Press Release

BOTHELL, WA, Oct 20, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --

AVI BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVII), a developer of RNA-based therapeutics, today announced the presentation of data from the Company's influenza and dengue virus programs at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America in Vancouver, Canada.

Patrick Iversen, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation at AVI, will present during the poster session, Virology: Influenza, at noon PDT on Friday, Oct. 22. The presentation, 766, is titled "PMOplus(TM) Chemistry for Rapid Response to Novel Therapeutic for Pandemic Influenza (H1N1-SOIV)." The presentation will feature preclinical data that identifies AVI-7100 as a lead candidate with a broad safety margin and demonstrated efficacy in mouse and ferret influenza models challenged by H3N2 and H1N1, respectively.

Dr. Iversen will also present an abstract during the late-breaking poster session at 12:30 p.m. PDT on Saturday, Oct. 23. The presentation, LB-1, is titled "An Emerging Therapeutic for the Treatment of Dengue Viral Infections." The presentation will feature data from preclinical studies of AVI-6006 in dengue virus infected mouse and ferret models.

Both presentations will be posted on the AVI BioPharma Web site in the "Our Programs" section after their respective sessions are completed.

AVI-7100 and AVI-6006 are AVI's lead therapeutic candidates for influenza and dengue virus infections, respectively. Both candidates employ AVI's patented PMOplus(TM) technology that selectively introduces positive charges to its phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) backbone to improve interaction between the drug and its target.

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 our highly differentiated RNA antisense-based technology platform, AVI has built a pipeline of potentially transformative therapeutic agents, including one in the clinical development stage for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. 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 7100 and 6006, 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.