John Sharkey
GeoVax LabsAbout John Sharkey
John W. Sharkey, Ph.D., age 68, is Vice President, Business Development at GeoVax (GOVX), having joined the company effective June 13, 2022; he holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Buffalo and a B.S. in Chemistry from SUNY Oneonta . Prior to GeoVax he led business development, regulatory and partnering work across devices and biopharma, including CEO of Largent Health and senior roles at Novartis and Shionogi (transactions: Lucentis EU rights; Focalin/Focalin XR global rights; Osphena global license) . Company performance context during his tenure shows continued operating losses and reliance on government contract revenues (e.g., Q3-2025 YTD revenue $2.489 million from BARDA-linked contract; YTD net loss $(17.046) million) and a Nasdaq bid-price deficiency notice with reverse-split authority sought, underscoring capital and listing risks that influence incentive design and retention dynamics .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largent Health, LLC | Chief Executive Officer | Not disclosed | Led development of three 510(k) medical devices; achieved FDA-cleared dental cavity cleanser with antimicrobial claims |
| Novartis | Senior executive positions | Not disclosed | Drove notable partnering transactions including Lucentis EU rights; global rights to Focalin/Focalin XR |
| Shionogi | Senior executive positions | Not disclosed | Executed global license for Osphena |
| GeoVax (prior to VP role) | Part-time Head of Business Development (consulting) | Not disclosed | Built BD framework prior to full-time appointment |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cogas Consulting, LLC | Founder; Executive management, technical development, regulatory, and BD consultant | Founded 2010 | Supported small/mid-size pharma and device companies; assisted multiple companies in financing activities |
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Shares beneficially owned | 8,857 (<1% of 29,705,360 outstanding as of Sept 30, 2025) |
| Ownership as % of shares outstanding | <1% |
| Vested vs. unvested shares | Not disclosed in public tables |
| Options (exercisable vs. unexercisable) | Not disclosed for Sharkey; company notes employee options typically vest over defined periods and expire after 10 years |
| Shares pledged as collateral | No pledging disclosure in the security ownership table |
Employment Terms
- Title and start date: Vice President, Business Development; effective June 13, 2022 .
- Employment agreement: Employment Agreement between GeoVax, Inc. and John W. Sharkey, Ph.D., with Amendment No. 1 listed among S-1 exhibits (details incorporated by reference) .
Performance & Track Record
- Devices leadership: As CEO of Largent Health, oversaw development strategy for three 510(k) devices and achieved the first FDA-cleared dental cavity cleanser with antimicrobial claims .
- Biopharma transactions: At Novartis and Shionogi, involved in high-value partnering transactions (Lucentis EU rights; Focalin global rights; Osphena global license), demonstrating deal-making capability relevant to GeoVax’s partnering-centric model .
- GeoVax operating context: 2025 YTD research and development expense $15.127 million and general & administrative $4.559 million; 2025 YTD net loss $(17.046) million; YTD government contract revenue $2.489 million (BARDA contract later terminated for convenience) .
Compensation Structure (Company Context)
- Equity plan mechanics: GeoVax’s stock incentive plans provide options that “typically” vest over time with 10-year expirations; awards are determined subjectively by CEO and Compensation Committee rather than formulaic schedules . This informs potential vesting cadence and insider selling pressure windows, even though Sharkey-specific grants are not disclosed .
Investment Implications
- Alignment and retention: Direct ownership of 8,857 shares (<1%) indicates limited “skin-in-the-game,” increasing reliance on option/RSU structures for alignment; with typical vesting over time and 10-year expiries, watch for vest cliffs as potential selling pressure points, though Sharkey-specific award details are not disclosed .
- Execution signal: Sharkey’s track record in securing notable licensing/partnering transactions (Novartis/Shionogi) is strategically valuable for GeoVax’s pipeline partnering and capital-light commercialization strategy .
- Risk overlay: Ongoing losses and listing compliance risk (Nasdaq bid-price deficiency; reverse split authorization) heighten retention risk and the importance of cash/equity mix in employment terms; monitor future filings for Sharkey’s severance, bonus targets, and change-of-control protections to assess pay-for-performance alignment and potential golden parachute exposure .