Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

7.	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In late October and early November 2013, following the Company’s announcement of the results of its Phase 3 trial of Allovectin^® and the subsequent decline of the price of its common stock, two putative securities class action complaints were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California against the Company and certain of its current and former officers. On February 26, 2014, the two cases were consolidated into one action and a lead plaintiff and lead counsel were appointed, or Consolidation Order. On May 12, 2014, the lead plaintiff filed a first amended consolidated complaint alleging that the defendants violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by making materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s business prospects and the prospects for Allovectin^®, thereby artificially inflating the price of its common stock. On June 9, 2014, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the first amended complaint and a motion to strike certain allegations in the amended complaint. On March 9, 2015, the Court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss the first amended complaint and terminated as moot defendants’ motion to strike, or Order. The Lead plaintiff was granted leave to amend his first amended complaint on or before March 25, 2015. The lead plaintiff chose not to amend his complaint and instead stipulated to an entry of judgment. On April 28, 2015, the Court entered final judgment dismissing the action, or Judgment. On May 28, 2015, the lead plaintiff appealed the Order and Judgment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. That same day, another group of the Company’s stockholders, that had previously moved for appointment as lead plaintiff, or the Vical Investor Group, also appealed the Order and Judgment, as well as the Consolidation Order, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On August 3, 2015, the Vical Investor Group voluntarily dismissed its appeal. On October 8, 2015, the lead plaintiff-appellant filed an opening brief in support of his appeal. The Defendants’ answering brief is currently due on November 9, 2015.

In the ordinary course of business, the Company may become a party to additional lawsuits involving various matters. The Company is unaware of any such lawsuits presently pending against it which, individually or in the aggregate, are deemed to be material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

The Company prosecutes its intellectual property vigorously to obtain the broadest valid scope for its patents. Due to uncertainty of the ultimate outcome of these matters, the impact on future operating results or the Company’s financial condition is not subject to reasonable estimates.