Press Release

BOTHELL, WA, May 06, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- AVI BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVII), a developer of RNA-based therapeutics, today announced the presentation of data from the Company's hemorrhagic fever and infectious disease programs at the 21st Annual European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Milan, Italy.

Dr. Iversen, Ph.D., senior vice president of research and innovation at AVI will present an oral abstract 411 titled "PMOplus(TM) Antisense Oligomers Protect Nonhuman Primates Against Ebola Virus and Marburg Virus" at 4:36 p.m. CET on Monday, May 9. The presentation, which will be given during the session called "Virology (Non-HIV/Non-Hepatitis)" will feature data from animal studies of AVI's lead Ebola and Marburg therapeutics, AVI-6002 and AVI-6003, respectively, in Ebola and Marburg infected nonhuman primate models.

Additionally, Dr. Iversen, will present poster 1163 titled "Interactome for Essential Genes as a Prediction of Antibacterial Potency" at 1:30 p.m. CET on Sunday, May 8. The presentation, which will be given during the session called "New Targets for New Antimicrobials," will feature data demonstrating the use of the interactome as a method of selecting antibacterial gene targets for PMOs.

Dr. Iversen will present poster 1527 titled "AVI-6006 for the Treatment of Dengue Viral Infections" at 12:30 p.m. CET on Monday, May 9. The presentation, which will be given during the session called "New Antimicrobials: Preclinical and Clinical Studies," will feature data from preclinical studies of AVI's lead dengue therapeutic, AVI-6006, in dengue virus-infected mouse and ferret models.

Steve Shrewsbury, M.D., chief medical officer and senior vice president at AVI, will present poster 1526 titled "Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino Oligomer RNA Therapeutics for Neuroinvasive Infectious Disease" at 12:30 p.m. CET on Monday, May 9. The presentation, which will be given during the session called "New Antimicrobials: Preclinical and Clinical Studies," will feature data demonstrating the ability of a PMO, AVI-4020, to cross the blood-brain barrier in patients and rats with a neuroinvasive infectious disease suspected to be West Nile Virus.

Dr. Iversen will also present poster 1507 titled "Antisense Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino Oligomers Inhibition of Burkholderia cepacia Complex" at 12:30 p.m. CET on Monday, May 9. The presentation, which will be given during the session called "New Antimicrobials: Preclinical and Clinical Studies," will feature preclinical data demonstrating the antibacterial properties of a peptide conjugated PMO (PPMO) targeting the Burkholderia cepacia complex.

Dr. Shrewsbury will also present poster 1511 titled "Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino Oligomer RNA therapeutics Cross the Blood Brain Barrier of Healthy Volunteers" at 12:30 p.m. CET on Monday, May 9. The presentation, which will be given during the session called "New Antimicrobials: Preclinical and Clinical Studies," will feature data demonstrating the ability of multiple PMOs, AVI-4020, AVI-4126 and AVI-4065, to cross the blood-brain barrier of normal healthy volunteers.

Dr. Iversen will present an oral abstract 411 titled "PMOplus(TM) Antisense Oligomers Protect Nonhuman Primates Against Ebola Virus and Marburg Virus" at 4:36 p.m. CET on Monday, May 9. The presentation, which will be given during the session called "Virology (Non-HIV/Non-Hepatitis)" will feature data from animal studies of AVI's lead Ebola and Marburg therapeutics, AVI-6002 and AVI-6003, respectively, in Ebola and Marburg infected nonhuman primate models.

In addition, Dr. Iversen will present poster 2211 "In Vivo Protection Against Old World Arenaviruses Using Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino Oligomers with Positionally Specific Positive Molecular Charges Added to Monomers to Backbone" at 12:30 p.m. CET on Tuesday, May 10. The presentation, which will be given during the session called "Virology (Non-HIV/Non-Hepatitis)," will feature preclinical data demonstrating the antibacterial properties of AVI-7012, which targets the conserved genetic sequences of Old World arenaviruses.

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 a highly differentiated RNA-based technology platform, AVI has built a pipeline of potentially transformative therapeutic agents, including eteplirsen, which is in clinical development for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Forward-Looking Statements and Information

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking, including statements about the development of AVI's product candidates, other antisense-based technology and the efficacy, potency and utility of AVI's 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 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.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements that are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the results of research and development efforts, the results of preclinical and clinical testing, the effect of regulation by the 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.

AVI Media and Investor Contact:
David A. Walsey
Senior Director, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
425.354.5140
Email Contact

AVI Media Contact:
David Schull
Russo Partners
858.717.2310 or 212.845.4271
Email Contact

SOURCE: AVI BioPharma, Inc.

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