GeoVax Labs, Inc. has announced an expedited development strategy for its GEO-MVA Mpox vaccine candidate, responding to the World Health Organization's reaffirmed global emergency status for Mpox and a record-setting surge in cases across Africa. The urgency is compounded by the emergence of more virulent Mpox strains and critical shortages in vaccine supply, with over 21,000 confirmed cases in Africa in 2025 alone, surpassing the total for 2024.
The European Medicines Agency has provided favorable scientific advice, supporting a streamlined regulatory pathway for GEO-MVA, which could lead to conditional approval in the EU. This development is crucial as the WHO's Situation Report #55 highlights the worsening multi-country outbreak and the strain on global health systems. The spread of Clade I Mpox to countries like China, the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United States underscores the need for diversified vaccine platforms.
GeoVax's response includes accelerating clinical development, advancing manufacturing capabilities for large-scale production, and engaging in international collaboration to ensure equitable vaccine access. The company's efforts are aimed at addressing the global reliance on a single supplier for Mpox vaccines and mitigating the impact of the crisis on underserved populations.
