GeoVax Advocates for MVA-Based Vaccines Following HHS mRNA Vaccine Rollback
GeoVax Labs highlights the advantages of its MVA-based multi-antigen vaccine, GEO-CM04S1, as a solution to the limitations of mRNA vaccines identified by the HHS, emphasizing broader and more durable protection against COVID-19 and other viruses.
Following the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) decision to terminate nearly $500 million in BARDA-funded mRNA vaccine development contracts, GeoVax Labs, Inc. has emphasized the potential of its MVA-based multi-antigen vaccine, GEO-CM04S1, to address the deficiencies of mRNA vaccines. The HHS's move, as explained by Secretary Kennedy, stems from concerns that mRNA vaccines may not perform well against viruses infecting the upper respiratory tract and could encourage viral mutations, potentially prolonging pandemics.
GeoVax's GEO-CM04S1 vaccine, which expresses both the Spike (S) and Nucleocapsid (N) proteins of SARS-CoV-2, has shown in clinical studies to induce immune responses across variants, including the original Wuhan strain and Omicron, even in immunocompromised patients. This multi-antigen approach is designed to offer broader and more durable protection, addressing the limitations of mRNA vaccines highlighted by the HHS.
David Dodd, Chairman and CEO of GeoVax, stated that the company's platform was specifically designed to overcome the issues of durability and antigenic shift associated with mRNA vaccines. The GEO-CM04S1 vaccine has demonstrated promising results in Phase 2 trials, including among Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) patients, where it exceeded interim endpoints after the mRNA comparator arm was halted for failing to meet immune-response benchmarks.
The MVA-based platform also offers advantages in safety for vulnerable populations, as it does not replicate in human cells and has been FDA-approved for use in immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and children. Additionally, GeoVax is advancing manufacturing processes that support scalable, decentralized U.S. vaccine production, aligning with national priorities for public health resilience.
Beyond COVID-19, GeoVax is developing MVA-based vaccines for other infectious diseases, such as Ebola, Zika, and Mpox/Smallpox, contributing to pandemic preparedness and biodefense efforts. The company urges HHS to support multi-antigen platforms like MVA as part of a diversified biomedical countermeasure strategy, highlighting the readiness of its technology to enhance U.S. biomanufacturing self-sufficiency and protect high-risk populations.
For more information on GeoVax's clinical trials and vaccine development, visit https://www.geovax.com.