-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H4l00ECRlGwDOjG9JtsPP4uqsngqwFVBsCDZ4RPHCZ241MjOCNzJFtDrjWlrs4Fh
 Eu20sCSsGhqWv1kEfsYVYA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001257957-04-000002.txt : 20040126
<SEC-HEADER>0001257957-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040126
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040126203624
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001257957-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040123
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040126

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WELLER DWIGHT D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001237656

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14895
		FILM NUMBER:		04544525

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3323 NW ELMWOOD DR
		CITY:			COSVALLIS
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97330
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5417521821

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237656</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WELLER DWIGHT D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP Chemistry &amp; Mfg.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.46</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24936</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>285822</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned include shares purchased under the Company's registered Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Mark M. Webber, Attorney-In-Fact  For: Dwight Weller</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----