GeoVax Gains Expanded Vaccine Development Rights for Mpox and Smallpox

GeoVax Labs, Inc. today announced that it has amended a previously executed Patent and Biological Materials License Agreement with the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in support of GeoVax's development of a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 betacoronavirus that causes COVID-19.

The NIAID amendment expands GeoVax's commercial license to include the mpox and smallpox orthopoxviruses as additional indications.

The License Agreement, as amended, enables the creation of preventive Modified Vaccinia Ankara Virus-Virus Like Particle (MVA-VLP) vaccines that prime and/or boost the immune system against COVID-19, as well as mpox and/or smallpox.

David Dodd, GeoVax President and CEO, commented in a press release on December 19, 2023, "...The addition of the Mpox and smallpox indications to our NIAID License Agreement complements GeoVax's license agreement with City of Hope National Medical Center for GEO-CM04S1."

Mr. Dodd continued, "We anticipate that adding the Mpox/Smallpox indication to an MVA-vectored COVID-19 vaccine is a viable regulatory pathway and may be an important product differentiator from other competitors."

"For those regions/populations where Mpox and/or smallpox may be of a concern, we believe our COVID-19 vaccine will be a better choice."

Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) is the vaccine currently used and stockpiled in the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile for immunization against the Mpox (JYNNEOS) and smallpox (ACAM2000) viruses. 

GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company. The unedited press release is available at this link.