SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 11, 2003

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Oregon		0-22613		93-0797222
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification Number)

 

One S.W. Columbia, Suite 1105
Portland, OR 97258
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

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

 

 

Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

The information set forth below pursuant to Item 12 shall also be deemed filed pursuant to Item 5.

 

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

 

 

Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release on November 11, 2003, before the opening of trading in its Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market System.  A copy of the press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The Press Release announces the Company will make a presentation on antisense antiviral technology at the SMi Group Conference.

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Portland, State of Oregon, on November 13, 2003.

 

	AVI BioPharma, Inc.
	By:	/s/ ALAN P.TIMMINS
		Alan P. Timmins
		President and Chief Operating Officer (Principal Operating Officer)

 

2

Exhibit 99.1

Text of Press Release

AVI Contact:

AVI BioPharma, Inc.

Michael Hubbard (hubbard@avibio.com)

(503) 227-0554

 

Investor Contacts:

Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates Inc.

Bruce Voss (bvoss@lhai.com)

Jody Cain (jcain@lhai.com)

(310) 691-7100

 

Press Contact:

Waggener Edstrom Bioscience

Wendy Carhart (wendyc@wagged.com)

(503) 443-7000

 

For Release 6 a.m. PST

 

Nov. 11, 2003

 

AVI BioPharma Presents Antisense Antiviral Technology at SMi Conference

 

PORTLAND, Ore. — Nov. 11, 2003 — AVI BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVII) today announced that Dr. Patrick L. Iversen, senior vice president of research and development at AVI, will present at the SMi Group’s Antivirals conference, Nov. 12 and 13, at The Hatton, London. Iversen’s presentation is titled “Rapid Response to Emerging Infectious Diseases.”

 

The presentation will cover AVI’s development of its proprietary NeuGene ^® compounds —phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers — as next-generation antiviral drugs. Iversen will discuss the demonstrated pharmacologic advantages of AVI’s third-generation antisense chemistry, as well as the strategy AVI uses for target design. In addition, Iversen will share AVI’s field trial experience using specially designed antisense compounds to treat a variety of emerging zoonotic infectious diseases, defined as diseases capable of being transmitted from animals to humans. These include West Nile virus, feline calicivirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and a variety of other viral agents.

 

About AVI BioPharma

AVI BioPharma develops therapeutic products for the treatment of life-threatening diseases using two technology platforms: third-generation NeuGene  antisense drugs and cancer immunotherapy. AVI’s lead NeuGene antisense compound is designed to target cell proliferation disorders, including cardiovascular restenosis, cancer and polycystic kidney disease. In addition to targeting specific genes in the body, AVI’s antiviral

 

 

program uses NeuGene antisense compounds to target single-stranded RNA viruses, including West Nile virus, SARS coronavirus, calicivirus and hepatitis C. AVI’s second technology, AVICINE^®, is a therapeutic cancer vaccine with late-stage trials planned for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. More information about AVI is available on the company’s Web site at http://www.avibio.com/.

 

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“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.