As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 2010

Registration No. 333-[            ]

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Marina Biotech, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	11-2658569
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

3830 Monte Villa Parkway Bothell, Washington 98021 (425) 908-3600	J. Michael French President and Chief Executive Officer Marina Biotech, Inc. 3830 Monte Villa Parkway Bothell, Washington 98021 (425) 908-3600
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Office)	(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

Copies to:

Lawrence Remmel, Esq.

Pryor Cashman LLP

7 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

(212) 421-4100

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer	¨	Accelerated Filer	¨
Non-accelerated filer	¨  (do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	x

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered	Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Security	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price	Amount of Registration Fee
Common Stock ($0.006 par value)(4)	(1)	(2)	(2)	(5)
Preferred Stock	(1)	(2)	(2)	(5)
Debt Securities	(1)	(2)	(2)	(5)
Warrants	(1)	(2)	(2)	(5)
Units	(1)	(2)	(2)	(5)
Rights	(1)	(2)	(2)	(5)
TOTALS:	—	—	$50,000,000	$3,565.00 (3)

(1) There are being registered hereunder such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock, such indeterminate principal amount of debt securities, such indeterminate number of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities, such indeterminate number of units, and such indeterminate number of rights to purchase an indeterminate number of shares of common stock and/or preferred stock, from time to time, which together shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $50,000,000. If any debt securities are issued at an original issued discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such greater principal amount at maturity as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $50,000,000, less the aggregate dollar amount of all securities previously issued hereunder. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. The proposed maximum initial offering price per unit will be determined, from time to time, by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder. The securities registered also include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock and principal amount of debt securities as may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for preferred stock or debt securities that provide for conversion or exchange, upon exercise of warrants or pursuant to the antidilution provisions of any such securities. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, the shares being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

(2) Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered, pursuant to General Instruction II.D of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(3) Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(4) Also relates to preferred share purchase rights that are attached to all shares of common stock of the Registrant in accordance with the Rights Agreement by and between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, dated February 22, 2000. These rights are not exercisable until the occurrence of events specified in the Rights Agreement, are evidenced by the certificates for the common stock and are transferred along with and only with the common stock. The value attributable to these rights, if any, is reflected in the value of the common stock.

(5) Not required to be included in accordance with General Instruction II.D of Form S-3.

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

PROSPECTUS, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 30, 2010

Marina Biotech, Inc.

$50,000,000

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Rights

Units

We may, from time to time, offer and sell any combination of shares of common stock and/or preferred stock, various series of debt securities, warrants to purchase any of such securities, and/or rights to purchase shares of our common or preferred stock, either individually or in units comprised of any of such securities.

The maximum aggregate offering price for these securities will not exceed $50,000,000. We will describe the terms of any such offering in a supplement to this prospectus. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Such prospectus supplement will contain the following information about the offered securities:

• title and amount;

• offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions, and our net proceeds;

• any market listing and trading symbol;

• any names of lead or managing underwriters and description of underwriting arrangements; and

• the specific terms of the offered securities.

Our shares of common stock trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “MRNA.” On July 28, 2010, the last sale price of our shares of common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market was $2.91 per share. You are urged to obtain current market quotations for our common stock.

As of July 28, 2010, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $59,816,700 based on 23,527,489 shares of outstanding common stock, of which 2,971,922 shares are held by affiliates, and a price of $2.91 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our common stock as quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market on July 28, 2010. We have not offered any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3 during the prior 12 calendar month period that ends on, and includes, the date of this prospectus.

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully read and consider the risk factors appearing throughout this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, those appearing under the headings “Forward Looking Statements” beginning on page 1 of this prospectus and “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of this prospectus, as well as any risk factors that are described in our most recent periodic reports that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement, before making a decision to purchase our securities.

Our mailing address and telephone number are:

3830 Monte Villa Parkway

Bothell, Washington 98021

(425) 908-3600

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is             , 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About This Prospectus	1
Forward-Looking Statements	1
Information About The Company	3
Risk Factors	5
Use of Proceeds	5
Plan of Distribution	5
Description of Capital Stock	8
Description of Debt Securities	9
Description of Warrants	17
Description of Rights	19
Description of Units	19
Legal Matters	21
Experts	21
Where You Can Find More Information	21
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference	21

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any person to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and, if given or made, you must not rely upon such information or representations as having been authorized. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than our shares of common stock and/or preferred stock, various series of debt securities and/or warrants to purchase any of such securities, either individually or in units, each as described in this prospectus or an offer to sell or the solicitation to buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. You should not assume that the information we have included in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of this prospectus or that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any securities registered hereunder.

This document, as supplemented from time to time, may include product names, trade names and trademarks of other companies. All such product names and trademarks appearing in this document are the property of their respective holders.

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Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to “Marina,” “Company,” “registrant,” “we,” “us” or “our” include Marina Biotech, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any subsidiaries or other entities controlled by us.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration, or continuous offering, process. Under this shelf registration statement, we may, from time to time, sell any one or more or a combination of the securities described in this prospectus, either individually or in units comprised of any of such securities, in one or more offerings, for a total maximum offering price not to exceed $50,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.

If required, each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus and may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations that apply to the offered securities. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement. Before making an investment decision, it is important for you to read and consider the information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated herein by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events or our financial performance, and involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those identified below, which may cause our or our industry’s actual or future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements or from historical results. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements include information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations and statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which we cannot predict with accuracy and some of which we might not even anticipate. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions at the time made, we can give no assurance that such expectations will be achieved. Future events and actual results, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We have no duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus or to conform them to actual results, new information, future events or otherwise.

The following factors, among others, could cause our or our industry’s future results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated:

• our ability to obtain additional funding for our company;

• the success or failure of our research and development programs or the programs of our partners;

• our efforts to collaborate with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to develop products;

• our ability to obtain governmental approvals, including product and patent approvals;

• our ability to attract and retain our key officers and employees;

• costs associated with any product liability claims, patent prosecution, patent infringement lawsuits and other lawsuits; and

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• our ability to develop and commercialize our products before our competitors.

These factors are the important factors of which we are currently aware that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. We operate in a continually changing business environment, and new risk factors emerge from time to time. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on our future results, performance or achievements. We cannot assure you that projected results or events will be achieved or will occur.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY

Our Business

We are a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals based on RNA interference (“RNAi”). Our goal is to be the leader in RNAi therapeutics and improve human health through the development of RNAi-based compounds that provide superior therapeutic options for patients. Our team of approximately 35 scientists brings expertise in the discovery, evaluation and optimization of small interfering RNAs (“siRNAs”) as well as siRNA delivery. We have the requisite experience in the areas of RNAi, molecular and cellular biology, amino acid, oligonucleotide and peptide chemistry, pharmacology and bioinformatics necessary to discover and develop tailored RNAi-based compounds designed to elicit specific therapeutic effects on a target-by-target basis. Our infrastructure provides for pre-clinical scale manufacturing of both siRNAs and delivery materials, the comprehensive analysis and optimization of these compounds both individually and as drug candidates, and the filing of Investigational New Drug Applications. In addition to our own, internally developed technologies, we strategically in-license and further develop RNAi and delivery-related technologies, forming a single integrated drug discovery platform. In order to protect our innovations, which encompass a broad platform of both siRNA and delivery technologies, and the eventual drug products that emerge from that platform, we will aggressively continue to build upon our extensive and enabling intellectual property (“IP”) estate.

Our business strategy is two-fold. First, we strive to establish collaborations and strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the area of RNAi-based therapeutics to: (1) generate revenue and non-dilutive financing; (2) gain access to technical resources; and (3) validate our drug discovery platform. Secondly, we expect to advance our own pipeline of RNAi-based therapeutics as a foundation upon which to improve all aspects of our drug discovery platform and to have the opportunity to commercialize drug therapies. Our pipeline is focused on bladder and liver cancer. With respect to collaborations and strategic partnerships, we are currently focused on our UsiRNA constructs, as well as our DiLA2 and peptide delivery technologies. Collaborations are expected to range from feasibility studies to the development of therapeutic candidates. We expect to collaborate with partners who can take a drug candidate through to product commercialization by utilizing their late stage clinical development, regulatory, marketing and sales capabilities. We expect to structure our collaborative agreements to receive upfront non-refundable payments, research and development funding, milestone payments and royalties on commercial sales of products.

Recent Developments

Acquisition of Cequent Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

On July 21, 2010, we consummated the acquisition of Cequent Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Cequent, a privately-held company that was engaged in the development of novel products to deliver RNAi-based therapeutics. We completed the transaction pursuant to the terms and conditions of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 31, 2010, by and among our company, Cequent, Calais Acquisition Corp. and a representative of the stockholders of Cequent. In connection with the merger, we issued an aggregate of 9,882,853 shares of our common stock to the stockholders of Cequent in exchange for all of the shares of Cequent common and preferred stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the merger (as adjusted for the 1-for-4 reverse split of our common stock effective at 4:30 p.m. EDT on July 21, 2010). We also assumed all of the stock options and warrants of Cequent outstanding as of July 21, 2010. As a result of the merger, Cequent has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of our company.

The combined company has multiple proprietary RNAi drug discovery platforms with the capability to deliver RNAi-based therapeutics via systemic, local and oral administration. In addition, the acquisition expands our oncology pipeline with a product for Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) — a genetic disorder that is a precursor to colon cancer — that will soon begin Phase 1 clinical testing under an Investigational New Drug application (IND) filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Change of Corporate Name

On July 21, 2010, in connection with the closing of the merger with Cequent, we filed a Certificate of Amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to change the name of our company from “MDRNA, Inc.” to “Marina Biotech, Inc.”

Reverse Split of Common Stock

On July 21, 2010, we filed a Certificate of Amendment of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a one-for-four reverse split of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock effective as of 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 21,

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2010. The common stock commenced trading on the NASDAQ Global Market on a split-adjusted basis as of the opening of trading on Thursday, July 22, 2010. The common stock will continue to trade under the ticker symbol “MRNA”, although the letter “D” will be temporarily appended to the ticker symbol for twenty trading days following the reverse split. Following the reverse split, the total number of shares outstanding was proportionately reduced in accordance with the reverse split. Further, any outstanding options, warrants and rights as of the effective date that are subject to adjustment were adjusted accordingly.

There was no change to the number of authorized shares of our common stock as a result of the reverse stock split. Any fraction of a share of common stock that would otherwise have resulted from the reverse split was converted into the right to receive cash payment from us for such fractional shares, in an amount to be determined by multiplying (x) the fractional amount of the share of common stock by (y) $2.9824 (i.e., an amount equal to four times the per share closing price of the common stock (on a post-split basis) on the NASDAQ Global Market on July 21, 2010).

Acquisition of Assets of Novosom AG

On July 27, 2010, we acquired the RNA delivery assets of Novosom AG in consideration of the issuance to Novosom AG of an aggregate of 1,419,487 shares of our common stock pursuant to that certain Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of July 27, 2010 by and among our company, Novosom and Steffen Panzner, Ph.D. The shares that we issued to Novosom had an aggregate value equal to approximately $5,000,000, with each share being valued at $3.5224, which is the volume weighted average price of our common stock for the ten (10) trading days ending July 16, 2010 (as adjusted for the 1-for-4 reverse stock split effected on July 21, 2010). The acquired Novosom patent estate represents a global portfolio including 42 issued or allowed patents and 31 pending patent applications providing broad coverage for liposomal delivery formulations, lipid compounds and nucleic acid chemistry.

General

We were incorporated in Delaware on September 23, 1983. Our principal executive offices are located at 3830 Monte Villa Parkway, Bothell, Washington 98021, and our telephone number is (425) 908-3600. We maintain an Internet website at www.marinabiotech.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information in, or that can be accessed through, our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this prospectus.

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other reports filed from time to time with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by our filings under the Exchange Act, as well as any prospectus supplement relating to a specific security. Before making any investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement. The risks and uncertainties described in the prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties of which we are unaware or that we believe are not material at the time could also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In any case, the value of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. See also the information contained under the heading “Forward-Looking Statements” elsewhere in this prospectus.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of our securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the development of our recently acquired compound for Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), pre-IND expenses associated with our pre-clinical programs in bladder and liver cancer, research and development expenses associated with our RNAi drug discovery platform, corporate expenses related to our strategy to acquire key RNAi delivery technologies, capital expenditures and other working capital needs. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we expect to invest the proceeds in investment grade, interest bearing securities.

The principal purposes of this offering are to increase our operating and financial flexibility. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds we will have upon completion of this offering. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion in the application of net proceeds, if any.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus in any one or more of the following ways from time to time:

• Directly to investors, including through a specific bidding, auction or other process;

• To investors through agents;

• Directly to agents;

• To or through brokers or dealers;

• To the public through underwriting syndicates led by one or more managing underwriters;

• To one or more underwriters acting alone for resale to investors or to the public; or

• Through a combination of any such methods of sale.

In addition, we may issue the securities being offered by this prospectus as a dividend or distribution.

We may also in sell the securities offered by this prospectus in “at the market offerings” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise.

The accompanying prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will identify any firms acting as underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering, including:

• The name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

• The purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from the sale;

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• Any over-allotment options under which the underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;

• Any underwriting discounts and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents;

• Any public offering price;

• Any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; or

• Any securities exchange or market on which the securities offered in the prospectus supplement may be listed.

Sale Through Underwriters or Dealers

If we use an underwriter or underwriters in the sale of securities offered by this prospectus, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account, including through underwriting, purchase, security lending or repurchase agreements with us. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. Underwriters may sell the securities in order to facilitate transactions in any of our other securities (described in this prospectus or otherwise), including other public or private transactions and short sales. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

If we use an underwriter or underwriters in the sale of securities, we will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriter or underwriters at the time we reach an agreement for sale. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriters, and the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers. This compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions.

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the aggregate maximum discount, commission, agency fees, or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

No FINRA member may participate in any offering of securities made under this prospectus if such member has a conflict of interest under FINRA Rule 2720, including if 5% or more of the net proceeds, not including underwriting compensation, of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by a FINRA member participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA members, unless a qualified independent underwriter has participated in the offering or the offering otherwise complies with FINRA Rule 2720.

We may grant to the underwriters options to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotments, if any, at the public offering price with additional underwriting discounts or commissions. If we grant any over-allotment option, the terms of any over-allotment option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities.

Sale Through Dealers

If we use dealers in the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus, we or an underwriter will sell the securities to them as principals. The dealers may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the names of the dealers and the terms of the transactions.

Direct Sales

We may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities offered by this prospectus. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. The terms of any such sales will be described in the prospectus supplement.

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Sales Through Agents

Securities also may be offered and sold through agents designated from time to time. The prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment. Any agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities.

Delayed Delivery Contracts

If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from institutions to purchase securities at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. Institutions with which contracts of this type may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions, but in all cases those institutions must be approved by us. The obligations of any purchaser under any contract of this type will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the purchaser is subject. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. Any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be eligible for listing and trading on the Nasdaq Global Market, subject to official notice of issuance. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, each other class or series of securities issued will be a new issue and will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on an exchange, but we are not currently obligated to do so. Any underwriters that we use in the sale of offered securities may make a market in such securities, but may discontinue such market making at any time without notice. Therefore, we cannot assure you that the securities will have a liquid trading market.

Any underwriter may also engage in stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.

Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.

The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above, if implemented, may have on the price of our securities.

Derivative Transactions and Hedging

We, the underwriters or other agents may engage in derivative transactions involving the securities. These derivatives may consist of short sale transactions and other hedging activities. The underwriters or agents may acquire a long or short position in the securities, hold or resell securities acquired and purchase options or futures on the securities and other derivative instruments with returns linked to or related to changes in the price of the securities. In order to facilitate these derivative transactions, we may enter into security lending or repurchase agreements with the underwriters or agents. The underwriters or agents may effect the derivative transactions through sales of the securities to the public, including short sales, or by lending the securities in order to facilitate short sale transactions by others. The underwriters or agents may also use the securities purchased or borrowed from us or others (or, in the case of derivatives, securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives) to directly or indirectly settle sales of the securities or close out any related open borrowings of the securities.

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Electronic Auctions

We also may make sales through the Internet or through other electronic means. Since we may from time to time elect to offer securities directly to the public, with or without the involvement of agents, underwriters or dealers, utilizing the Internet or other forms of electronic bidding or ordering systems for the pricing and allocation of such securities, you will want to pay particular attention to the description of that system we will provide in a prospectus supplement.

Such electronic system may allow bidders to directly participate, through electronic access to an auction site, by submitting conditional offers to buy that are subject to acceptance by us, and which may directly affect the price or other terms and conditions at which such securities are sold. These bidding or ordering systems may present to each bidder, on a so-called “real-time” basis, relevant information to assist in making a bid, such as the clearing spread at which the offering would be sold, based on the bids submitted, and whether a bidder’s individual bids would be accepted, prorated or rejected. Of course, many pricing methods can and may also be used.

Upon completion of such an electronic auction process, securities will be allocated based on prices bid, terms of bid or other factors. The final offering price at which securities would be sold and the allocation of securities among bidders would be based in whole or in part on the results of the Internet or other electronic bidding process or auction.

General Information

Agents, underwriters, and dealers may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification by us against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments they may be required to make in respect to such liabilities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions of indemnification or contribution. Some of our agents, underwriters, and dealers, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business. We will describe in the prospectus supplement the nature of any such relationship and the name of the parties involved. Any lockup arrangements will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

Set forth below is a description of our capital stock. The following description of our capital stock is a summary and is subject to and qualified by the applicable provisions of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and the relevant provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware. The particular terms of any offering of our securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such offering.

Common Stock

We are currently authorized to issue up to 90,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.006 per share. As of July 28, 2010, 23,527,489 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding, 3,830,140 unissued shares of common stock were reserved for future issuance under our equity compensation plans, and 3,143,941 unissued shares of common stock were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, leaving approximately 59,498,430 shares of common stock unissued and unreserved.

All shares of common stock issued will be duly authorized, fully paid and non-assessable. The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of our common stock. Under Delaware law, stockholders generally are not liable for our debts or obligations. Our certificate of incorporation does not authorize cumulative voting for the election of directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class of our capital stock having any preference or priority over our common stock, the holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends that are declared by the board of directors out of legally available funds. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in our net assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior rights of preferred stock, if any, then outstanding. Our common stock has no preemptive rights, conversion rights, redemption rights or sinking fund provisions, and there are no dividends in arrears or default. All shares of our common stock have equal distribution, liquidation and voting rights, and have no preferences or exchange rights.

Our common stock currently is trading on the NASDAQ Global Market. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

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Stockholder Rights Plan

On February 22, 2000, our board of directors adopted a stockholder rights plan and declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of common stock. Each right entitles the holder, once the right becomes exercisable, to purchase from us one one-thousandth of a share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share. We issued these rights on March 17, 2000 to each stockholder of record on such date, and these rights attach to shares of common stock subsequently issued. The rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us on terms not approved by our board of directors and could, therefore, have the effect of delaying or preventing someone from taking control of us, even if a change of control were in the best interest of our stockholders.

Holders of our preferred share purchase rights are generally entitled to purchase from us one one-thousandth of a share of Series A preferred stock at a price of $50.00, subject to adjustment as provided in the Stockholder Rights Agreement. These preferred share purchase rights will generally be exercisable only if a person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 15 percent or more of our outstanding common stock or announces a tender offer for 15 percent or more of our outstanding common stock. Each holder of a preferred share purchase right, excluding an acquiring entity or any of its affiliates, will have the right to receive, upon exercise, shares of our common stock, or shares of stock of the acquiring entity, having a market value equal to two times the purchase price paid for one one-thousandth of a share of Series A preferred stock. The preferred share purchase rights expire on March 17, 2013, unless we extend the expiration date or in certain limited circumstances, we redeem or exchange such rights prior to such date.

Preferred Stock

We are currently authorized to issue 100,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, with 10,000 shares undesignated and 90,000 shares of previously undesignated preferred stock designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

We may issue shares of our authorized but unissued preferred stock in one or more series having the rights, privileges, and limitations, including voting rights, conversion rights, liquidation preferences, dividend rights and redemption rights, as may, from time to time, be determined by our board of directors. Preferred stock may be issued in the future in connection with acquisitions, financings, or other matters, as our board of directors deems appropriate. In the event that we determine to issue any shares of our authorized but unissued preferred stock, a certificate of designation containing the rights, privileges and limitations of this series of preferred stock will be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The effect of this preferred stock designation power is that our board of directors alone, subject to Federal securities laws, applicable blue sky laws, and Delaware law, may be able to authorize the issuance of preferred stock which could have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing a change in control without further action by our stockholders, and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Delaware Law

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, the statute prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. For purposes of Section 203, a business combination includes a merger, asset sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder, and an interested stockholder is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years prior, did own) 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Any debt securities that we offer by this prospectus will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee to be identified in the prospectus supplement. The terms of the debt securities will include those stated in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), as in effect on the date of the indenture. The following description summarizes only the material provisions of the indenture. Accordingly, you should read the form of indenture, a copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, because it, and not this description, defines your rights as holders of our debt securities. You should also read the applicable prospectus supplement for additional information and the specific terms of the debt securities.

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General

We may, at our option, issue debt securities in one or more series from time to time. “Debt securities” may include senior debt, senior subordinated debt or subordinated debt. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions do not apply to the debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities. The following summaries set forth certain general terms and provisions of the indenture and the debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities being offered will contain the following terms, if applicable:

• the title and ranking;

• the aggregate principal amount and any limit on such amount;

• the price at which such debt securities will be issued;

• the date on which the debt securities mature;

• the fixed or variable rate at which the debt securities will bear interest, or the method by which such rate shall be determined;

• the timing, place and manner of making principal, interest and any premium payments on the debt securities, and, if applicable, where such debt securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange;

• the date or dates, if any, after which the debt securities may be converted or exchanged into or for shares of our common stock or another company’s securities or properties or cash and the terms of any such conversion or exchange;

• any redemption or early repayment provisions;

• any sinking fund or similar provisions;

• the authorized denominations;

• any applicable subordination provisions;

• any guarantees of such securities by our subsidiaries or others;

• the currency in which we will pay the principal, interest and any premium payments on such debt securities;

• whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

• the time period within which, the manner in which and the terms and conditions upon which the purchaser of the securities can select the payment currency;

• the provisions, if any, granting special rights to the holders of debt securities upon certain events;

• any additions to or changes in the events of default or covenants of our company with respect to the debt securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal, premium and interest with respect to such securities to be due and payable;

• whether and under what circumstances we will pay any additional amounts on such debt securities for any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem such debt securities instead of paying such amounts;

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• the form (registered and/or bearer securities), any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of bearer securities and the terms, if any, upon which bearer securities may be exchanged for registered securities and vice versa;

• the date of any bearer securities or any global security, if other than the date of original issuance of the first security of the series to be issued;

• the person to whom and manner in which any interest shall be payable;

• whether such securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities;

• the identity of the depositary for global securities;

• whether a temporary security is to be issued with respect to such series and whether any interest payable prior to the issuance of definitive securities of the series will be credited to the account of the persons entitled thereto;

• the terms upon which beneficial interests in a temporary global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for beneficial interests in a definitive global security or for individual definitive securities and the terms upon which such exchanges may be made;

• the securities exchange(s), if any, on which the securities will be listed;

• whether any underwriter(s) will act as market maker(s) for the securities;

• the form (certificated or book-entry);

• the form and/or terms of certificates, documents or conditions which may be necessary, if any, for the debt securities to be issuable in final form; and

• additional terms not inconsistent with the provisions of the indenture.

One or more series of debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount bearing no interest or interest at a rate below the market rate at the time of issuance. One or more series of debt securities may be variable rate debt securities that may be exchanged for fixed rate debt securities. In such cases, all material United States federal income tax and other considerations applicable to any such series will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We will comply with Section 14(e) under the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable, and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act, which may then be applicable, in connection with any obligation we may have to purchase debt securities at the option of the holders thereof. Any such obligation applicable to a series of debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Exchange, Registration, Transfer and Payment

We expect payment of principal, premium, if any, and any interest on the debt securities to be payable, and the exchange and the transfer of debt securities will be registrable, at the office of the trustee or at any other office or agency we maintain for such purpose. We expect to issue debt securities in denominations of U.S. $1,000 or integral multiples thereof. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require a payment to cover any tax or other governmental charges payable in connection therewith.

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Global Debt Securities

Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following provisions will apply to all debt securities.

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with a depositary that we will identify in a prospectus supplement. Each global security will be deposited with the depositary and will bear a legend regarding any related restrictions or other matters as may be provided for pursuant to the applicable indenture.

Unless a prospectus supplement states otherwise, no global security may be transferred to, or registered or exchanged for debt securities registered in the name of, any person or entity other than the depositary, unless:

• the depositary has notified us that it is unwilling or unable or is no longer qualified to continue as depositary;

• we order the trustee that such global security shall be so transferable, registrable and exchangeable, and such transfers shall be registrable; or

• other circumstances, if any, as may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

All debt securities issued in exchange for a global security or any portion thereof will be registered in such names as the depositary may direct. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of a series of debt securities to be represented by a global security will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Debt securities which are to be represented by a global security to be deposited with or on behalf of a depositary will be represented by a global security registered in the name of such depositary or its nominee. Upon the issuance of such global security, and the deposit of such global security with the depositary, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by such global security to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with such depositary or its nominee (the “Participants”). The accounts to be credited will be designated by the underwriters or agents of such debt securities or by us, if such debt securities are offered and sold directly by us.

Ownership of beneficial interests in such global security will be limited to Participants or persons that may hold interests through Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary or its nominee for such global security or by Participants or persons that hold through Participants.

The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in certificated form. The foregoing limitations and such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in such global securities.

So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such global security, such depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by such global security for all purposes under the indenture. Payment of principal of, and premium and interest, if any, on debt securities will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner or bearer as the case may be of the global security representing such debt securities. Each person owning a beneficial interest in such global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary and, if such person is not a Participant, on the procedures of the Participant through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture. If we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in such global security desires to give any notice or take any action a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary will authorize the Participants to give such notice or take such action, and Participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through such Participants to give such notice or take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

The rights of any holder of a debt security to receive payment of principal and premium of, if any, and interest on such debt security, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in such debt security, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the holders.

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Neither we, the trustee, any paying agent nor the security registrar for such debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of the global security for such debt securities or for maintaining, supervising or receiving any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest, will credit immediately Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security for such debt securities as shown on the records of such depositary or its nominee. We also expect that payments by Participants to owners of beneficial interests in such global security held through such Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such Participants.

If the depositary for a global security representing debt securities of a particular series is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue debt securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for such global security. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion determine not to have the debt securities of a particular series represented by one or more global securities and, in such event, will issue debt securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for all of the global securities representing debt securities of such series.

Covenants

Except as permitted under “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets,” the indenture will require us to do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect our existence, rights (declaration and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that we shall not be required to preserve any right or franchise if we determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of our business and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the holders of the debt securities.

The indenture will require us to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon us except any tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount or applicability is being contested in good faith.

Reference is made to the indenture and applicable prospectus supplement for information with respect to any additional covenants specific to a particular series of debt securities.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

Except as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture will provide that we shall not consolidate with, or sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of our assets to, or merge into, any person unless:

• we are the surviving entity or, in the event that we are not the surviving entity, the entity formed by the transaction (in a consolidation) or the entity which received the transfer of assets is a corporation organized under the laws of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia;

• such entity assumes all of our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture; and

• immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default, as defined in the indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may merge with another person or acquire by purchase or otherwise all or any part of the property or assets of any other corporation or person in a transaction in which we are the surviving entity.

Events of Default

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following are events of default with respect to any series of debt securities issued under the indenture:

• failure to pay principal of any debt security of that series when due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise;

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• failure to pay any interest on any debt security of that series when due, and the default continues for 30 days;

• failure to comply with any covenant or warranty contained in the indenture, other than covenants or warranties contained in the indenture solely for the benefit of other series of debt securities, and the default continues for 30 days after notice from the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series;

• certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

• any other event of default provided with respect to that particular series of debt securities.

If an event of default occurs and continues, then upon written notice to us the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the unpaid principal amount of, and any accrued and unpaid interest on, all debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. However, at any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul such acceleration:

• if all events of default other than the nonpayment of principal of or interest on the debt securities of that series which have become due solely because of the acceleration have been waived or cured; and

• the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction. For information as to waiver of defaults, see “Amendment, Supplement and Waiver” below.

The indenture will provide that, subject to the duty of the trustee during an event of default to act with the required standard of care, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless such holders shall have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity. Subject to certain provisions, including those requiring security or indemnification of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series.

We will be required to furnish to the trustee under the indenture annually a statement as to the performance by us of our obligations under that indenture and as to any default in such performance.

Discharge of Indenture and Defeasance

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may terminate our obligations under the debt securities of any series, and the corresponding obligations under the indenture when:

• we have paid or deposited with the trustee funds or United States government obligations in an amount sufficient to pay at maturity all outstanding debt securities of such series, including interest other than destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities of such series which have not been replaced or paid;

• all outstanding debt securities of such series have been delivered (other than destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities of such series which have not been replaced or paid) to the trustee for cancellation; or

• all outstanding debt securities of any series have become due and payable; and

• we have paid all other sums payable under the indenture.

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In addition, we may terminate substantially all our obligations under the debt securities of any series and the corresponding obligations under the indenture if:

• we have paid or deposited with the trustee, in trust an amount of cash or United States government obligations sufficient to pay all outstanding principal of and interest on the then outstanding debt securities of such series at maturity or upon their redemption, as the case may be;

• such deposit will not result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, the indenture;

• no default or event of default shall have occurred and continue on the date of deposit and no event of default as a result of a bankruptcy or event which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would become a bankruptcy event of default shall have occurred and be continuing on the 91st day after such date;

• we deliver to the trustee a legal opinion that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or there has been a change in tax law, in either case to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of our exercise of such option and shall be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such option had not been exercised; and

• certain other conditions are met.

We shall be released from our obligations with respect to the covenants to deliver reports required to be filed with the SEC and an annual compliance certificate, and to make timely payments of taxes (including covenants described in a prospectus supplement) and any event of default occurring because of a default with respect to such covenants as they related to any series of debt securities if:

• we deposit or cause to be deposited with the trustee in trust an amount of cash or United States government obligations sufficient to pay and discharge when due the entire unpaid principal of and interest on all outstanding debt securities of any series;

• such deposit will not result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, the indenture;

• no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of deposit and no event of default as a result of a bankruptcy or event which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would become a bankruptcy event of default shall have occurred and be continuing on the 91st day after such date;

• we deliver to the trustee a legal opinion that the holders of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of our exercise of such option and shall be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such option had not been exercised; and

• certain other conditions are met.

Upon satisfaction of such conditions, our obligations under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series, other than with respect to the covenants and events of default referred to above, shall remain in full force and effect.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no discharge or defeasance described above shall affect the following obligations to or rights of the holders of any series of debt securities:

• rights of registration of transfer and exchange of debt securities of such series;

• rights of substitution of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities of such series;

• rights of holders of debt securities of such series to receive payments of principal thereof and premium, if any, and interest thereon when due;

• rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the trustee;

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• rights of holders of debt securities of such series as beneficiaries with respect to property deposited with the trustee and payable to all or any of them; and

• our obligations to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities of such series.

Transfer and Exchange

A holder of debt securities may transfer or exchange such debt securities in accordance with the indenture. The registrar for the debt securities may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the indenture. The registrar is not required to transfer or exchange any debt security selected for redemption or any debt security for a period of 15 days before a selection of debt security to be redeemed.

The registered holder of a debt security may be treated as the owner of such security for all purposes.

Amendment, Supplement and Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions, the terms of the indenture or the debt securities may be amended or supplemented by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the amendment with each series voting as a separate class. Without the consent of any holder of the debt securities, we and the trustee may amend the terms of the indenture or the debt securities to:

• cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

• provide for the assumption of our obligations to holders of the debt securities by a successor corporation;

• provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to certificated debt securities;

• make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of the debt securities in any material respect;

• add to, change or eliminate any other provisions of the indenture in respect of one or more series of debt securities if such change would not (i) apply to any security of any series created prior to the execution of a supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision and (ii) modify the rights of the holder of any such security with respect to such provision or become effective only when there is no outstanding security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to such benefits;

• establish any additional series of debt securities; or

• comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

However, holders of each series of debt securities affected by a modification must consent to modifications that have the following effect:

• reduce the principal amount of debt securities the holders of which must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver of any provision of the indenture;

• reduce the rate or change the time for payment of interest on any debt security;

• reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any debt securities;

• change the date on which any debt security may be subject to redemption or repurchase, or reduce the redemption or repurchase price therefor;

• make any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security;

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• waive any existing default or event of default and the consequences with respect to that series;

• modify the right of any holder to receive payment of principal or interest on any debt security on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the debt security;

• impair the right of any holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment in or with respect to any such debt security; or

• make any change in the foregoing amendment provisions which require each holder’s consent.

Any existing default may be waived with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of the series affected thereby.

The consent of the holders of debt securities is not necessary to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment to any indenture. It is sufficient if any consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment.

Replacement Securities

Any mutilated certificate representing a debt security or a certificate representing a debt security with a mutilated coupon will be replaced by us at the expense of the holder upon surrender of such certificate to the trustee. Certificates representing debt securities or coupons that become destroyed, stolen or lost will be replaced by us at the expense of the holder upon delivery to us and the trustee of evidence of any destruction, loss or theft satisfactory to us and the trustee, provided that neither we nor the trustee has been notified that such certificate or coupon has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser. In the case of any coupon which becomes destroyed, stolen or lost, such coupon will be replaced by issuance of a new certificate representing the debt security in exchange for the certificate representing the debt security to which such coupon appertains. In the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen certificate representing the debt security or coupon, an indemnity bond satisfactory to the trustee and us may be required at the expense of the holder of such debt security before a replacement certificate will be issued.

Regarding the Trustee

We will identify in the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities the trustee with respect to such series. The indenture and provisions of the Trust Indenture Act incorporated by reference therein contain certain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become a creditor of our company, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim, as security or otherwise. The trustee and its affiliates may engage in, and will be permitted to continue to engage in, other transactions with us and our affiliates; provided, however, that if it acquires any conflicting interest, as defined in the Trust Indenture Act, it must eliminate such conflict or resign.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the trustee. The Trust Indenture Act and the indenture provide that in case an event of default shall occur, and be continuing, the trustee will be required, in the exercise of its rights and powers, to use the degree of care and skill of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provision, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of the debt securities issued thereunder, unless they have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

The following description of our warrants for the purchase of our common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in this prospectus contains the general terms and provisions of the warrants. The particular terms of any offering of warrants will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such offering. The statements below describing the warrants are subject to and qualified by the applicable provisions of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the relevant provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants.

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General

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities. We may issue warrants independently or together with any of our securities, and warrants also may be attached to our securities or independent of them. We may issue series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement between us and a specified warrant agent described in the prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

As of July 28, 2010, we had issued and outstanding warrants to purchase up to 3,143,941 shares of our common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $5.94 per share.

Terms

A prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any warrants that we issue or offer, including:

• the title of the warrants;

• the aggregate number of warrants;

• the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

• the currencies in which the price or prices of the warrants may be payable;

• the designation, amount and terms of our capital stock or debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

• the designation and terms of our other securities, if any, that may be issued in connection with the warrants, and the number of warrants issued with each corresponding security;

• if applicable, the date that the warrants and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately transferable;

• the prices and currencies for which the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;

• the date that the warrants may first be exercised;

• the date that the warrants expire;

• the minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

• information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

• a discussion of certain federal income tax considerations; and

• any other material terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

Exercise of Warrants

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash the principal amount of debt securities or shares of preferred stock or common stock at the applicable exercise price set forth in, or determined as described in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

Warrants may be exercised by delivering to the corporation trust office of the warrant agent or any other officer indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement (a) the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed and (b) payment of the amount due upon exercise. As soon as practicable following exercise, we will forward the debt securities or shares of preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise. If less than all of the warrants represented by a warrant certificate are exercised, a new

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warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.

DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

We may issue rights to purchase our common stock and/or preferred stock, in one or more series. Rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the subscription rights. In connection with any rights offering to our stockholders, we may enter into a standby underwriting arrangement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which such underwriters will purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed after such rights offering. In connection with a rights offering to our stockholders, we will distribute certificates evidencing the rights and a prospectus supplement to our stockholders on the record date that we set for receiving rights in such rights offering. The applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will describe the following terms of rights in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:

• the title of such rights;

• the securities for which such rights are exercisable;

• the exercise price for such rights;

• the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution;

• the number of such rights issued to each security holder;

• the extent to which such rights are transferable;

• if applicable, a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of such rights;

• the date on which the right to exercise such rights shall commence, and the date on which such rights shall expire (subject to any extension);

• the conditions to completion of the rights offering;

• any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the rights;

• the extent to which such rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities;

• if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or other purchase arrangement that we may enter into in connection with the rights offering; and

• any other terms of such rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such rights.

Each right will entitle the holder thereof the right to purchase for cash such amount of shares of common stock or preferred stock, or any combination thereof, at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the prospectus supplement relating to the rights offered thereby. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for such rights set forth in the prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will become void. Rights may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the rights offered thereby. Upon receipt of payment and the proper completion and due execution of the rights certificate at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will forward, as soon as practicable, the shares of common stock and/or preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise. We may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any units offered under a prospectus

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supplement may differ from the terms described below. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.

We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement that describes the terms of the series of units we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of the related series of units. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the units are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the unit agreement and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of units. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular series of units that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete unit agreement and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the units.

General

We may issue units comprised of one or more debt securities, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, warrants and/or units in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of units, including:

• the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

• any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and

• any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units.

The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Warrants,” and “Description of Rights” will apply to each unit and to any common stock, preferred stock, debt security, warrant or right included in each unit, respectively.

Issuance in Series

We may issue units in such amounts and in numerous distinct series as we determine.

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units

Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.

Title

We, the unit agent and any of their agents may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate for any purposes and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary.

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the issuance of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Pryor Cashman LLP, New York, New York. Pryor Cashman is a stockholder of our company. If legal matters in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel to underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, such counsel will be named in the prospectus supplement related to such offering.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Marina Biotech, Inc. (formerly MDRNA, Inc.) as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2009, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report covering the December 31, 2009 consolidated financial statements refers to the Company’s change in method of accounting for warrants no longer considered indexed to the Company’s own stock effective January 1, 2009 and contains an explanatory paragraph that states that the Company has incurred recurring losses, has had recurring negative cash flows from operations, and has an accumulate deficit that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of that uncertainty.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and in accordance with such laws we file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed with the SEC. The SEC’s website address is http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of its public reference room. The information we file with the SEC and other information about us is also available on our website at www.marinabiotech.com. However, the information on our website is not a part of, nor is such information to be deemed incorporated by reference into, this prospectus.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 (of which this prospectus is a part) under the Securities Act, with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, certain portions of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance please see the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference and the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information regarding us and the securities offered by this prospectus, please refer to the registration statement and such exhibits and schedules which may be obtained from the SEC at its principal office in Washington, D.C. upon payment of the fees prescribed by the SEC, or from its web site.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we have filed with the SEC. The information we incorporate by reference into this prospectus is an important part of this prospectus. Any statement in a document we have filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus and which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be considered to be modified or superseded to the extent a statement contained in this prospectus or any other subsequently filed document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. The modified or superseded statement will not be considered to be a part of this prospectus, except as modified or superseded.

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information contained in the documents listed below, which is considered to be a part of this prospectus:

(1) our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, filed with the SEC on March 23, 2010, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2010;

(2) our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010, filed with the SEC on May 17, 2010;

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(3) our current reports on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on January 14, 2010, March 5, 2010, March 23, 2010 (only with respect to Item 8.01 thereof), April 1, 2010, April 5, 2010, April 6, 2010, June 10, 2010, July 20, 2010, July 21, 2010, July 23, 2010 and July 28, 2010;

(4) the description of our common stock and the description of certain provisions of Delaware Law contained or incorporated by reference in our registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on August 12, 1985, including any amendments or reports filed for the purposes of updating this description;

(5) the description of our preferred stock purchase rights contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2000, including any amendments or reports filed for the purposes of updating this description; and

(6) future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus but prior to the termination of the offering of the securities covered by this prospectus.

You may obtain copies of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Marina Biotech, Inc.

3830 Monte Villa Parkway

Bothell, Washington 98021

(425) 908-3698

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses Of Issuance And Distribution

The following sets forth the costs and expenses payable by us in connection with the distribution of the securities being registered. We have estimated all amounts except the SEC registration fee.

SEC registration fee	$	3,565.00
Printing and duplicating expenses		*
Legal fees and expenses (other than blue sky)		*
Accounting fees and expenses		*
FINRA and blue sky fees and expenses (including fees of counsel)		*
Miscellaneous		*
Total:	$	*

* These fees and expenses depend on the types of securities offered and the number of offerings, and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation currently provides that our board of directors has the authority to utilize, to the fullest extent possible, the indemnification provisions of Sections 102(b)(7) and 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), and our directors and officers are provided with the broadest available indemnification coverage. Such indemnification for our directors and officers is mandatory. Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation also expressly provides that the advancement of expenses is mandatory and not subject to the discretion of our board of directors, except that any of our directors or officers who request advancement must undertake to repay the advanced amounts if it is determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by us. Further, our Restated Certificate of Incorporation contains provisions to eliminate the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders to the fullest extent permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, as amended from time to time.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides for such limitation of liability.

Under Section 145 of the DGCL, a corporation may indemnify any individual made a party or threatened to be made a party to any type of proceeding, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, because he or she is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of the corporation or was serving at the request of the corporation as an officer, director, employee or agent of another corporation or entity against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding: (1) if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; or (2) in the case of a criminal proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. A corporation may indemnify any individual made a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit brought by or in the right of the corporation because he or she was an officer, director, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other entity, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, provided that such indemnification will be denied if the individual is found liable to the corporation unless, in such a case, the court determines the person is nonetheless entitled to indemnification for such expenses. A corporation must indemnify a

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present or former director or officer who successfully defends himself or herself in a proceeding to which he or she was a party because he or she was a director or officer of the corporation against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her. Expenses incurred by an officer or director, or any employees or agents as deemed appropriate by the board of directors, in defending civil or criminal proceedings may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such proceedings upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. The Delaware law regarding indemnification and expense advancement is not exclusive of any other rights which may be granted by our restated certificate of incorporation or restated bylaws, a vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, agreement or otherwise.

We maintain a policy of directors and officer’s liability insurance covering certain liabilities incurred by our directors and officers in connection with the performance of their duties.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act is permitted for our directors, officers or controlling persons, pursuant to the above mentioned statutes or otherwise, we understand that the SEC is of the opinion that such indemnification may contravene federal public policy, as expressed in the Securities Act, and therefore, is unenforceable. Accordingly, in the event that a claim for such indemnification is asserted by any of our directors, officers or controlling persons, and the SEC is still of the same opinion, we (except insofar as such claim seeks reimbursement from us of expenses paid or incurred by a director, officer of controlling person in successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) will, unless the matter has theretofore been adjudicated by precedent deemed by our counsel to be controlling, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether or not indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees as to which indemnification is sought, nor are we aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding that may result in claims for indemnification.

Item 16. Exhibits

See the Exhibit Index attached to this registration statement that is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 17. Undertakings

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act,

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

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provided, however, that:

(a) paragraphs 1(i) and (ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, and

(b) paragraphs 1(i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act: (i) if the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:

(a) each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(b) each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(6) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulation s prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

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(7) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(8) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing this registration statement on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 30^th day of July, 2010.

MARINA BIOTECH, INC.
By:	/S/    J. MICHAEL FRENCH
Name:	J. Michael French
Title:	President and Chief Executive Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned constitutes and appoints J. MICHAEL FRENCH and PETER S. GARCIA, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this registration statement (including all pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto and all registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) which incorporate this registration statement by reference), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature	Title	Date
/S/    J. MICHAEL FRENCH	President, Chief Executive Officer and a     Director (Principal Executive Officer)	July 30, 2010
J. Michael French
/S/    PETER S. GARCIA	Secretary and Chief Financial Officer     (Principal Financial Officer)	July 30, 2010
Peter S. Garcia
/S/    JAMES M. KARIS	Director	July 30, 2010
James M. Karis
/S/    CHIANG J. LI	Director	July 30, 2010
Chiang J. Li, M.D.
/S/    PETER D. PARKER.	Director	July 30, 2010
Peter D. Parker.
/S/    GREGORY SESSLER	Director	July 30, 2010
Gregory Sessler
/S/    MICHAEL D. TAYLOR	Director	July 30, 2010
Michael D. Taylor, Ph.D.

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Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
1.1	Form of Underwriting Agreement. (1)
1.2	Form of Placement Agent Agreement. (1)
3.1	Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant dated July 20, 2005 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 20, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference).
3.2	Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated June 10, 2008 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 10, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference).
3.3	Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated July 21, 2010 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 21, 2010, and incorporated herein by reference).
3.4	Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated July 21, 2010 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 23, 2010, and incorporated herein by reference).
3.5	Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant dated September 19, 2007 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 19, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference).
3.6	Certificate of Designation, Rights and Preferences of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock dated January 17, 2007 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 19, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference).
3.7	Amended Designation, Rights, and Preferences of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, dated June 10, 2008 (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 10, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.1	Form of Common Stock Certificate. (1)
4.2	Form of Preferred Stock Certificate, and Form of Certificate of Designations of Preferred Stock. (1)
4.3	Form of Indenture.(2)
4.4	Form of Debt Security. (1)
4.5	Form of Warrant Agreement, including form of Warrant Certificate. (1)
4.6	Form of Unit Agreement and unit certificate, if any. (1)
4.7	Form of Right Agreement and right certificate, if any. (1)
4.8	Rights Agreement, dated February 22, 2000, between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company as Rights Agent (filed as Exhibit 1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 22, 2000, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.9	Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement dated as of January 17, 2007 by and between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 19, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.10	Amendment No. 2 to Rights Agreement dated as of March 17, 2010 by and between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 5, 2010, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.11	Form of Amended and Restated Common Stock Purchase Warrant originally issued by the Registrant in April 2008 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference).

4.12	Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued by the Registrant in June 2009 (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 10, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.13	Form of 12% Secured Promissory Note issued by the Registrant in December 2009 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 22, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.14	Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued by the Registrant in December 2009 (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 22, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.15	Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued by the Registrant in January 2010 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 13, 2010, and incorporated herein by reference).
5.1	Opinion of Pryor Cashman LLP. (2)
23.1	Consent of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm. (2)
23.2	Consent of Pryor Cashman LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). (2)
24.1	Power of Attorney (included on the signature page). (2)
25.1	Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under Debt Indenture. (1)

(1) If applicable, to be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with an offering of securities registered hereunder.

(2) Filed herewith.