CORVALLIS, OR--(Marketwire - June 12, 2008) - AVI BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVII) today announced the publication of preclinical results of a study designed to demonstrate the ability of AVI’s NeuGene® class of drugs to induce sustained expression of dystrophin in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Treatment with the AVI compound resulted in production of functional dystrophin in numerous appropriate tissues, including the heart, diaphragm and skeletal muscles; key organs for the treatment of the disease. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal, Molecular Therapy.