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, translational, and clinical advancement of GeoVax's oncology program, primarily focused on Gedeptin®, the company's gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapeutic.
The company plans to conduct 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. In parallel, it will evaluate combination Gedeptin plus immune checkpoint inhibitor strategies across additional solid tumor indications. The advisory board members bring deep expertise that directly supports these initiatives.
Chas Bountra, PhD, OBE, Professor of Translational Medicine at the University of Oxford, brings extensive leadership spanning academia, biotech, and global pharmaceutical R&D. His expertise in translational medicine, drug development strategy, and innovation ecosystems will support Gedeptin's progression from proof-of-concept to clinically scalable development programs aligned with regulatory and partnership pathways.
Marc S. Ernstoff, MD, Director of Experimental Cell Therapy at Dartmouth Health, is a recognized pioneer in cancer immunotherapy with significant experience across cytokine therapy, checkpoint inhibitors, and combination immuno-oncology trials. His expertise will inform Gedeptin's clinical positioning, trial design considerations, and biomarker-driven evaluation alongside immune checkpoint inhibitors, as well as its potential role in immune-sensitizing solid tumors.
Anthony J. Olszanski, MD, RPh, Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair for Clinical Research at Fox Chase Cancer Center, is a nationally recognized leader in early-phase oncology drug development. His background in clinical pharmacology and trial execution will be instrumental as GeoVax advances Gedeptin into combination, neoadjuvant, and expansion-stage clinical settings.
This Oncology Advisory Board reflects GeoVax's increasing focus on 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, an approach that may complement and extend the efficacy of systemic checkpoint blockade.
In addition to scientific strategy, these advisors will provide integrated guidance on clinical trial design, translational biomarker strategy, patient selection, and regulatory-aligned development pathways as Gedeptin advances through combination and neoadjuvant clinical programs. 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.
David A. Dodd, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GeoVax, stated that the addition of these three exceptional oncology leaders significantly strengthens the company's scientific and clinical foundation as it advances Gedeptin into its next stage of development. Their collective experience directly aligns with the goal of positioning Gedeptin as a novel immune-sensitizing therapy across solid tumors.
Kelly T. McKee, MD, Chief Medical Officer of GeoVax, added that Gedeptin sits at the intersection of localized tumor control and systemic immune activation. As checkpoint inhibitors move earlier in treatment paradigms, including neoadjuvant settings, expert guidance on trial design, patient selection, and translational endpoints is critical as the company moves into clinically consequential combination strategies.
The formation of this advisory board represents a strategic step in advancing combination immuno-oncology approaches that could potentially improve outcomes for patients with solid tumors. For more information about GeoVax's programs, visit https://www.geovax.com.
