GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines, announced today 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 Emory University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, supports gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) to enhance anti-tumor activity of checkpoint blockade.
This license consolidates GeoVax’s relationship with Emory and strengthens its intellectual property position around Gedeptin-based combination therapies. As checkpoint inhibitors move earlier in treatment paradigms, including first-line and neoadjuvant settings, Gedeptin’s localized tumor-debulking and immune-sensitizing mechanism may enhance and extend ICI efficacy.
The exclusive license provides global rights to patent applications and know-how covering Gedeptin combined with ICIs within a defined field of use. This IP estate supports GeoVax’s clinical programs, including a planned neoadjuvant strategy in head and neck cancer and ongoing evaluation of additional solid tumor indications. GeoVax previously reported data demonstrating that Gedeptin’s intratumoral delivery induces localized tumor cell death while promoting immune activation, complementing systemic checkpoint inhibition.
GeoVax plans to evaluate Gedeptin in combination with ICIs in a Phase 2 neoadjuvant trial in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and 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 systemic prodrug administration, the enzyme converts the prodrug into a cytotoxic agent within the tumor microenvironment, selectively destroying tumor cells while minimizing systemic toxicity. Gedeptin has received Orphan Drug Designation for oral and pharyngeal cancers.
GeoVax is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious diseases and solid tumors. Its priority program is GEO-MVA, a MVA-based vaccine targeting Mpox and smallpox, advancing toward a pivotal Phase 3 trial in the second half of 2026. In oncology, Gedeptin is being advanced into combination strategies. GeoVax’s pipeline also includes GEO-CM04S1, a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate. For more information, visit www.geovax.com.
