Avigen, Inc. Initiates Opioid Withdrawal Trial in Partnership With National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute

ALAMEDA, Calif., Oct. 15, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avigen, Inc. (Nasdaq:AVGN), a biopharmaceutical company innovating therapeutics for neurological care, today announced the launch of an exploratory study of the company's pipeline product, AV411 (ibudilast), for the treatment of opioid withdrawal symptoms. The study is largely funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and will be run jointly by the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) and Columbia University.