GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines for cancers and infectious diseases, today announced the formation of its Oncology Advisory Board with the appointment of three internationally recognized leaders in immuno-oncology, translational medicine, and clinical development. This Advisory Board will play a central role in guiding the scientific, translational, and clinical advancement of GeoVax’s oncology program, focused primarily on Gedeptin®, the company’s gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapeutic (GDEPT).
GeoVax plans to conduct a Phase 2 trial with Gedeptin in the neoadjuvant setting, pairing it with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In parallel, it will be evaluating combination Gedeptin + ICI strategies across additional solid tumor indications. The newly formed Advisory Board includes Professor Chas Bountra, OBE, from the University of Oxford; Dr. Marc S. Ernstoff from Dartmouth Health; and Dr. Anthony J. Olszanski from Fox Chase Cancer Center. Their expertise spans translational medicine, cancer immunotherapy, and early-phase oncology drug development.
Gedeptin is a gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy delivered intratumorally using a non-replicating viral vector encoding purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP). Following systemic administration of a prodrug, the encoded enzyme converts it into a cytotoxic agent directly within the tumor microenvironment, selectively destroying tumor cells while promoting immune recognition. Gedeptin has completed a multicenter Phase 1/2 clinical trial in advanced head and neck cancer and has received Orphan Drug Designation for oral and pharyngeal cancers.
David A. Dodd, Chairman & CEO of GeoVax, commented: “The addition of these three exceptional oncology leaders significantly strengthens our scientific and clinical foundation as we advance Gedeptin into its next stage of development. Their collective experience - from early drug discovery through late-stage immuno-oncology trials and regulatory strategy - directly aligns with our goal of positioning Gedeptin as a novel immune-sensitizing therapy across solid tumors.” Kelly T. McKee, MD, Chief Medical Officer of GeoVax, added: “Gedeptin sits at the intersection of localized tumor control and systemic immune activation. As checkpoint inhibitors move earlier in treatment paradigms, including neoadjuvant settings, expert guidance on trial design, patient selection, and translational endpoints is critical.”
Beyond oncology, GeoVax is advancing GEO-MVA, a Modified Vaccinia Ankara-based vaccine targeting mpox and smallpox, with plans to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial in the second half of 2026. The company also continues development of GEO-CM04S1, a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate. GeoVax maintains a global intellectual property portfolio supporting its infectious disease and oncology programs. For more information, visit www.geovax.com.
