MSM Applauds Atlanta Based GeoVax’s Efforts to Address Health Disparities
GeoVax receives federal grant award in support of next-generation COVID-19 vaccine.
ATLANTA, GA – JUNE 18, 2024 – GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), an Atlanta-based biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, today announced that it received an award through the Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle (RRPV) to advance development of GEO-CM04S1, GeoVax’s dual-antigen next-generation COVID-19 vaccine, in a Phase 2b clinical trial. The RRPV is a Consortium funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Under the agreement, GeoVax will sponsor a 10,000-participant, randomized, Phase 2b double-blinded study to compare the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of GEO-CM04S1 with a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Preparations for the study are underway, and execution of the study will be fully funded by BARDA under its Clinical Studies Network.
The direct award to GeoVax of approximately $24.3 million, which may increase to as much as $45 million, will fund the manufacturing of clinical materials and support for the Phase 2b clinical trial, including regulatory activities. BARDA has made separate awards through its Clinical Studies Network to support execution of the study. That funding will represent approximately $343M from the Project NextGen program for a contract research organization (CRO) to execute the clinical trial using GeoVax’s vaccine.
"Receiving this federal grant is a monumental achievement for GeoVax and a significant step forward in our collective fight against infectious diseases, particularly for those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,” said Morehouse School of Medicine President and CEO Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG. “As a special advisor to GeoVax's Chairman and Board of Directors, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication and innovation driving their work. GEO-CM04S1 has the potential to revolutionize vaccine accessibility and effectiveness, particularly for medically underserved communities and immunocompromised individuals. This investment not only highlights Georgia's leadership in medical research but also reaffirms our commitment to health equity and inclusivity. I am proud to support GeoVax in their mission to protect and empower communities most vulnerable to infectious diseases.”
Dr. Montgomery Rice continued, "As a champion for healthcare equity and minority communities, I am thrilled to see GeoVax's progress in developing a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine. This breakthrough has the potential to positively impact underserved populations, including millions of immunocompromised individuals, and represents a significant stride towards addressing healthcare disparities exacerbated by the pandemic.”
Funding for this award is provided under Project NextGen, a $5 billion initiative by HHS to advance a pipeline of new, innovative vaccines and therapeutics providing broader and more durable protection for COVID-19 than the first generation COVID vaccines and medicines. BARDA is supporting the development of new vaccines and therapeutics to better address the waning immunity and resistance to current and future SARS-CoV2 viral strains. GeoVax’s vaccine candidate provides many of the features identified by BARDA including broader protection among variants of concern (VOC) and a longer duration of protection.
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About Morehouse School of Medicine
Founded in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is among the nation’s leading educators of primary care physicians, biomedical scientists, and public health professionals. An independent and private historically-Black medical school, MSM was recognized by the Annals of Internal Medicine as the nation’s number one medical school in fulfilling a social mission — the creation and advancement of health equity. MSM faculty and alumni are noted for excellence in teaching, research, and public policy, as well as exceptional patient care. MSM is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award doctoral and master’s degrees. To learn more about programs and donate today, please visit MSM.edu or call 404-752-1500.
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Jamille Bradfield
Director, External Communications, Media Relations & Crisis Communications
Morehouse School of Medicine
jbradfield@msm.edu