GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX) has issued a statement endorsing the urgent call to action articulated by Dr. Rosamund Lewis and colleagues in a recently published PLOS Medicine article, which warns that the mpox epidemic is not over and requires a sustained global response. The article, available at PLOS Medicine, highlights that mpox transmission, morbidity, and mortality continue, particularly in Africa, driven by evolving viral clades, constrained vaccine supply, and persistent inequities in access to countermeasures.
David Dodd, Chairman and CEO of GeoVax, emphasized that complacency would be a costly mistake, noting that mpox continues to circulate and evolve, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations. A durable response requires sustained investment, diversified vaccine supply, and readiness that extends beyond reactive surge manufacturing.
GeoVax's GEO-MVA, a Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-based vaccine for mpox and smallpox, is being developed to address the structural vulnerabilities highlighted in the PLOS Medicine analysis, specifically the world's continued dependence on a single manufacturer for licensed MVA vaccine supply. Key milestones include completion of clinical material for late-stage execution, planned initiation of a pivotal Phase 3 immunobridging study in Q4 2026 aligned with European Medicines Agency Scientific Advice, and anticipated availability of results in Q2 2027 to support regulatory submissions.
Dodd stated that GEO-MVA is transitioning from preparedness planning to execution, designed to meet regulatory requirements and support long-term global readiness by expanding MVA vaccine capacity in a chronically supply-constrained market. The PLOS Medicine authors emphasize that mpox will continue to pose a global risk due to zoonotic spillover, viral evolution, and efficient transmission networks, reinforcing the need for redundant, geographically diversified MVA manufacturing capacity.
GeoVax is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious diseases and cancer, with lead programs including a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine and a novel oncolytic solid tumor therapy. For more information, visit GeoVax's website.
