Exhibit 5.1
October 17, 2006
Vical Incorporated 10390 Pacific Center Court San Diego, CA 92121 |
Frederick T. Muto
T: (858) 550-6010 mutoft@cooley.com |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have requested our opinion with respect to certain matters in connection with the offering by VICAL INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation (the Company), of an aggregate of 2,490,038 shares of the Companys common stock, par value $0.01 (the Shares), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-131307) (the Registration Statement), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Act), the prospectus included within the Registration Statement (the Base Prospectus), and the supplemented form of prospectus relating to the Shares dated October 13, 2006 and filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations of the Act (the Prospectus Supplement). (The Base Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement are collectively referred to as the Prospectus.) All of the Shares are to be sold by the Company as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.
In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Companys Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, its Amended and Restated Bylaws, and the originals or copies certified to our satisfaction of such records, documents, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. We have assumed the genuineness and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to originals of all documents where due execution and delivery are a prerequisite to the effectiveness thereof.
On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when sold in accordance with the Registration Statement and Prospectus, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption Legal Matters in the Prospectus and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
Cooley Godward Kronish LLP
By: | /s/ FREDERICK T. MUTO | |
Frederick T. Muto |
4401 EASTGATE MALL SAN DIEGO CA 92121 T: (858) 550-6000 F: (858) 550-6420 WWW.COOLEY.COM