-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HGGiCe0a+kri+Wa5yJAvejVWnfYF9Z5+zyxtgR2hT9f0/hYqb1qM2mjRmA7XxWX5
 qZmQb754VJufp9PHmcOTWw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-10-021342.txt : 20100422
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-10-021342.hdr.sgml : 20100422
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100422211916
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-10-021342
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100422
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100422
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100422

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHASE ANTHONY R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001223756

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14895
		FILM NUMBER:		10765626

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10307 PACIFIC CENTER COURT
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AVI BIOPHARMA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000873303
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				930797222
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OR
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3450 MONTE VILLA PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 101
		CITY:			BOTHELL
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98021
		BUSINESS PHONE:		425-354-5038

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3450 MONTE VILLA PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 101
		CITY:			BOTHELL
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98021

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ANTIVIRALS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970123
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a3.xml
<DESCRIPTION>3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-04-22</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000873303</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AVI BIOPHARMA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AVII</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001223756</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHASE ANTHONY R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3450 MONTE VILLA PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 101</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOTHELL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98021</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>169312</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Purchase Warrants</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.7800</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-02-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-08-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>140000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Chase holds 350,000 warrants to purchase common stock. Each warrant can be exercised to purchase 4/10 (or 0.4) of a share of common stock. Thus, Mr. Chase's 350,000 warrants are exercisable to purchase 140,000 shares of common stock at $1.78 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Melinda Miles, Attorney-In-Fact For: Anthony Chase</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-04-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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