AVI BioPharma Presents Advantages of CytoPorter for Improved Transdermal Drug Delivery At the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 19, 1998--AVI BIOPHARMA INC. ("AVI")(Nasdaq: AVII, AVIIW) today announced that Rhonda Brand, Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in collaboration with Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Development of AVI, presented a research summary titled "Passive Transdermal Transport of Peptides Across the Hairless Mouse Skin" at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists in San Francisco. This paper focuses on AVI's unique, proprietary drug delivery engine, CytoPorter(TM), combined with skin penetration methodology, to enhance transdermal drug delivery results.

These studies were conducted by preparing CytoPorter in combination with glycerol and linoleic acid to deliver a wide variety of drugs through the skin into the bloodstream. Furthermore, these studies indicate that CytoPorter may be refined for delivery to selected depths within the skin or for passage through the skin.

Dr. Iversen stated, "These important studies will allow us to expand AVI's CytoPorter drug delivery engine beyond its original intracellular applications to a wide variety of dermal and transdermal uses. These studies complement our ongoing vaccine and antisense programs and reflect our continued commitment to broaden our product development pipeline."

Denis R. Burger, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of AVI, added, "Ongoing investigations of AVI's CytoPorter technology support our original premise that it can be broadly applicable for improved drug delivery of small molecular drugs currently in development, more complex drugs developed by other biotech companies, as well as FDA-approved drugs with delivery problems. AVI is currently focusing its preclinical research efforts of CytoPorter on the delivery of paclitaxel, the largest selling cancer therapeutic worldwide. We are encouraged by the initial results observed to date and believe CytoPorter represents an effective solution to the challenge of transporting certain drugs with solubility or delivery problems across cell membranes."

AVI BioPharma Inc. is dedicated to the development and commercialization of products for the treatment of life-threatening diseases using three platform technologies: immunotherapy for cancer, gene-targeted drugs and intracellular drug delivery engines. Its lead clinical agent, Avicine(TM), an essentially non-toxic cancer vaccine, will soon enter a Phase III licensing trial in colorectal cancer, a Phase II trial in pancreatic cancer and a Phase II trial in prostate cancer. The Company has also developed a patented class of gene-targeted drugs, called NeuGenes(R), which may be useful in the treatment of a wide range of human diseases including cardiovascular restenosis and cancer. Further, AVI has developed a novel drug delivery technology, called CytoPorter(TM), that may be useful in significantly improving drug uptake while minimizing toxicity for a wide range of FDA-approved drugs.

"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.