SAN DIEGO, March 5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) today announced that the company will provide an overview of the company's technologies, development programs, and strategic partnerships at two upcoming investor conferences.

 * Vical's President and Chief Executive Officer, Vijay B. Samant,
   will present at the Noble Financial Group Boston UnCommon
   Conference (Boston, March 12).

 * Vical's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Jill M.
   Broadfoot, will present at the Cowen Health Care Conference (Boston,
   March 16 - 19).

A webcast of Mr. Samant's presentation at the Noble conference will be available live and archived through the Events page in the Investors section of the Vical website at www.vical.com.

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.

CONTACT: Vical Incorporated
         Alan R. Engbring
         (858) 646-1127
         www.vical.com