Press Release

BOTHELL, WA, Mar 03, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- AVI BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVII), a developer of RNA-based therapeutics, will report fourth quarter and full year 2010 financial results after the NASDAQ Global Market closes on Thursday, March 10, 2011. Subsequently, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time), Chris Garabedian, AVI's president and CEO, will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2010 financial results and to provide a corporate update.

The conference call may be accessed by dialing 800.435.1261 for domestic callers and 617.614.4076 for international callers. The passcode for the call is 94335816 and please specify to the operator that you would like to join the "AVI BioPharma fourth quarter and full year 2010 earnings call." The conference call will be webcast live under the events section of AVI's website at www.avibio.com, and will be archived there following the call. Please connect to AVI's website several minutes prior to the start of the broadcast to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be necessary.

About AVI BioPharma AVI BioPharma is focused on the discovery and development of novel RNA-based therapeutics for rare and infectious diseases, as well as other select disease targets. Applying pioneering technologies developed and optimized by AVI, the Company is able to target a broad range of diseases and disorders through distinct RNA-based mechanisms of action. Unlike other RNA-based approaches, AVI's technologies can be used to directly target both messenger RNA (mRNA) and precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) to either down-regulate (inhibit) or up-regulate (promote) the expression of targeted genes or proteins. By leveraging its highly differentiated technology platform, AVI has built a pipeline of potentially transformative therapeutic agents, including a clinical stage Duchenne muscular dystrophy candidate and anti-infective candidates for influenza and hemorrhagic fever viruses. For more information, visit www.avibio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements and Information

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking, including statements about the development of AVI 4658, other antisense-based technology and the efficacy, potency and utility of our product candidates in the treatment of rare and infectious diseases, and its potential to treat a broad number of human diseases. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond AVI's control. Known risk factors include, among others: clinical trials may not demonstrate safety and efficacy of any of AVI's drug candidates and/or AVI's antisense-based technology platform; any of AVI's drug candidates may fail in development, may not receive required regulatory approvals, or be delayed to a point where they do not become commercially viable. Any of the foregoing risks could materially and adversely affect AVI's business, results of operations and the trading price of its common stock. For a detailed description of risks and uncertainties AVI faces, you are encouraged to review the official corporate documents filed with filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AVI does not undertake any obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements based on events or circumstances after the date hereof

SOURCE: AVI BioPharma, Inc.