GeoVax's Phase 2a HIV/AIDS Vaccine Human Trials to Begin in North and South America
'World Aids Day' Commemorated by GeoVax with Hope and Promise
ATLANTA, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GeoVax Labs, Inc. (OTC:GOVX) (BULLETIN BOARD: GOVX) , an Atlanta-based biotechnology company developing human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and other infectious agents, announced today that the launch of its Phase 2a Human Vaccine Trials will take place in twelve sites across North and South America. These trials are conducted in collaboration with The National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN).
"It is of significant importance to report this major development on this very day in which the world commemorates WORLD AIDS DAY. Despite setbacks reported recently with other vaccine trials, our vaccine is progressing and paving the way for a solution that would potentially make this commemorative day more joyful," commented Dr. Robert McNally, GeoVax's President and CEO.
Dr. Harriet Robinson, Vice President of Research and Development of GeoVax Labs, Inc., stated, "We feel privileged to be in the position to launch our Phase 2a human trial. Going forward, each clinical site's review board will start the vaccination process, when deemed appropriate and ready. Accordingly, HVTN's pharmacy will release the vaccines to each designated institution as directed by each site's local review board."
Trial site arrangements and other details of the study were confirmed in a recent meeting held in Seattle, Washington, between the HVTN and GeoVax's scientific personnel. The Phase 2a human clinical trial will involve 150 vaccinees and 75 placebo (control) participants. The vaccine regimen employs a two-component "prime-boost strategy." Trial participants will first be administered a GeoVax HIV-1 DNA vaccine which "primes" the immune system followed by the second vaccine, GeoVax's HIV-1 MVA (Modified Vaccinia Virus) boost. Both vaccines express the three major proteins of the AIDS virus. These proteins mimic more than 50% of the components of the AIDS virus (HIV-1) but cannot cause AIDS. GeoVax AIDS vaccines are designed to prevent HIV-1 virus infection which causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease (AIDS).
The Seattle meeting also achieved further progress with GeoVax's therapeutic trial. Information on this and other developments will be reported in a timely fashion in the near future.
About GeoVax Labs, Inc.
GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a biotechnology company, established to develop, manufacture, license and commercialize human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and other infectious agents. GeoVax's AIDS vaccine technology is the subject of 20 issued or filed patent applications. GeoVax AIDS vaccines are designed for use in uninfected people to prevent Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease (AIDS), caused by the virus known as HIV-1, should the person ever become infected. GeoVax AIDS vaccines also may be effective as therapeutics (treatment of people already infected with the HIV-1 virus). Studies evaluating these vaccines in HIV/AIDS infected individuals are in the planning stage.
GeoVax's core AIDS vaccine technologies were developed through a collaboration of colleagues at Emory University's Vaccine Center, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the GeoVax team.
GeoVax AIDS vaccines have moved forward in human clinical trials conducted by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) based in Seattle, Washington. The HVTN, funded through a cooperative agreement with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the largest worldwide clinical trials program dedicated to the development and testing of AIDS vaccines. Preclinical work enabling evaluation of GeoVax DNA and MVA vaccines was funded and supported by NIAID, which provided additional support to GeoVax AIDS vaccine development program with a $15 million IPCAVD grant awarded in late 2007. geovax.com
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