GeoVax Labs, Inc. a developer of human vaccines using its platform technology, has appointed Farshad Guirakhoo, Ph.D., as senior vice president, R&D. Dr. Guirakhoo will play a leading role in the expansion of GeoVax’s product development pipeline, and will collaborate on the development and implementation of a growth strategy for GeoVax’s platform technology. He will also contribute to ongoing efforts to develop and commercialize its HIV and Ebola vaccines.
 
Dr. Guirakhoo is a world-renowned virologist and brings more than 20 years of industry experience in the development of vaccines and monoclonal antibody products. Dr. Guirakhoo is a former executive/senior director of Sanofi Pasteur. He also served in senior management and scientific roles in the biotechnology industry with Vaxess Technologies, Hookipa Biotech, Sanofi Pasteur, Acambis, Inc. and OraVax, Inc.
 
“We are thrilled that Dr. Guirakhoo will be joining us,” said Harriet Robinson, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at GeoVax. “There is substantial work to be done to successfully move our current vaccine programs forward and to build upon our technology platform; we are fortunate to have a professional of Dr. Guirakhoo’s caliber adding his talents to the effort. It is a major milestone for the Company to have Dr. Guirakhoo joining our scientific team in a leadership role.”

In his scientific career, Dr. Guirakhoo has filed more than 90 patent applications and is author/co-author of more than 80 publications. In 2014, he was named as one of the 50 Most Influential People in Vaccines.