GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX) announced the development of a vaccine construct targeting Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), the cause of the ongoing Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The construct was generated using GeoVax's proprietary MVA-based rapid-cloning technology, designed to enable rapid insertion or replacement of vaccine antigens in response to emerging infectious disease threats. The construct represents a milestone step toward a potential BDBV vaccine candidate, though full characterization and animal evaluation are necessary prior to clinical evaluation.
The BDBV work builds upon GeoVax's existing MVA-based developmental-stage filovirus vaccine portfolio targeting Zaire Ebola virus, Sudan Ebola virus, and Marburg virus. These earlier programs have generated encouraging efficacy results in established preclinical models, including nonhuman primate challenge studies, with results presented publicly and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. This body of work provides a scientific and technical foundation for applying GeoVax's MVA platform to BDBV.
"While GEO-MVA remains our primary development focus, the ongoing, expanding BDBV outbreak represents an opportunity to apply capabilities developed through years of MVA and filovirus research," said David Dodd, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GeoVax. "The successful generation of this BDBV-specific MVA construct demonstrates the responsiveness of our platform and builds on our published preclinical experience across Zaire Ebola, Sudan Ebola, and Marburg, including encouraging results in nonhuman primate challenge studies. As global organizations advance multiple BDBV vaccine approaches, we believe this combination of filovirus experience, rapid construct generation, and next-generation MVA technologies warrants further evaluation."
Bundibugyo virus disease is a severe filovirus infection for which there is currently no licensed BDBV-specific vaccine. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for accelerated development and evaluation of BDBV-specific vaccines and other countermeasures and has established a target product profile to guide vaccine development.
The urgency surrounding BDBV has also prompted increased global investment in vaccine development. In August 2026, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) announced funding of up to $16.5 million to advance another MVA-based BDBV vaccine candidate through preclinical development and toward an early-stage clinical trial in Africa. The program is part of a broader CEPI strategy to advance multiple BDBV vaccine approaches.
GeoVax believes its BDBV construct and extensive body of MVA-based filovirus experience may warrant consideration within this expanding global development effort. In addition to its rapid-cloning technology, GeoVax is advancing MVA technologies directed toward single-dose vaccination, continuous cell-line manufacturing, and alternative delivery approaches. The Company also recognizes the importance of regional manufacturing and is committed to evaluating manufacturing partnerships, including in Africa, as part of future MVA-based vaccine development programs.
"Our BDBV work provides another tangible example of how an adaptable vaccine platform and established scientific expertise can potentially contribute to outbreak preparedness," Dodd concluded. "We look forward to exploring opportunities with global health, government, and scientific partners to further evaluate the BDBV construct and our broader filovirus capabilities."
GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of vaccines and immunotherapies addressing high-consequence infectious diseases and solid tumor cancers. GeoVax's priority program is GEO-MVA, a Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)–based vaccine targeting mpox and smallpox. The program is advancing under an expedited regulatory pathway, with plans to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial in the second half of 2026, to address critical global needs for expanded orthopoxvirus vaccine supply and biodefense preparedness. In oncology, GeoVax is developing Gedeptin®, a gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) designed to enhance immune checkpoint inhibitor activity. Gedeptin has completed a multicenter Phase 1/2 clinical trial in advanced head and neck cancer and is being advanced into combination strategies, including planned neoadjuvant and first-line settings. GeoVax maintains a global intellectual property portfolio supporting its infectious disease and oncology programs and continues to evaluate strategic partnerships and funding opportunities aligned with its development priorities. For more information, visit www.geovax.com.
