GeoVax's COVID-19 Vaccine Shows Promising Dual Protection Against Mpox and COVID-19

Researchers at GeoVax Labs have revealed promising results for their next-generation multi-antigen COVID-19 vaccine candidate, GEO-CM04S1, highlighting its potential to protect against both COVID-19 and Mpox virus. Presented at the IMMUNOLOGY2025™ conference, the study showcases the vaccine's robust immunogenicity in immunocompromised patients and healthy adults.

The research demonstrated strong, durable, and broad anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune responses, including cross-reactive immunity against variants like Omicron XBB.1.5. Notably, the vaccine also showed comparable immune responses to the currently licensed smallpox/Mpox vaccine in healthy adults and non-human primates.

A key finding is the vaccine's potential effectiveness in immunocompromised populations, such as blood cancer patients receiving cell transplantation or CAR-T therapy. This could represent a significant advancement for patients who have historically struggled to generate robust immune responses with existing vaccines.

Dr. Kelly T. McKee, Chief Medical Officer of GeoVax, emphasized the vaccine's unique potential to provide dual protection, particularly in regions where Mpox is endemic. The vaccine's design, using a synthetic Modified Vaccinia Ankara vector platform, allows it to express both spike and nucleocapsid antigens of SARS-CoV-2.

Currently, GEO-CM04S1 is being evaluated in three Phase 2 clinical trials, exploring its effectiveness as a primary vaccine for immunocompromised patients, a booster for chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients, and a booster for healthy adults previously vaccinated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.