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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140888-10-000011.txt : 20100308
<SEC-HEADER>0001140888-10-000011.hdr.sgml : 20100308
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100308173055
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140888-10-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100304
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100308
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100308

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:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE SW COLUMBIA
		STREET 2:		STE 1105
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97258
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5032270554

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE SW COLUMBIA
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1105
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97258

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ANTIVIRALS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EASTBOURNE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC/CA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001140888
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14895
		FILM NUMBER:		10664662

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1101 FIFTH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 370
		CITY:			SAN RAFAEL
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94901
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4154481200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1101 FIFTH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 370
		CITY:			SAN RAFAEL
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94901
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001140888</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EASTBOURNE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC/CA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1101 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 370</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN RAFAEL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94901</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4094646</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.24</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5659211</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Eastbourne Capital Management, L.L.C. (&quot;Eastbourne&quot;) is the general partner or manager and investment adviser of investment funds that hold these securities directly on behalf of those funds' investors.  Richard Jon Barry is Eastbourne's manager and controlling person.  Eastbourne and Mr. Barry hold these securities indirectly in their capacity as investment adviser and control person, respectively.  Eastbourne is filing this Form 4 on behalf of itself and Mr. Barry, jointly, but not as members of a group, and each of them disclaims membership in a group, within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  In addition, each of them disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities, except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares of Common Stock reported heron includes shares of Common Stock issuable on the exercise of Warrants held by the Filers, which are exercisable less than sixty days after the date hereof. The Warrants provide that the number of shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by the Warrantholders upon any exercise of Warrants shall be limited to the extent necessary to ensure that, following such exercise, the total number of shares of Common Stock then beneficially owned by such Warrantholder and its affiliates and any other persons whose benefical ownership of Common Stock would be aggregated with the Warrantholder's for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, does not exceed 4.99% of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (including for such purpose the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise)(the &quot;Beneficial Ownership Limitation&quot;). (Continued below)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">For such purposes, beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. By written notice to the Issuer a Warrantholder may increase such limitation percentage to 9.99%.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Eric Sippel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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