SAN DIEGO, May 31, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) announced today that the company will present an update on its investigational antifungal product candidate, VL-2397, at the BIO International Convention (San Francisco, June 6 - 9).
Andrew Hopkins, Vical’s Director Corporate Development and Project Management, will present at the Global Workshop for Novel Anti-Infectives. Vical was selected as one of ten companies to present during the workshop, which is being co-hosted by the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), The Wellcome Trust-funded Community for Open Antimicrobial Drug Discovery and the IMI funded ENABLE project. Company presentations will be assessed by an expert panel and the audience, selecting the best presentation for international promotion following the workshop. The workshop will take place at the BIO 2016 Convention on Monday, June 6, 2016 from 11:00am-12:30pm at the Moscone Convention Center.
About VL-2397
VL-2397 exemplifies a 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 intensive care units. In preclinical studies to date, VL-2397 has demonstrated faster antifungal activity than marketed drugs and activity against azole-resistant fungal pathogens. In March 2016 Vical initiated a Phase 1 clinical study to evaluate safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of VL-2397 at single and multiple ascending doses in healthy volunteers at a single U.S. clinical site. 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.
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 statements about the potential uses and benefits of VL-2397, the parameters and timing of the Phase 1 trial, the potential market opportunity for VL-2397 and Vical’s development plans and strategy with respect to VL-2397. Risks and uncertainties include whether Vical or others will continue development of VL-2397; whether planned clinical development of VL-2397 will continue as expected, or at all; whether the results of 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.