GeoVax Awarded $1.9 Million Grant by US Government for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Program
Financial Support for Development of Clade C Vaccine
ATLANTA, GA -- 10/01/12 -- GeoVax Labs, Inc. (OTCQB: GOVX), an Atlanta-based biopharmaceutical firm developing vaccines to prevent and fight Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections, announced receipt of a $1.9 million award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a division of the National Institutes of Health, supporting the development of a clade C version of the Company's current clade B vaccine products. The Company's clade B vaccines address the HIV virus predominant in the developed world and are currently undergoing human clinical trials. The clade C vaccines would address the version of the virus predominant in the developing world. These developing world populations represent two-thirds of the global population at risk for contracting AIDS or already infected with HIV.
David Dodd, GeoVax's Board Chairman, said, "We continue to be grateful to the National Institutes of Health -- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for their continued support of our vaccine program. As HIV is a global disease, attention to the development of a clade C vaccine has always been a Company goal. GeoVax is committed to addressing the needs of all people who are potentially at risk of HIV, and this grant will enable us to proceed toward successful development of a life-saving vaccine addressing HIV in the developing regions of the world."
"We are very pleased to have this government funding commitment to begin the extension of our vaccine technology to cover clade C infection," said Robert McNally, Ph.D., President & CEO of GeoVax. "Our clade B vaccines have shown excellent safety and reproducible immunogenicity during testing in Phase 1 and Phase 2a trials in North and South America. While the clade B vaccines are progressing through human clinical trials, it is now time to turn our attention to development of clade C vaccines."
About GeoVax GeoVax is a biotechnology company developing human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV. Our goals include developing HIV/AIDS vaccines for global markets, overseeing the manufacture and testing of these vaccines under GMP/GLP conditions (FDA guidelines), conducting clinical trials for vaccine safety and effectiveness, and obtaining regulatory approvals to move the product forward. GeoVax's vaccines are unique in expressing virus like particles that display the trimeric membrane bound form of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein. All preventative Phase 1 human clinical trials conducted to date tested various combinations and doses of our DNA and MVA vaccines, their ability to raise anti-HIV humoral (antibody) and cellular (cytotoxic T cell) immune responses, as well as, the vaccines' safety. Successful results from Phase 1 testing supported testing in a Phase 2a trial that was completed in the 3rd quarter of 2012. The 2nd generation of its preventive vaccine is in phase 1 testing and planned to progress to phase2b testing, given that safety and immunogenicity are as expected. Overall, the GeoVax vaccine, in various doses and combinations, has been tested in close to 500 human subjects. GeoVax is also enrolling patients in a Phase 1 therapeutic trial for individuals already infected with HIV. For more information, please visit www.geovax.com.
Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this document are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors, including whether: GeoVax can develop and manufacture its vaccines with the desired characteristics in a timely manner, GeoVax's vaccines will be safe for human use, GeoVax's vaccines will effectively prevent AIDS in humans, vaccines will receive regulatory approvals necessary to be licensed and marketed, GeoVax raises required capital to complete vaccine 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. GeoVax assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and does not intend to do so. More information about these factors is contained in GeoVax's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including those set forth at "Risk Factors" in GeoVax's Form 10-K.
Contact: DGI Dillon Heins, Investor Relations Susan Forman or Laura Radocaj, Public Relations (212) 825-3210
Source: GeoVax Labs, Inc.