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GeoVax Launches a Second Clinical Site to Test the Therapeutic Benefit of its HIV Vaccine
University of Alabama at Birmingham to Serve as Second Site for Ongoing Clinical Trial
Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/- GeoVax Labs, Inc.(OTCBB:GOVX), a biotechnology company that creates,
develops and tests innovative HIV/AIDS vaccines, announced today the opening of a second clinical trial site at the Alabama Vaccine Research Clinic (AVRC) of the University of Alabama
at Birmingham (UAB) to expand the company's HIV therapeutic vaccine trial. Although the GeoVax vaccines are currently being tested clinically for HIV prevention, this is the
first clinical trial using the same products for treatment of persons who already have HIV infection. UAB joins the AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta (ARCA) as the second site used for this trial.
"We are very pleased to be expanding this important clinical trial to include the AVRC, a group with which we have worked successfully for several
years," noted Mark Newman, PhD, Vice President of Research and Development at GeoVax.
Sonya Heath, MD, the medical director for the study at UAB, said, "New approaches to HIV treatment are critically needed, and an effective
therapeutic vaccine would be an important tool in our ongoing efforts to treat people with HIV infection. A vaccine that enhances the body's ability to control
HIV and decreases the dependence on antiretroviral drugs would be a major breakthrough."
To be eligible for the study, potential volunteers need to be diagnosed within the first year of HIV infection and they must have started antiretroviral drug
therapy within six months of diagnosis. The study will last up to 77 weeks for each participant. All patients will be followed closely to assess vaccine safety and for the
ability of the vaccine to induce therapeutic immune responses. Only 10 to 12 persons will be selected to participate.
About The Alabama Vaccine Research Center
The AVRC, established in 1994, is one of 10 National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored HIV Vaccine Trials Units in the US. The medical staff of the AVRC conducts Phase 1, Phase 2,
and Phase 3 clinical trials of experimental HIV vaccines. The goals of these clinical research studies are to evaluate the safety and the ability of new vaccines to induce immune
responses capable of protecting individuals from HIV infection and/or controlling disease. The AVRC has contributed to the clinical testing of the GeoVax HIV vaccines in HIV uninfected individuals.
About GeoVax Labs, Inc.
GeoVax is a biotechnology company developing human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human
Immunodeficiency Virus - AIDS) and other infectious agents. Our goals include developing AIDS
vaccines for global markets, manufacturing and testing these vaccines under GMP/GLP conditions
(FDA guidelines), conducting human trials for vaccine safety and effectiveness, and obtaining
regulatory approvals to move the product forward. All preventative phase 1 human clinical trials
conducted to date tested various combinations and doses of our DNA and MVA AIDS vaccines in
human volunteers for their demonstrated ability to raise anti-HIV immune responses as well as for their
safety. Successful results from all phase 1 testing supported the initiation of the first phase 2 testing.
GeoVax's phase 2 human trial began in January 2009 and will involve 225 participants at sites in the
United States and South America. Long term, we expect that GeoVax will grant manufacturing and
distribution rights in several global markets in return for upfront fees, collaborative development
agreements, and royalties on sales and distribution revenues. Internal vaccine manufacturing and
distribution will also be considered by GeoVax. For more information, please visit www.geovax.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this document are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are
subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those included in
these statements due to a variety of factors, including whether: GeoVax can develop and manufacture these
vaccines with the desired characteristics in a timely manner, GeoVax's vaccines will be safe for human use,
GeoVax's vaccines will effectively prevent AIDS in humans, vaccines will receive regulatory approvals necessary
to be licensed and marketed, GeoVax raises required capital to complete vaccine development, there is
development of competitive products that may be more effective or easier to use than GeoVax's products, GeoVax
will be able to enter into favorable manufacturing and distribution agreements, and other factors, over which
GeoVax has no control. GeoVax assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and does not
intend to do so. More information about these factors is contained in GeoVax's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission including those set forth at "Risk Factors" in GeoVax's Form 10-K.
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Contact
The Investor Relations Group:
Investor Relations
James Carbonara
or
Public Relations
Janet Vasquez / Robin O’Malley
"Reproduced with permission - GeoVax Labs, Inc."
GeoVax Labs, Inc.
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