Vical Incorporated has received U.S. Patent No. 6,413,942, which covers methods for the non-viral, gene-based delivery of physiologically active polypeptides or proteins, including growth hormone, insulin, interleukins, interferons, GM-CSF, and erythropoietin.

Vical's patented technologies are being used to study and develop gene-based treatments for a wide range of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and genetic deficiencies. Vical and its partners are actively developing initial applications of these technologies. Progress with gene-based therapeutic protein delivery has been most notable in the field of angiogenesis, in which two of the company's partners have been conducting clinical trials.

Gene-based delivery of growth factors that stimulate blood vessel development has been demonstrated to alleviate the symptoms of both coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease. The company is independently exploring gene-based therapeutic protein delivery for both human cancers and veterinary diseases.

The new patent reinforces and expands Vical's existing coverage for gene-based delivery of polypeptides or proteins, and may provide increased protection for independent development programs and greater opportunities for outlicensing and partnered development of product candidates based on this broadly applicable technology. Vical has more than 400 issued patents or pending patent applications worldwide, with broad coverage in the field of gene transfer for both DNA vaccination and gene-based protein delivery.