3SOF

It seems «only the strong survive and prosper». Remember to think of relative strength when you're about selecting stocks in a group, because the stronger ones usually outperform, not the ones that are down the most.

There are no news, no talk, and the stock just keeps on climbing. The highs at $4.11 are close, volume is above average, I'll keep on holding.

AVII's and NVAX's numbers in terms of revenues, losses and cash are pretty similar. There was also some recent insider buying in these two companies.

I don't know why AVII is rising, but I welcome it. Perhaps it has something to do with the $6.7B package the government is preparing for 2006 delivery to this kind of companies.

I'll continue holding AVII.

AVII's bull run persists. Probably it will break $4 when NVAX does it too, and I expect that today.

No reason to take profits here, I'll continue holding AVII.

NVAX broke out higher, but AVII didn't, it sold off 3% without any news. I would say this was profit taking. It looks like the stock is developing an ascending triangle pattern. For today the ascending trendline stands at $3.38.

I'll continue holding AVII for as long as it is set to close above this ascending trendline.

Nothing new on AVII, I'll continue holding for as long as the stock closes above the ascending trendline on the chart below, which for today stands at $3.40.

AVII declined 1.88% yesterday, looking at the chart I'm surprised that I still have a 9% profit. There was no new technical or fundamental information yesterday, I'll continue holding for as long as the stock is set to close above the ascending trendline on the chart below.

For today that trendline stands at $3.43.

AVII came down to test support and investors took the opportunity to upload some shares. Volume was pretty significant, 1.7 million shares changed hands.

The candlestick left on the chart is a bullish reversal candlestick. If this trend reversal to short term bullish confirms itself today AVII might have a shot to new highs soon.

I'll continue with my trading plan of holding AVII for as long as it is set to close above the ascending trendline on the chart below. Today that trendline sits at $3.57.

There's a long time since AVII doesn't issue a press release or an SEC filing, but since the stock is doing all right, I don't complaint.

The chart seems to be forming an ascending triangle, I hope the stock breaks it on the upside, but I don't have a clue. I took a position and now I'm managing it the way I can.

I have a hard time trying to evaluate biotech stocks, I don't know enough to value them. I already ordered two books on the subject, but still didn't have time to study them. But I will.

AVII has an ascending trendline that must continue to respect on a closing basis or I'll have to sell it. That trendline today stands at $3.50.

I wonder if AVII will get any traction from the Avian Flu bill that passed Congress this weekend (read NVAX's thread for details).

I'll continue with my plan of holding for as long as the stock is set to close above the ascending trendline on the chart below, today sitting at $3.52.

AVII came dangerously close to support levels. I'll continue with the plan of selling if the stock is set to close below the ascending trendline on the chart below.

For today that trendline stands at $3.53.

QuoteFor today that trendline stands at $3.53.

The trendline was at $3.53, the stock opened at that level and it never looked back, rising about 5%. Volume was weak, though.

AVII is quite close to it's near term highs. I'll continue holding the stock for as long as it is set to close above the ascending trendline on the chart below, looking for a bullish breakout. For tomorrow the trendline stands at $3.58.

I have about a 10% profit in AVII and I fear the stock just heads down with NVAX. I have to take whatever profits I have to secure most of this year's gains, the market is getting dangerously bearish.

I'll sell AVII around tomorrow's open.

Active in the pre-market
AVI BIOPHARMA INC (NasdaqNM:AVII) Delayed quote data 
Pre-Market (RT-ECN): 3.60  0.21 (+6.19%)




Press Release Source: AVI BioPharma, Inc.


Increased Defense-Related Funding of AVI BioPharma Approved
Wednesday January 4, 9:00 am ET 
$11 Million Allocated for Development of Therapeutics for Ebola, Marburg and Dengue Viruses, and for Countermeasures for Anthrax and Ricin Toxins


PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 4, 2006--AVI BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq:AVII - News), today announced that President Bush has approved the final version of the 2006 defense appropriations act, which includes an allocation of $11 million to fund AVI's ongoing defense-related programs. AVI's NEUGENE® technology is being used to develop therapeutic agents against Ebola, Marburg and dengue viruses, as well as to develop countermeasures for anthrax exposure and antidotes for ricin toxin.


"This funding allocation is evidence of the success of our antiviral and biodefense programs," said Alan P. Timmins, president and COO of AVI. "We're pleased that the government has increased the funding of our programs so substantially over last year's allocation. While this allocation is less than the Senate Appropriations Committee announced in early October, the difference is understandable given the huge financial impact of Hurricane Katrina. Still, this final funding level more than doubles the funding we received through the congressional defense spending bill for FY2005, and thus demonstrates the ongoing commitment to our programs."

In 2004, AVI received a $5 million allocation for fiscal year 2005 through the Department of Defense. The funds were used to evaluate AVI's NEUGENE antisense agents against Ebola and Marburg viruses and anthrax and ricin toxins in collaboration with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). AVI also signed a collaborative research agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last year to test the company's NEUGENE antisense agents against all four serotypes of the dengue virus. This successful program will continue under the funding allocation for 2006.

NEUGENE antisense compounds are synthetic polymers that mirror a critical portion of a disease-causing organism's genetic code, which bind to specific portions of the target genetic sequence. Like a key in a lock, NEUGENE compounds are designed to match up perfectly with a specific gene or viral sequence, blocking the function of the target gene or virus.

About Ebola Zaire and Marburg Viruses

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe, often-fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees) that has appeared sporadically since its initial recognition in 1976. The disease is caused by infection with Ebola virus, named after a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) in Africa, where it was first recognized. Ebola virus and Marburg virus are the only two members of a family of RNA viruses called the Filoviridae.

Researchers have hypothesized that the first patient becomes infected through contact with an infected animal. After the first patient in an outbreak setting is infected, the virus can be transmitted in several ways. People can be exposed to Ebola virus from direct contact with the blood and/or secretions of an infected person.

The disease is a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) priority A pathogen and a bioterrorism suspect agent of interest to the Department of Defense and Project BioShield. There are currently no approved treatments for Ebola.

Marburg virus was first recognized in 1967, when outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever occurred simultaneously in laboratories in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany, and in what is now Serbia. Marburg hemorrhagic fever is a rare, severe type of hemorrhagic fever that affects both humans and nonhuman primates. It is caused by a genetically unique animal-borne RNA virus, whose recognition led to the creation of this virus family.

The most recent outbreak of Marburg virus started in October 2004 in Angola. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of Aug. 23, 2005, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Angola had reported a total of 374 cases of Marburg hemorrhagic fever with 329 fatalities. The toll far exceeds the previous worst outbreak recorded in Angola's neighbor, the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 1998, when 123 died.

About Ricin Toxin

Ricin, a plant toxin from the seeds of the castor bean, is one of the most poisonous naturally occurring substances known and is poisonous to people, animals and insects.

Ricin inhibits protein synthesis by specifically and irreversibly inactivating ribosomes. These ribosome-inactivating proteins are typically monomers. However, in order to bind to the cell surface and enter the cell to reach the ribosomes, ricin requires a second monomer. Ricin, therefore, is a heterodimeric protein where the ribosome-inactivating enzyme, known as the A chain, is linked to the cell-surface-binding peptide, called the B chain. The ricin A chain of the heterodimer is the enzyme that binds and inactivates ribosomal RNA. Just a single ricin molecule that enters the cell can inactivate over 1,500 ribosomes per minute and kill the cell.

About Anthrax

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Bacillus anthracis is an encapsulated gram-positive, nonmotile, aerobic, spore-forming bacterial rod. Anthrax is most common in agricultural regions, where it occurs in animals. When anthrax affects humans, it is usually due to an occupational exposure to infected animals or their products.

Three virulence factors account for majority of the clinical manifestations of B. anthracis: edema toxin, lethal toxin, and an antiphagocytic capsular antigen. The lethal toxin is the most important in pathogenesis and is primarily responsible for the primary clinical manifestations of hemorrhage, edema and necrosis.

In terms of bioterrorism, inhalation anthrax is the greatest concern. Case-fatality rates for inhalation anthrax are high, even with appropriate antibiotics and supportive care. Among the 18 cases of inhalation anthrax in the United States during the 20th century, the overall case fatality was greater than 75%. Following the bioterrorist attack in fall 2001, the case-fatality rate among patients with inhalation disease (all of whom received antibiotic therapy) was 45% (five of 11).

About AVI BioPharma

AVI BioPharma develops therapeutic products for the treatment of life-threatening diseases using third-generation NEUGENE antisense drugs. AVI's lead NEUGENE antisense compound is designed to target cell proliferation disorders, including cardiovascular restenosis, cancer and polycystic kidney disease. In addition to targeting specific genes in the body, AVI's antiviral program uses NEUGENE antisense compounds to combat disease by targeting single-stranded RNA viruses, including West Nile virus, hepatitis C virus, dengue virus and Ebola virus. AVI has introduced a NEUGENE-based exon-skipping technology called ESPRIT therapy. More information about AVI is available on the company's Web site at http://www.avibio.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements that are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the results of research and development efforts, the results of preclinical and clinical testing, the effect of regulation by the FDA and other agencies, the impact of competitive products, product development, commercialization and technological difficulties, and other risks detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Contact:
AVI BioPharma, Inc.
Michael Hubbard, 503-227-0554
[email protected]
or
Investor Contacts:
Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates Inc.
Bruce Voss, 310-691-7100
[email protected]
Jody Cain, 310-691-7100
[email protected]
or
Press Contact:
Waggener Edstrom Worldwide
Bioscience and Healthcare Practice
Jenny Moede, 503-443-7000
[email protected]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: AVI BioPharma, Inc.

Real nice break out today!  First the bottom level and all the way to the top




http://tinyurl.com/bhqbz

AP
AVI BioPharma Gets $11 Million in Funds
Wednesday January 4, 9:30 am ET 
AVI BioPharma Gets $11 Million of Defense Funding for Virus, Anthrax Treatments


PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- AVI BioPharma Inc. on Wednesday said it has received $11 million of government funding for its ongoing development of therapeutic agents against Ebola, Marburg and dengue viruses.
The company said the funding, which follows last year's $5 million award, will also be used to produce countermeasures for anthrax exposure and antidotes for ricin toxin. The allocation was part of recently approved defense appropriations act.

Shares of AVI jumped on the news, climbing 31 cents, or 9.1 percent, to $3.70 during premarket trading on the INET electronic exchange. The stock has been moving around a 52-week range of $1.99 to $4.24 and closed at $3.39 on the Nasdaq Tuesday.