Vical Incorporated Licenses Core Technology To Stanford University, Harvard University, Yale University

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vical Incorporated announced today that the company has granted non-exclusive, academic licenses for its broad DNA delivery technology patent estate to three of the nation's top research institutions-Stanford University, Harvard University and Yale University.

The academic licenses are intended to encourage widespread commercial use of the company's innovative DNA delivery technologies in the development of new antibodies, vaccines, therapeutic proteins, and diagnostics. The nonexclusive academic licenses allow university researchers to use Vical's technology free of charge for educational and internal, non-commercial research purposes. In exchange, Vical will have the option to exclusively license from the universities potential commercial applications stemming from the technology on terms to be negotiated.

Vical's patent-protected technology allows delivery of genetic material into living cells in the body without the use of viruses. The convenience, safety, and simplicity of Vical's method have driven its advance from initial discovery in the late 1980s to its use today by many of the world's most prestigious medical and scientific researchers.

"We are very fortunate to have pioneered a fundamental method of DNA delivery that has become a standard tool of researchers worldwide, and products based on our technology have now begun entering the commercial markets. One of the biggest challenges, though, in owning a technology like this is encouraging its widespread use without jeopardizing its proprietary nature," said Vijay B. Samant, Vical's President and Chief Executive Officer.

"This unique academic licensing program is a win-win. It allows us to effectively manage our IP estate and realize the full potential of our technologies, while simultaneously giving some of the finest minds in the academic sector the freedom to apply our technologies to make important discoveries in the development of new medicines," Samant added. "We are delighted that three of the leading research institutions in the world have recognized the value of this technology, and we look forward to offering identical terms to other academic institutions to encourage further research and development using our non-viral DNA delivery methodologies."

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 has retained all rights to its internally developed product candidates. 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 www.vical.com.

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 additional academic institutions will take academic licenses to Vical's technology; whether the use of Vical's technology by academic institutions will lead to any commercial opportunities or any licenses of technology to Vical; 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.

Contacts: Investors: Media: Alan R. Engbring Susan Neath Vical Incorporated Porter Novelli Life Sciences (858) 646-1127 (858) 527-3486 Website: www.vical.com

CONTACT: Investors, Alan R. Engbring of Vical Incorporated,+1-858-646-1127; or Media, Susan Neath of Porter Novelli Life Sciences,+1-858-527-3486, for Vical Incorporated

Web site: http://www.vical.com/