CORVALLIS, OR--(Marketwire - October 14, 2008) - AVI BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVII), a developer of RNA-based drugs, today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) adopted a positive opinion recommending orphan medicinal product designation for AVI-4658 to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Additionally, the Company received notification from the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (GTAC) in the UK granting provisional approval for the Company's planned clinical trial for systemic delivery of AVI-4658 to treat DMD. The conditions for final GTAC approval include certain wording changes in the patient and parent information documents and completion of normal site specific assessments. AVI expects to comply with the conditions for final approval this quarter.
