Avigen to Present at Needham & Company Biotechnology and Medical Technology Conference.

Webcast Scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, June 12, 2008

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Avigen, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVGN), a biopharmaceutical company innovating therapeutics for neurological care, announced today that President and CEO Kenneth Chahine will present information on Avigen's development programs and product pipeline at the Seventh Annual Needham & Company Biotechnology and Medical Technology Conference. Dr. Chahine will present on Thursday, June 12, from 11:00-11:30 a.m. ET at the New York Palace Hotel, New York City.

Dr. Chahine's presentation will be webcast live and archived on Avigen's website at www.avigen.com.

About Avigen

Avigen is a biopharmaceutical company focused on unique small molecule therapeutics and biologics to treat serious neurological disorders, including neuropathic pain and neuromuscular spasm and spasticity. Avigen's strategy is to complete the requirements of clinical development for each of the candidates in its product pipeline, and continue to look for opportunities to expand its pipeline through a combination of internal research, acquisitions, and in-licensing, with the goal of becoming a fully integrated commercial biopharmaceutical company committed to its small molecule and biologics neurology products. The company currently has in development AV650 for neuromuscular spasm and spasticity and AV411 for neuropathic pain. Additionally, the company has in development AV513, a compound for the treatment of hemophilia A and B. For more information about Avigen, consult the company's website at www.avigen.com.

Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which include, among others, statements relating to Avigen's intention of completing the requirements of clinical development for each of the candidates in its product pipeline, looking for opportunities to expand its pipeline through a combination of internal research, acquisitions, and in-licensing; and becoming a fully integrated commercial biopharmaceutical company. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those detailed in reports filed by Avigen with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Avigen's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2008, under the caption "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of Part 2 of that report, which was filed with the SEC on May 12, 2008.