GeoVax Announces Issuance of Cancer Vaccine Patent

Rhea-AI Summary

GeoVax Labs (Nasdaq: GOVX) announced the issuance of Patent No. 11278607 for its immunotherapy candidate targeting the MUC1 tumor-associated antigen. This patent supports the company's vector platform, focusing on creating virus-like particles (VLPs) for cancer treatment. David Dodd, CEO, highlighted encouraging results from initial studies with MVA-VLP-MUC1 and ongoing IND-enabling animal studies. Additionally, GeoVax is advancing Gedeptin®, a treatment for head and neck cancer, currently in Phase 1/2 trials. The company's immuno-oncology pipeline includes multiple vaccine candidates.

Positive

• Issuance of Patent No. 11278607 enhances GeoVax's intellectual property portfolio.
• Encouraging initial results with MVA-VLP-MUC1 immunotherapy candidates.
• Ongoing IND-enabling animal studies could pave the way for Phase 1 clinical trials.
• Development of Gedeptin® for head and neck cancer shows potential, with Phase 1/2 trials underway.

Negative

• None.

IND-Enabling Studies Underway for MVA-VLP-MUC1 Vaccine Candidate

Atlanta, GA, March 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a biotechnology company developing human immunotherapies and vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued Patent No. 11278607 to GeoVax, pursuant to the Company’s patent application No. 16/068,527 entitled “Compositions and Methods for Generating an Immune Response to a Tumor Associated Antigen.”

The claims granted by the patent generally cover GeoVax’s vector platform for expressing tumor associated antigens in virus-like particles (VLPs) from a Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) viral vector and encompass GeoVax’s Mucin 1 (MUC1) tumor-associated antigen immunotherapy candidate. The Company uses its GV-MVA-VLP™ vaccine platform to express abnormal, aberrantly glycosylated forms of the cell surface-associated MUC1 protein that is associated with a wide range of cancers, including breast, colon, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, and lung. 

David Dodd, GeoVax President and CEO, commented, “The initial results with our MVA-VLP-MUC1 immunotherapy candidates have been encouraging and we recently began an IND-enabling animal study with Dr. Pinku Mukherjee at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to define the optimal course and schedule of vaccination to define a protocol that can be evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial. We believe our MVA vector platform is well-suited for development of therapeutic cancer vaccines based on the expression of tumor-associated antigens such as MUC1 and Cyclin B1, among others.”

Dodd added, “In addition to our work with MUC1, we are also developing Gedeptin®, a novel patented product for the treatment of solid tumors currently in a Phase 1/2 trial evaluating its safety and efficacy in patients with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We are excited by the potential for GeoVax’s growing immuno-oncology pipeline.”

About GeoVax

GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing human vaccines and immunotherapies against infectious diseases and cancer using novel proprietary platforms. GeoVax’s product pipeline includes two ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials of GEO-CM04S1 (formerly COH04S1) for COVID-19 as a universal booster vaccine to mRNA vaccines authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and as a primary vaccine for use in immunocompromised patients. In addition to GEO-CM04S1 for COVID-19, GeoVax is developing GEO-CM02 as a pan-coronavirus vaccine. The Company is also conducting a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of Gedeptin® for treatment of head and neck cancer. Gedeptin® has been granted orphan drug status by the FDA. Additional research and development programs include preventive vaccines against Zika Virus, hemorrhagic fever viruses (Ebola, Sudan, Marburg, and Lassa) and malaria, as well as immunotherapies for multiple solid tumors. The Company’s portfolio of wholly owned, co-owned, and in-licensed intellectual property stands at over 70 granted or pending patent applications spread over 20 patent families.

For additional information about GeoVax, visit our website: www.geovax.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements regarding GeoVax’s business plans. The words “believe,” “look forward to,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Actual results may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors, including whether: GeoVax is able to obtain acceptable results from ongoing or future clinical trials of its investigational products, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines can provoke the desired responses, and those products or vaccines can be used effectively, GeoVax’s viral vector technology adequately amplifies immune responses to cancer antigens, GeoVax can develop and manufacture its immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines with the desired characteristics in a timely manner, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines will be safe for human use, GeoVax’s vaccines will effectively prevent targeted infections in humans, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines will receive regulatory approvals necessary to be licensed and marketed, GeoVax raises required capital to complete development, there is development of competitive products that may be more effective or easier to use than GeoVax’s products, GeoVax will be able to enter into favorable manufacturing and distribution agreements, and other factors, over which GeoVax has no control. 

Further information on our risk factors is contained in our registration statement on Form S-3 and the periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K that we have filed and will file with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. 

GeoVax Labs, Inc.
678-384-7220
investor@geovax.com

FAQ

What is the significance of Patent No. 11278607 for GeoVax (GOVX)?

The patent covers GeoVax's vector platform for cancer immunotherapy, enhancing its intellectual property and potentially increasing market value.

What are the current studies involving the MVA-VLP-MUC1 vaccine candidate?

GeoVax is conducting IND-enabling animal studies to optimize the vaccination protocol for future Phase 1 trials.

What is the status of Gedeptin® in the clinical trials?

Gedeptin® is currently in a Phase 1/2 trial for treating head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

What types of cancers does the MUC1 immunotherapy target?

The MUC1 immunotherapy targets a range of cancers, including breast, colon, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, and lung cancers.

How is GeoVax positioning itself in the immuno-oncology market?

GeoVax is developing a robust pipeline of immunotherapies and vaccines, leveraging its innovative platform to address multiple cancers.