GeoVax Labs, Inc. has endorsed an urgent call to action from World Health Organization experts warning that the mpox epidemic remains a persistent global health threat despite declining attention in some regions. The company's statement aligns with concerns raised in a recent PLOS Medicine article that emphasizes ongoing transmission, morbidity, and mortality, particularly across Africa, driven by evolving viral clades, constrained vaccine supply, and persistent inequities in access to countermeasures. GeoVax Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Dodd stated that the company strongly endorses the message that the mpox epidemic is not over and that complacency would be a costly mistake, noting that data show mpox continues to circulate, evolve, and disproportionately impact vulnerable populations.
The company highlighted that a durable response requires sustained investment, diversified vaccine supply, and readiness that extends beyond reactive surge manufacturing. GeoVax pointed to its GEO-MVA program, a Modified Vaccinia Ankara-based vaccine for the prevention of mpox and smallpox, as a potential solution to address structural vulnerabilities in global vaccine supply. According to the company, the world currently depends on a single manufacturer for licensed MVA vaccine supply, creating significant risk for global health security. Key milestones for the GEO-MVA program include completion of clinical material production, positioning the program for late-stage clinical execution and supply readiness.
GeoVax plans to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 immunobridging study in the fourth quarter of 2026, following formal Scientific Advice from the European Medicines Agency supporting an expedited registration pathway. Immunobridging results are anticipated in the second quarter of 2027, which could support potential regulatory submissions and procurement discussions. Dodd added that with a clearly defined regulatory pathway ahead, GEO-MVA is transitioning from preparedness planning to execution, designed not only to meet regulatory requirements but to support long-term global readiness by expanding MVA vaccine capacity in a market that remains chronically supply-constrained.
The PLOS Medicine authors emphasize that mpox will continue to pose global risks due to ongoing zoonotic spillover, viral evolution, and efficient transmission networks, particularly in under-resourced health systems. GeoVax believes these realities reinforce the need for redundant, geographically diversified MVA manufacturing capacity, a principle that underpins the GEO-MVA program. Dodd stated that as the mpox response evolves from emergency reaction to long-term control, vaccine supply resilience becomes a cornerstone of preparedness, with GeoVax committed to supporting that objective by advancing GEO-MVA as an additional MVA vaccine option for public-health and biodefense stakeholders worldwide. The company's endorsement of sustained global response efforts comes as evidence confirms that disproportionate burden in Africa and persistent global risk require ongoing attention and resource allocation.
