WEALTH UNIVERSITY

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Huge VICL news!!!!

Vical Receives Broad U.S. Patent for Vaxfectin(R)-Formulated DNA Vaccines for
Influenza; Coverage Includes All Seasonal and Pandemic Strains

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 3, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL)
announced today the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 7,582,613 covering
Vaxfectin(R)-formulated DNA vaccines for influenza. The patent provides broad
coverage for any circulating or potential influenza viruses, including both
seasonal and pandemic strains.

The company is currently developing Vaxfectin(R)-formulated DNA vaccines for
both H5N1 avian-origin and H1N1 swine-origin pandemic influenza. Both vaccines
are formulated with the company's Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant, a novel lipid-based
formulation which has demonstrated significant immune-enhancing ability with a
broad range of DNA vaccines and up to 30-fold immune-enhancing ability with a
conventional seasonal influenza vaccine. Vaxfectin(R)-formulated H5N1 influenza
DNA vaccines completed Phase 1 human testing in 2008.

DNA vaccines encode certain proteins associated with a target pathogen,
rather than using any part of the pathogen itself, and can prime the immune
system as well as induce potent antibody and T-cell immune responses. DNA
vaccines contain no viral particles, are non-infectious, and can be
administered on a repeat basis without unwanted immune responses. Additionally,
DNA vaccines have the potential to achieve proof of concept more quickly and
cost-effectively than conventional vaccines, and can be manufactured using
uniform methods of fermentation and purification, allowing significantly faster
development and production.

The new '613 patent broadly covers DNA vaccines formulated with any cationic
lipid/co-lipid adjuvant formulations from the class including Vaxfectin(R), and
targeting any strain of influenza. It adds to Vical's family of patents in the
United States and other key regions based on the company's discovery that
administering genetic sequences such as DNA or RNA into the body, without the
use of viral delivery vehicles, may cause expression of the proteins encoded by
the genetic sequences. Vical has additional issued patents covering the
composition and use of the Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant.

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.

The Vical Incorporated logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5768