Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Vical Announces Layoff and Restructuring

[The stock was off 5% today and traded near an all-time low.]

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/081121/laf511.html

›Friday November 21, 6:30 am ET

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq: VICL ) today announced a strategic restructuring including a staff reduction of 29 employees, approximately 20% of the company's total workforce, and accelerated closure of a research facility. Following the restructuring, the company will have approximately 120 employees and expects to reduce future net losses and cash burn by approximately $4 million annually.

The restructuring is designed to preserve capital and focus the company's efforts on its most advanced product development programs: its Allovectin- 7® immunotherapeutic currently in a pivotal Phase 3 trial in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma, and its DNA vaccine for cytomegalovirus (CMV), currently in a Phase 2 trial in stem cell transplant recipients. The company is exploring partnering opportunities for the congenital disease application of its CMV vaccine and for its pandemic influenza DNA vaccines.

"Vical is fortunate to have sufficient capital for its near-term needs," said Vijay Samant, Vical's President and Chief Executive Officer, "but in the current economic climate, we needed to reduce spending and focus our efforts on advancing our two late-stage product development programs toward the achievement of key milestones. We regret the impact this unavoidable decision will have on our departing employees, whose past dedication and efforts have supported Vical's significant progress. We wish them and their families all the best through this difficult period of transition."

The company expects to incur restructuring charges of approximately $0.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2008, associated with personnel-related termination costs, and another $0.5 million in the first quarter of 2009 related to the facility closure. The company will provide additional details on the impact of this restructuring with the issuance of its 2008 year-end results and 2009 financial guidance in February 2009.

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 immunotherapeutics for cancer, in which the expressed protein is an immune system stimulant; DNA vaccines for infectious diseases, in which the expressed protein is an immunogen; 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 serve significant unmet medical needs. Additional information on Vical is available at http://www.vical.com.‹