GeoVax Backs WHO Call: Mpox Epidemic Persists, Urges Vaccine Supply Diversification

GeoVax Labs, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has issued a strong endorsement of the urgent call to action articulated by Dr. Rosamund Lewis, the WHO Head of the Poxviruses Programme, and her colleagues in a recent PLOS Medicine article. The article, titled "The mpox epidemic is not over: Reducing disproportionate burden in Africa and persistent global risk require a sustained response," highlights that despite declining attention in some regions, mpox transmission, morbidity, and mortality continue, particularly across Africa. This ongoing crisis is driven by evolving viral clades, constrained vaccine supply, and persistent inequities in access to countermeasures. Dr. Lewis reinforced these concerns in a recent public call to action, emphasizing that sustained political will, financing, and expanded vaccine availability remain essential to controlling mpox as a global health threat.

In response, GeoVax's Chairman and CEO, David Dodd, stated that the company strongly endorses Dr. Lewis's message, warning that complacency would be a costly mistake. The data clearly show that 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. To address these structural vulnerabilities, GeoVax is advancing its GEO-MVA program, a Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-based vaccine for the prevention of mpox and smallpox. This initiative is specifically designed to help mitigate the world's continued dependence on a single manufacturer for licensed MVA vaccine supply, a critical weakness highlighted in the PLOS Medicine analysis.

Key milestones for the GEO-MVA program include the completion of clinical material, positioning it for late-stage clinical execution and supply readiness. The company plans to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 immunobridging study in Q4 2026, aligned with formal Scientific Advice from the European Medicines Agency supporting an expedited registration pathway. Immunobridging results are anticipated in Q2 2027, which could support potential regulatory submissions and procurement discussions. Dodd emphasized that with a clearly defined regulatory pathway ahead, GEO-MVA is transitioning from preparedness planning to execution. This program aims not only to meet regulatory requirements but also to support long-term global readiness by expanding MVA vaccine capacity in a market that remains chronically supply-constrained. For more information about the company's progress, visit their website at www.geovax.com.