Vical To Present At 3rd Annual Cancer Immunotherapy Conference

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) today announced that the company will present at the MD Becker Partners' 3 ^rd Annual "Cancer Immunotherapy: A Long-Awaited Reality" Conference on Thursday, October 4, at 1:15 p.m. ET, at the New York Academy of Medicine. Vical's President and Chief Executive Officer, Vijay B. Samant, will provide an overview of its Allovectin ^® immunotherapy program, including mechanisms of action, summary clinical results, and current status and outlook in the ongoing Phase 3 registration trial in patients with metastatic melanoma.

A webcast of the company's presentation at the MD Becker Conference will be available live and archived through the Events & Presentations page in the Investors section of the Vical website at www.vical.com . Further information about the conference is available at www.regonline.com/mdb2012 .

The Phase 3 trial is evaluating Allovectin ^® as first-line therapy in 390 chemo-naive patients with Stage III or IV recurrent metastatic melanoma, randomized on a 2:1 basis: 260 for treatment with Allovectin ^® and 130 for treatment with either dacarbazine or temozolomide. Data collection for the primary endpoint (response rate at 24 weeks or more after randomization) is completed and independent adjudication is ongoing. The company announced in early August that it expected to reach the target number of death events for the secondary endpoint (overall survival) in late 2012, and to release top-line data for both endpoints as soon as practical after that.

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 whether Vical or others will continue development of Allovectin ^®; whether Vical will reach the target number of death events for the secondary endpoint (overall survival) and release top-line data from the company's Phase 3 registration trial of Allovectin ^® in patients with metastatic melanoma on the projected timetable, if at all; whether any patients will derive benefit from treatment with Allovectin ^®; whether Allovectin ^® will be successfully developed, approved or commercialized; whether any product candidates will be shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials; 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; 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: Alan R. Engbring
         [phone]
         Website:  www.vical.com