GALVESTON, Texas, Nov. 10, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) today is presenting a strong rationale advocating the use of DNA vaccine technology for emerging and/or pandemic infectious diseases. At the University of Texas Medical Branch Symposium, "The Changing Landscape of Vaccine Development," Larry R. Smith, Ph.D., the company's Vice President of Vaccine Research, systematically outlined the advantages of DNA vaccine technology over conventional vaccine technology in dealing with serious emerging threats.

Dr. Smith's presentation, "DNA Vaccines: Rapid Response to Pandemic Outbreaks," highlights historical data from multiple human clinical trials of DNA vaccines demonstrating safety, broad immunogenicity, and initial indications of efficacy. A favorable safety profile has been established through testing of various DNA vaccines in human subjects now totaling in the thousands. Recent studies of DNA vaccines formulated with Vical's Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant or polaxamers have shown clear ability to elicit both antibody and T-cell immune response. These advantages, coupled with rapid development speed, excellent flexibility, and manufacturing which is not dependent upon cell culture or chicken eggs, encourage the use of DNA vaccine technology for emerging threats such as the recent H1N1 swine flu and other emerging diseases.

As previously announced, Vical was the first company to produce a vaccine candidate against A/H1N1 pandemic influenza (swine flu) after the initial reports of widespread outbreaks in Mexico, and the first to announce robust immunogenicity results from animal testing in two species. The U.S. Navy has awarded a contract for $1.25 million to support preparations for a Phase 1 clinical trial of the company's H1 vaccine to be conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), a biomedical research organization within the Navy.

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. Forward-looking statements include statements about Vical's DNA vaccine technology and its vaccine against H1N1 pandemic influenza, potential human clinical testing of such a vaccine, potential development of other DNA vaccines, as well as the company's focus, collaborative partners, and product candidates. Risks and uncertainties include whether Vical or others will develop vaccines for future pandemics or emerging diseases; whether Vical will receive all, if any, of the committed Navy funding; whether Vical will conduct a human clinical trial of the H1 vaccine; whether Vical, NMRC or others will continue development of the pandemic influenza DNA vaccine candidate; whether the company's DNA vaccine candidate will be effective in protecting humans against H1N1 strains of influenza; whether the influenza 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 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
         Website:  www.vical.com