Vical to Present Update On Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Program and Overview of Pivotal...

Vical to Present Update On Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Program and Overview of
Pivotal Phase 3 Melanoma Trial At ASGT Conference

SAN DIEGO, May 27, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL)
today announced that the company will be presenting at a series of upcoming
conferences. At the annual meeting of the American Society of Gene Therapy (San
Diego, CA, May 27 - 30):

* Vical's Executive Vice President of Product Development, Alain P.
Rolland, Pharm.D., Ph.D., will provide a summary and status report
on the company's vaccine programs for both H5 (avian) and H1
(swine) strains of pandemic influenza; and

* Vical's Executive Director of Oncology Clinical Research, Linda G.
Strause, Ph.D., will provide an overview of the company's lead
cancer program, the Allovectin-7(r) Immunotherapy for Metastatic
Melanoma (AIMM) Phase 3 clinical trial.
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. Forward-looking statements include statements about the company's
focus, collaborative partners, product candidates, and developmental status.
Risks and uncertainties include whether any product candidates will be shown to
be safe and efficacious in clinical trials, the timing of clinical trials,
whether Vical or its collaborative partners will seek or gain approval to market
any product candidates, the dependence of the company on its collaborative
partners, 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