SAN DIEGO, Sept. 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL), a biotechnology company developing vaccines and therapeutics for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, today announced that the Company will present a poster summarizing results from preclinical studies of its antifungal compound, VL-2397 (formerly known as ASP2397), at the upcoming Interscience Conference of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) and the International Congress of Chemotherapy joint meeting in San Diego, California. The poster, titled "Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Characterization of ASP2397, a Novel Potent Antifungal Agent with Activity against Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis," will be presented during the "New Anti-Fungal Agents" poster session on September 19, 2015 from 11:00am to 1:00pm PT.
VL-2397 is part of a potential new class of antifungal compounds for the treatment of systemic fungal infections. Systemic fungal infections are major causes of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients, such as transplant recipients, in patients undergoing chemotherapy and in patients in the ICU. In preclinical studies to date, VL-2397 has demonstrated faster fungicidal activity than marketed drugs and activity against azole-resistant fungal pathogens. VL-2397 was initially developed by Astellas Pharma Inc. (TOKYO: 4503). In March 2015, Astellas granted Vical an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize VL-2397. The Food and Drug Administration has granted a qualified infectious disease product (QIDP) designation to VL-2397 for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis. Vical intends to file an investigational new drug application and initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial for VL-2397 in the first half of 2016.
About Vical
Vical develops biopharmaceutical products for the prevention and treatment of chronic or life-threatening infectious diseases, based on its patented DNA delivery technologies and other therapeutic approaches. Additional information on Vical is available at www.vical.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
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 the potential benefits of VL-2397, and Vical's development plans and timelines for VL-2397, including expected timing for filing an investigational new drug application and initiating a Phase 1 clinical trial. Risks and uncertainties include whether Vical or others will continue development of VL-2397; whether planned regulatory filings for and clinical development of VL-2397 will begin when expected, or at all; whether the results of future preclinical or clinical studies will be consistent with prior preclinical studies or will otherwise merit further development; whether Vical or its collaborative partners will seek or gain approval to market any product candidates, including VL-2397; 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.