The Atlanta-based biotechnology firm GeoVax Labs plans to launch Phase II clinical trials of its experimental HIV vaccine this summer, company officials recently announced, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (Hendrick, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5/8).

GeoVax while in midstage development of its HIV vaccine candidate enrolled 140 people in four independent national trials. The firm is developing the experimental HIV vaccine in collaboration with Emory University, CDC and NIH. According to Emory officials, a prototype of the vaccine provided long-term protection against development of AIDS in nonhuman primate studies conducted more than three years ago at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Atlanta. NIH awarded the firm a $15 million grant in October 2007 to further its research and continue human clinical trials (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 10/1/07).

The vaccine is the only candidate among several under development that is "on the verge" of being moved to Phase II trials by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, the Journal-Constitution reports.

"The upcoming Phase II trial is being conducted in a larger number of healthy individuals," Bob McNally, president and CEO of GeoVax, said. He added, "Now that the delivery combinations of the vaccine have been worked out, the Phase II trial will expand the participants to 150 vaccinated volunteers and 75 volunteers as a control group who do not receive the vaccine…