Althea Technologies, Inc. has been selected by GeoVax Labs, Inc., an Atlanta-based biotechnology company, to manufacture its HIV-1 DNA (AIDS) vaccine for GeoVax’s Phase II trials, expected to begin in early 2008.

GeoVax AIDS vaccines are designed to prevent development of Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease (AIDS) caused by the HIV-1 virus by vaccinating individuals prior to the AIDS virus infection. The GeoVax vaccine regimen uses a “prime-boost strategy,” where participants receive the GeoVax HIV-1 DNA vaccine, which “primes” the immune system followed by the GeoVax HIV-1 MVA (Modified Vaccinia Virus) boost. Both vaccines deliver more than 50% of the AIDS virus components but cannot cause AIDS.

Ongoing trials with GeoVax’s preventive HIV/AIDS vaccine have indicated an acceptable safety profile and anti-HIV immune responses in as many as 100% of vaccine recipients.

Don Hildebrand, chief executive officer and president of GeoVax Labs, commented, “We are very pleased with our decision to use Althea as the contract manufacturer for our DNA-AIDS vaccines due to their long and well known expertise in this arena. The manufacturing of these vaccines for GeoVax’s Phase II trials is a very important step forward in our development plan and demonstrates our confidence in the future success of our AIDS vaccine program.”