-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 G2l2edAPpGMD8qpuUKvU67LJS91p3LLA9772WZhSgkLHWGb+eAgXi9L1GZK7ACa3
 Ox1+iPqnwnULDF0gGwg9pA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001198238-04-000006.txt : 20040802
<SEC-HEADER>0001198238-04-000006.hdr.sgml : 20040802
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040802182319
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001198238-04-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040802
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040802

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAMANT VIJAY B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001198238
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21088
		FILM NUMBER:		04946120

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9373 TOWNE CENTRE DRIVE SUITE 100
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121-3088

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VICAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000819050
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				930948554
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10390 PACIFIC CENTER COURT
		STREET 2:		.
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121-4340
		BUSINESS PHONE:		858-646-1100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10390 PACIFIC CENTER COURT
		STREET 2:		.
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121-4340
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000819050</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VICAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VICL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198238</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SAMANT VIJAY B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10390 PACIFIC CENTER CT.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121-4340</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.64</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>58000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Purchase was made pursuant to a June 13, 2003 10b5-1 Stock Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Vijay B. Samant</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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