GeoVax’s Phase 2a HIV/AIDS Vaccine Trials to Begin

GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) will launch its Phase 2a human vaccine trials in 12 sites across North and South America. These trials will be conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN).

Trial site arrangements and other details of the study were confirmed in a recent meeting held in Seattle, WA, between the HVTN and GeoVax’s scientific personnel. The Phase 2a clinical trial will involve 150 vaccinees and 75 placebo participants. The vaccine regimen employs a two-component “prime–boost strategy.” Trial participants will first be administered a GeoVax HIV-1 DNA vaccine which “primes” the immune system, followed by the second vaccine, GeoVax’s HIV-1 MVA (modified Vaccinia virus) boost. Both vaccines express the three major proteins of the AIDS virus. These proteins mimic more than 50% of the components of the AIDS virus (HIV-1) but cannot cause AIDS. GeoVax AIDS vaccines are designed to prevent the HIV-1 virus infection that causes acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS).