GeoVax

GeoVax is a biotechnology company established primarily to develop an effective and safe vaccine against HIV-1, although ultimately the company is to create vaccines for many serious human diseases for which none currently exist.

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Corporate History

Formed in 2001 in Atlanta, Georgia, the approach used in HIV-1 vaccine development was originally based on preclinical work done by Dr. Harriet Robinson from 1992 to 2002. In 2002 laboratory space, equipment and personnel were acquired and work on an HIV-1 vaccine development plan began, and in May 2006 human trials of the drug began.

GeoVax HIV-1 Vaccine

From preclinical results (using SHIV) 96% of primates (22/23) were protected from the virus over a three and a half year period, while by contrast five out of six primates died within eight months after being infected. The vaccine works with a combined DNA vaccine and MVA (modified vaccinia Ankara) vaccine both of which lead to the insertion of genes into primate DNA which leads to foreign protein expression. With the GeoVax vaccine a variety of HIV proteins (both surface and internal) are expressed from genes which include the Env, Pol and Gag genes.

However, possible clinical trails have shown the vaccine may not show as high effectiveness as indicated by preclinical work.