Vical Incorporated announced the receipt of a $1.2 million milestone payment from Gencell SAS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aventis Pharma SA, under the companies' license agreement for certain cardiovascular applications of Vical's patented DNA delivery technology.

Under the agreement, established in June 2000, Gencell is developing plasmid-based delivery of Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 (FGF-1) as a potential treatment for Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), and other indications characterized by blood vessel blockage, the release said.

Published interim results from an open-label, non-placebo controlled phase 1 clinical trial indicated that the FGF-1 plasmid-based therapeutic was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events considered related to the treatment. Interim results reported in this same publication demonstrated reduction in pain and evidence of newly visible blood vessels three months after treatment. Gencell is currently conducting double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trials in the United States and Europe.

"We are pleased that our partners at Gencell continue to progress with the development of this novel application of our technology," said Vijay B Samant, Vical's president and CEO. "Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and the need for new treatment options is significant," Vijay added.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), also known as atherosclerosis, is characterized by thickening of the arterial walls and build-up of plaque deposits inside the arteries. PAD typically affects the major blood vessels feeding the arms, legs, or various organs in the abdomen. Risk factors for the disease include tobacco use, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, age, and obesity. Diabetes is also a major risk factor.