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Strategies & Market Trends : Cents and Sensibility - Kimberly and Friends' Consortium -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: stan s. who wrote (81824)	3/3/2000 9:02:00 AM
From: KevinMark	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 108040

AVII...expect a big move today...new just out...chart is Awesome! (COMTEX) B: Publication Highlights Superior Efficacy and Specificity B: Publication Highlights Superior Efficacy and Specificity Of AVI BioPharma's Proprietary Neugene Antisense Compounds PORTLAND, Ore., Mar 3, 2000 (BW HealthWire) -- Scientists at AVI BIOPHARMA, INC. ("AVI") (Nasdaq:AVII)(Nasdaq:AVIIW)(Nasdaq:AVIIZ), and Oregon State University have demonstrated that AVI's third-generation NEUGENE antisense compounds are highly effective and specific at low doses. The study, led by AVI Senior Vice President of Research and Development Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D., is presented in the March issue of The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. The published research demonstrates that AVI's proprietary NEUGENE antisense compounds are effective at stopping or changing the action of the oncogene c-myc at much lower doses than second-generation antisense compounds. The study also demonstrated that NEUGENES are very selective and do not interfere with the normal drug metabolism cycle in mammals. "This information is an important part of the foundation of our upcoming Phase II study in cardiovascular restenosis," said AVI President and CEO Denis Burger, Ph.D. "We have shown that our NEUGENE antisense compounds are more potent and less toxic, thus limiting the potential for side effects in humans. These ground-breaking results form the basis for our clinical studies that target c-myc, including our current studies in restenosis as well as future studies in proliferative diseases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, polycycstic kidney disease, chronic graft rejection, and others." The c-myc protein is responsible for initiating cell replication in a wide variety of tissues and appears to be integrally involved in many cell activities. In the upcoming Phase II study, AVI will examine its NEUGENE drug, Resten-NG, for effectiveness in blocking the growth and proliferation events in coronary arteries to prevent restenosis, or reclosing of arteries following balloon angioplasty. "This very rigorous, in vivo study clearly demonstrates that our NEUGENE drug targeting c-myc is an extraordinarily potent, specific and effective antisense agent," Dr. Iversen commented. "Our study also demonstrated that when we interfere with c-myc's action we do not interfere with cytochrome P-450 3A, an enzyme responsible for directing and mobilizing about 50 percent of all currently used therapeutic drugs. This is important information in preparing for upcoming Phase II studies in which patients are routinely treated with anti-anxiety and anti-coagulation drugs." The paper is available online at jpet.org. AVI BioPharma develops therapeutic products for the treatment of life-threatening diseases using two technology platforms: cancer immunotherapy and gene-targeted drugs. Its lead clinical agent, AVICINE, a therapeutic cancer vaccine, is undergoing a Phase II trial in pancreatic cancer, and will soon enter a Phase III pivotal trial in colorectal cancer and a Phase II trial in prostate cancer. The first application of its NEUGENE compounds, Resten-NG, is designed to treat cancer, cardiovascular restenosis and other cell proliferation disorders by inhibiting the production of a cellular transcription factor, the oncogene c-myc. It is currently in Phase I trials for restenosis. For more information about the Company, visit AVI's website at 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 pre-clinical 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. Copyright (C) 2000 Business Wire. All rights reserved. Distributed via COMTEX. -0- CONTACT: AVI BioPharma Denis R. Burger, Ph.D., President & CEO Alan P. Timmins, COO & CFO 503/227-0554 or Noonan/Russo Communications Investor Relations Judy Brenna, 212/696-4455 Ext. 221 jbrenna@noonanrusso.com or Young & Roehr Group Media Contact Ellen Berg, 503/222-0626 Ext. 504 eberg@young-roehr.com WEB PAGE: businesswire.com GEOGRAPHY: OREGON INDUSTRY CODE: MEDICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY PHARMACEUTICAL Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet with Hyperlinks to your home page. end of story *