AVI BioPharma Announces Positive Pre-Clinical Study Results Presented at the 26th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Vir
July 17 2007 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
AVI BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq:AVII), announced today the results of
five pre-clinical studies using NEUGENE� antisense against a
variety of viral diseases. The results were discussed this week at
the 26th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Virology at
Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis, Ore, July 14�18, 2007.
�Our infectious disease program encompasses research collaborations
with investigators worldwide on more than 50 different viruses,
nearly all the viral families known to cause disease in humans,�
said Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D., senior vice president of research
and development at AVI. �Studies like these continue to advance our
knowledge of how NEUGENE agents may be used against a variety of
viruses, and how we may continue to make them even more effective
inhibitors of disease. Activity in these early stage models permits
us to select from the most promising candidates for the eventual
development of potential clinical leads.� The following are short
summaries of presentations by AVI BioPharma and collaborators. More
information and article abstracts can be obtained at the OSU Web
site http://oregonstate.edu/conferences/asv2007. Workshop
Presentations Inhibition of measles virus (MV) by antisense
morpholino oligomers There are currently no antivirals available
for the treatment of measles. The most promising NEUGENE produced a
2 log decrease in viral titer in plaque assays. This same NEUGENE
was found to significantly inhibit replication of measles virus in
cell culture. Antiviral effects of antisense morpholino oligomers
in murine hepatic and pulmonary coronavirus infection models The
results showed a strong antiviral effect against a Coronavirus,
Murine Hepatitis Virus, in several mouse models. With further
development, these results suggest this NEUGENE agent may become an
effective therapeutic against a broad range of coronavirus
infections. Treatment of AG129 mice with antisense morpholino
oligomers increases survival times following challenge with dengue
2 virus The NEUGENE used in this study demonstrated considerable
antiviral efficacy against the dengue 2 virus in the AG129 mouse
model. These results suggest that early NEUGENE treatment may be
critical to extending survival times. Poster Presentations
Peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers inhibit
alphavirus replication and prevent lethal encephalitis in
VEEV-infected mice In this study a NEUGENE agent achieved
inhibition in cell culture against both the Sindbis virus and a
variety of VEE (Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis) virus, a
potential bioterror agent. The NEUGENE agent also prevented lethal
encephalitis in a VEEV mouse model. Inhibition of Influenza A virus
replication in mice with a �NEU� drug. AVI antisense compounds in
seven-week-old BalbC mice infected with H3N8 A/Eq/Miami/63 virus
The results of this influenza A study showed at least a 1.3 log
reduction in virus growth in mice, a 1.25 point reduction in
illness score and a trend for reduced weight loss when compared
with untreated mice. About AVI BioPharma AVI BioPharma develops
therapeutic products for the treatment of life-threatening diseases
using third-generation NEUGENE antisense drugs and ESPRIT exon
skipping technology. AVI�s lead NEUGENE antisense compound is
designed to target cell proliferation disorders, including
cardiovascular restenosis. 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, Ebola virus and influenza A virus. AVI�s NEUGENE-based
ESPRIT technology will initially be applied to potential treatments
for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. More information about AVI is
available on the company�s Web site at http://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.
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