The GeoVax vaccine is a DNA/MVA vaccine that uses recombinant DNA to prime the immune response and then a recombinant MVA virus to boost the immune response. MVA stands for modified vaccinia ankara, a smallpox viral vaccine that was attenuated by replicating the vaccine virus over 500 times in chicken cells.
The breakthrough manufacturing technology developed by Vivalis, and now to be further developed through collaboration with GeoVax, is expected to create a new standard for manufacture of the MVA component of the GeoVax HIV/AIDS vaccine, making present manufacturing technologies which have limited production capabilities, less competitive.
Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. However, each side shall fund its roles respectively, depending on developmental or process responsibilities assumed by each party. An upfront amount payable to Vivalis will be provided as consideration for the signing of the letter of intent. GeoVax’s development and license payments shall be made based on milestone achievements. Royalties on GeoVax net sales are also included.
In addition, applications have been filed for EU and local government financial participation. GeoVax is also seeking the FDA guidance on the Vivalis EBx manufacturing program recently submitted to the FDA allowing usage of EB66 produced MVA vaccine for GeoVax’s ongoing human trials.
Franck Grimaud, Vivalis CEO, said: “This agreement aims at developing a Vivalis proprietary upstream-downstream process for the production of MVA vaccines and EBx technology licensing. GeoVax becomes a strategic partner and joins a worldwide consortium in the field of development, purification and production of MVA based vaccines.”