-----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,
 DtT8EQSj9BUasijPDD9BpiMqDE3cPaAiWK2GnWXTzb23y6SL8O9xGtBcvwSBMzKK
 JhF15M9IpYuWr36fRmUCrg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001252035-08-000011.txt : 20080522
<SEC-HEADER>0001252035-08-000011.hdr.sgml : 20080522
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080522170224
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001252035-08-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080522
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080522
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080522

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MERTON ROBERT C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201888

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21088
		FILM NUMBER:		08855357

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9373 TOWNE CENTRE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121-3088
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8586461100
</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>2008-05-22</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201888</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MERTON ROBERT C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10390 PACIFIC CENTER COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121-4340</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nonstatutory Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.27</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-05-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-05-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The date in this field is approximate.  These options are exercisable at the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders.  The date of the meeting has not been set, but is expected to occur in May 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>LYNNE M. GOLDACKER</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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