Date: 10/14/2006 12:30:00 PM

Vical Incorporated
(Nasdaq: VICL) today announced conclusions from anthrax DNA vaccine studies in
non-human primates reflecting data presented by Peggy A. Lalor, Ph.D., the
company's Executive Director of Preclinical Safety and Efficacy, on Saturday
at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (Toronto,
October 12 - 15).  Key observations included:


    *  DNA vaccines encoding protective antigen (PA) elicited protective
       immunity against lethal anthrax spore challenge that could not be
       predicted by post-vaccination antibody immune responses.

    *  Anthrax spore challenge resulted in more rapid and significantly
       higher anti-PA antibody responses and anthrax lethal toxin neutralizing
       antibody responses in DNA-vaccinated animals than in control animals.

    *  "Pseudochallenge" with anthrax antigen (recombinant PA vaccine) also
       resulted in more rapid and measurably higher anti-PA antibody responses
       and anthrax lethal toxin neutralizing antibody responses in
       DNA-vaccinated animals than in control animals.


Traditional immunoassays following DNA vaccination may not be sufficient
to predict vaccine protective efficacy.  The results of these studies suggest
that the protective efficacy of DNA vaccines may be evaluable by measuring
immune responses after a pseudochallenge with the same antigen that was
encoded in the DNA vaccine rather than a challenge with the pathogen itself.
This method may present a new pathway to evaluation of DNA vaccine efficacy.
Financial support for the anthrax vaccine studies was provided under
previously-announced grants from the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH).  The
recombinant PA vaccine was provided by VaxGen Inc.

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.

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 Vical or others will continue development
of the anthrax vaccine; whether results, observations or conclusions from non-
human primate studies will be predictive of results, observations or
conclusions from human studies; whether evaluation of protective efficacy
based on pseudochallenge will become an accepted method; whether the anthrax
vaccine or any other product candidates will be shown to be safe and
effective; the timing, nature and cost of clinical trials; whether Vical or
its collaborative partners will seek or gain approval to market the anthrax
vaccine or any other product candidates; whether Vical or its collaborative
partners will succeed in marketing the anthrax vaccine or any other 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.


    Contacts:  Investors:                        Media:
               Alan R. Engbring                  Susan Neath
               Vical Incorporated                Porter Novelli Life Sciences
               (858) 646-1127                    (619) 849-6007
               Website:  www.vical.com


SOURCE  Vical Incorporated

Investors, Alan R. Engbring of Vical Incorporated, +1-858-646-1127; or Media, Susan
Neath of Porter Novelli Life Sciences, +1-619-849-6007, for Vical Incorporated

http://www.vical.com/