BRUSSELS, Belgium, Dec. 9, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) announced today that the company is addressing an international gathering of pandemic influenza vaccine experts and potential commercial partners to encourage broader use of the company's DNA vaccine technology and Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant. Larry R. Smith, Ph.D., Vical's Vice President of Vaccine Research, presented today at the World Influenza Congress Europe (Brussels -- December 7-9), an innovative forum for the discussion of influenza policy and planning, vaccine research and development, and commercialization opportunities.

Dr. Smith's presentation, "DNA Vaccines: Rapid Response to Pandemic Outbreaks," highlights the unique advantages of DNA vaccines for threats such as the recent H1N1 swine flu and other emerging diseases. DNA vaccines can be developed and produced very quickly using scaleable manufacturing processes which are not dependent upon chicken eggs or other cell culture methods. They contain no infectious components and do not require any handling of the target pathogen, affording a favorable safety profile. Their inherent stability allows versatile shipping and storage conditions. Their ability to elicit both antibody and T-cell responses offers excellent flexibility and precise matching to the specific vulnerabilities of each pathogen. DNA vaccines can be formulated in simple saline solution, or with Vical's Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant or other excipients designed to enhance the desired type of immune response.

The presentation also features Vical's RapidResponse(TM) DNA vaccine manufacturing platform, which is designed to significantly reduce the time required to develop, manufacture and deploy vaccines against emerging diseases during the early stages of an infectious outbreak. It is ideally suited to enable an immediate response against emerging diseases affecting large populations, such as pandemic influenza or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The company is developing the RapidResponse(TM) platform under a three-year grant awarded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and has successfully completed proof-of-concept studies in animals.

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, the company's Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant, and its RapidResponse(TM) DNA vaccine manufacturing platform, as well as the company's focus, collaborative partners, and product candidates. Risks and uncertainties include whether Vical or others will continue development of DNA vaccines, the Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant, or the RapidResponse(TM) DNA vaccine platform; whether the company's DNA vaccine candidates will be effective against emerging pathogens; whether any product candidates based on the company's DNA vaccine technology and/or employing the Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant will be shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials; the timing, nature and cost of clinical trials; whether the RapidResponse(TM) platform will reduce the time required to develop, manufacture and deploy vaccines against emerging diseases during the early stages of an infectious outbreak; 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