ATLANTA, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GeoVax Labs, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: GOVX) , an Atlanta based biotechnology company, announces that its Chief Scientific Advisor Harriet Robinson, Ph.D. has been elected "Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)." Election as a "Fellow" is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers because of their contributions to advance science or its applications. Emory University professor and Asa Griggs scholar, Dr. Robinson co-founded GeoVax Labs, Inc. and is one of the world's leading HIV/AIDS vaccine scientists.
Recognized by the AAAS section on medical sciences, Dr. Robinson was elected for her outstanding work on retrovirus biology and the development of DNA vaccines with special emphasis on HIV/AIDS vaccines. In addition to her role as GeoVax's Chief Scientific Advisor, Dr. Robinson is chair of the Division of Microbiology and Immunology at Yerkes National Primate Research Center, a professor of microbiology and immunology in Emory University School of Medicine and an investigator in the Emory Vaccine Center.
GeoVax HIV/AIDS vaccine technologies were developed by Dr. Robinson in collaboration with colleagues at Emory University's Vaccine Center, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). GeoVax HIV/AIDS vaccines are moving forward in human clinical trials administered by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN). Four (4) Phase 1 human trials involving over 115 individuals are currently underway and Phase 2 trials are being planned for 2008.
Licensed by GeoVax, this innovative, two-step vaccine administration strategy utilizes DNA vaccines to prime the human immune system and recombinant MVA vaccines to boost the immune response against the AIDS virus. Both vaccines express greater than 50% of AIDS virus' (HIV-1) components and stimulate an antibody response as well as a T-cell response. Neither vaccine can cause AIDS. Early studies conducted at Emory University demonstrated successful long-term protection against the development of AIDS in non-human primates where 22 of 23 vaccinates were protected against AIDS development for nearly four years (trial concluded).
"Dr. Robinson is an outstanding scientist most deserving of this distinction," said Don Hildebrand, President, CEO and Chairman of GeoVax Labs, Inc. "As a co-founder of GeoVax, Dr. Robinson has been instrumental in the success our company has achieved to date. Her leadership in HIV/AIDS vaccine research is invaluable. I believe her contributions will positively impact the lives of millions of people worldwide."
Dr. Robinson's recognition as AAAS Fellow was announced in the AAAS News & Notes section of the journal Science on 26 October 2007. She will be awarded an official certificate and pin on Saturday, February 16th at the Fellows Forum during the 2008 AAAS Annual Meeting in Boston.
About GeoVax Labs, Inc. (http://www.geovax.com/)
GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a biotechnology company, established to develop, manufacture, license and commercialize human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and other infectious agents. GeoVax's vaccine technology is protected by 20 filed patent applications and issued patents.
GeoVax HIV/AIDS vaccines are designed to prevent development of Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease (AIDS), caused by the virus known as HIV-1, by vaccinating individuals prior to infection with the AIDS virus. In addition, GeoVax AIDS vaccines may be effective as therapeutics (treatment of people infected with AIDS virus). Studies evaluating these vaccines in already HIV/AIDS infected individuals are being planned.
GeoVax DNA and Recombinant MVA HIV/AIDS vaccines: -- Use DNA vaccines to "prime" immune responses and MVA vaccines to "boost" immune responses against the AIDS virus -- Vaccinate against more than 50% of AIDS virus components and can not cause AIDS -- Protected 22 of 23 (96%) non-human primates against the development of AIDS for over 3 1/2 years -- Are manufactured & tested under GMP/GLP - EMEA (EU) and FDA guidelines -- Satisfactorily completed earlier DNA HIV/AIDS vaccine Phase 1 human trial -- Are currently being tested in 4 Human Trials. Two started in 2006, two in summer 2007 -- Have been demonstrated safe to date in human trials -- Are demonstrating positive immune responses against HIV in the majority of vaccine recipients -- Are in planning stage for a larger Phase 2 human trial in 2008
For further information, contact Don Hildebrand or Jennifer Nelms at (404) 727-0971 or visit http://www.geovax.com/.
Safe Harbor Statement: All statements in this news release, not statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward- looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, whether: GeoVax can develop and manufacture these vaccines with the desired characteristics in a timely manner, GeoVax's vaccines will be determined to be safe for use in humans, GeoVax's vaccines will be effective in preventing AIDS in humans, the vaccines will receive the regulatory approvals necessary to be licensed and marketed, GeoVax can raise the required capital to complete development of its vaccines, there is development of competitive products that may be more effective or easier to use than GeoVax's products, 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. Certain matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements involving certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitations, risks detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and report.
