It’s World Immunization Day on Monday, so we had a chat with Geovax chairman, president and CEO David Dodd, and in our other conversation, we talked about infertility, with Igyxos Biotherapeutics’ chief medical officer Elke Bestel.
Challenging infertility
Igyxos Biotherapeutics is a French biotechnology company founded in 2017 and based in Nouzilly, France. The company focuses exclusively on infertility, developing monoclonal antibody‑based therapeutics designed to enhance the activity of gonadotropins, the hormones central to reproduction.
Its lead program involves a first‑in‑class antibody that potentiates follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), aiming to improve the effectiveness of fertility treatments for both men and women. Igyxos brings together a small team of scientific experts and has raised venture capital to support its research.
The company’s approach is intended to overcome limitations of current infertility treatments, which often have modest success rates. By targeting hormonal pathways directly, Igyxos aims to deliver more reliable outcomes for patients.
In October 2025, Igyxos announced it had secured a €5.7m grant from the French government under the France 2030 program. The non‑dilutive funding will support phase 2 clinical trials of its lead antibody, IGX12, across France and Europe.
World Immunization Day
World Immunization Day is observed annually on November 10 to raise awareness of the importance of vaccines in preventing disease and protecting public health. The day emphasizes that immunization is one of the most effective and cost‑efficient health interventions, preventing millions of deaths each year.
The observance highlights both the successes of global vaccination campaigns and the challenges that remain, including plateaued coverage rates and disruptions caused by the covid‑19 pandemic. It underscores the role of vaccines in combating infectious diseases, reducing antibiotic resistance, and strengthening community health worldwide.
GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a US‑based, clinical‑stage biotechnology company founded in 2001 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company develops vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious diseases and cancers, using proprietary Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector technology to generate virus‑like particles in vivo.
GeoVax’s pipeline includes candidates for covid‑19, Mpox, Ebola, Zika, malaria, and haemorrhagic fever viruses, as well as immunotherapies for solid tumours. Its lead clinical programme, GEO‑CM04S1, is a next‑generation covid‑19 vaccine designed to provide broader and more durable protection, particularly for immunocompromised patients.
In late October 2025, GeoVax highlighted phase 2 clinical data for GEO‑CM04S1, showing robust T‑cell responses and cross‑variant durability. The company linked these findings to new Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidance emphasising the need for tailored vaccines for immunocompromised populations.
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Jim Cornall is editor of Deeptech Digest and publisher at Ayr Coastal Media. He is an award-winning writer, editor, photographer, broadcaster, designer and author. Contact Jim here.