GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX) reported second-quarter 2026 financial results and said it is moving ahead toward the planned start of a pivotal immunobridging study for its vaccine candidate GEO-MVA.

The clinical-stage biotechnology company is pursuing an expedited regulatory pathway for GEO-MVA, a Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-based vaccine targeting mpox and smallpox, after receiving scientific advice from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). GeoVax expects to begin the pivotal study in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the goal of demonstrating non-inferiority to an approved MVA vaccine.

Chief Executive Officer David A. Dodd said the program is strategically important because GEO-MVA is intended to address the global need for diversified MVA vaccine supply to support public health preparedness and biodefense. GeoVax said it has already manufactured and released cGMP clinical trial material and is advancing the AGE1 continuous cell-line manufacturing platform for potential commercial-scale production.

The company’s decision to focus on GEO-MVA and its immuno-oncology candidate Gedeptin led to the discontinuation of active development for its GEO-CM04S1 COVID-19 vaccine. GeoVax said the move reflects the contraction of the global COVID-19 vaccine market and a decision to concentrate on programs with clearer regulatory pathways and commercialization potential. The company said no safety or efficacy concerns drove the decision.

GeoVax is positioning Gedeptin as a combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors such as Merck’s Keytruda. The company holds an exclusive license from Emory University for this combination strategy, which is designed to improve responsiveness in immunologically resistant solid tumors.

For the second quarter of 2026, GeoVax reported a net loss of $4.4 million, or $0.97 per share, compared with a net loss of $5.4 million, or $8.74 per share, in the same period a year earlier. The smaller loss was driven in part by lower research and development expenses, which declined to $3.1 million from $4.7 million as COVID-19 activities were wound down. General and administrative expenses also decreased, falling to $1.3 million from $1.5 million.

The company ended the quarter with approximately $3.1 million in cash, unchanged from year-end 2025.

GeoVax announced its strategic reprioritization in May 2026, concentrating resources on GEO-MVA and Gedeptin. The company said GEO-MVA is positioned to help meet the need for diversified global MVA vaccine manufacturing capacity and to support public health preparedness and biodefense resilience. GeoVax said it continues to engage with government and international stakeholders to pursue future procurement opportunities.

Advancement of GEO-MVA through an expedited regulatory pathway could add another supplier of MVA vaccines, which are considered important for orthopoxvirus preparedness. The development comes as global health authorities continue to stress the importance of maintaining strong vaccine supplies against possible mpox and smallpox outbreaks.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.geovax.com.