Results From AVI BioPharma’s Antiviral Program Published in Two Virology Journals
PORTLAND, Ore. — Oct. 25, 2005 — AVI BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVII), today announced publication of preclinical research in the Journal of Virology and the Journal of General Virology. The results detail findings from studies of AVI’s NeuGene® antisense agents in cell models of dengue virus and equine arteritis virus.
“We continue to see robust preclinical data further validating the antiviral applications for our NeuGene antisense compounds,” said Denis R. Burger, Ph.D., chief executive officer of AVI. “Our dengue virus program has generated substantial results thus far, and we are moving toward the initiation of human clinical trials, which are expected to begin next year. Dengue virus is an emerging global health problem and another RNA virus well–suited to our rapid response therapeutic approach.”
The first publication, in the November edition of the Journal of Virology, is titled “Inhibition of dengue virus translation and RNA synthesis by a morpholino oligomer targeted to the top of the terminal 3’ stem–loop structure.” AVI’s NeuGene antisense agent inhibited each of the four serotypes of dengue virus. This is an important finding, as each of the four dengue serotypes can lead to separate infection.
Dengue virus is the subject of one of five AVI programs recently allocated preliminary funding from the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations as part of the fiscal year 2006 defense spending bill. The other four antiviral programs funded involve development of drugs to treat Ebola and Marburg viruses, and anthrax and ricin toxins.
Appearing in the November edition of the Journal of General Virology, pages 3081–3090, is a publication titled “Antiviral activity of morpholino oligomers designed to block various aspects of equine arteritis virus amplification in cell culture.” This research demonstrated that virus replication could be completely inhibited by NeuGene concentrations in the low micromolar range. An abstract of the publication is available online at vir.sgmjournals.org.
About Dengue Virus
Dengue fever/dengue hemorrhagic fever (DF/DHF) is an emerging complex of clinical syndromes caused by dengue viruses. DF/DHF has become a major global health problem over the past 20 years. The World Health Organization estimates that over 50 million human infections occur each year. DF/DHF has become the leading cause of hospitalization and death among children in Southeast Asia, and the incidence of infection and disease are sharply rising in the Americas as well. There is currently no commercially available vaccine or effective therapy. Medical supportive care is the recommended primary treatment to improve the condition of severely infected patients.
About AVI BioPharma
AVI BioPharma develops therapeutic products for the treatment of life–threatening diseases using third–generation NeuGene antisense drugs. 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 combat disease by targeting single–stranded RNA viruses, including West Nile virus, hepatitis C virus, dengue virus and Ebola virus. AVI has introduced a NeuGene–based exon–skipping technology called ESPRIT therapy. More information about AVI is available on the company’s Web site at www.avibio.com.
“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.