FAQ: GeoVax's Patent Allowance for Multi-Antigen COVID-19 Vaccine Constructs

What is the main announcement from GeoVax?

GeoVax announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a Notice of Allowance for U.S. Patent Application No. 17/888,131, titled ‘Vaccines and Uses Thereof to Induce an Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2.’

What does this patent protect?

The patent broadly covers recombinant Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) viral vectors encoding multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins including Spike (S), Membrane (M), and Envelope (E) antigens, configured to generate virus-like particles (VLPs) upon expression.

Why is this patent allowance significant for GeoVax?

This represents an important strengthening of GeoVax’s intellectual property estate protecting their next-generation, multi-antigen COVID-19 vaccines, which are designed to provide durable, broad-spectrum protection as the virus continues to evolve.

How do GeoVax’s multi-antigen vaccine constructs work?

The constructs use MVA viral vectors to encode multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins that generate virus-like particles within host cells, enabling presentation of antigens in their natural conformation for optimal immune recognition and inducing both antibody and T-cell responses.

What are the key features of these vaccine constructs?

Key features include: Multi-antigen design (Spike, Membrane, and Envelope proteins) to mimic natural virus structure, VLP formation for optimal immune recognition, and Coverage of both ancestral strain sequences and variant-associated mutations to address immune escape.

Which GeoVax vaccine candidates are covered by this patent?

The patent covers constructs central to the Company’s CM01 and CM02 candidates, which express multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins to generate virus-like particles in vaccinated individuals.

How does GeoVax’s approach differ from current COVID-19 vaccines?

Unlike single-antigen vaccines such as mRNA vaccines, GeoVax’s MVA-based multi-antigen constructs are designed to elicit durable, broad-spectrum protection by engaging both arms of the immune system and countering immune escape by new viral variants.

What is the current status of GeoVax’s COVID-19 vaccine development?

GEO-CM04S1, their lead clinical program, is advancing through Phase 2 clinical trials in immunocompromised and healthy populations, while CM01 and CM02 are part of their broader multi-antigen vaccine portfolio.

When was this patent allowance announced?

The announcement was made on August 20, 2025, as reported in the press release from GeoVax Labs, Inc.

Who commented on this patent allowance from GeoVax?

David Dodd, GeoVax President and CEO, commented that this represents an important strengthening of their intellectual property estate protecting their next-generation, multi-antigen COVID-19 vaccines.