GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines, announced an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Emory University for intellectual property covering the use of Gedeptin® in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The licensed technology, developed with investigators at Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, supports gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) to enhance anti-tumor activity of checkpoint blockade.
David A. Dodd, Chairman and CEO of GeoVax, stated, "This license further consolidates GeoVax's long-standing relationship with Emory and meaningfully strengthens our intellectual property position around Gedeptin-based combination therapies. As checkpoint inhibitors move earlier in treatment paradigms, including first-line and neoadjuvant settings, we believe Gedeptin's localized tumor-debulking and immune-sensitizing mechanism may provide an important opportunity to enhance and extend immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy."
The exclusive license provides GeoVax with global rights to patent applications and know-how covering the combination of Gedeptin with ICIs within a defined field of use. This IP estate supports GeoVax's current and planned clinical programs, including its recently announced neoadjuvant strategy in head and neck cancer and ongoing evaluation of additional solid tumor indications.
GeoVax previously reported clinical and translational data demonstrating that Gedeptin's intratumoral delivery induces localized tumor cell death while promoting immune activation within the tumor microenvironment, an effect complementary to systemic checkpoint inhibition. "Checkpoint inhibitors have transformed cancer care, but many patients still fail to achieve durable responses," Dodd added. "The licensed Emory technology reinforces the scientific rationale for combining Gedeptin with ICIs to potentially convert immunologically 'cold' tumors into more responsive targets. This agreement supports our efforts to move decisively into combination-based clinical development."
GeoVax has announced plans to evaluate Gedeptin in combination with ICIs in a Phase 2 neoadjuvant clinical trial in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), as well as preclinical assessments in other solid tumors. The Emory license provides a strengthened IP foundation for these efforts and potential future partnerships.
Gedeptin® is a GDEPT delivered intratumorally using a non-replicating viral vector encoding purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP). Following administration of a prodrug, the encoded enzyme converts it into a cytotoxic agent within the tumor microenvironment, selectively destroying tumor cells while promoting immune recognition and minimizing systemic toxicity. Gedeptin has received Orphan Drug Designation for oral and pharyngeal cancers.
GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious diseases and solid tumor cancers. Its priority program is GEO-MVA, a Modified Vaccinia Ankara-based vaccine targeting Mpox and smallpox, advancing toward a pivotal Phase 3 trial in the second half of 2026. In oncology, GeoVax is developing Gedeptin® to enhance immune checkpoint inhibitor activity, having completed a Phase 1/2 trial in advanced head and neck cancer and advancing into combination strategies. The company's pipeline also includes GEO-CM04S1, a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate for immunocompromised populations. For more information, visit www.geovax.com.
