GeoVax Forms Oncology Advisory Board to Guide Gedeptin Development in Solid Tumors

GeoVax Labs, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced the formation of its Oncology Advisory Board with the appointment of three internationally recognized leaders in immuno-oncology, translational medicine, and clinical development. This board will guide the scientific and clinical advancement of GeoVax’s oncology program, primarily focused on Gedeptin®, the company’s gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapeutic. The company plans a Phase 2 trial with Gedeptin in the neoadjuvant setting, pairing it with an immune checkpoint inhibitor in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, while evaluating combination strategies across additional solid tumor indications.

The advisory board members include Chas Bountra, PhD, OBE, Professor of Translational Medicine at the University of Oxford and former Vice President at GlaxoSmithKline; Marc S. Ernstoff, MD, Director of Experimental Cell Therapy at Dartmouth Health and former Chief of the Immuno-Oncology Branch at the National Cancer Institute; and Anthony J. Olszanski, MD, RPh, Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair for Clinical Research at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Their collective expertise spans translational drug discovery, immunotherapy trials, and early-phase oncology development.

This strategic move reflects GeoVax’s focus on developing Gedeptin as a differentiated immune-sensitizing platform, particularly in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Gedeptin’s intratumoral delivery and localized tumor-debulking mechanism are designed to enhance antigen release and immune activation within the tumor microenvironment, potentially complementing systemic checkpoint blockade. The advisors will provide guidance on clinical trial design, translational biomarker strategy, patient selection, and regulatory pathways.

David A. Dodd, Chairman and CEO of GeoVax, stated that the addition of these oncology leaders strengthens the company’s foundation as it advances Gedeptin. Kelly T. McKee, MD, Chief Medical Officer, emphasized that expert guidance is critical as checkpoint inhibitors move earlier in treatment paradigms, including neoadjuvant settings. Gedeptin has completed a multicenter Phase 1/2 clinical trial in advanced head and neck cancer and has received Orphan Drug Designation for oral and pharyngeal cancers. For more information about GeoVax’s programs, visit https://www.geovax.com.

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