SAN DIEGO, Oct. 7, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) today announced that the company has agreed to manufacture plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccines against HIV under a $2.4 million contract with the IPPOX Foundation, a collaborating institution for the Poxvirus Vaccine Regimen Design (PVRD) led by the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) under the auspices of the Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery (CAVD).

A pDNA prime/poxvirus boost vaccine approach has been developed since 1998 by the EuroVacc program and currently the focus of the CAVD's Poxvirus T-cell Vaccine Discovery Consortium. The DNA/poxvirus approach has been tested in multiple Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in Europe and has shown to be highly immunogenic. The current project is investigating whether the 2^nd generation DNA/poxvirus vaccine approach combined with novel immunization strategies can induce increased and balanced Env, Gag, Pol and Nef HIV-1-specific T-cell responses in humans. Successful outcomes in the human studies could lead to further clinical development of the DNA and poxvirus vaccine candidates in Africa.

Vical will produce individual plasmids encoding selected portions of the Env and Gag antigens, and one plasmid encoding selected portions of the Pol and Nef antigens. These plasmids will be combined and delivered as a single vaccine. Delivery is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2010.

About Vical

Vical researches and develops biopharmaceutical products based on its patented DNA delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases. Potential applications of the company's DNA delivery technology include DNA vaccines for infectious diseases or cancer, in which the expressed protein is an immunogen; cancer immunotherapeutics, in which the expressed protein is an immune system stimulant; and cardiovascular therapies, in which the expressed protein is an angiogenic growth factor. The company is developing certain infectious disease vaccines and cancer therapeutics internally. In addition, the company collaborates with major pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies that give it access to complementary technologies or greater resources. These strategic partnerships provide the company with mutually beneficial opportunities to expand its product pipeline and address significant unmet medical needs. Additional information on Vical is available at www.vical.com.

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This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including: whether IPPOX, CHUV, CAVD or others will continue development of the DNA/poxvirus vaccine approach; whether Vical will deliver all, if any, of the plasmids by the specified date, if at all; whether all funding under the contract will be received by the company; whether the results from prior testing will be predictive of future results; whether CAVD or others will conduct a Phase 2B trial of the DNA and poxvirus vaccine candidates in Africa; whether CAVD or others will seek or gain approval to market the DNA/poxvirus vaccine approach; whether Vical or its collaborative partners will seek or gain approval to market any product candidates; whether Vical or its collaborative partners will succeed in marketing any product candidates; and additional risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the company's judgment as of the date of this release. The company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

CONTACT:  Vical Incorporated
          Alan R. Engbring
          (858) 646-1127
          www.vical.com