Press Release

BOTHELL, WA, Feb 10, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --

AVI BioPharma (NASDAQ: AVII), a developer of RNA-based therapeutics, announced today that Chris Garabedian, AVI's president and CEO, will present a company overview at 10:30 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at the 13th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference in New York City.

The presentation will include an update on AVI's clinical development program for its RNA-based Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) drug candidates, including AVI-4658. AVI is developing AVI-4658 as a treatment for a substantial subgroup of patients with DMD, a genetic disease resulting in progressive muscle weakness caused by the absence of functional dystrophin. The presentation will also include updates on AVI's other programs, including AVI's influenza program, which is being advanced with U.S. Department of Defense funding.

The presentation at the BIO CEO & Investor Conference will be Webcast live under the events section of AVI's Web site at www.avibio.com and will be archived there following the presentation. Please connect to AVI's Web site several minutes prior to the start of the broadcast to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be necessary.

AVI also announced that the company will report its fourth-quarter and year-end 2010 financial results on Thursday, March 10. The company plans to host a conference call and Webcast on that day.

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 planning and clinical development of AVI's RNA-based therapeutics for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, including AVI 4658, and AVI's U.S. Department of Defense supported flu program. 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 be initiated or proceed on expected timelines; clinical trials may not demonstrate safety and efficacy of any of AVI's drug candidates, including AVI 4658, and/or AVI's RNA-based technology platform; any of AVI's drug candidates, including AVI 4658, 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.