GeoVax Responds to WHO's Third Mpox Emergency Declaration

The World Health Organization (WHO) has once again declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern, marking the third such declaration since August 2024. This latest emergency comes as the virus continues to spread, with over 128,000 confirmed cases across 130 countries since 2022. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been particularly hard hit, reporting more than 60,000 cases and 1,300 deaths in 2024 alone. As the global threat of mpox persists, GeoVax Labs, Inc. (GOVX) is taking action to bolster global preparedness with its GEO-MVA vaccine candidate.

GeoVax's GEO-MVA vaccine candidate is designed to address the critical challenges in mpox vaccine supply, including severe shortages, single-source dependency, and high costs. The company has successfully manufactured and released the first clinical drug substance batch of GEO-MVA, with fill/finish and release of clinical product expected for mid-year. This will support the planned initiation of the clinical evaluation of GEO-MVA in the second half of this year, potentially increasing the global supply of mpox vaccines.

GeoVax's advanced MVA manufacturing process offers several key advantages that complement the global mpox response. The process is directed towards establishing a higher yield, increased production capability with lower production costs, expanding manufacturing capacity at lower cost. Additionally, GEO-MVA can be manufactured domestically, reducing dependence on foreign supply chains and enhancing biosecurity. GeoVax has strategic partnerships with OXB (France) and ProBioGen (Berlin) to support production scale-up and is working closely with regulatory agencies to expedite approvals and ensure equitable vaccine distribution.

The WHO's latest emergency declaration underscores the urgent need for expanded vaccine access and preparedness. GeoVax remains committed to bolstering global preparedness through GEO-MVA and its efforts to establish an advanced MVA manufacturing process, offering a scalable, accessible, and domestically produced solution to combat this ongoing public health crisis.




In conclusion, GeoVax's GEO-MVA vaccine candidate and advanced MVA manufacturing process address the critical challenges in mpox vaccine supply, offering a potential solution to the ongoing global health emergency. As the WHO declares mpox a public health emergency of international concern for the third time, GeoVax is committed to working with global health agencies and other stakeholders to ensure the timely and effective deployment of its vaccine candidate, ultimately helping to control and stop the spread of mpox.