GeoVax Labs, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, 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 board will guide the scientific, translational, and clinical advancement of GeoVax's oncology program, primarily focused on Gedeptin®, the company's gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapeutic. The company plans a Phase 2 trial with Gedeptin in the neoadjuvant setting, pairing it with an immune checkpoint inhibitor in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, while evaluating combination strategies across additional solid tumor indications.
The advisory board members bring deep expertise critical to this development. Chas Bountra, PhD, OBE, Professor of Translational Medicine at the University of Oxford and former Vice President at GlaxoSmithKline, offers extensive leadership in translational drug discovery and academic-industry partnerships. Marc S. Ernstoff, MD, Director of Experimental Cell Therapy at Dartmouth Health and former Chief of the Immuno-Oncology Branch at the National Cancer Institute, provides pioneering experience in cancer immunotherapy and combination trials. Anthony J. Olszanski, MD, RPh, Professor of Medicine at Fox Chase Cancer Center, contributes recognized leadership in early-phase oncology drug development and clinical trial execution.
This strategic move reflects GeoVax's focus on Gedeptin as a differentiated immune-sensitizing platform, particularly in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Gedeptin's intratumoral delivery and localized tumor-debulking mechanism are designed to enhance antigen release and immune activation within the tumor microenvironment, potentially complementing systemic checkpoint blockade. The advisors will provide integrated guidance on clinical trial design, translational biomarker strategy, patient selection, and regulatory-aligned development pathways.
David A. Dodd, Chairman and CEO of GeoVax, stated that the addition of these oncology leaders strengthens the company's scientific and clinical foundation as Gedeptin advances into its next development stage. Kelly T. McKee, MD, Chief Medical Officer, emphasized that expert guidance on trial design and translational endpoints is critical as checkpoint inhibitors move earlier in treatment paradigms, including neoadjuvant settings. 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. For more information, visit https://www.geovax.com.
The formation of this advisory board is significant because it addresses a major challenge in oncology: improving response rates to immune checkpoint inhibitors, which often fail in solid tumors due to immunosuppressive microenvironments. Gedeptin's approach of locally sensitizing tumors could potentially expand the efficacy of existing immunotherapies, offering new hope for patients with limited treatment options. This development matters as it represents a strategic investment in combination therapy research, which could lead to more effective, personalized cancer treatments. The implications extend to the broader immuno-oncology field, where novel combination strategies are urgently needed to overcome resistance and improve patient outcomes across various solid tumors.
