AVI BioPharma to Present at Rodman & Renshaw Techvest 7th Annual Healthcare Conference
PORTLAND, Ore. — Nov. 3, 2005 — AVI BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVII), today announced that Alan P. Timmins, AVI’s president and COO, is scheduled to present at the Rodman & Renshaw Techvest 7th Annual Healthcare Conference at the New York Palace Hotel in New York.
The presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005, at 10:50 a.m. (EST). Timmins will present an update on AVI’s clinical development programs, including those related to cardiovascular disease, antiviral applications and cancer.
The company recently announced the initiation of a Phase II clinical study called APPRAISAL, which was designed to evaluate AVI’s Resten–MP™ antisense drug in the prevention of cardiovascular restenosis when delivered in conjunction with the placement of one or more bare–metal stents. Additional information about APPRAISAL was presented last month at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics conference in Washington, D.C.
As part of AVI’s continued efforts in antiviral drug development, the company announced in September the initiation of a multicenter exploratory safety and efficacy clinical trial in healthy volunteers and patients with chronic active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The HCV trial will assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and viral response to AVI’s NeuGene compound AVI–4065.
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.