GeoVax's MVA Manufacturing Platform Aligns with Federal EQUIP-A-Pharma Initiative for AI-Driven Pharmaceutical Production

GeoVax Labs, Inc. welcomed the launch of the EQUIP-A-Pharma initiative, a joint program between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the private sector. This collaboration aims to transform pharmaceutical manufacturing by leveraging artificial intelligence and next-generation platforms to expand U.S. production capacity and improve supply chain resilience. David Dodd, Chairman and CEO of GeoVax, stated that the initiative represents a major step toward strengthening the domestic biomanufacturing backbone the country urgently needs.

GeoVax's advanced Modified Vaccinia Ankara manufacturing platform eliminates reliance on pathogen-free eggs and instead uses a continuous avian cell line system compatible with existing U.S. GMP infrastructure. This enables rapid, high-volume vaccine production adaptable for pandemic response and public health emergencies. The platform supports integration with AI-driven optimization tools for scale-up and quality control, deployment within small-footprint modular facilities aligned with DARPA's vision for agile biomanufacturing, and reduced dependence on foreign suppliers in line with the White House Executive Order on re-shoring pharmaceutical production.

The MVA platform underpins GeoVax's pipeline of multi-antigen vaccines, including its lead candidates GEO-CM04S1 for COVID-19 and GEO-MVA for Mpox and smallpox. It was recently selected under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority's Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle for further development, pending funding availability. GeoVax's domestic manufacturing strategy directly addresses vulnerabilities identified in recent biodefense reviews and National Strategic Stockpile shortfalls highlighted by the Mpox outbreak.

The company continues to advocate for robust public-private collaboration to accelerate the deployment of resilient, U.S.-sourced medical countermeasures. Dodd emphasized that GeoVax is committed to delivering scalable solutions that align with administration priorities from HHS to DARPA to BARDA, positioning the company to help build the future of biomanufacturing in the United States through initiatives like EQUIP-A-Pharma.