GeoVax Labs, Inc. has issued a statement endorsing the urgent call to action articulated by Rosamund Lewis, MD, WHO Head of the Poxviruses Programme, and colleagues in their recently published PLOS Medicine article. The article, available at https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004893&type=printable, underscores that despite declining attention in some regions, mpox transmission, morbidity, and mortality continue, particularly across Africa.
The persistence is driven by evolving viral clades, constrained vaccine supply, and persistent inequities in access to countermeasures. Dr. Lewis reinforced these concerns in a recent public call to action, emphasizing that sustained political will, financing, and expanded vaccine availability remain essential to controlling mpox as a global health threat. David Dodd, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GeoVax, stated that the company strongly endorses Dr. Lewis's message that the mpox epidemic is not over and that complacency would be a costly mistake.
The data indicate mpox continues to circulate, evolve, and disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. A durable response requires sustained investment, diversified vaccine supply, and readiness that extends beyond reactive surge manufacturing. GeoVax's GEO-MVA, a Modified Vaccinia Ankara-based vaccine for the prevention of mpox and smallpox, is being developed specifically to help address the structural vulnerabilities highlighted in the PLOS Medicine analysis.
Most notably, the analysis points to the world's continued dependence on a single manufacturer for licensed MVA vaccine supply. Key GEO-MVA program milestones include completion of clinical material, positioning the program for late-stage clinical execution and supply readiness. The company plans to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 immunobridging study in Q4 2026, aligned with formal Scientific Advice from the European Medicines Agency supporting an expedited registration pathway.
Immunobridging results are anticipated in Q2 2027, supporting 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. This program is 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 a global risk due to ongoing zoonotic spillover, viral evolution, and efficient transmission networks, particularly in settings where health systems are under-resourced. GeoVax believes these realities reinforce the need for redundant, geographically diversified MVA manufacturing capacity, a principle that underpins the GEO-MVA program.
As the mpox response evolves from emergency reaction to long-term control, vaccine supply resilience becomes a cornerstone of preparedness. Dodd stated that GeoVax is 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 development efforts represent a critical step toward addressing global health inequities and strengthening pandemic response systems against ongoing infectious disease threats.
