GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX) issued a statement endorsing an urgent call to action from Rosamund Lewis, MD, and colleagues, published in PLOS Medicine, which warns that the mpox epidemic is far from over. The article, titled “The mpox epidemic is not over: Reducing disproportionate burden in Africa and persistent global risk require a sustained response,” notes that mpox transmission, morbidity, and mortality persist, especially in Africa, due to evolving viral clades, constrained vaccine supply, and inequities in access to countermeasures. Dr. Lewis emphasized the need for sustained political will, financing, and expanded vaccine availability.
David Dodd, GeoVax’s Chairman and CEO, stated, “GeoVax strongly endorses Dr. Lewis’s message that the mpox epidemic is not over and that complacency would be a costly mistake. The data are clear: mpox continues to circulate, evolve, and disproportionately impact 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, aims to address the structural vulnerabilities highlighted in the analysis, particularly the world’s reliance on a single manufacturer for licensed MVA vaccine supply. Key milestones include completion of clinical material, planned initiation of a pivotal Phase 3 immunobridging study in Q4 2026, and anticipated results in Q2 2027. The program aligns with formal Scientific Advice from the European Medicines Agency supporting an expedited registration pathway.
The PLOS Medicine authors stress that mpox will remain a global risk due to zoonotic spillover, viral evolution, and transmission networks in under-resourced settings. GeoVax believes this reinforces the need for diversified MVA manufacturing capacity, a principle underpinning GEO-MVA. “As the mpox response evolves from emergency reaction to long-term control, vaccine supply resilience becomes a cornerstone of preparedness,” said Dodd. “GeoVax is committed to supporting that objective by advancing GEO-MVA as an additional MVA vaccine option for public-health and biodefense stakeholders worldwide.”
For more on the PLOS Medicine article, visit the full publication. GeoVax is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer, with additional programs including GEO-CM04S1, a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine, and Gedeptin for head and neck cancers. Further information is available at GeoVax’s website.
