GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious diseases and cancer, announced that Senthil Ranganathan, PhD, Vice President, Technical Development and CMC Operations, will present at World Vaccine Congress Europe 2026. The conference will be held October 19–22, 2026, at RAI Amsterdam in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Dr. Ranganathan's presentation, titled "Revolutionizing MVA – Single Dose and Continuous Cell-Line Manufacturing," will highlight GeoVax's progress in advancing next-generation Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) technologies. The presentation is scheduled for Monday, October 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the Platform Technologies workshop/track.
MVA has a decades-long history as a well-characterized vaccine platform and is increasingly important for addressing emerging infectious diseases and biodefense threats. However, broader deployment of MVA-based vaccines can be constrained by multi-dose vaccination regimens and manufacturing processes dependent on primary avian cells. GeoVax's work aims to address both challenges through advances in vaccine design and manufacturing.
The first objective is single-dose MVA innovation. GeoVax's next-generation MVA-X technology is being developed to enhance immune responses and potentially enable effective vaccination following a single administration. Preclinical studies with MVA-X have demonstrated protective immune responses following a single administration, supporting its potential for simplified vaccination regimens and more rapid deployment during outbreaks and public-health emergencies. Earlier this year, data presented at World Vaccine Congress Washington demonstrated that a single administration of MVA-X achieved protective efficacy comparable to a traditional two-dose MVA regimen in a murine orthopoxvirus challenge model, with protection maintained through Day 150.
The second objective is continuous cell-line MVA manufacturing. In parallel, GeoVax is advancing production of MVA using the AGE1.CR.pIX continuous avian cell line as an alternative to traditional chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF)-based manufacturing. GeoVax has demonstrated proof-of-concept of the upstream process, and the downstream process is in development to support production at the 200-liter scale, with a pathway toward 500-liter and larger-scale manufacturing. This manufacturing approach is designed to enable scalable and reproducible production, reduce reliance on primary-cell supply chains, and facilitate manufacturing expansion and technology transfer. Continuous cell-line manufacturing could also provide a more flexible foundation for rapidly increasing MVA vaccine production in response to emerging infectious-disease and biodefense requirements.
Together, these advances represent a potential evolution of the MVA platform—from conventional multi-dose vaccination and primary-cell manufacturing toward single-dose immunization supported by scalable continuous cell-line production. David A. Dodd, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GeoVax, commented, "MVA is an important and well-established vaccine platform, and we believe there are significant opportunities to further improve how MVA-based vaccines are administered and manufactured. Our work with MVA-X and AGE1.CR.pIX addresses both sides of that equation—potentially simplifying vaccination through a single-dose approach while establishing a scalable manufacturing platform capable of supporting broader and more responsive vaccine supply." Dodd continued, "Senthil's participation in the Platform Technologies workshop at World Vaccine Congress Europe provides an important opportunity to share GeoVax's progress with the global vaccine community. Bringing together next-generation vaccine design and scalable manufacturing has potentially important implications for outbreak response, pandemic preparedness, biodefense, strategic stockpiling, and expanded global access to MVA-based vaccines."
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.
The presentation at World Vaccine Congress Europe 2026 underscores GeoVax's commitment to advancing vaccine technology and manufacturing. The potential implications of these innovations are significant, particularly for global health security. Single-dose MVA vaccines could simplify immunization campaigns, reduce logistical burdens, and improve compliance, especially in resource-limited settings or during emergencies. Continuous cell-line manufacturing could enable faster, more scalable production, reducing dependence on primary cells and facilitating rapid response to outbreaks. These advancements align with broader efforts to enhance pandemic preparedness and biodefense capabilities, as well as to expand access to vaccines worldwide. As the vaccine landscape evolves, GeoVax's progress with MVA-X and AGE1.CR.pIX may position the company as a key player in next-generation vaccine development and manufacturing. This news was originally distributed by NEWMEDIAWIRE.
