UTMB’s services for regulated,
nonclinical studies, and included data from recent studies
conducted on behalf of GeoVax. Following encouraging results
showing complete protection from Marburg virus challenge in guinea
pigs, GeoVax’s vaccine efficacy studies targeting Marburg virus and
Sudan Ebola virus disease were contracted to UTMB through the
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID)
Preclinical Services.
Of particular interest, immunization with GeoVax’s
vaccine candidate (GEO-MM01) conferred 80% survival in cynomolgus
macaques following a lethal dose of Marburg virus. Vaccination
protected nonhuman primates from viremia, weight loss and death
following challenge with a lethal Marburg virus dose. Evaluation of
immune responses following vaccination demonstrated the presence of
both neutralizing antibodies and functional T cells, indicating a
breadth of responses that combine for optimal protection.
Mark Newman, Ph.D., GeoVax Chief Scientific
Officer, commented, “We are highly encouraged by the results of
these studies of GEO-MM01. This vaccine candidate deserves further
evaluation, and we are currently developing our plans to advance
GEO-MM01 into good manufacturing practices and Phase 1 clinical
trials.”
David Dodd, GeoVax Chairman and CEO added, “GeoVax
is committed to providing vaccines that address many of the most
threatening infectious threats, such as Marburg, worldwide.
Utilization of our MVA-based vaccine candidates also provide the
added potential to provide protection against such additional
infectious threats such as MPox (“Monkeypox”), which is critically
important in many regions throughout the world.”
The work conducted by UTMB built upon earlier
studies demonstrating that guinea pigs vaccinated with GEO-MM01
were 100% protected against death and disease caused by the Angola
strain of Marburg virus. The vaccine induced immune responses were
characterized by Marburg virus-specific binding and neutralizing
antibodies as well as other effector functions like
antibody-dependent phagocytosis. The Angola strain is the most
virulent strain of Marburg Virus characterized by up to a 90%
fatality rate in humans and a successful vaccination approach is of
paramount public health importance.
About Marburg Virus
Marburg virus (MARV) is a hemorrhagic fever virus
of the Filoviridae family, which also includes Ebola
virus, and causes severe human disease with up to a 90% fatality
rate. The Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats,
and human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with
bodily fluids, or contaminated surfaces and materials. MARV is
rated by the World Health Organization as a Risk Group 4 Pathogen.
In the United States, the NIH/National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases ranks it as a Category A Priority Pathogen and
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists it as a
Category A Bioterrorism Agent. MARV typically appears in sporadic
outbreaks throughout Africa. Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania
recently reported their first-ever Marburg virus disease outbreaks
in February 2023 and March 2023 respectively. In total, 37 cases
have been recorded of which 32 were fatal. The outbreak risk
remains high, with potential spread to Cameroon and Gabon as
cross-border movements are frequent. The virus continues to pose
potential public health and biodefense threats. There are currently
no licensed vaccines or therapeutics against the diseases caused by
MARV.
About GeoVax
GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a clinical-stage
biotechnology company developing novel therapies and vaccines for
solid tumor cancers and many of the world’s most threatening
infectious diseases. The company’s lead program in oncology is a
novel oncolytic solid tumor gene-directed therapy, Gedeptin®,
presently in a multicenter Phase 1/2 clinical trial for advanced
head and neck cancers. GeoVax’s lead infectious disease candidate
is GEO-CM04S1, a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine targeting
high-risk immunocompromised patient populations. Currently in two
Phase 2 clinical trials, GEO-CM04S1 is being evaluated as a
COVID-19 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.
In addition, GEO-CM04S1 is in a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating
the vaccine as a more robust, durable COVID-19 booster among
healthy patients who previously received the mRNA vaccines. GeoVax
has a leadership team who have driven significant value creation
across multiple life science companies over the past several
decades. For more information, visit our website:
www.geovax.com.
Investor Relations Contact:Rich CockrellCG
Capital404-736-3838govx@cg.capital
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