UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

                (Mark One)

x

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2006

 

 

 

OR

 

 

 

o

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

 

 

 

For the transition period from        to

 

 

 

Commission file number 0-22613

 

 

 

 

AVI BIOPHARMA, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Oregon

 

93-0797222

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

One SW Columbia Street, Suite 1105, Portland, Oregon

 

97258

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 503-227-0554


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x  No o   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Check one):

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer x

 

Non-accelerated filer o.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes o  No x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock with $.0001 par value

 

52,971,402

(Class)

 

(Outstanding at November 3, 2006)

 

 

 

 

 




AVI BIOPHARMA, INC.
FORM 10-Q

INDEX

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheets — September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 (unaudited)

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statements of Operations — Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 and from July 22, 1980 (inception) through September 30, 2006 (unaudited)

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statements of Cash Flows — Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 and from July 22, 1980 (Inception) through September 30, 2006 (unaudited)

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders

 

19

 

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

 

Other Information

 

19

 

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

 

19

 

 

 

 

 

Signatures

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibits

 

 

 

21

 

 

1




 

AVI BIOPHARMA, INC.
(A Development Stage Company)
BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,
2006

 

December 31,
2005

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

25,578,248

 

$

34,597,734

 

Short-term securities—available-for-sale

 

12,846,772

 

12,453,348

 

Accounts receivable

 

61,342

 

1,236,446

 

Other current assets

 

802,973

 

365,866

 

Total Current Assets

 

39,289,335

 

48,653,394

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and Equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $9,727,912 and $8,396,923

 

4,745,658

 

5,599,269

 

Patent Costs, net of accumulated amortization of $1,435,381 and $1,270,881

 

2,472,389

 

2,117,710

 

Other Assets

 

34,709

 

37,609

 

Total Assets

 

$

46,542,091

 

$

56,407,982

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

1,155,961

 

$

1,861,604

 

Accrued employee compensation

 

680,881

 

886,369

 

Other liabilities

 

346,037

 

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

2,182,879

 

2,747,973

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding

 

 

 

Common stock, $.0001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 52,967,902 and 51,182,751 issued and outstanding

 

5,297

 

5,118

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

239,726,657

 

226,290,167

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

19,327

 

12,968

 

Deficit accumulated during the development stage

 

(195,392,069

)

(172,648,244

)

Total Shareholders’ Equity

 

44,359,212

 

53,660,009

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

$

46,542,091

 

$

56,407,982

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

2




 

AVI BIOPHARMA, INC.
(A Development Stage Company)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 22, 1980

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

(inception) through

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from license fees, grants and research contracts

 

$

13,252

 

$

3,281,805

 

$

97,772

 

$

3,366,314

 

$

9,963,300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

5,938,867

 

4,147,201

 

18,624,041

 

12,204,260

 

140,925,668

 

General and administrative

 

1,347,114

 

1,052,244

 

5,684,551

 

3,773,303

 

38,752,327

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired in-process research and development

 

 

 

 

 

19,545,028

 

 

 

7,285,981

 

5,199,445

 

24,308,592

 

15,977,563

 

199,223,023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income, net

 

492,083

 

225,169

 

1,466,995

 

486,957

 

7,006,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized gain on sale of short-term securities— available-for-sale

 

 

 

 

 

3,862,502

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Write-down of short-term securities— available-for-sale

 

 

 

 

 

(17,001,348

)

 

 

492,083

 

225,169

 

1,466,995

 

486,957

 

(6,132,346

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(6,780,646

)

$

(1,692,471

)

$

(22,743,825

)

$

(12,124,292

)

$

(195,392,069

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss per share - basic and diluted

 

$

(0.13

)

$

(0.04

)

$

(0.43

)

$

(0.28

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding for computing basic and diluted loss per share

 

52,964,049

 

44,184,293

 

52,546,293

 

43,608,789

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

3




 

AVI BIOPHARMA, INC.
(A Development Stage Company)
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 22, 1980

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

(Inception) to

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

September 30, 2006

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(22,743,825

)

$

(12,124,292

)

$

(195,392,069

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

1,560,636

 

1,467,526

 

12,290,500

 

Loss on disposal of assets

 

192,369

 

7,074

 

315,178

 

Realized gain on sale of short-term securities—available-for-sale

 

 

 

(3,862,502

)

Write-down of short-term securities—available-for-sale

 

 

 

17,001,348

 

Issuance of common stock to vendors

 

700,000

 

 

700,000

 

Compensation expense on issuance of common stock and partnership units

 

 

 

861,655

 

Compensation expense to non-employees on issuance of options and warrants to purchase common stock or partnership units

 

525,126

 

337,075

 

2,643,053

 

Stock-based compensation

 

3,946,821

 

 

 

3,946,821

 

Conversion of interest accrued to common stock

 

 

 

7,860

 

Acquired in-process research and development

 

 

 

19,545,028

 

(Increase) decrease in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable and other current assets

 

737,997

 

140,547

 

(864,315

)

Other assets

 

2,900

 

 

(34,709

)

Net increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued employee compensation, and other liabilities

 

(390,094

)

272,991

 

2,477,879

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(15,468,070

)

(9,899,079

)

(140,364,273

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of property and equipment

 

(734,894

)

(894,243

)

(15,266,123

)

Patent costs

 

(519,179

)

(276,655

)

(4,307,602

)

Purchase of marketable securities

 

(4,400,635

)

(3,007,583

)

(102,296,505

)

Sale of marketable securities

 

4,013,570

 

2,600,080

 

94,378,214

 

Acquisition costs

 

 

 

(2,377,616

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(1,641,138

)

(1,578,401

)

(29,869,632

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sale of common stock, warrants, and partnership units, net of offering costs, and exercise of options and warrants

 

8,089,722

 

22,379,431

 

196,197,590

 

Buyback of common stock pursuant to rescission offering

 

 

 

(288,795

)

Withdrawal of partnership net assets

 

 

 

(176,642

)

Issuance of convertible debt

 

 

 

80,000

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

8,089,722

 

22,379,431

 

195,812,153

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(9,019,486

)

10,901,951

 

25,578,248

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of period

 

34,597,734

 

16,654,829

 

 

End of period

 

$

25,578,248

 

$

27,556,780

 

$

25,578,248

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term securities—available-for-sale received in connection with the private offering

 

$

 

$

 

$

17,897,000

 

Change in unrealized gain on short-term securities—available-for-sale

 

$

6,359

 

$

132,641

 

$

19,327

 

Issuance of common stock and warrants in satisfaction of liabilities

 

$

175,000

 

$

 

$

545,000

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

4




 

AVI BIOPHARMA, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

Note 1.  Basis of Presentation

The financial information included herein for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 and the financial information as of September 30, 2006 is unaudited; however, such information reflects all adjustments consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods. The financial information as of December 31, 2005 is derived from AVI BioPharma, Inc.’s (the “Company’s”) Form 10-K. The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The Company has two stock-based compensation plans, the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan and the 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which are described below. Prior to fiscal year 2006, the Company accounted for those plans under the recognition and measurement provisions of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, and related Interpretations, as permitted by Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, (“SFAS 123”). Compensation costs related to stock options granted at fair value under those plans were not recognized in the statements of operations.

In December of 2004, FASB issued SFAS 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment”, (SFAS 123R”). Under the new standard, companies are no longer to account for share-based compensation transactions using the intrinsic value method in accordance with APB Opinion No. 25. Instead, companies are required to account for such transactions using a fair-value method and recognize the expense in the statements of operations.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS 123R using the modified-prospective application. Under the modified prospective application, stock compensation cost recognized beginning January 1, 2006 includes: (a) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS 123, and (b) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted on or subsequent to January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R. Results for prior periods have not been restated.

The Company’s net loss for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 were increased by approximately $1.0 million and $3.1 million, respectively, as a result of the application of SFAS 123R.

5




Stock-based compensation costs are generally based on the fair value calculated from the Black-Scholes option-pricing model on the date of grant for stock options and on the date of enrollment for the Plan. The fair value of stock grants are amortized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the grants. Compensation expense recognized is shown in the operating activities section of the statements of cash flows. Stock options granted to employees are service-based and typically vest over four years.

The fair market values of stock options granted during the periods presented were measured on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, with the following weighted average assumptions:

 

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2006

 

2005

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

4.14

%

3.43

%

Expected dividend yield

 

0

%

0

%

Expected lives

 

9.3 years

 

9.1 years

 

Expected volatility

 

91

%

94

%

 

The risk-free interest rate is estimated using an average of treasury bill interest rates. The expected dividend yield is zero as the Company has not paid any dividends to date and does not expect to pay dividends in the future. The expected lives are estimated using expected and historical exercise behavior. The expected volatility is estimated using historical calculated volatility and considers factors such as future events or circumstances that could impact volatility.

As part of the requirements of FSAS 123R, the Company is required to estimate potential forfeiture of stock grants and adjust compensation cost recorded accordingly. The estimate of forfeitures will be adjusted over the requisite service period to the extent that actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from such estimates. Changes in estimated forfeitures will be recognized through a cumulative catch-up in the period of change and will also impact the amount of stock compensation expense to be recognized in future periods.

6




A summary of the Company’s stock option compensation activity with respect to the nine months ended September 30, 2006 follows:

 

Stock Options

 

Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercisable
Price

 

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term

 

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

 

Outstanding at January 1, 2006

 

4,812,396

 

$

4.55

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

1,172,700

 

$

7.13

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(211,283

)

$

3.40

 

 

 

 

 

Canceled or expired

 

(60,979

)

$

5.57

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 30, 2006

 

5,712,834

 

$

5.11

 

5.74

 

$

198,880

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested at September 30, 2006 and expected to vest

 

5,674,070

 

$

5.11

 

5.72

 

$

198,668

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at September 30, 2006

 

3,774,647

 

$

5.09

 

4.26

 

$

188,247

 

 

The weighted average fair value per share of stock-based payments granted to employees during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005 was $6.09 and $2.12, respectively. During the same periods, the total intrinsic value of stock options exercised were $773,798 and $1,869, and the total fair value of stock options that vested were $3,113,321 and $1,626,766, respectively.

As of September 30, 2006, there was $6,160,551 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Plan. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.6 years.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, $718,060 was received for the exercise of stock options. The Company is obligated to issue shares from the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan upon the exercise of stock options. The Company does not currently expect to repurchase shares from any source to satisfy its obligations under the Plan.

The following are the stock-based compensation costs recognized in the Company’s statements of operations:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30, 2006

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2006

 

Research and development

 

$

644,304

 

$

1,822,385

 

General and administrative

 

359,246

 

1,290,936

 

Total

 

$

1,003,550

 

$

3,113,321

 

 

7




As discussed above, results for prior periods have not been restated to reflect the effects of implementing SFAS 123R. The following table illustrates the effect on net loss and loss per share for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the pro forma financial results for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005, adjusted for stock-based compensation:

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

2006

 

2005

 

Net loss, excluding the effect of stock-based compensation

 

$

(5,777,096

)

$

(1,692,471

)

Deduct — Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based methods for all awards

 

(1,003,550

)

(591,703

)

Net loss, including the effect of stock-based compensation

 

$

(6,780,646

)

$

(2,284,174

)

Basic and diluted net loss per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Excluding the effect of stock-based compensation

 

$

(0.11

)

$

(0.04

)

Including the effect of stock-based compensation

 

$

(0.13

)

$

(0.05

)

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2006

 

2005

 

Net loss, excluding the effect of stock-based compensation

 

$

(19,630,504

)

$

(12,124,292

)

Deduct — Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based methods for all awards

 

(3,113,321

)

(1,626,766

)

Net loss, including the effect of stock-based compensation

 

$

(22,743,825

)

$

(13,751,058

)

Basic and diluted net loss per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Excluding the effect of stock-based compensation

 

$

(0.37

)

$

(0.28

)

Including the effect of stock-based compensation

 

$

(0.43

)

$

(0.32

)

 

The 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) provides that eligible employees may contribute, through payroll, deductions, up to 10% of their earnings toward the purchase of the Company’s Common Stock at 85% of the fair market value at specific dates. On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS 123R, which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all share based payment awards made to the Company’s employees and directors related to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, based on estimated fair values. During the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 the total compensation expense for participants in the ESPP was $12,531 and $45,250, respectively, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with a weighted average estimated fair value per share of $1.44, expected life of six months, risk free interest rate of 4.32%, volatility of 88.15%, and no dividend yield. At September 30, 2006, 263,156 shares remain available for purchase through the plan and there were 99 employees eligible to participate in the plan, of which 33 were participants.

8




On March 15, 2006 unvested stock options for nine employees in the Company’s Colorado facility were accelerated. These employees joined Cook Group Inc. in April 2006. See note 5. The acceleration of these stock options in the first quarter of 2006 increased compensation costs by $833,500.

During the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006, the total compensation expense for stock-based compensation recognized in accordance with SFAS 123R and for acceleration of the vesting of certain stock options was $1,003,550 and $3,946,821, respectively.

The Company records the fair value of stock options granted to non-employees in exchange for services in accordance with EITF 96-18 “Accounting for Equity Instruments That are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services.” The fair value of the options granted are expensed when the measurement date is known. The performance for services was satisfied on the grant date for stock options granted to non-employees. The total fair value of the options granted to non-employees during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005 was $525,126 and $337,075, respectively, which was expensed to research and development.

As of September 30, 2006, the Company has a valuation allowance against all of its net deferred tax assets because it is deemed more likely than not that these assets will not be realized.

Note 2.  Liquidity

The Company is in the development stage. Since its inception in 1980 through September 30, 2006, the Company has incurred losses of approximately $195 million, substantially all of which resulted from expenditures related to research and development, general and administrative expenses, non-cash write-downs in 2002 of $4,478,260 and in 2001 of $12,523,088 on short-term securities—available-for-sale that had an other than temporary impairment as defined by SEC accounting rules and a one-time charge of $19,545,028 for acquired in-process research and development reflecting the acquisition of ImmunoTherapy Corporation. The Company has not generated any material revenue from product sales to date, and there can be no assurance that revenues from product sales will be achieved. Moreover, even if the Company does achieve revenues from product sales, the Company expects to incur operating losses over the next several years.

9




The financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. The Company’s ability to achieve a profitable level of operations in the future will depend in large part on completing product development of its antisense products, obtaining regulatory approvals for such products, and bringing these products to market. During the period required to develop these products, the Company will require substantial additional financing. There is no assurance that such financing will be available when needed or that the Company’s planned products will be commercially successful. On March 13, 2006, the Company announced that it had entered into agreements with Cook Group Inc. (“Cook”) for Cook’s development and commercialization of products for vascular and cardiovascular diseases. Under a stock purchase agreement with Cook, the Company received net proceeds of $4,955,623. The Company sold 692,003 shares of common stock at $7.23 per share to Cook, as described in Note 5. The Company believes it has sufficient cash to fund operations through 2007. For 2006, the Company expects expenditures for operations, including collaborative efforts and GMP facilities to be approximately $23 to $25 million. Expenditures for 2006 could increase if the Company undertakes additional collaborative efforts. If necessary, however, the Company has the ability to significantly curtail certain expenditures because a significant amount of the Company’s costs are variable.

In January 2006, the Company announced that the final version of the 2006 defense appropriations act had been approved, which included an allocation of $11 million to fund the Company’s ongoing defense-related programs. The Company’s NEUGENE® technology will be used to continue developing therapeutic agents against Ebola, Marburg and dengue viruses, as well as to continue developing countermeasures for anthrax exposure and antidotes for ricin toxin. The Company continues to work with the government to define the scope of the work to be performed on these programs. This additional funding for 2006 has not been received and has not been reflected in the financial statements.

The likelihood of the long-term success of the Company must be considered in light of the expenses, difficulties and delays frequently encountered in the development and commercialization of new pharmaceutical products, competitive factors in the marketplace as well as the burdensome regulatory environment in which the Company operates. There can be no assurance that the Company will ever achieve significant revenues or profitable operations.

10




Note 3.  Earnings Per Share

Basic EPS is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period and diluted EPS is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding.  Given that the Company is in a loss position, there is no difference between basic EPS and diluted EPS since the common stock equivalents would be antidilutive.

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

2006

 

2005

 

Net loss

 

$

(6,780,646

)

$

(1,692,471

)

Weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares Outstanding for computing basic earnings per share

 

52,964,049

 

44,184,293

 

Dilutive effect of warrants and stock options after application of the treasury stock method

 

*

 

*

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding for computing diluted earnings per share

 

52,964,049

 

44,184,293

 

Net loss per share - basic and diluted

 

$

(0.13

)

$

(0.04

)

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2006

 

2005

 

Net loss

 

$

(22,743,825

)

$

(12,124,292

)

Weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding for computing basic earnings per share

 

52,546,293

 

43,608,789

 

Dilutive effect of warrants and stock options after application of the treasury stock method

 

*

 

*

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding for computing diluted earnings per share

 

52,546,293

 

43,608,789

 

Net loss per share - basic and diluted

 

$

(0.43

)

$

(0.28

)


*  Warrants and stock options to purchase 14,220,937 and 16,590,885 shares of common stock as of September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, were excluded from the earnings per share calculation as their effect would have been antidilutive.

11




Note 4.  Comprehensive Income and securities available for sale

Comprehensive income (loss) includes charges or credits to equity that did not result from transactions with shareholders. The Company’s only component of “other comprehensive income (loss)” is unrealized gain (loss) on cash equivalents and short-term securities—available-for-sale. Accordingly, such investment securities are stated on the balance sheet at their fair market value. The Company classifies its investment securities with an original maturity of three months or less from the date of purchase as cash equivalents. The Company classifies its investment securities with an original maturity of more than three months from the date of purchase as short-term securitiesavailable-for-sale. At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company’s investments in marketable securities had gross unrealized gain of $19,327 and $12,968, respectively. The unrealized difference between the adjusted cost and the fair market value of these securities has been reflected as a separate component of shareholders’ equity. The following table sets forth the calculation of comprehensive income for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Net loss

 

$

(6,780,646

)

$

(1,692,471

)

$

(22,743,825

)

$

(12,124,292

)

Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities

 

2,127

 

0

 

6,359

 

132,641

 

 Total comprehensive loss

 

$

(6,778,519

)

$

(1,692,471

)

$

(22,737,466

)

$

(11,991,651

)

 

Note 5.  Equity Financing

On March 13, 2006, the Company announced that it had entered into agreements with Cook Group Inc. (“Cook”) for Cook’s development and commercialization of products for vascular and cardiovascular diseases. There may be future royalty and milestone payments from Cook based on the License and Development Agreement. Under a stock purchase agreement with Cook, the Company received net proceeds of $4,955,623. The Company sold 692,003 shares of common stock at $7.23 per share to Cook.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company issued 916,331 shares of common stock for proceeds of $3,060,476 from the exercise of stock options and warrants and 26,651 shares of common stock for proceeds of $73,623 from sales under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan.

Note 6.  Significant Agreements

On January 27, 2006, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive License Agreement with Chiron Corporation (“Chiron”) granting the Company a nonexclusive license to Chiron’s patents and patent applications for the research, development, and commercialization of antisense therapeutics against hepatitis C virus, in exchange for the payment of certain milestone and royalty payments to Chiron. In lieu of the first milestone payment due under the License Agreement, the Company and Chiron also entered into a separate agreement under which the Company issued to Chiron 89,012 shares of the Company’s common stock with a market value of $500,000 and which was expensed to research and development. There may be future payments made to Chiron by the Company based on milestones in the License Agreement.

12




On March 13, 2006, the Company announced that it had entered into agreements with Cook Group Inc. (“Cook”) for Cook’s development and commercialization of products for vascular and cardiovascular diseases. See note 5.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company extended the lease on its facility located at 4575 SW Research Way, Suite 200, Corvallis, OR 97333. This lease now expires on December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2005, the Company had an accrued rent payable of $615,163 related to back rent payments. During the first half of 2006 the Company issued 31,154 shares of the Company’s common stock, paid cash and sold fixed assets to Research Way Investments to pay off the accrued rent payable related to back rent payments.

In January 2006, the Company issued 30,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with a market value of $200,000 to the Oregon State University Foundation to secure access to certain university research facilities, which was expensed to research and development.

Note 7.  Other current assets

Amounts included in other current assets are as follows:

 

 

September 30, 2006

 

December 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses

 

$

548,656

 

$

272,165

 

Prepaid rents

 

100,838

 

93,701

 

Restricted cash

 

153,479

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other current assets

 

$

802,973

 

$

365,866

 

 

Starting in April 2006, the Company was required to pledge $150,000 as collateral for company credit cards issued to certain employees. The Company classifies this amount as restricted cash. As of September 30, 2006, restricted cash including accrued interest was $153,479. The remaining components of other current assets include normally occurring prepaid expenses and rents.

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operations

This section should be read in conjunction with the same titled section contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the “Risk Factors” contained in such report.

Forward-Looking Information

The Financial Statements and Notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the following discussion. The discussion in this Form 10-Q contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward looking statements are identified by such words as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate” and words of similar import. All statements other than historical or current facts, including, without limitation, statements about our business strategy, plans and objectives of management and our future prospects, are forward-looking statements.

13




Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the results of research and development efforts, the success of raising funds in the current offering or future offerings under our current shelf registration, the results of pre-clinical and clinical testing, the effect of regulation by FDA and other agencies, the impact of competitive products, product development, commercialization and technological difficulties, and other risks detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expected results reflected in such forward looking statements.

Overview

From our inception in 1980, we have devoted our resources primarily to fund our research and development efforts. We have been unprofitable since inception and, other than limited interest, license fees, grants and research contracts, we have had no material revenues from the sale of products or other sources, other than from government grants and research contracts, and we do not expect material revenues for the foreseeable future. We expect to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future as we continue to expand our research and development efforts and enter additional collaborative efforts. As of September 30, 2006, the Company’s accumulated deficit was $195,392,069.

Results of Operations

Revenues, from license fees, grants and research contracts, decreased to $13,252 in the third quarter of 2006 from $3,281,805 in the third quarter of 2005 and to $97,772 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $3,366,314 for the comparable period in 2005, due to decreases in research contract revenues. Revenues for the 2005 third quarter were primarily due to the recognition of $3,219,000 in research contract revenue from the receipt in 2005 of $3,400,000 in government funding for work on viral disease research projects.

Operating expenses increased to $7,285,981 in the third quarter of 2006 from $5,199,445 in the third quarter of 2005 and to $24,308,592 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $15,977,563 for the comparable period of 2005 primarily due to increases in research and development, which increased to $5,938,867 in the third quarter of 2006 from $4,147,201 in the third quarter of 2005 and to $18,624,041 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $12,204,260 in the comparable period in 2005. This research and development increase in the third quarter of 2006 was due to increases in employee costs of approximately $690,000, of which approximately $645,000 was recognized in accordance with SFAS 123R. See Note 1 to Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited). This research and development increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was due primarily to increases in employee costs of approximately $2,400,000, of which approximately $1,800,000 was recognized in accordance with SFAS 123R and approximately $430,000 related to the acceleration of the vesting of certain stock options. Also, approximately $980,000 of this increase in the third quarter of 2006 and approximately $1.9 million of this increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was due to increases in clinical expenses from the expansion of clinical programs in hepatitis C and coronary artery bypass grafting. Additionally, approximately $120,000 of this increase in the third quarter of 2006 and approximately $1.1 million of this increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was due to contracting costs for the

14




production of GMP subunits, which are used by the Company to manufacture compounds for future clinical trials. Also, this research and development increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 included $500,000 in AVI common stock issued to Chiron Corporation as the first milestone payment due under a license agreement granting AVI a nonexclusive license to Chiron’s patents and patent applications for the research, development, and commercialization of antisense therapeutics against hepatitis C virus.

The remaining increase in operating expenses was due to general and administrative costs increasing to $1,347,114 in the third quarter of 2006 from $1,052,244 in the third quarter of 2005 and to $5,684,551 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $3,773,303 for the comparable period of 2005. This general and administrative increase in the third quarter of 2006 was due primarily to increases in employee costs of approximately $300,000, of which approximately $360,000 was recognized in accordance with SFAS 123R, partially offset by decreases in employee costs of approximately $125,000 when nine employees in the Company’s Colorado facility joined Cook Group Inc. (“Cook”) in April 2006, subsequent to the Company’s licensing transaction with Cook. See Note 5. The general and administrative expense increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was due primarily to increases in employee costs of approximately $1,800,000, of which approximately $1,300,000 was recognized in accordance with SFAS 123R and approximately $400,000 related to the acceleration of the vesting of certain stock options.

Net interest income increased to $492,083 in the third quarter of 2006 from $225,169 in the third quarter of 2005 and to $1,466,995 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $486,957 for the comparable period in 2005 due to increases in average cash, cash equivalents and short-term securities and increases in average interest rates of the Company’s interest earning investments.

The Company expects to incur comparable stock-based compensation expense in 2007.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company does not expect any material revenues in 2006 or 2007 from its business activities, other than from potential government grants and research contracts. The Company expects that its cash requirements through 2007 will be satisfied by existing cash resources. To fund its operations beyond 2007, the Company will need to secure additional funds. Such funds could come from technology license fees, government grants and research contracts, and accessing capital markets.

In January 2006, the Company announced that the final version of the 2006 defense appropriations act had been approved, which included an allocation of $11 million to fund the Company’s ongoing defense-related programs. The Company’s NEUGENE® technology will be used to continue developing therapeutic agents against Ebola, Marburg and dengue viruses, as well as to continue developing countermeasures for anthrax exposure and antidotes for ricin toxin. The Company continues to work with the government to define the scope of the work to be performed on these programs. This additional funding for 2006 has not been received and has not been reflected in the financial statements

The Company’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term securities were $38,425,020 at

15




September 30, 2006, compared with $47,051,082 at December 31, 2005. The decrease of $8,626,062 was due primarily to $15,468,070 used in operations and $1,254,073 used for purchases of property and equipment and patent related costs, offset by the receipt of $4,955,623 in net proceeds from a stock purchase agreement with Cook Group Inc. (“Cook”) and $3,134,099 from the exercise of warrants and options and sales under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The Company sold 692,003 shares of common stock at $7.23 per share to Cook, as described in Note 5.

The Company’s short-term securities include certificates of deposit, commercial paper and other highly liquid investments with original maturities in excess of 90 days at the time of purchase and less than one year from the balance sheet date. The Company classifies its investment securities as available-for-sale and, accordingly, such investment securities are stated on the balance sheet at their fair market value with unrealized gains (losses) recorded as a separate component of shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss).

The Company’s future expenditures and capital requirements depend on numerous factors, most of which are difficult to project beyond the short term, including without limitation, the progress of its research and development programs, the progress of its pre-clinical and clinical trials, the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory approvals, the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights, competing technological and market developments, its ability to establish collaborative arrangements and the terms of any such arrangements, and the costs associated with commercialization of its products. The Company’s cash requirements are expected to continue to increase each year as the Company expands its activities and operations. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will ever be able to generate product revenues or achieve or sustain profitability.

The Company expects to continue to incur losses as it expands its research and development activities and related regulatory work and increases its collaborative efforts. For 2006, the Company expects expenditures for operations, including collaborative efforts and GMP facilities to be approximately $23 to $25 million. Expenditures for 2006 could increase if the Company undertakes additional collaborative efforts. If necessary, however, the Company’s management has the ability to significantly curtail certain expenditures in the latter part of 2006 and early 2007 because a significant amount of the Company’s costs are variable.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations are based upon its financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates are consistent with the disclosure in the Company’s Form 10-K, except for the adoption of SFAS 123R in 2006.

16




Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There has been no material change in the Company’s market risk exposure since the filing of our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of September 30, 2006, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including its Chief Executive Officer, its President and its Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on this review of its disclosure controls and procedures, the Chief Executive Officer, the President and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that its disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company that is required to be included in our periodic SEC filings.

Internal Controls and Procedures

There were no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

17




PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings.

None

Item 1A.  Risk Factors.

There has been no substantial changes in the Company’s “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

On March 13, 2006, the Company sold 692,003 shares of common stock at $7.23 per share to Cook Group Inc., for gross proceeds of $5,000,000. The net proceeds of $4,955,623 will be used for working capital purposes. The shares were issued in connection with the execution of license and supply agreements. The shares were issued directly to the purchaser, without the use of an underwriter in a transaction exempt from registration under Sections 4(2) and 4(6) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder. The shares were subsequently registered for resale on Form S-3, (Registration No. 333-133211), which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 24, 2006.

Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None

18




Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None

Item 5.    Other Information.

None

Item 6.  Exhibits

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incorporated by Reference to Filings Indicated

 

Exhibit No

 

Exhibit Description

 

Form

 

File No.

 

Exhibit

 

Filing Date

 

Filed Herewith

 

4.1

 

Third Restated Articles of Incorporation of AntiVirals Inc.

 

SB-2

 

333-20513

 

3.1

 

5/29/97

 

 

 

4.2

 

First Amendment to Third Restated Articles of Incorporation of AntiVirals Inc.

 

8-K

 

0-22613

 

3.3

 

9/30/98

 

 

 

4.3

 

Amendment to Article 2 of the Company’s Third Restated Articles of Incorporation

 

DEF 14A

 

1-14895

 

N/A

 

4/11/02

 

 

 

4.4

 

Bylaws of AntiVirals Inc.

 

SB-2

 

333-20513

 

3.2

 

5/29/97

 

 

 

10.50+

 

Supply Agreement, dated March 10, 2006, by and between Cook Group Incorporated and AVI BioPharma, Inc.

 

S-3

 

333-133211

 

10.50

 

04/11/06

 

 

 

10.51+

 

License and Development Agreement, dated March 10, 2006, by and between Cook Group Incorporated and AVI BioPharma, Inc.

 

S-3

 

333-133211

 

10.51

 

04/11/06

 

 

 

10.52+

 

Investment Agreement, dated March 10, 2006, by and between Cook Group Incorporated and AVI BioPharma, Inc.

 

S-3

 

333-133211

 

10.52

 

04/11/06

 

 

 

10.53+

 

License Agreement dated January 26, 2006 by and between with Chiron Corporation and AVI BioPharma, Inc.

 

10-Q

 

0-22613

 

10.53

 

05/10/06

 

 

 

10.54

 

Stock Purchase Agreement dated January 26, 2006 by and between with Chiron Corporation and AVI BioPharma, Inc.

 

10-Q

 

0-22613

 

10.54

 

05/10/06

 

 

 

10.55

 

Second Lease Extension and Modification Agreement dated January 24, 2006 by and between Research Way Investments and AVI BioPharma, Inc.

 

10-Q

 

0-2213

 

10.55

 

08/09/06

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Denis R. Burger, Ph.D., pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer, Mark M. Webber pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

32

 

Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Denis R. Burger, Ph.D., and Chief Financial Officer, Mark M. Webber, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

Materials in the exhibit marked with a “+” have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Omitted portions have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

19




SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date:   November 9, 2006

 

 

 

AVI BIOPHARMA, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ DENIS R. BURGER, Ph.D.

 

 

 

 

Denis R. Burger, Ph.D.

 

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

and Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ MARK M. WEBBER

 

 

 

 

Mark M. Webber

 

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer

 

 

 

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

20



EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Denis R. Burger, certify that:

1.               I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of AVI BioPharma, Inc. (the “Registrant”);

2.               Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.               Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.               The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 (f) and 15d-15 (f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)          Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; and

(b)         Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; and

(c)          Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)         Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

1




5.               The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)          All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)         Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:    November 9, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/    Denis R. Burger

 

 

 

 

Denis R. Burger,
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
of the Board
(Principal Executive Officer)

 

2



 

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Mark M. Webber, certify that:

1.               I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of AVI BioPharma, Inc. (the “Registrant”);

2.               Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.               Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.               The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 (f) and 15d-15 (f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)          Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; and

(b)         Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; and

(c)          Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)         Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

1




5.               The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)          All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)         Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:    November 9, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/    Mark M. Webber   

 

 

 

 

Mark M. Webber,
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information
Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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EXHIBIT 32

CERTIFICATION OF CEO AND CFO PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of AVI BioPharma, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2006 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Denis R. Burger, as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Mark M. Webber, as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of his knowledge,:

                    (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 19 34; and

                    (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

/s/ Denis R. Burger

 

Denis R. Burger
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
AVI BioPharma, Inc.
November 9, 2006

 

 

/s/ Mark M. Webber

 

Mark M. Webber
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer
AVI BioPharma, Inc.
November 9, 2006

 

This certification accompanies the Report pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, be deemed filed by the Company for purposes of §18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

See also the certification pursuant to Sec. 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which is also attached to this Report.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to AVI BioPharma, Inc. and will be retained by AVI BioPharma, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

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