Vical Incorporated researches and develops biopharmaceutical products based on its patented DNA delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases. The 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, through its licensees and collaborators, develops a range of DNA-based vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention or treatment of infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer using its patented DNA delivery technologies. Its products comprise cytomegalovirus vaccine, a phase 2 clinical trial product for hematopoietic cell transplant patients; a vaccine against influenza in preclinical stages; Allovectin-7, a plasmid/lipid complex containing the DNA sequences encoding HLA-B7 and ß2 microglobulin for metastatic melanoma in Phase 3 clinical trials; and IL-2/EP in Phase 1 trials for patients with recurrent metastatic melanoma. In addition, the company out-licenses its patented technologies for various companies. Vical was founded in 1987 and is based in San Diego, California.