GeoVax receives US Patent for pGA series of plasmids

GeoVax Labs, Inc. (OTCQB/OTC Bulletin Board:  GOVX), a biotechnology company that creates, develops and tests innovative HIV/AIDS vaccines, has been issued via an exclusive license from Emory University, a US Patent for its "DNA expression vectors and methods of use." Issued on September 14, 2010, the patent claims cover novel vectors and novel HIV vaccine inserts.

Harriet Robinson, Chief Scientific Officer and lead inventor on the patent said, "This patent covers our pGA series of plasmids that are not only useful for delivery of DNA vaccines but have proven to have outstanding stability during large scale manufacture. pGA stands for plasmid (p) developed in Georgia (GA)."

"The patent," according to Dr. Robinson, "also covers the development of earlier forms of the DNA insert for our lead HIV/AIDS vaccine that is currently in phase 2a trials through the US HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Our HIV vaccine insert expresses non-infectious virus-like particles. These virus-like particles train the immune system to recognize the real infection, should the person become exposed. We are the only developers to achieve the expression of non-infectious virus-like particles that display the natural form of the HIV-1 envelope protein to the immune system. This unique feature is important because it is the natural form of the envelope protein that the immune system needs to recognize to efficiently tag incoming virus for destruction."

GeoVax has a patent portfolio consisting of over 20 issued and pending patents covering the Company's vaccine technology and manufacturing methods. According to GeoVax CEO, Dr. Robert McNally, "every issued patent helps protect this very promising vaccine. Currently the company has issued patents that cover the constructs for both the DNA and MVA (modified vaccinia Ankara) vaccines, the two principal vaccines that make this technology so effective and further patents are pending."