GeoVax Labs presents data from primate studies of Marburg vaccine candidate

GeoVax Labs announced the presentation of data from recent nonhuman primate studies of GeoVax’s vaccine candidate against Marburg virus, during the 23rd Annual World Vaccine Congress taking place in Washington, DC. The data were presented by Dr. Jason Comer, Associate Professor, Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, in a presentation titled "Preclinical Capabilities at the University of Texas Medical Branch: Evaluating Candidate Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics against Sudan Ebola Virus," during the session on Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases. Dr. Comer’s presentation focused on UTMB’s services for regulated, nonclinical studies, and included data from recent studies conducted on behalf of GeoVax. Following encouraging results showing complete protection from Marburg virus challenge in guinea pigs, GeoVax’s vaccine efficacy studies targeting Marburg virus and Sudan Ebola virus disease were contracted to UTMB through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Preclinical Services. Of particular interest, immunization with GeoVax’s vaccine candidate conferred 80% survival in cynomolgus macaques following a lethal dose of Marburg virus. Vaccination protected nonhuman primates from viremia, weight loss and death following challenge with a lethal Marburg virus dose. Evaluation of immune responses following vaccination demonstrated the presence of both neutralizing antibodies and functional T cells, indicating a breadth of responses that combine for optimal protection. The work conducted by UTMB built upon earlier studies demonstrating that guinea pigs vaccinated with GEO-MM01 were 100% protected against death and disease caused by the Angola strain of Marburg virus. The vaccine induced immune responses were characterized by Marburg virus-specific binding and neutralizing antibodies as well as other effector functions like antibody-dependent phagocytosis. The Angola strain is the most virulent strain of Marburg Virus characterized by up to a 90% fatality rate in humans and a successful vaccination approach is of paramount public health importance.