Vical Receives $2.5 Million Payment for Continued Funding of Allovectin-7(r) Phase...

Vical Receives $2.5 Million Payment for Continued Funding of Allovectin-7(r)
Phase 3 Trial

SAN DIEGO, May 18, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL)
today announced the receipt of a $2.5 million cash payment from AnGes MG, Inc.,
related to continued progress in the company's ongoing Allovectin-7(r) Phase 3
metastatic melanoma trial. Through a series of cash payments and equity
investments under a previously announced collaborative agreement, Vical has
received $20.1 million to date of the $22.6 million total committed by AnGes.
The trial is expected to complete enrollment of the planned 375 subjects by
year-end 2009.

"Our recruitment of patients is going very well in this pivotal Phase 3 trial as
we gain momentum at existing clinical sites and continue adding new sites," said
Vijay B. Samant, Vical's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are actively
enrolling at 85 sites in more than a dozen countries in key geographic regions
around the world, and are on track to complete enrollment of the planned 375
patients by the end of the year." Ei Yamada, AnGes' President and Chief
Executive Officer, said, "We are pleased to be working with Vical on this
important program, and excited that the trial is nearing completion. We hope for
a positive outcome that would support approval in the United States and provide
an opportunity for us to expand in the Asian market."

Vical is conducting the AIMM (Allovectin-7(r) Immunotherapeutic for Metastatic
Melanoma) Phase 3 pivotal trial targeting enrollment of approximately 375
patients with Stage III or IV metastatic melanoma. A patient self-screening tool
for trial eligibility is available online at www.melanomaclinicaltrial.com. In
exchange for funding the trial, AnGes received exclusive marketing rights in
Japan and other key Asian countries, and also will receive certain royalties for
sales in the United States and European countries. AnGes is obligated to pay
Vical royalties on product sales in the specified Asian countries, plus certain
sales-based milestone payments if defined sales levels are achieved. Vical is
obligated to pay AnGes tiered royalties based on defined sales levels in the
United States, and fixed royalties on rest-of-world sales. Each company will be
responsible for obtaining regulatory approvals in any countries where it plans
to market Allovectin-7(r).

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

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
Allovectin-7(r); whether Vical will be able to recruit patients into the AIMM
trial as planned, if at all; whether Vical will receive all of the clinical
trial funding from AnGes under the collaborative agreement, which will depend on
continued development of Allovectin-7(r) and certain other conditions; whether
Vical will receive any or all of the sales-based milestone payments and
royalties for sales in the specified Asian countries, which will depend on the
efforts of AnGes in obtaining regulatory approval and commercializing
Allovectin-7(r) in those countries; whether any sales will be generated in the
United States or Europe, which will depend on the efforts of Vical and
potentially additional partners in obtaining regulatory approvals and
commercializing Allovectin-7(r) in those regions; whether Allovectin-7(r) 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;
whether defined sales levels will be achieved in any markets; 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.

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CONTACT: Vical Incorporated
Alan R. Engbring
(858) 646-1127
www.vical.com