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Japan's geographic proximity to many of the avian influenza outbreaks inrecent years puts the country at high risk for future outbreaks. The JapaneseMinistry of Health, Labor and Welfare has estimated that the emergence of anew strain of influenza could lead to 13 to 25 million infections and 170,000to 640,000 deaths in Japan. AnGes' experience in working with Vical's DNAdelivery technology within the Japanese regulatory environment positions thecompany well to pursue further development in Japan based on Vical's recentlyannounced preliminary Phase 1 H5N1 pandemic influenza data.
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About Vical
Vical researches and develops biopharmaceutical products based on itspatented DNA delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of seriousor life-threatening diseases. Potential applications of the company's DNAdelivery technology include DNA vaccines for infectious diseases or cancer, inwhich the expressed protein is an immunogen; cancer immunotherapeutics, inwhich the expressed protein is an immune system stimulant; and cardiovasculartherapies, in which the expressed protein is an angiogenic growth factor. Thecompany is developing certain infectious disease vaccines and cancertherapeutics internally. In addition, the company collaborates with majorpharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies that give it access tocomplementary technologies or greater resources. These strategic partnershipsprovide the company with mutually beneficial opportunities to expand itsproduct pipeline and address significant unmet medical needs. Additionalinformation on Vical is available at http://www.vical.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to risksand uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially fromthose projected. Forward-looking statements include statements about a Letterof Intent to negotiate terms and conditions potentially leading to a licenseagreement with AnGes for development and marketing of pandemic influenza DNAvaccines in Japan, as well as Vical's focus, collaborative partners, andproduct candidates. Risks and uncertainties include whether we will be able tocomplete a mutually satisfactory definitive agreement with AnGes; whetherpreliminary H5N1 DNA vaccine Phase 1 clinical trial results will be confirmedupon further analysis or in larger studies; whether any product candidatesunder development by Vical or its collaborative partners will be shown to besafe and effective in clinical trials; the timing, nature and cost of clinicaltrials; whether Vical or its collaborative partners will seek or gain approvalto market any product candidates; whether Vical or its collaborative partnerswill succeed in marketing any product candidates; and additional risks setforth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.These forward-looking statements represent the company's judgment as of thedate of this release. The company disclaims, however, any intent or obligationto update these forward-looking statements.
Contact: Alan R. Engbring
Website: http://www.vical.com(858) 646-1127
SOURCE Vical Incorporated
