ATLANTA - GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines, today announced the formation of its Oncology Advisory Board with the appointment of three internationally recognized leaders in immuno-oncology, translational medicine, and clinical development. This Advisory Board will play a central role in guiding the scientific, translational, and clinical advancement of GeoVax's oncology program, focused primarily on Gedeptin®, the company's gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapeutic (GDEPT).
GeoVax plans to conduct a Phase 2 trial with Gedeptin in the neoadjuvant setting, pairing it with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In parallel, it will evaluate combination Gedeptin + ICI strategies across additional solid tumor indications. The Advisory Board members include Chas Bountra, PhD, OBE, Professor of Translational Medicine at the University of Oxford; Marc S. Ernstoff, MD, Director of Experimental Cell Therapy at Dartmouth Health; and Anthony J. Olszanski, MD, RPh, Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair for Clinical Research at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Dr. Bountra brings extensive leadership spanning academia, biotech, and global pharmaceutical R&D. He is widely recognized for building translational drug discovery engines and advancing novel therapeutic modalities into the clinic. His expertise in translational medicine and drug development strategy will support Gedeptin's progression from proof-of-concept to clinically scalable development programs aligned with regulatory and partnership pathways. Dr. Ernstoff is a recognized pioneer in cancer immunotherapy with significant experience across cytokine therapy, checkpoint inhibitors, and combination immuno-oncology trials. His career includes leadership roles at the National Cancer Institute and direct involvement in numerous landmark immunotherapy studies. His expertise will inform Gedeptin's clinical positioning, trial design considerations, and biomarker-driven evaluation alongside immune checkpoint inhibitors. Dr. Olszanski is a nationally recognized leader in early-phase oncology drug development, with deep experience running first-in-human and Phase 1/2 trials across solid tumors, including multiple checkpoint inhibitor combinations and oncolytic approaches. His background in clinical pharmacology and trial execution will be instrumental as GeoVax advances Gedeptin into combination, neoadjuvant, and expansion-stage clinical settings.
The formation of this Advisory Board underscores GeoVax's increasing focus on Gedeptin as a differentiated immune-sensitizing platform, particularly in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Gedeptin's intratumoral delivery and localized tumor-debulking mechanism are designed to enhance antigen release and immune activation within the tumor microenvironment, an approach that may complement and extend the efficacy of systemic checkpoint blockade. In addition to scientific strategy, these advisors will provide integrated guidance on clinical trial design, translational biomarker strategy, patient selection, and regulatory-aligned development pathways as Gedeptin advances through combination and neoadjuvant clinical programs.
David A. Dodd, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of GeoVax, commented: "The addition of these three exceptional oncology leaders significantly strengthens our scientific and clinical foundation as we advance Gedeptin into its next stage of development. Their collective experience - from early drug discovery through late-stage immuno-oncology trials and regulatory strategy - directly aligns with our goal of positioning Gedeptin as a novel immune-sensitizing therapy across solid tumors." Kelly T. McKee, MD, Chief Medical Officer of GeoVax, added: "Gedeptin sits at the intersection of localized tumor control and systemic immune activation. As checkpoint inhibitors move earlier in treatment paradigms, including neoadjuvant settings, expert guidance on trial design, patient selection, and translational endpoints is critical as we move into clinically consequential combination strategies."
For more information about GeoVax and its programs, visit www.geovax.com.
