Vical Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent No. 7,470,675 for Composition, Delivery and Use of Gene-Based Interferon-Omega


SAN DIEGO, Jan. 14, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) announced today the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 7,470,675 covering the composition, delivery and use of gene-based interferon-omega. Interferon-omega is part of the interferon family of proteins which are naturally produced by the immune system. Several interferons have been approved as treatments for infectious diseases, cancer and other diseases. They typically work by directing the immune system to target foreign agents in the body and interrupt their normal growth processes.

This patented gene-based composition was discovered and developed by Vical scientists for a broad range of potential uses. With Vical's method, a genetic sequence encoding interferon-omega is delivered into a body tissue or cavity where it enters living cells. Once inside the cells, the genetic sequence is designed to cause the cells to produce interferon-omega protein, which may help direct and control the immune system. The technologies covered by this new patent are available for licensing.

This patent adds to Vical's family of patents in the United States and in other key regions based on the company's discovery that administering genetic sequences such as DNA or RNA into the body, without the use of viral delivery vehicles, may cause expression of the proteins encoded by the genetic sequences.

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 statements about Vical's technology and its current and potential applications, the scope of coverage of and potential applications for the company's issued and future patents and the potential uses and benefits of gene-based interferon-omega, as well as the company's focus, collaborative partners, and product candidates. Risks and uncertainties include whether the company's technology will be successfully applied, whether the company's issued patents will be challenged and whether such challenges will have an adverse effect on the scope of the patents, whether the company will enforce its issued patents or will be successful in any enforcement efforts, whether the company will successfully prosecute additional patent applications and whether such applications will lead to the issuance of additional patents, whether gene-based interferon-omega, if used in human clinical trials, will be safe and effective at directing and controlling the immune system, whether the company or any of its collaborative partners will incorporate gene-based interferon-omega into any of their products, 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.



            

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