AVIRON
S-1/A, 1996-06-20
BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS, (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES)
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<PAGE>
   
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 20, 1996
    
 
   
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-05209
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-1
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
    
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
                                     AVIRON
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                        <C>                                            <C>
       CALIFORNIA                              2836                            77-0306986
     (State or other               (Primary Standard Industrial             (I.R.S. Employer
     jurisdiction of                Classification Code Number)           Identification No.)
    incorporation or
      organization)
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
                           297 NORTH BERNARDO AVENUE
                        MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA 94043
                                 (415) 919-6500
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   registrant's principal executive offices)
                            ------------------------
                             J. LEIGHTON READ, M.D.
                      CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                     AVIRON
                           297 NORTH BERNARDO AVENUE
                        MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA 94043
                                 (415) 919-6500
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                            ------------------------
                                   COPIES TO:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                              <C>
            ALAN C. MENDELSON, ESQ.                           ALAN K. AUSTIN, ESQ.
            ROBERT J. BRIGHAM, ESQ.                         ELIZABETH R. FLINT, ESQ.
    Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum                  ELIZABETH M. KURR, ESQ.
             Five Palo Alto Square                     Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati
              3000 El Camino Real                              650 Page Mill Road
          Palo Alto, California 94306                      Palo Alto, California 94304
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
                APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
                            ------------------------
 
    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, check the following box.  / /
 
    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 delivery of the Prospectus is expected  to be made pursuant to Rule  434,
please check the following box.  / /
 
   
                            ------------------------
    
    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  THAT  SPECIFICALLY  STATES  THAT  THIS  REGISTRATION
STATEMENT  SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN  ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT  OF 1933  OR UNTIL  THE REGISTRATION  STATEMENT SHALL  BECOME
EFFECTIVE  ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
 
                             CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
 
                   PURSUANT TO ITEM 501(b) OF REGULATION S-K
                 SHOWING LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS OF INFORMATION
                         REQUIRED BY ITEMS OF FORM S-1
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   ITEM NUMBER AND HEADING
             IN FORM S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT                                 LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS
- -------------------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------
<C>        <S>                                                 <C>
       1.  Forepart of the Registration Statement and Outside
            Front Cover Page of Prospectus...................  Outside Front Cover Page
       2.  Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages of
            Prospectus.......................................  Inside Front Cover Page
       3.  Summary Information; Risk Factors; and Ratio of
            Earnings to Fixed Charges........................  Inside Front Cover Page; Summary; Risk Factors
       4.  Use of Proceeds...................................  Use of Proceeds
       5.  Determination of Offering Price...................  Outside Front Cover Page; Underwriting
       6.  Dilution..........................................  Dilution
       7.  Selling Security Holders..........................  Not Applicable
       8.  Plan of Distribution..............................  Outside Front Cover Page; Underwriting
       9.  Description of Securities to be Registered........  Summary; Capitalization; Description of Capital Stock
      10.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel............  Legal Matters; Experts
      11.  Information with Respect to the Registrant........  Outside Front and Inside Front Cover Pages; Summary;
                                                                Risk Factors; Dividend Policy; Capitalization; Selected
                                                                Financial Data; Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                                                                Financial Condition and Results of Operations;
                                                                Business; Management; Certain Transactions; Principal
                                                                Stockholders; Description of Capital Stock; Shares
                                                                Eligible for Future Sale; Financial Statements
      12.  Disclosure of Commission Position on
            Indemnification for Securities Act
            Liabilities......................................  Not Applicable
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>
INFORMATION   CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT   TO  COMPLETION  OR  AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT  RELATING TO  THESE SECURITIES  HAS BEEN  FILED WITH  THE
SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES  MAY NOT BE  SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR  TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT  BECOMES
EFFECTIVE.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  SHALL  NOT  CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER  TO  SELL  OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE  SECURITIES
IN  ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,  SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
   
                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 20, 1996
    
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
                                3,000,000 SHARES
                                  COMMON STOCK
    All of the 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby are being  issued
and  sold by Aviron  (the "Company"). Prior  to this offering  there has been no
public market for  the Common Stock  of the Company.  It is currently  estimated
that  the initial  public offering  price of  the Common  Stock will  be between
$11.00 and $13.00 per share. See "Underwriting" for a discussion of the  factors
considered in determining the initial public offering price.
 
    Concurrent with this offering, the Company intends to sell 333,333 shares of
its Common Stock to Sang-A Pharm. Co., Ltd. ("Sang-A") in a private placement at
the  initial public  offering price  (the "Sang-A  Shares"), with  the number of
shares to be sold to Sang-A subject to adjustment under certain conditions.  See
"Business -- Collaborative Agreements" and "Underwriting."
 
                                ----------------
 
        THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
                    SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 7.
                                ---------------
 
  THESE  SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED  BY THE SECURITIES
     AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR  HAS
       THE  COMMISSION  OR ANY  STATE  SECURITIES COMMISSION  PASSED UPON
          THE  ACCURACY   OR   ADEQUACY  OF   THIS   PROSPECTUS.   ANY
             REPRESENTATION  TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            UNDERWRITING
                                                          PRICE TO         DISCOUNTS AND        PROCEEDS TO
                                                           PUBLIC           COMMISSIONS         COMPANY (1)
<S>                                                  <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Per Share..........................................          $                   $                   $
Total (2)..........................................          $                   $                   $
</TABLE>
 
(1) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $600,000.
 
(2) The Company has granted the Underwriters  a 30-day option to purchase up  to
    an   additional   450,000  shares   of   Common  Stock,   solely   to  cover
    over-allotments, if any. See "Underwriting." If such option is exercised  in
    full,  the total Price to Public, Underwriting Discounts and Commissions and
    Proceeds to Company will be $      , $      and $      , respectively.
 
                                ----------------
 
   
    The Common Stock is offered by the Underwriters as stated herein, subject to
receipt and acceptance by them and subject to their right to reject any order in
whole or in  part. It  is expected  that delivery of  such shares  will be  made
through the offices of Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC ("Robertson, Stephens &
Company"), San Francisco, California on or about          , 1996.
    
 
ROBERTSON, STEPHENS & COMPANY
 
                            BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
 
                                                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST
 
                The date of this Prospectus is            , 1996
 
<PAGE>
          AVIRON USES BOTH ITS RATIONAL VACCINE DESIGN TECHNOLOGY AND
                  CLASSICAL METHODS OF LIVE VACCINE DISCOVERY
 
                       RATIONAL VACCINE DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
 
                  [Virus particle containing genetic
                  information; three segments are highlighted
                  to correspond with methods of modifying the
                  virus' genetic information.]
 
  DELETE VIRULENCE                                  ADD GENETIC INFORMATION
  PROTEINS                                          Insert genes to enhance
  Remove genes for viral components                 the virus'
  thought to be important in disease                stimulation of the
  mechanism                                         immune system
 
  [Virus particle containing genetic                [Virus particle
  information; one segment of genetic               containing genetic
  information being removed.]                       information; one
                                                    segment of genetic
                                                    information being
                                                    added.]
 
                                 DOWN-REGULATE
                                  REPLICATION
                         Alter genetic information used
                  by the virus in controlling its replication
 
                  ["Tree" structure comprised of 15 dots
                  symbolizing virus replication; second
                  structure comprised of 3 dots symbolizing
                  virus' reduced ability to replicate.]
 
                               VACCINE CANDIDATES
 
SPECIES SELECTION          FOREIGN CELL               ADAPTION TO PHYSICAL
Strains originate from     PASSAGE                    CONDITIONS
non-human species          Human virus mutates as it  Human virus mutates as it
                           is propagated in cells     is propagated in cells
                           from non-human species     under unusual conditions,
                                                      e.g., cold temperature
 
[Graphic of a chicken and  [Graphic of cells (3)      [Petri dishes (2), each
a cow.]                    sequentially connected by  with a corresponding
                           arrows.]                   graphic representation of
                                                      a thermometer. One
                                                      thermometer shows a higher
                                                      temperature than the
                                                      other.]
 
                               CLASSICAL METHODS
 
                                ----------------
 
    IN  CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF
THE COMPANY AT  A LEVEL ABOVE  THAT WHICH  MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL  IN THE  OPEN
MARKET.  SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY  BE EFFECTED ON THE  NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET. SUCH
STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
                                ----------------
 
    "Aviron" is a  trademark of  the Company.  Certain other  trademarks of  the
Company and other companies are used in this Prospectus.
<PAGE>
                         AVIRON'S PROPOSED NASAL SPRAY
                             VACCINE FOR INFLUENZA
 
                                 Genes from             Genes from cold
                            naturally-occurring          adapted master
                            influenza viruses as     influenza virus strain
                             selected by public
                             health authorities
 
[Silhouette of human      [Virus particle with box  [Virus particle with box
head with lines coming    around 2 of 8 segments    around 6 of 8 segments
from nasal area leading   of genetic information.   of genetic information.]
to virus particle to the  ------------------------
right.]                   Dashed lines connecting
                          to second virus particle
                          with box around 6 of 8
                          segments.]
 
                                                    [Virus particle
                                                    containing 8 segments of
                                                    genetic information; six
                                                    segments of the same
                                                    color, two segments of
                                                    different colors.]
 
                           AVIRON'S INFLUENZA VACCINE
                              COMBINES GENES FROM
                          NATURALLY OCCURRING VIRUSES
                            WITH GENES FROM THE COLD
                             ADAPTED MASTER STRAIN
 
             [Photograph of a human hand holding a device
             which is used to administer a vaccine in an
             aerosol spray (to the upper respitory
             tract-not shown). A spray effect is shown
             which serves as the backdrop for an image of
             a virus particle to the upper right.]
 
               THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF INFLUENZA IN THE COMMUNITY
 
   
 [Photo of five young      [Photo of one child from   [Photo of woman from
 children playing with     previous picture in bed    previous picture now in
 blocks in a pre-school    at home with mother at     an office setting with 5
 setting. Lines            bedside. Child is ill,     other adults. Lines
 symbolically show how a   and is shown with          symbolically show how the
 virus spreads from one    thermometer in mouth,      virus might spread to
 child to the next.]       mother touching forehead,  others in the room.]
                           tissues and medication
                           bottle by bedside. Mother
                           is on the telephone.
                           Lines symbolically show
                           virus spreading from
                           child to mother.]
 
AGE GROUP:                               Children 1-18
ESTIMATED INFLUENZA ATTACK RATE:         36 per 100
BURDEN OF ILLNESS:                       illness, doctor visits, middle ear
                                         infections, school absenteeism,
                                         parents' lost work
ESTIMATED UNITED STATES POPULATION:      69 million
AVIRON PRODUCT STATUS:                   Phase I/II studies conducted
 
    
<PAGE>
THE  COMPANY'S COLD ADAPTED  NASAL SPRAY VACCINE  IS AN INVESTIGATIONAL BIOLOGIC
AND HAS  NOT  BEEN APPROVED  FOR  SALE IN  ANY  COUNTRY. THE  COMPANY  DOES  NOT
ANTICIPATE  APPLYING FOR REGULATORY APPROVAL TO MARKET THIS PROPOSED VACCINE FOR
SEVERAL YEARS, IF EVER, AND WILL  BE REQUIRED TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE  CLINICAL
TRIALS  TO DEMONSTRATE  ITS SAFETY AND  EFFICACY PRIOR TO  FILING FOR REGULATORY
APPROVAL. SEE "RISK FACTORS."
 
                       IMMUNE RESPONSE TO INFLUENZA VACCINES
 
     [Silhouette of human head and torso   [Silhouette of human head and torso
     within which is visible the           within which is visible the
     circulatory system (red). The figure  circulatory system (red) and the
     is receiving an injection in the      upper respiratory tract (blue). The
     upper arm by syringe. The injected    figure is receiving an aerosol spray
     vaccine forms a small pool of liquid  directed into the nasal passages and
     at the site of injection.]            upper respiratory tract by nasal
                                           spray administration.]
 
     INJECTABLE INACTIVATED                NASAL SPRAY
     VACCINE                               VACCINE
 
     - Strongly stimulates                 - Stimulates mucosal
       circulating antibodies                immunity in
                                             respiratory tract
 
                                           - Stimulates cell-mediated
                                             immunity
 
                                           - Stimulates circulating
                                             antibodies
 
     [Photo of man from previous picture   [The elderly woman from the previous
     (presumably infected with the virus)  picture is shown ill in bed in a
     visiting with his elderly mother in   hospital setting. Some medical
     her home. He is kneeling beside a     equipment is visible to the left; a
     chair in which she is sitting and he  healthcare worker or nurse is at her
     is presenting her with a gift. A      bedside. She appears awake and
     line symbolically shows the virus     alert.]
     being passed between them.]
 
   
     Adults 19-65                         Elderly over 65
     16 per 100                           10 per 100
     illness, doctor visits, lost         illness, doctor visits,
     work                                 hospitalization, death
     159 million                          32 million
     Phase II studies conducted           Clinical trials planned for
                                          co-administration with
                                          injectable inactivated vaccine
    
<PAGE>
    NO  DEALER,  SALESPERSON OR  OTHER PERSON  HAS BEEN  AUTHORIZED TO  GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE  ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN  THOSE CONTAINED IN  THIS
PROSPECTUS  AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION AND REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT
BE RELIED UPON  AS HAVING BEEN  AUTHORIZED BY THE  COMPANY OR THE  UNDERWRITERS.
THIS  PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO BUY, ANY  SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE  REGISTERED SECURITIES TO WHICH  IT
RELATES  OR AN OFFER TO,  OR SOLICITATION OF, ANY  PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN
WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE  UNLAWFUL OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM  IT
IS  UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY OFFER OR SALE MADE
HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE  HAS
BEEN  NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE  COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS  CORRECT AS OF ANY  TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE  DATE
HEREOF.
 
    UNTIL               , 1996 (25 DAYS AFTER  THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS), ALL
DEALERS EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK, WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING
IN THE DISTRIBUTION,  MAY BE  REQUIRED TO  DELIVER A  PROSPECTUS. THIS  DELIVERY
REQUIREMENT  IS IN ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATION OF DEALERS TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS
WHEN ACTING  AS UNDERWRITERS  AND WITH  RESPECT TO  THEIR UNSOLD  ALLOTMENTS  OR
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
                              -------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Summary...................................................................     4
Risk Factors..............................................................     7
Use Of Proceeds...........................................................    18
Dividend Policy...........................................................    18
Capitalization............................................................    19
Dilution..................................................................    20
Selected Financial Data...................................................    21
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
 Operations...............................................................    22
Business..................................................................    26
Management................................................................    51
Certain Transactions......................................................    58
Principal Stockholders....................................................    60
Description Of Capital Stock..............................................    63
Shares Eligible For Future Sale...........................................    66
Underwriting..............................................................    68
Legal Matters.............................................................    69
Experts...................................................................    69
Additional Information....................................................    69
Index to Financial Statements.............................................   F-1
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                                    SUMMARY
 
    THIS  PROSPECTUS CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WHICH INVOLVE RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES. THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS  COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM  THOSE
ANTICIPATED  IN THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF CERTAIN FACTORS,
INCLUDING THOSE SET FORTH UNDER "RISK FACTORS" AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
 
   
    THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY  IS QUALIFIED IN  ITS ENTIRETY AND  SHOULD BE READ  IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, INCLUDING "RISK FACTORS" AND THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES THERETO, APPEARING ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
    
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
   
    Aviron  is  a  biopharmaceutical  company  whose  strategy  is  to  focus on
prevention of  disease.  The  Company's  goal  is to  become  a  leader  in  the
discovery,  development, manufacture and marketing  of live virus vaccines which
are sufficiently cost effective  to justify their  use in immunization  programs
targeting  the  general  population.  Live virus  vaccines,  such  as  those for
smallpox, polio, measles, mumps and rubella,  have had a long record of  success
in  preventing, and in some cases eliminating, disease. The Company currently is
analyzing data from Phase I and Phase II clinical trials in children and  adults
of  its  live cold  adapted intranasal  vaccine for  influenza. The  Company has
recently in-licensed a live  intranasal vaccine for  Parainfluenza Virus Type  3
("PIV-3")  which has been  tested by others  in Phase I/II  clinical trials. The
Company also is developing a subunit vaccine for Epstein-Barr Virus ("EBV").  In
addition,  Aviron is using its  proprietary "Rational Vaccine Design" technology
to discover  new  live virus  vaccines.  Rational Vaccine  Design  involves  the
deletion  or modification of  virulence proteins, changes  to the virus' genetic
control signals to  slow down  its replication,  or addition  of information  to
enhance  the virus'  stimulation of the  immune system. The  Company is applying
this technology to develop candidates for the prevention of influenza in elderly
persons and diseases  caused by  Cytomegalovirus ("CMV"),  Herpes Simplex  Virus
Type 2 ("HSV-2") and Respiratory Syncytial Virus ("RSV").
    
 
    Aviron's  age-specific influenza programs  address three distinct population
groups: children, adults  and the elderly.  Influenza affects 20  to 50  million
Americans each year resulting in approximately 20,000 deaths annually, primarily
in  the elderly, despite  the availability of  an injectable inactivated vaccine
that has been reported to  be 60% to 80% effective.  The United States Food  and
Drug Administration (the "FDA") estimates that approximately 75 million doses of
influenza  vaccine  were manufactured  for  use in  the  United States  in 1995.
Experts suggest  that,  although  over  half  of  Americans  at  high  risk  for
complications  from influenza  receive the annual  influenza vaccine, relatively
few of the 70 million children under the age of 18 are vaccinated.
 
   
    To address the need for  more convenient influenza prophylaxis, the  Company
has  in-licensed  the  rights  to  a cold  adapted  influenza  vaccine  from the
University of  Michigan and  the National  Institute of  Allergy and  Infectious
Disease  (the "NIAID"),  a division  of the  National Institutes  of Health (the
"NIH"). Formulations of this vaccine were tested in over 7,000 persons prior  to
Aviron's  acquisition  of the  vaccine, and  subsequently  have been  studied in
clinical trials conducted by the Company involving over 700 children and adults.
The cold adapted influenza vaccine elicits an immune response similar to that of
the natural  infection by  stimulating mucosal  immunity in  the nose,  cellular
components  of the immune  system and circulating  antibodies. Aviron intends to
develop the cold adapted influenza vaccine for widespread annual use in children
and adults, and  for co-administration with  the injectable inactivated  vaccine
for  improved protection  in the  elderly. In  addition, Aviron  is developing a
genetically engineered influenza vaccine that is intended to be a better  immune
stimulus  in the elderly than either the cold adapted vaccine or the inactivated
vaccine alone, and therefore more suitable  for use as a single-dose vaccine  in
this population.
    
 
    Aviron  also is  conducting research  and development  on additional vaccine
targets, including:
 
        PARAINFLUENZA VIRUS TYPE  3.   PIV-3 is  a common  respiratory virus  of
    childhood  which  causes  croup, cough,  fever  and pneumonia.  Over  80% of
    children have been  infected by  age four, many  having experienced  several
    cases of PIV-3 infection. The Company has in-licensed the rights to a bovine
    PIV-3  ("bPIV-3") vaccine  from the  NIH which has  been tested  in over 100
    infants and adults. Aviron intends to develop the bPIV-3 vaccine for use  in
    preventing childhood PIV-3 illness.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
        EPSTEIN-BARR  VIRUS.   EBV infects  most people  at some  point in their
    lifetime. Half or more of the approximately 10% of students who first become
    infected with  the  virus in  high  school and  college  develop  infectious
    mononucleosis.  EBV also has been  shown to be a  contributing factor in the
    development of  certain  types  of  cancer  and  lymphoma.  The  Company  is
    conducting  preclinical  evaluation of  a subunit  EBV vaccine  candidate in
    conjunction with SmithKline Beecham Biologicals S.A. ("SmithKline Beecham").
 
        CYTOMEGALOVIRUS.  Most people also become infected with CMV at some time
    in their lives,  but the  resulting disease  is typically  serious only  for
    those  with impaired immune systems  or for babies of  women infected in the
    first trimester of pregnancy. The  Company is developing and evaluating  its
    engineered vaccine candidates in preclinical models to create a prophylactic
    vaccine.
 
   
        HERPES  SIMPLEX VIRUS  TYPE 2.   Genital herpes is  an incurable disease
    characterized by recurrent, often painful  genital sores, with over  700,000
    new cases estimated in the United States each year. The Company currently is
    developing and evaluating vaccine candidates in preclinical models to create
    a prophylactic vaccine.
    
 
        RESPIRATORY   SYNCYTIAL  VIRUS.    RSV  is  the  major  cause  of  lower
    respiratory tract illness  in the  very young, responsible  for over  90,000
    hospitalizations  and more than 4,000 deaths  per year in the United States.
    Aviron is using its proprietary  technology to create candidate vaccines  to
    prevent RSV disease.
 
    Aviron  intends  to enter  into  selected collaborative  agreements  to gain
access to complementary technologies, capabilities and financial support for its
programs. In addition  to acquiring  rights from  third parties  to augment  its
Rational  Vaccine  Design  technology  and the  cold  adapted  influenza vaccine
technology,  the  Company  has  entered  into  a  collaborative  agreement  with
SmithKline  Beecham  covering  worldwide  rights  to  its  EBV  vaccine,  and  a
collaboration with Sang-A involving  certain marketing and manufacturing  rights
to its products in Korea.
 
    The  Company was  incorporated in California  in April 1992,  and intends to
reincorporate in  Delaware in  June 1996.  The Company's  executive offices  are
located  at 297 North Bernardo Avenue,  Mountain View, California 94043, and its
telephone number is (415) 919-6500.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
                                  THE OFFERING
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                   <C>
Common Stock Offered by the           3,000,000 shares
 Company............................
Common Stock Outstanding After the    12,285,990 shares (1)
 Offering...........................
Use of Proceeds.....................  For research  and  development,  including
                                      preclinical  testing and  clinical trials;
                                      capital expenditures; and working  capital
                                      and  general corporate  purposes. See "Use
                                      of Proceeds."
Proposed Nasdaq National Market       AVIR
 Symbol.............................
</TABLE>
 
                             SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
                     (in thousands, except per share data)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           FOR THE PERIOD FROM
                                             APRIL 15, 1992                                               THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                           (DATE OF INCEPTION)         YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                MARCH 31,
                                                   TO            ------------------------------------  ------------------------
                                            DECEMBER 31, 1992       1993         1994         1995        1995         1996
                                          ---------------------  -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                       <C>                    <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Total revenues..........................        $      --          $      --    $      --   $   1,707    $ --         $     188
Operating expenses:
  Research and development..............              320              2,073        4,216      10,220        3,088        3,044
  General and administrative............              470              1,874        2,493       3,252          701        1,063
                                                    -----        -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
    Total operating expenses............              790              3,947        6,709      13,472        3,789        4,107
                                                    -----        -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
Loss from operations....................             (790)            (3,947)      (6,709)    (11,765)      (3,789)      (3,919)
Interest income, net of interest
 expense................................               37                175          207         362           32          183
                                                    -----        -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
Net loss................................        $    (753)         $  (3,772)   $  (6,502)  $ (11,403)   $  (3,757)   $  (3,736)
                                                    -----        -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
                                                    -----        -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
Pro forma net loss per share (2)........                           $   (0.56)   $   (0.73)  $   (1.24)   $   (0.41)   $   (0.41)
                                                                 -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
                                                                 -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
Shares used in computing pro forma net
 loss per share (2).....................                               6,696        8,948       9,183        9,062        9,223
</TABLE>
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           MARCH 31, 1996
                                                                                      -------------------------
                                                                                       ACTUAL    AS ADJUSTED(3)
                                                                                      ---------  --------------
<S>                                                                                   <C>        <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments...................................  $  14,494    $   51,374
Working capital.....................................................................     12,804        49,684
Total assets........................................................................     17,275        54,155
Accumulated deficit.................................................................    (26,192)      (26,192)
Total stockholders' equity..........................................................     14,167        51,047
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Includes the estimated  333,333 shares intended  to be sold  to Sang-A in  a
    private placement concurrent with this offering. Excludes (i) 643,480 shares
    of  Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options outstanding as of June 1,
    1996, at a weighted average exercise price of approximately $1.22 per share,
    (ii) an  aggregate  of  1,556,520  shares  reserved  for  future  grants  or
    purchases  pursuant to  the Company's  1996 Equity  Incentive Plan, Employee
    Stock Purchase  Plan  and Non-Employee  Director  Stock Option  Plan,  (iii)
    118,395  shares issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding as of June 1,
    1996 at  a weighted  average exercise  price of  $6.65 per  share, and  (iv)
    warrants  to purchase 29,750 shares which become exercisable at the close of
    the offering at 125% of the initial public offering price.
 
(2) See Note 1 of Notes to Financial Statements for an explanation of the method
    used to determine the number of shares  used to compute pro forma per  share
    amounts.
 
   
(3)  As adjusted to give effect to the  sale of 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock
    at an assumed  initial public  offering price of  $12.00 per  share and  the
    estimated  333,333  shares  intended  to  be sold  to  Sang-A  in  a private
    placement concurrent  with this  offering, and  the application  of the  net
    proceeds therefrom. See "Use of Proceeds" and "Capitalization."
    
 
    UNLESS  OTHERWISE INDICATED, ALL  INFORMATION IN THIS  PROSPECTUS REFLECTS A
ONE-FOR-FIVE REVERSE SPLIT OF  THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK  EFFECTED IN MAY  1996
AND  ASSUMES  (I)  REINCORPORATION  OF  THE COMPANY  IN  DELAWARE  PRIOR  TO THE
OFFERING, (II) THE CONVERSION OF ALL  OUTSTANDING SHARES OF ITS PREFERRED  STOCK
INTO  SHARES OF COMMON STOCK UPON THE CLOSING  OF THIS OFFERING AT A RATE OF ONE
SHARE OF COMMON STOCK FOR FIVE SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK, AND (III) NO  EXERCISE
OF THE UNDERWRITERS' OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    This  Prospectus contains forward-looking statements which involve risks and
uncertainties. The Company's actual results  could differ materially from  those
anticipated  in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors,
including those set forth  in the following risk  factors and elsewhere in  this
Prospectus.
 
    The  following risk factors should be considered carefully in evaluating the
Company and its business  before purchasing shares of  the Common Stock  offered
hereby.
 
UNCERTAINTIES RELATED TO CLINICAL TRIALS
 
    Before  obtaining required regulatory  approvals for the  commercial sale of
any of  its products  under development,  the Company  must demonstrate  through
preclinical  testing and clinical trials that each product is safe and effective
for use in  each target  indication. The  results from  preclinical testing  and
early  clinical  trials  may not  be  predictive  of results  obtained  in later
clinical trials  and  large-scale  testing.  Companies  in  the  pharmaceutical,
biopharmaceutical   and  biotechnology  industries   have  suffered  significant
setbacks in various stages of clinical trials, even in advanced clinical  trials
after  promising  results had  been obtained  in  earlier trials.  The Company's
vaccines are  intended  for use  primarily  in healthy  individuals.  To  obtain
regulatory approval, the Company must demonstrate safety and efficacy in healthy
people which likely will require a lengthier process and involve a larger number
of  trials  and  patients  than  would  be  customary  for  clinical  trials  of
therapeutics for  disease  management.  There  can  be  no  assurance  that  the
Company's  clinical trials  will demonstrate  sufficient safety  and efficacy to
obtain the requisite regulatory approvals or will result in marketable products.
The Company recently completed  a Phase II challenge  study of its cold  adapted
influenza  vaccine in  adults. Preliminary analysis  of the  results indicated a
very low  level of  illness in  both the  placebo and  treated groups,  and  the
Company  believes that this study is  unlikely to show statistically significant
efficacy in preventing influenza. Regardless of  the results of this study,  the
Company  intends to discuss with the FDA  its plans to proceed directly to Phase
III clinical trials  in adults and  does not intend  to conduct other  challenge
studies. If the Company's cold adapted influenza vaccine is not shown to be safe
and  effective in Aviron's  clinical trials, the  resulting delays in developing
this and other vaccine candidates and conducting related preclinical testing and
clinical trials, as  well as  the need for  additional financing,  would have  a
material  adverse  effect on  the  Company's business,  financial  condition and
results of operations.
 
    The Company's cold adapted influenza vaccine is based on technology licensed
from  the  NIH  and  the  University  of  Michigan.  Wyeth-Ayerst   Laboratories
("Wyeth-Ayerst"),  a division  of American  Home Products  Corporation, licensed
certain rights  to  the vaccine  in  1989 and  was  developing it  for  sale  in
collaboration  with the NIH until relinquishing its rights in 1993. In addition,
Kaketsuken, a  Japanese  research foundation  ("Kaketsuken"),  licensed  certain
rights  to the  vaccine in 1993  and was developing  it for sale  in Japan until
relinquishing such rights  in 1996. Formulations  of the vaccine  have been  the
subject  of a number of clinical trials  performed by Wyeth-Ayerst, the NIAID of
the NIH and Kaketsuken. The Company has reviewed the data from these trials  and
believes  that it can submit such data in partial support of its application for
regulatory approval  from the  FDA. The  Company did  not participate  in  these
trials and cannot be confident in the accuracy of the data collected. Although a
large  proportion of this data was positive, a number of trials included results
that were not.  Very few of  the trials involved  a trivalent vaccine  delivered
through  nasal spray. The Company will need  to perform additional trials of its
vaccine candidate  to  support its  application  to the  FDA.  There can  be  no
assurance  that the  data from  these third-party  trials is  accurate, that the
Company will be able to  obtain favorable results from  its own trials, or  that
the  Company  can  complete these  trials  on a  timely  basis, or  at  all. See
"Business -- Influenza Clinical Trials."
 
   
    The rate of completion  of the Company's clinical  trials may be delayed  by
many  factors. For example, delays may  be encountered in enrolling a sufficient
number of patients fitting the appropriate trial profile, preparing the modified
vaccine strain for certain influenza seasons, or in manufacturing clinical trial
materials.  The  Company's  late-stage  clinical  trials  of  its  cold  adapted
influenza  vaccine must  be conducted  during the  influenza season  and must be
commenced early enough in the  approximately five-month season so that  subjects
may  be  vaccinated well  in  advance of  a  challenge by  the  wild-type virus.
Additionally, there is a risk that there will not be enough natural influenza in
the community in a given  influenza season to achieve statistically  significant
results
    
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
   
from  clinical trials.  As a result,  if the  Company is unable  to commence its
clinical trials on a timely  basis, it will be required  to wait until the  next
influenza  season, which will not occur for  another year in that country. There
can be no assurance that delays in, or termination of, clinical trials will  not
occur.  Any delays in,  or termination of, the  Company's clinical trial efforts
would have  a  material adverse  effect  on the  Company's  business,  financial
condition and results of operations.
    
 
    There  can  be no  assurance  that Aviron  will  be permitted  by regulatory
authorities to  undertake  additional  clinical  trials  for  its  cold  adapted
influenza  vaccine or initiate clinical trials for its other programs or, if any
such trials are  conducted, that any  of the Company's  product candidates  will
prove  to  be  safe and  effective  or  will receive  regulatory  approvals. See
"Business -- Vaccine Products Under Development."
 
UNCERTAINTIES RELATED TO EARLY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT; TECHNOLOGICAL UNCERTAINTY
 
    Aviron commenced  its operations  in April  1992 and  until recently  was  a
development  stage company. All  of the Company's product  candidates are in the
research or development  stage. With  the exception of  two in-licensed  product
candidates,  none of the  Company's proposed products has  yet been approved for
clinical trials. To date, the Company has had no revenue from product sales  and
all  of its resources have been dedicated  to the development of vaccines. There
can be no assurance that product revenues will be realized on a timely basis, if
ever.
 
    The development of safe and effective  vaccines for the prevention of  viral
diseases  such as influenza, herpes simplex  and other target diseases is highly
uncertain and subject to  numerous risks. Potential products  that appear to  be
promising  at early stages of development may  not reach the market for a number
of reasons. Potential products  may be found ineffective  or cause harmful  side
effects during preclinical testing or clinical trials, fail to receive necessary
regulatory  approvals,  be  difficult  to  manufacture  on  a  large  scale,  be
uneconomical,  fail  to   achieve  market  acceptance   or  be  precluded   from
commercialization  by proprietary  rights of third  parties. Aviron  has not yet
requested or received the regulatory approvals  that are required to market  its
products. Aviron does not expect that any of its proposed products will be ready
for  commercialization  for  the  next  several years,  if  at  all.  To achieve
profitability, the Company,  alone or with  others, must successfully  identify,
develop,  test, manufacture and  market its products. There  can be no assurance
that Aviron will succeed  in the development and  marketing of any product.  Any
potential  product will require  significant additional investment, development,
preclinical testing and clinical trials  prior to potential regulatory  approval
and commercialization.
 
   
    The  Company's cold adapted influenza vaccine involves a complex development
process. If the Company were to  successfully develop an influenza vaccine,  its
composition  would require  annual modification.  Influenza viruses  have a high
mutation rate  and  the  surface  antigens  of  influenza  viruses  that  induce
protective immunity are variable from year to year. Each spring, the FDA and the
United  States Centers  for Disease  Control and  Prevention (the  "CDC") select
circulating influenza strains that  will be included  in the following  season's
influenza  vaccines. As  a result, manufacturers  of vaccines  must modify their
influenza vaccines each  year to  include the selected  strains in  a form  that
meets  FDA guidelines within an approximately  six-month period in order to make
it available  before the  influenza season.  On one  occasion in  the past,  the
Company  experienced difficulty in preparing modified vaccine strains in time to
conduct clinical trials during the influenza season. Even if the Company is able
to develop an influenza vaccine for a particular year, it must also establish  a
dependable  process by which the  vaccine may be modified  and manufactured on a
timely basis to include additional strains each year. If the Company were unable
to develop an influenza  vaccine for a  particular year that  meets FDA and  CDC
guidelines  and establish a manufacturing process for the vaccine, its business,
financial condition  and results  of operations  would be  materially  adversely
affected. No assurance can be given that delays in preparing vaccines for use in
clinical  trials or commercial sales will not be encountered. In addition, there
can be no assurance that the  Company's development efforts will be  successful,
that   required   regulatory  approvals,   including   those  with   respect  to
Investigational New  Drug ("IND")  applications, will  be obtained  or that  any
products, if introduced, will be successfully marketed. See "Business -- Vaccine
Products Under Development."
    
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
NEED FOR FUTURE FUNDING; UNCERTAINTY OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL
 
    The  Company's operations to  date have consumed  substantial and increasing
amounts of cash. The negative cash flow from operations is expected to  continue
and  to accelerate in  the foreseeable future. The  development of the Company's
technology and proposed products will require a commitment of substantial  funds
to  conduct  the costly  and  time-consuming research,  preclinical  testing and
clinical trials necessary to develop  and optimize such technology and  proposed
products, to establish manufacturing and marketing capabilities and to bring any
such  products to market. The Company's  future capital requirements will depend
upon many factors, including continued  scientific progress in the research  and
development  of  the Company's  technology and  vaccine  programs, the  size and
complexity of  these programs,  the  ability of  the  Company to  establish  and
maintain  collaborative  arrangements,  progress  with  preclinical  testing and
clinical trials, the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory  approvals,
the  cost involved in preparing,  filing, prosecuting, maintaining and enforcing
patent claims or trade secrets, and product commercialization activities.
 
   
    The Company anticipates that the proceeds  of this offering and the sale  of
the  Sang-A  Shares,  together  with the  interest  thereon,  and  revenues from
existing collaborations, cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments  will
enable  it to maintain its current and planned operations at least through 1997.
The  Company  is  actively  seeking  additional  collaborative  agreements  with
corporate  partners and  may seek additional  funding through  public or private
equity or  debt  financing.  There  can be  no  assurance  that  any  additional
collaborative  agreements will be entered into or that additional financing will
be available on acceptable terms, if at  all. If additional funds are raised  by
issuing  equity  securities, further  dilution  to stockholders  may  result. If
adequate funds are not available, the  Company may be required to delay,  reduce
the  scope of, or eliminate one or  more of its research or development programs
or to  obtain funds  through  collaborative arrangements  with others  that  may
require the Company to relinquish rights to certain of its technologies, product
candidates  or  products that  the Company  would otherwise  seek to  develop or
commercialize itself.  See "Management's  Discussion and  Analysis of  Financial
Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
    
 
LACK OF MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE; RELIANCE ON CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS
 
    The  Company currently does not have  the facilities to manufacture products
for  large-scale  clinical  trials  or  in  commercial  quantities  and  has  no
experience  in commercial-scale  manufacturing. To manufacture  its products for
large-scale clinical trials or on a  commercial scale, the Company will have  to
build  or gain access to a large-scale manufacturing facility which will require
a significant amount of funds. The Company currently is evaluating the costs and
benefits of developing internal  manufacturing capabilities or contracting  with
third-party   manufacturers.  The  production  of  the  Company's  cold  adapted
influenza  vaccine  is  subject  to  the  availability  of  a  large  number  of
pathogen-free  hen  eggs, for  which  there are  currently  a limited  number of
suppliers. Contamination or disruption of this source of supply would  adversely
affect  the ability to manufacture the Company's cold adapted influenza vaccine.
In addition, to  make the vaccine  available for clinical  trials or  commercial
sales  before the  influenza season,  the Company  must successfully  modify the
vaccine within a six-month period to  include selected strains for a  particular
year  in  time  for manufacturing  and  distribution. The  Company  currently is
considering whether to construct  manufacturing facilities capable of  producing
both pilot-scale and commercial quantities of its potential vaccine products and
is presently building a pilot manufacturing facility. This scale-up process will
require  the Company to  develop advanced manufacturing  techniques and rigorous
process controls.  Furthermore, the  Company will  be required  to register  its
facility  with the FDA and with the California Department of Health Services and
will be  subject  to state  and  federal inspections  confirming  the  Company's
compliance  with  current  Good  Manufacturing  Practices  ("cGMP")  regulations
established by the  FDA. No  assurance can  be given as  to the  ability of  the
Company to produce commercial quantities of its potential products in compliance
with applicable regulations or at an acceptable cost, if at all.
 
    The  Company is alternatively considering  the use of contract manufacturers
for the commercial production of  its potential products. The Company  currently
relies  on Evans Medical Limited, a subsidiary  of Medeva plc ("Evans"), for the
manufacture of its influenza vaccine for  clinical trials. The Company is  aware
of only a limited number of manufacturers which it believes have the ability and
capacity  to  manufacture its  potential  products, including  the  cold adapted
influenza vaccine,  in a  timely manner.  There  can be  no assurance  that  the
Company  would  be able  to contract  with  any of  these manufacturers  for the
manufacture of its products on acceptable
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
terms, if at all.  If the Company  enters into an  agreement with a  third-party
manufacturer,  it will  be required to  relinquish control  of the manufacturing
process, which  might  adversely affect  the  Company's results  of  operations.
Furthermore, a third-party manufacturer also will be required to manufacture the
Company's  products in compliance with state and federal regulations. Failure of
any such third-party manufacturer to  comply with state and federal  regulations
and  to deliver the  required quantities on  a timely basis  and at commercially
reasonable prices  would materially  adversely  affect the  Company's  business,
financial  condition and results  of operations. No assurance  can be given that
the Company, alone or with a third party, will be able to make the transition to
commercial-scale production of its potential  products successfully, if at  all,
or that if successful, the Company will be able to maintain such production. See
"Business -- Manufacturing" and "-- Government Regulation."
 
UNCERTAINTY OF FUTURE PROFITABILITY; ACCUMULATED DEFICIT
 
    The  Company  has experienced  significant  and increasing  operating losses
since its inception  in April 1992.  As of March  31, 1996, the  Company had  an
accumulated  deficit of approximately $26.2 million. Aviron has not received any
product revenue to date and does not  expect to generate revenues from the  sale
of  products  for  several  years,  if at  all.  The  Company  expects  to incur
significant and increasing operating losses over at least the next several years
as the Company's research  and development efforts  and preclinical testing  and
clinical trial activities expand. The Company's ability to achieve profitability
depends  in part upon its ability, alone or with others, to complete development
of its  proposed  products,  to  obtain required  regulatory  approvals  and  to
successfully  manufacture  and  market such  products.  To the  extent  that the
Company is  unable  to obtain  third-party  funding for  expenses,  the  Company
expects  that  its  increased  expenses will  result  in  increased  losses from
operations.  There  can  be  no  assurance  that  Aviron  will  obtain  required
regulatory  approvals or  successfully identify, develop,  test, manufacture and
market any product  candidates, or that  the Company will  ever achieve  product
revenues   or  profitability.  See  "Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
UNCERTAINTY OF PROTECTION OF PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS; DEPENDENCE ON TRADE
SECRETS
 
    The Company's success  will depend in  part on its  ability to maintain  its
technology  licenses, maintain trade secrets, obtain patents and operate without
infringing the proprietary rights  of others, both in  the United States and  in
other  countries. Since patent applications in  the United States are maintained
in secrecy  until patents  issue and  since publication  of discoveries  in  the
scientific or patent literature often lag behind actual discoveries, the Company
cannot  be certain that it was the first  to make the inventions covered by each
of its pending  patent applications  or that  it was  the first  to file  patent
applications  for  such inventions.  The patent  positions of  biotechnology and
pharmaceutical companies can be highly  uncertain and involve complex legal  and
factual  questions, and therefore the breadth of claims allowed in biotechnology
and pharmaceutical patents, or their enforceability, cannot be predicted.  There
can  be no assurance  that any of  the Company's patents  or patent applications
will issue or, if issued, will  not be challenged, invalidated or  circumvented,
or  that the  rights granted thereunder  will provide  proprietary protection or
competitive advantages to the Company.
 
    The commercial  success  of Aviron  also  will  depend, in  part,  upon  the
Company's  not infringing patents  issued to others.  A number of pharmaceutical
companies, biotechnology companies, universities and research institutions  have
filed  patent applications  or received  patents in  the areas  of the Company's
programs. Some  of these  applications  or patents  may  limit or  preclude  the
Company's  applications, or conflict in certain  respects with claims made under
the Company's applications.
 
    On May  22,  1996,  the  Company received  notice  from  Chiron  Corporation
("Chiron") that Chiron intends to file a lawsuit against Aviron, unless a prompt
negotiated  settlement can be reached, alleging  that certain of Aviron's patent
applications relating  to  its  EBV  program are  based  on  Chiron  proprietary
information which was improperly conveyed to Aviron by a former Chiron employee.
Aviron  believes that Chiron's allegations are without merit and, if a complaint
is filed, intends to  vigorously defend itself against  any such action.  Aviron
does not utilize the alleged proprietary information in any of its programs. The
Company  has  received terms  of a  proposed  settlement from  Chiron and  is in
discussions with  Chiron regarding  a  possible settlement  of the  dispute.  No
assurance can be given that litigation will not ensue, which could be costly and
time-consuming.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
    The  Company is aware of pending patent applications that have been filed by
others that may  pertain to  certain aspects of  the Company's  programs or  its
issued  or pending patent  applications. If patents  have been or  are issued to
others  containing  preclusive  or  conflicting  claims  and  such  claims   are
ultimately  determined  to  be valid,  the  Company  may be  required  to obtain
licenses to these  patents or to  develop or obtain  alternative technology.  No
assurance can be given that patents have not been issued, or will not be issued,
to  third parties that contain preclusive  or conflicting claims with respect to
the cold adapted influenza vaccine or  any of the Company's other programs.  The
Company's  breach  of an  existing license  or  failure to  obtain a  license to
technology required to commercialize  its products may  have a material  adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
Litigation,  which could result in substantial costs to the Company, may also be
necessary to enforce any patents issued to the Company or to determine the scope
and validity of third-party  proprietary rights. If  competitors of the  Company
prepare  and file patent applications in the United States that claim technology
also claimed by the Company, the Company may have to participate in interference
proceedings declared  by  the  United  States Patent  and  Trademark  Office  to
determine  priority of invention, which could  result in substantial cost to the
Company, even if the  eventual outcome is favorable  to the Company. An  adverse
outcome  could subject the  Company to significant  liabilities to third parties
and require the  Company to  license disputed rights  from third  parties or  to
cease using such technology.
 
    The  Company has  no issued  patents on the  technology related  to its cold
adapted influenza vaccine. The Company's rights to this technology are based  on
a  license of materials and know-how from the University of Michigan, which owns
the master  strains from  which the  vaccine is  derived, and  on a  license  of
know-how  and clinical trial data from the NIH. There can be no assurance that a
third party will not reproduce the  Company's cold adapted influenza vaccine  or
that  a third party will not  develop another live-virus influenza vaccine which
might be comparable to Aviron's in terms of safety and effectiveness.
 
    The Company  also  relies  on  trade  secrets  to  protect  its  technology,
especially  where  patent  protection  is  not  believed  to  be  appropriate or
obtainable. Certain of  the Company's licensors  also rely on  trade secrets  to
protect  technology which  has been  licensed to  Aviron, and  as a  result, the
Company is dependent  on the  efforts of such  licensors to  protect such  trade
secrets.  For  example, the  University of  Michigan relies,  in part,  on trade
secrets to protect the master strains  of the cold adapted influenza virus  used
by  the Company.  Aviron protects its  proprietary technology  and processes, in
part,  by   confidentiality   agreements  with   its   employees,   consultants,
collaborators  and certain  contractors. There  can be  no assurance  that these
agreements will not be breached, that  the Company would have adequate  remedies
for  any breach, or that  the Company's trade secrets  or those of its licensors
will not otherwise become known  or be independently discovered by  competitors.
To  the  extent that  Aviron or  its consultants  or research  collaborators use
intellectual property owned by  others in their work  for the Company,  disputes
may also arise as to the rights in related or resulting know-how and inventions.
See "Business -- Patents and Proprietary Rights."
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION; NO ASSURANCE OF REGULATORY APPROVALS
 
    The  production  and marketing  of the  Company's  products and  its ongoing
research and  development  activities are  subject  to extensive  regulation  by
numerous  government authorities in the United States and other countries. Prior
to marketing in  the United States,  any product developed  by the Company  must
undergo  rigorous  preclinical  testing  and clinical  trials  and  an extensive
regulatory approval process  implemented by  the FDA  under the  Food, Drug  and
Cosmetic  Act.  Satisfaction  of such  regulatory  requirements,  which includes
demonstrating that  the product  is  both safe  and effective,  typically  takes
several  years or more  depending upon the  type, complexity and  novelty of the
product and requires the expenditure of substantial resources. This process  may
be  more demanding for vaccines  intended for use in  healthy people compared to
therapeutics used for  treatment of  people with  diseases. Preclinical  studies
must  be conducted in compliance with the FDA's Good Laboratory Practice ("GLP")
regulations. Clinical testing  must meet requirements  for Institutional  Review
Board  ("IRB")  oversight and  informed consent,  as well  as FDA  prior review,
oversight and  good  clinical practice  requirements.  The Company  has  limited
experience  in conducting and  managing the clinical  trials necessary to obtain
regulatory approval. Furthermore, the  Company or the  FDA may suspend  clinical
trials at any time if it believes that the subjects participating in such trials
are being exposed to unacceptable health risks.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
    Before  receiving FDA approval to market a product, the Company will have to
demonstrate that the product  is safe and effective  and represents an  improved
form  of health management  compared to existing  approaches. Data obtained from
preclinical  testing   and   clinical   trials  are   susceptible   to   varying
interpretations  which could  delay, limit  or prevent  regulatory approvals. In
addition,  delays  or  rejections  may  be  encountered  based  upon  additional
government  regulation  from  future  legislation  or  administrative  action or
changes in FDA
policy during  the  period  of  product development,  clinical  trials  and  FDA
regulatory  review. Similar delays may also be encountered in foreign countries.
There can be no assurance that even after such time and expenditures, regulatory
approval will  be  obtained  for  any products  developed  by  the  Company.  If
regulatory  approval of a product  is granted, such approval  will be limited to
those specific segments of the population for which the product is effective, as
demonstrated through clinical trials.  Furthermore, approval may entail  ongoing
requirements  for post-marketing  studies. Even  if such  regulatory approval is
obtained, a marketed product, its manufacturer and its manufacturing  facilities
are  subject  to  continual  review  and  periodic  inspections.  The regulatory
standards for manufacturing are currently being applied stringently by the  FDA.
Discovery  of  previously  unknown  problems  with  a  product,  manufacturer or
facility may result in restrictions  on such product or manufacturer,  including
costly  recalls or even withdrawal of the  product from the market. There can be
no assurance that any product developed  by the Company alone or in  conjunction
with  others will prove to  be safe and efficacious  in clinical trials and will
meet all of the applicable  regulatory requirements needed to receive  marketing
approval.
 
    Outside  the United  States, the  Company's ability  to market  a product is
contingent  upon  receiving   marketing  authorization   from  the   appropriate
regulatory  authorities.  The  requirements governing  the  conduct  of clinical
trials, marketing  authorization, pricing  and  reimbursement vary  widely  from
country to country. At present, foreign marketing authorizations are applied for
at  a national level, although within  the European Union (the "EU"), procedures
are available to  companies wishing  to market  a product  in more  than one  EU
member state. If the regulatory authorities are satisfied that adequate evidence
of  safety, quality and  efficacy has been  presented, a marketing authorization
will be granted. This  foreign regulatory approval process  includes all of  the
risks  associated with FDA approval set forth above. See "Business -- Government
Regulation."
 
INTENSE COMPETITION AND RISK OF TECHNOLOGICAL OBSOLESCENCE
 
   
    The Company operates in a rapidly  evolving field. Any product developed  by
the Company would compete with existing and new drugs and vaccines being created
by pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. If the Company
were  able  to successfully  develop its  vaccines, it  would be  competing with
larger companies that  have already introduced  vaccines and have  significantly
greater  marketing,  manufacturing,  financial  and  managerial  resources.  For
example, with respect to its cold adapted influenza vaccine, the Company will be
competing  against  larger   companies  such  as   Pasteur  Merieux   Connaught,
Wyeth-Ayerst,  Parke-Davis Group ("Parke-Davis"), a subsidiary of Warner-Lambert
Company, and  Evans. Each  of these  companies sell  the injectable  inactivated
influenza  vaccine in  the United  States, have  significantly greater financial
resources than Aviron and have  established marketing and distribution  channels
for  such products.  The Company  is also  aware of  several companies  that are
marketing or are  in late-stage development  of products to  prevent CMV or  HSV
disease,  including Glaxo Wellcome plc  ("Glaxo"), SmithKline Beecham and Chiron
Biocine Corporation. In addition, the Company is aware of the use in Russia of a
cold adapted influenza  vaccine, research  programs by some  of the  competitors
listed  above, among others, to develop  more effective influenza vaccines and a
cold adapted PIV-3 vaccine developed with NIH support which may be licensed to a
large vaccine company.
    
 
    New developments are  expected to  continue in both  the pharmaceutical  and
biotechnology  industries  and  in  academia.  Other  companies  may  succeed in
developing products that are safer, more effective or less costly than any  that
may  be developed by the Company. Such companies may also be more effective than
the Company  in the  production and  marketing of  their products.  Furthermore,
rapid  technological  development by  competitors  may result  in  the Company's
products becoming obsolete before the Company  is able to recover its  research,
development  or commercialization expenses incurred  in connection with any such
product.  Many  potential  competitors  have  substantially  greater  financial,
technical and marketing resources than the Company. Some of these companies also
have  considerable experience in preclinical  testing, clinical trials and other
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
regulatory  approval  procedures.   Moreover,  certain  academic   institutions,
government  agencies and other research organizations are conducting research in
areas  in  which  the  Company  is  working.  These  institutions  are  becoming
increasingly  aware of the  commercial value of their  findings and are becoming
more active in seeking patent  protection and licensing arrangements to  collect
royalties for the use of technology that they have developed. These institutions
may  also market competitive  commercial products on their  own or through joint
ventures.
 
    Aviron believes  that  competition in  the  markets it  is  addressing  will
continue  to be intense. The vaccine  industry is characterized by intense price
competition, and the Company anticipates that it will face this and other  forms
of competition. There can be no assurance that pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical
and  biotechnology companies will not develop more effective products than those
of the Company or will not market and sell their products more effectively  than
the  Company,  which  would have  a  material  adverse effect  on  the Company's
business, financial  condition  and  results of  operations.  See  "Business  --
Competition."
 
DEPENDENCE ON COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS
 
    The  Company's strategy for the  development, clinical trials, manufacturing
and commercialization  of  certain  of its  products  includes  maintaining  and
entering   into  various  collaborations  with  corporate  partners,  licensors,
licensees and others. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
maintain existing collaborative agreements, negotiate collaborative arrangements
in the future on  acceptable terms, if  at all, or  that any such  collaborative
arrangements  will be successful. To the extent  that the Company is not able to
maintain or  establish  such arrangements,  the  Company would  be  required  to
undertake  product  development  and  commercialization  activities  at  its own
expense, which would increase the Company's capital requirements or require  the
Company  to limit the scope of its development and commercialization activities.
In addition, the  Company may  encounter significant delays  in introducing  its
products  into certain markets or find that the development, manufacture or sale
of its products in  such markets is  adversely affected by  the absence of  such
collaborative agreements.
 
   
    In  October 1995,  the Company signed  an agreement  with SmithKline Beecham
defining a  collaboration  on the  Company's  EBV vaccine  technology  (the  "SB
Agreement"). Under the terms of the SB Agreement, the Company granted SmithKline
Beecham  an exclusive  license to  produce, use  and sell  non-live EBV vaccines
incorporating the Company's technology for prophylactic and therapeutic uses  on
a  worldwide  basis,  except  in  South  and  North  Korea  (together, "Korea").
SmithKline Beecham made an initial upfront payment to the Company and agreed  to
make  additional payments  upon the  achievement of  certain product development
milestones. No assurance can  be given, however, that  the Company will  receive
any  additional payments from SmithKline Beecham or that SmithKline Beecham will
not terminate its agreement with the Company. The SB Agreement may be terminated
by SmithKline Beecham with respect to any country at any time. In May 1995,  the
Company  entered  into  a Development  and  License Agreement  with  Sang-A. The
Company granted  to Sang-A  exclusive  clinical development,  manufacturing  and
marketing  rights in Korea for specified products developed by Aviron, including
vaccines for influenza (cold adapted and recombinant), EBV, CMV, HSV-2 and  RSV.
Sang-A also will make payments to the Company upon the Company's meeting certain
regulatory  milestones for each product  in Korea and will  pay a royalty to the
Company on net  sales of  such products  in Korea.  No assurance  can be  given,
however,  that the Company will receive any  payments from Sang-A or that Sang-A
will not terminate its agreement with the Company.
    
 
    The Company cannot  control the  amount and  timing of  resources which  its
collaborative  partners devote to the  Company's programs or potential products,
which may vary because of factors unrelated to the potential products. If any of
the Company's collaborative partners breach  or terminate their agreements  with
the  Company or  otherwise fail to  conduct their collaborative  activities in a
timely manner, the preclinical or  clinical development or commercialization  of
product  candidates or research programs will  be delayed, and the Company would
be  required  to  devote  additional   resources  to  product  development   and
commercialization,    or   terminate   certain   development   programs.   These
relationships generally may  be terminated  at the discretion  of the  Company's
collaborative  partners, in some cases with  only limited notice to the Company.
The termination  of collaborative  arrangements could  have a  material  adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
There  also can be no assurance that disputes  will not arise in the future with
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
respect to  the ownership  of  rights to  any  technology developed  with  third
parties.  These and other  possible disagreements between  collaborators and the
Company could  lead to  delays  in the  collaborative research,  development  or
commercialization  of certain product candidates,  or could result in litigation
or arbitration, which would  be time consuming and  expensive, and would have  a
material  adverse  effect on  the  Company's business,  financial  condition and
results of operations.
 
    In addition, Aviron's  collaborative partners may  develop, either alone  or
with  others, products  that compete with  the development and  marketing of the
Company's products. Competing products  of the Company's collaborative  partners
may  result in their withdrawal  of support with respect to  all or a portion of
the Company's technology,  which would  have a  material adverse  effect on  the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. See "Business
- -- Collaborative Agreements."
 
UNCERTAINTY OF MARKET ACCEPTANCE
 
    Even  if the requisite  regulatory approvals are  obtained for the Company's
potential products,  uncertainty exists  as  to whether  such products  will  be
accepted in United States or foreign markets. The Company believes, for example,
that  widespread use of the Company's proposed  vaccines in the United States is
unlikely  without  positive  recommendations  from  the  Advisory  Committee  on
Immunization  Practices  (the  "ACIP")  of  the  CDC,  the  American  Academy of
Pediatrics or the American College of Physicians. There can be no assurance that
such authorities will recommend the use of the Company's proposed products.  The
lack  of  such  recommendations would  have  a  material adverse  effect  on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
    A number  of additional  factors  may affect  the  rate and  overall  market
acceptance  of Aviron's  cold adapted influenza  vaccine and  any other products
which may  be  developed by  the  Company, including  the  rate of  adoption  of
Aviron's  vaccines by health care practitioners,  the rate of vaccine acceptance
by the target  population, the timing  of market entry  relative to  competitive
products,  the  availability  of  alternative  technologies,  the  price  of the
Company's products  relative to  alternative technologies,  the availability  of
third-party  reimbursement and the  extent of marketing  efforts by the Company,
collaborative partners and  third-party distributors or  agents retained by  the
Company.  Side effects or unfavorable  publicity concerning Aviron's products or
any product incorporating live  virus vaccines could have  an adverse effect  on
the  Company's  ability  to  obtain  physician,  patient  or  third-party  payor
acceptance and efforts  to sell  the Company's products.  The Company's  current
formulation  of the cold adapted influenza  vaccine for clinical trials requires
frozen storage, which may adversely affect market acceptance in certain  foreign
countries  where adequate refrigeration is not  commonly available. There can be
no assurance that  physicians, patients  or third-party payors  will accept  new
live virus vaccine products or any of the Company's products as readily as other
types  of  vaccines,  or  at  all.  See  "Business  --  Vaccine  Products  Under
Development."
 
LACK OF MARKETING EXPERIENCE; DEPENDENCE ON THIRD PARTIES
 
    The Company currently has no sales, marketing or distribution capability. To
market any products, Aviron must either  obtain the assistance of a third  party
with  a suitable distribution system, develop a direct sales and marketing staff
of its own or combine the efforts of  a third party with its own efforts.  Other
than  SmithKline Beecham and Sang-A,  the Company to date  has no agreements for
marketing or distributing its potential products.
 
    The success and commercialization of the Company's products is dependent  in
part  upon the  ability of  the Company  to maintain  and enter  into additional
collaborative agreements with  corporate partners for  the development,  testing
and  marketing of certain  of its vaccines  and upon the  ability of these third
parties to perform their responsibilities. Although Aviron believes that parties
to any  such  arrangements would  have  an  economic motivation  to  succeed  in
performing   their  contractual  responsibilities,  the  amount  and  timing  of
resources devoted to  these activities  will not be  within the  control of  the
Company. There can be no assurance that any such agreements or arrangements will
be  available on  terms acceptable to  the Company,  if at all,  that such third
parties would perform their obligations as  expected, or that any revenue  would
be  derived from  such arrangements. If  Aviron is  not able to  enter into such
agreements or  arrangements,  it  could  encounter  delays  in  introducing  its
products   into  the   market  or   be  forced  to   limit  the   scope  of  its
commercialization activities. If the
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
Company were to market  products directly, significant additional  expenditures,
management resources and time would be required to develop a sales and marketing
staff  within the Company. In addition, the Company would also be competing with
other companies that  currently have experienced  and well-funded marketing  and
sales  operations. There can  be no assurance  that the Company  will be able to
establish its  own  sales  and  marketing  force or  that  any  such  force,  if
established,  would be successful. See "Business -- Marketing and Sales" and "--
Collaborative Agreements."
 
VOLATILITY OF COMMON STOCK PRICE
 
    The market prices  for securities of  pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical  and
biotechnology  companies have historically been  highly volatile. The market has
from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are
unrelated to the  operating performance  of particular  companies. In  addition,
factors such as fluctuations in the Company's operating results, future sales of
Common  Stock,  announcements of  technological  innovations or  new therapeutic
products by  the Company  or its  competitors, announcements  of  collaborators,
clinical  trial results, government regulation,  developments in patent or other
proprietary rights, public concern  as to the safety  of drugs developed by  the
Company  or  others, comments  made by  securities  analysts and  general market
conditions can have an adverse effect on  the market price of the Common  Stock.
In  particular, the  realization of  any of the  risks described  in these "Risk
Factors" could have a significant and adverse impact on such market price.
 
RISK OF PRODUCT LIABILITY; UNCERTAINTY OF AVAILABILITY OF INSURANCE
 
    The Company's business exposes it to potential product liability risks  that
are  inherent  in  the testing,  manufacturing  and marketing  of  vaccines. The
Company has obtained clinical trial liability insurance for its clinical trials,
but there  can  be no  assurance  that it  will  be able  to  maintain  adequate
insurance  for its  clinical trials.  The Company  also intends  to seek product
liability insurance in the future for  products approved for marketing, if  any.
However,  no assurance can be given that the  Company will be able to acquire or
maintain insurance  or  that  insurance  can be  acquired  or  maintained  at  a
reasonable cost or in sufficient amounts to protect the Company. There can be no
assurance  that insurance  coverage and  the resources  of the  Company would be
sufficient to satisfy any liability  resulting from product liability claims.  A
successful  product  liability claim  or series  of  claims brought  against the
Company could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  its  business,  financial
condition  and results of  operations. The Company intends  to seek inclusion of
certain  of  its  products  in   the  United  States  National  Vaccine   Injury
Compensation Program, a no-fault compensation program for claims against vaccine
manufacturers,  which administers  a trust  funded by  excise taxes  on sales of
certain recommended  childhood vaccines.  There can  be no  assurance that  this
government program will continue or that the Company's proposed vaccines will be
included in the program.
 
UNCERTAINTY RELATED TO PHARMACEUTICAL PRICING AND REIMBURSEMENT
 
    Political, economic and regulatory influences are subjecting the health care
industry  in  the United  States to  fundamental  change. Recent  initiatives to
reduce the federal  deficit and to  reform health care  delivery are  increasing
cost-containment   efforts.  The   Company  anticipates   that  Congress,  state
legislatures  and  the  private  sector  will  continue  to  review  and  assess
alternative  benefits, controls on  health care spending  through limitations on
the growth  of  private health  insurance  premiums and  Medicare  and  Medicaid
spending,  the creation of large insurance  purchasing groups, price controls on
pharmaceuticals and  other  fundamental  changes to  the  health  care  delivery
system.  Any such  proposed or  actual changes  could cause  the Company  or its
collaborative partners to limit or  eliminate spending on development  projects.
Legislative  debate is expected to continue in the future, and market forces are
expected to demand reduced costs. Aviron cannot predict what impact the adoption
of any federal  or state health  care reform measures  or future private  sector
reforms may have on its business.
 
    In  both  domestic  and foreign  markets,  sales of  the  Company's proposed
vaccines will  depend  in  part  upon the  availability  of  reimbursement  from
third-party  payors,  such  as  government  health  administration  authorities,
managed care  providers, private  health insurers  and other  organizations.  In
addition,  other third-party payors  are increasingly challenging  the price and
cost   effectiveness   of   medical    products   and   services.    Significant
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
uncertainty  exists as to the reimbursement status of newly approved health care
products. There can be no assurance that the Company's proposed products will be
considered cost effective  or that  adequate third-party  reimbursement will  be
available  to enable  Aviron to maintain  price levels sufficient  to realize an
appropriate return on  its investment  in product  development. Legislation  and
regulations  affecting  the pricing  of  pharmaceuticals may  change  before the
Company's proposed  products  are  approved  for  marketing.  Adoption  of  such
legislation  could further limit reimbursement for medical products. If adequate
coverage and  reimbursement  levels  are  not provided  by  the  government  and
third-party  payors for the  Company's products, the  market acceptance of these
products would be adversely affected, which would have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
NEED TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN KEY EMPLOYEES AND CONSULTANTS
 
    The Company is highly dependent on  the principal members of its  scientific
and  management  staff.  In  addition, the  Company  relies  on  consultants and
advisors,  including  its  scientific  advisors,   to  assist  the  Company   in
formulating  its  research and  development  strategy. Attracting  and retaining
qualified personnel, consultants and advisors will be critical to the  Company's
success. To pursue its product development and marketing plans, the Company will
be  required  to  hire  additional  qualified  scientific  personnel  to perform
research and  development, as  well as  personnel with  expertise in  conducting
clinical  trials, government regulation, manufacturing  and marketing and sales.
Expansion in product development and marketing  is also expected to require  the
addition  of management personnel and the development of additional expertise by
existing management  personnel.  The  Company faces  competition  for  qualified
individuals  from numerous  pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical  and biotechnology
companies, universities  and  other  research  institutions.  There  can  be  no
assurance that the Company will be able to attract and retain such individuals.
 
    In  addition,  a  portion  of  the  Company's  research  and  development is
conducted under  sponsored  research  programs  with  several  universities  and
research  institutions. The Company  depends on the  availability of a principal
investigator for each  such program, and  the Company cannot  assure that  these
individuals  or their research staffs will  be available to conduct research and
development for Aviron. The Company's  academic collaborators are not  employees
of  the  Company.  As a  result,  the  Company has  limited  control  over their
activities and  can expect  that only  limited  amounts of  their time  will  be
dedicated  to Company activities. The  Company's academic collaborators may have
relationships with other commercial entities,  some of which could compete  with
the Company. See "Business -- Scientific Advisory Board" and "Management."
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
 
    The  Company's  research  and  development involves  the  controlled  use of
hazardous materials,  chemicals,  various radioactive  substances  and  viruses.
Although  the  Company  believes that  its  safety procedures  for  handling and
disposing of such materials  comply with the standards  prescribed by state  and
federal  regulations, the risk of accidental  contamination or injury from these
materials cannot be completely eliminated. In the event of such an accident, the
Company could be held liable for any damages that result and any such  liability
could  exceed the  resources of the  Company. The Company  may incur substantial
costs  to  comply  with  environmental  regulations  if  the  Company   develops
manufacturing capacity.
 
DILUTION
 
    The  assumed initial public offering price  is substantially higher than the
pro forma  net tangible  book value  per share  of the  Company's Common  Stock.
Investors  purchasing shares  of Common  Stock in  this offering  and the Sang-A
Shares will  therefore incur  immediate, substantial  dilution of  approximately
$7.82  per share.  In addition, investors  purchasing shares of  Common Stock in
this offering will incur additional  dilution to the extent outstanding  options
and warrants are exercised. See "Dilution."
 
NO PRIOR PUBLIC MARKET
 
    Prior  to this offering, there  has been no public  market for the Company's
Common Stock, and there can be no  assurance that a regular trading market  will
develop   and  continue   after  this   offering  or   that  the   market  price
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
of the Common Stock  will not decline below  the initial public offering  price.
The  initial  public  offering  price will  be  determined  through negotiations
between the Company and the Representatives  of the Underwriters and may not  be
indicative  of the  market price  of the  Common Stock  following this offering.
Among the  factors considered  in such  negotiations will  be prevailing  market
conditions,  certain financial information of  the Company, market valuations of
other companies that  the Company  and the Representatives  of the  Underwriters
believe  to be comparable to the Company, estimates of the business potential of
the Company, the present  state of the Company's  development and other  factors
deemed relevant. See "Underwriting."
 
POTENTIAL ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
   
    Sales of a substantial amount of Common Stock in the public market following
this  offering could adversely affect the  market price for the Company's Common
Stock. Upon completion of this offering and  the sale of the Sang-A Shares,  the
Company  will have 12,285,990 shares of Common Stock outstanding. In addition to
the 3,000,000  shares  of Common  Stock  offered hereby,  approximately  149,329
shares  will be available for sale in  the public market upon the effective date
of the Registration Statement pursuant to subsection (k) of Rule 144 promulgated
under the Securities Act of 1933,  as amended (the "Act"). Approximately  37,395
shares  of Common Stock will be available for sale in the public market pursuant
to Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the  Act beginning 90 days after the date of  this
Prospectus,  subject in certain cases to volume and manner of sale restrictions.
In addition, 283,160 shares subject to vested options will be available for sale
90 days after the date  of this Prospectus pursuant  to Rule 701. Beginning  180
days  from the date of this  Prospectus, 5,311,881 shares of outstanding, 33,726
shares subject  to  additional vested  options  and 148,145  shares  subject  to
exercisable  warrants will  be available for  sale, subject in  certain cases to
volume  limitations,  upon  the  expiration  of  agreements  not  to  sell  such
outstanding  shares or  shares subject  to such  options. Robertson,  Stephens &
Company may, in its sole discretion and at any time without notice, release  all
or  any portion of  the shares subject to  lock-up agreements. Additional shares
held by existing shareholders will become eligible for sale from time to time in
the future. After this offering,  the holders of approximately 8,433,659  shares
of  Common Stock and warrants to purchase approximately 148,145 shares of Common
Stock will be entitled to certain demand and piggyback registration rights  with
respect  to  registration of  such shares  under  the Act.  If such  holders, by
exercising their demand or piggyback  registration rights, cause a large  number
of  securities to be registered and sold  in the public market, such sales could
have an adverse effect on  the market price for  the Company's Common Stock.  If
the  Company were to include in  a Company-initiated registration shares held by
such holders pursuant to  the exercise of  their piggyback registration  rights,
such  sales may have an adverse effect  on the Company's ability to raise needed
capital. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and "Underwriting."
    
 
ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF DELAWARE LAW AND CERTAIN CHARTER PROVISIONS
 
    The Company's Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to  5,000,000
shares  of Preferred Stock  and to determine the  price, rights, preferences and
privileges of those shares without any  further vote or action by the  Company's
stockholders.  The rights of the holders of Common Stock will be subject to, and
may be adversely affected by, the rights  of the holders of any Preferred  Stock
that  may be issued in the future. While the Company has no present intention to
issue shares  of  Preferred  Stock, such  issuance,  while  providing  desirable
flexibility  in  connection  with  possible  acquisitions  and  other  corporate
purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to
acquire a majority of the outstanding voting stock of the Company. In  addition,
the  Company is subject  to the anti-takeover  provisions of Section  203 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits the Company 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.
The application of Section 203 could have the effect of delaying or preventing a
change  of control  of the Company.  The Company's  Certificate of Incorporation
provides for staggered  terms for  the members of  the Board  of Directors.  The
staggered  Board  of Directors  and certain  other  provisions of  the Company's
Certificate of  Incorporation and  Bylaws may  have the  effect of  delaying  or
preventing  changes  in  control  or  management  of  the  Company,  which could
adversely  affect  the  market  price   of  the  Company's  Common  Stock.   See
"Description  of Capital Stock -- Delaware Anti-Takeover Law and Certain Charter
Provisions."
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
    The net proceeds  to the Company  from the  sale of shares  of Common  Stock
offered  hereby  are  estimated  to  be  $32.9  million  ($37.9  million  if the
Underwriters' over-allotment option  is exercised in  full) after deducting  the
estimated  underwriting discounts and commissions  and offering expenses payable
by the Company. In addition,  the net proceeds to the  Company from the sale  of
the Sang-A Shares are estimated to be $4.0 million.
 
    The  Company  anticipates  using  approximately  $24.0  million  of  the net
proceeds from this offering and from the  sale of the Sang-A Shares for  product
research  and development, including preclinical testing and clinical trials and
approximately $8.0  million for  capital expenditures.  The balance  of the  net
proceeds  will be used  for working capital and  general corporate purposes. The
amounts and timing of the expenditures for these purposes may vary significantly
depending on numerous factors, such as the status of the Company's research  and
development  efforts, the  regulatory approval  process, technological advances,
determinations as to commercial potential, the terms of collaborative agreements
entered into  by  the  Company,  the status  of  competitive  products  and  the
possibility  of the  Company's construction of  a commercial-scale manufacturing
facility for its  potential products.  In addition, the  Company's research  and
development expenditures will vary as projects are added, extended or terminated
and  as a result of variations in  funding from existing or future collaborative
agreements. The Company may also use a  portion of such net proceeds to  acquire
or  invest in  businesses, products and  technologies that  are complementary to
those of  the  Company, although  no  such  acquisitions are  planned  or  being
negotiated as of the date of this Prospectus, and no portion of the net proceeds
has been allocated for any specific acquisition.
 
   
    The  Company believes that its  available cash, cash equivalents, short-term
investments and revenues  from existing  collaborations, together  with the  net
proceeds  of  this offering  and from  the sale  of the  Sang-A Shares,  and the
interest thereon, will be sufficient to  meet its capital requirements at  least
through  1997. Pending application  of the net proceeds  as described above, the
Company intends  to invest  the net  proceeds in  short-term,  interest-bearing,
investment-grade securities.
    
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
    The  Company has  not declared  or paid cash  dividends on  its Common Stock
since inception and does not intend to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable
future. Future  cash dividends,  if any,  will  be determined  by the  Board  of
Directors.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
    The  following table  sets forth, as  of March  31, 1996, (i)  the pro forma
capitalization  of  the  Company,  giving  effect  to  the  conversion  of   all
outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of the Company into Common Stock, and (ii)
the pro forma capitalization as adjusted to reflect the receipt of the estimated
net  proceeds from the sale  of 3,000,000 shares of  Common Stock offered by the
Company hereby at an assumed initial public offering price of $12.00 per  share,
after  deducting  the  estimated  underwriting  discounts  and  commissions  and
offering expenses payable by  the Company, and the  estimated proceeds from  the
sale of the Sang-A Shares:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              MARCH 31, 1996
                                                         ------------------------
                                                          PRO FORMA   AS ADJUSTED
                                                         -----------  -----------
                                                              (in thousands)
<S>                                                      <C>          <C>
Capital lease obligations, noncurrent..................   $     545    $     545
                                                         -----------  -----------
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares
   authorized; none issued and outstanding.............          --           --
  Common Stock, $0.001 par value; 30,000,000 shares
   authorized; 8,874,456 shares issued and outstanding
   pro forma, and 12,207,789 shares issued and
   outstanding as adjusted (1).........................           9           12
  Additional paid-in capital...........................      41,598       78,475
  Notes receivable from stockholders...................        (310)        (310)
  Deferred compensation................................        (938)        (938)
  Accumulated deficit..................................     (26,192)     (26,192)
                                                         -----------  -----------
        Total stockholders' equity.....................      14,167       51,047
                                                         -----------  -----------
          Total capitalization.........................   $  14,712    $  51,592
                                                         -----------  -----------
                                                         -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------
(1)  Excludes (i) 78,201 shares  of Common Stock issued  subsequent to March 31,
    1996 upon exercise  of stock options,  (ii) 643,480 shares  of Common  Stock
    issuable  upon  exercise of  options outstanding  as  of June  1, 1996  at a
    weighted average exercise price of  approximately $1.22 per share, (iii)  an
    aggregate  of  1,556,520  shares  reserved for  future  grants  or purchases
    pursuant to  the  Company's  1996  Equity  Incentive  Plan,  Employee  Stock
    Purchase  Plan  and Non-Employee  Director Stock  Option Plan,  (iv) 118,395
    shares issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding as of June 1, 1996  at
    a  weighted average exercise price  of $6.65 per share,  and (v) warrants to
    purchase 29,750 shares which become exercisable at the close of the offering
    at 125% of the initial public offering price.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
                                    DILUTION
 
    The pro forma net tangible book value of the Company, as of March 31,  1996,
was  $14,167,000 or $1.60 per share of Common Stock. Pro forma net tangible book
value per share is determined by dividing the pro forma net tangible book  value
(pro  forma tangible assets less total liabilities) of the Company by the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding  at that date, including shares of  Common
Stock  to be issued upon conversion of  the Preferred Stock immediately prior to
the consummation of this offering. After giving effect to the receipt of the net
proceeds from the sale of  the 3,000,000 shares of  Common Stock offered by  the
Company  at an assumed initial public offering price of $12.00 per share and the
estimated proceeds  from  the sale  of  the Sang-A  Shares,  the pro  forma  net
tangible  book  value  of the  Company  as of  March  31, 1996  would  have been
$51,047,000 or $4.18 per  share. This represents an  immediate increase in  such
pro  forma net tangible book  value of $2.58 per  share to existing stockholders
and an immediate dilution of $7.82 per share to new public investors and Sang-A.
The following table illustrates this per share dilution:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                      <C>        <C>
Assumed initial public offering price..................             $   12.00
  Pro forma net tangible book value before offering....  $    1.60
  Increase attributable to new investors...............       2.58
                                                         ---------
Pro forma net tangible book value after offering.......                  4.18
                                                                    ---------
Dilution to new investors..............................             $    7.82
                                                                    ---------
                                                                    ---------
</TABLE>
 
    The following table summarizes, on a pro forma basis, as of March 31,  1996,
the  difference between the number of shares  of Common Stock purchased from the
Company, the total consideration  paid and the average  price per share paid  by
existing  stockholders  and  by  the new  investors  purchasing  shares  in this
offering and purchasing the Sang-A Shares at an assumed initial public  offering
price  of  $12.00  per share  and  before deducting  underwriting  discounts and
estimated offering expenses:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  SHARES PURCHASED         TOTAL CONSIDERATION       AVERAGE
                                              ------------------------  -------------------------   PRICE PER
                                                 NUMBER      PERCENT       AMOUNT       PERCENT       SHARE
                                              ------------  ----------  -------------  ----------  -----------
<S>                                           <C>           <C>         <C>            <C>         <C>
Existing stockholders.......................     8,874,456       72.7%  $  41,454,000       50.9%   $    4.67
New investors...............................     3,333,333       27.3      40,000,000       49.1        12.00
                                              ------------      -----   -------------      -----
    Total...................................    12,207,789      100.0%  $  81,454,000      100.0%
                                              ------------      -----   -------------      -----
                                              ------------      -----   -------------      -----
</TABLE>
 
    The foregoing  table  excludes (i)  78,201  shares of  Common  Stock  issued
subsequent to March 31, 1996 upon exercise of stock options, (ii) 643,480 shares
of  Common Stock  issuable upon  exercise of options  outstanding as  of June 1,
1996, at a  weighted average exercise  price of approximately  $1.22 per  share,
(iii)  an aggregate of 1,556,520 shares  reserved for future grants or purchases
pursuant to the Company's  1996 Equity Incentive  Plan, Employee Stock  Purchase
Plan  and Non-Employee Director Stock Option  Plan, (iv) 118,395 shares issuable
upon exercise of warrants outstanding as of  June 1, 1996 at a weighted  average
exercise  price of $6.65 per  share, and (v) warrants  to purchase 29,750 shares
which become exercisable at  the close of  the offering at  125% of the  initial
public offering price.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
                            SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The  selected financial data  set forth below should  be read in conjunction
with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and the Financial Statements and Notes thereto included elsewhere in
this Prospectus. The statement of operations  data for the years ended  December
31,  1993, 1994 and  1995, and the balance  sheet data at  December 31, 1994 and
1995, are  derived  from  the  financial  statements  of  the  Company  included
elsewhere  in this  Prospectus which  have been  audited by  Ernst &  Young LLP,
independent auditors, whose report is included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The
statement of operations data  from inception (April  15, 1992) through  December
31,  1992 and  the balance  sheet data  as of  December 31,  1992 and  1993, are
derived from audited financial statements not included herein. Financial data as
of March 31, 1996 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 1995 and 1996,
is derived from unaudited financial  statements included elsewhere herein,  and,
in the opinion of management, includes all normal recurring adjustments that the
Company   considers  necessary  for  a  fair  presentation  of  its  results  of
operations.  The  results  of  operations  for  the  interim  periods  are   not
necessarily  indicative of  results to  be expected  for any  future period. The
Company has  not declared  or paid  cash  dividends on  its Common  Stock  since
inception  and does  not intend  to pay  any cash  dividends in  the foreseeable
future.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        FOR THE PERIOD FROM                                            THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                          APRIL 15, 1992            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                MARCH 31,
                                        (DATE OF INCEPTION)   ------------------------------------  ------------------------
                                       TO DECEMBER 31, 1992      1993         1994         1995        1995         1996
                                       ---------------------  -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
                                                               (in thousands, except per share data)
<S>                                    <C>                    <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Total revenues.......................        $      --          $      --    $      --   $   1,707    $      --    $     188
Operating expenses:
  Research and development...........              320              2,073        4,216      10,220        3,088        3,044
  General and administrative.........              470              1,874        2,493       3,252          701        1,063
                                                 -----        -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
    Total operating expenses.........              790              3,947        6,709      13,472        3,789        4,107
                                                 -----        -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
Loss from operations.................             (790)            (3,947)      (6,709)    (11,765)      (3,789)      (3,919)
                                                 -----        -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
Interest income, net of interest
 expense.............................               37                175          207         362           32          183
                                                 -----        -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
Net loss.............................        $    (753)         $  (3,772)   $  (6,502)  $ (11,403)   $  (3,757)   $  (3,736)
                                                 -----        -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
                                                 -----        -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
Pro forma net loss per share (1).....                           $   (0.56)   $   (0.73)  $   (1.24)   $   (0.41)   $   (0.41)
                                                              -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
                                                              -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
Shares used in computing pro forma
 net loss per share (1)..............                               6,696        8,948       9,183        9,062        9,223
</TABLE>
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               DECEMBER 31,                    MARCH 31,
                                                             ------------------------------------------------  ----------
                                                                 1992         1993        1994        1995        1996
                                                             ------------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                              (in thousands)
<S>                                                          <C>           <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments..........     $   1,492   $  12,410   $   6,449   $  17,819   $  14,494
Working capital............................................         1,355      12,155       5,877      16,775      12,804
Total assets...............................................         1,901      13,206       7,789      19,878      17,275
Capital lease obligations, noncurrent......................            --          --        (750)       (618)       (545)
Deferred compensation (2)..................................            --          --          --         180         938
Accumulated deficit........................................          (753)     (4,525)    (11,060)    (22,444)    (26,192)
Total stockholders' equity.................................         1,722      12,893       6,362      17,537      14,167
</TABLE>
 
- --------------
(1) See Note 1 of Notes to Financial Statements for an explanation of the method
    used to determine the number of shares  used to compute pro forma per  share
    amounts.
 
(2)  In  May  1996,  the Company  recorded  approximately  $463,000  of deferred
    compensation related to  grants of  employee stock  options. See  Note 7  of
    Notes to Financial Statements.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    The  following Management's  Discussion and Analysis  of Financial Condition
and Results  of Operations  contains  forward-looking statements  which  involve
risks  and uncertainties. The  Company's actual results  could differ materially
from those  anticipated  in these  forward-looking  statements as  a  result  of
certain factors, including those set forth under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in
this Prospectus.
 
OVERVIEW
 
    Since  its inception in April 1992,  Aviron has devoted substantially all of
its resources to its research and development programs. To date, Aviron has  not
generated any revenues from the sale of products and does not expect to generate
any  such revenues for  at least several  years, if at  all. Aviron has incurred
cumulative net losses of approximately $26.2  million as of March 31, 1996,  and
it expects to incur increasing operating losses for a number of years.
 
    Aviron  has financed its operations through proceeds from private placements
of  Preferred  Stock,  revenue  from  its  collaborative  agreements,  including
reimbursement   of  certain  of  Aviron's  research  and  development  expenses,
equipment lease  financing and  investment income  earned on  cash balances  and
short-term investments.
 
    The  Company expects its  research and development  expenditures to increase
substantially over the next  several years as the  Company expands its  research
and development efforts and preclinical testing and clinical trials with respect
to certain of its programs. In addition, general and administrative expenses are
expected  to  continue to  increase as  the Company  expands its  operations and
incurs the additional expenses associated with operating as a public company.
 
    In October 1995,  the Company  signed an agreement  with SmithKline  Beecham
defining  a  collaboration  on the  Company's  EBV vaccine  technology  (the "SB
Agreement"). Under the terms of the SB Agreement, the Company granted SmithKline
Beecham an exclusive  license to  produce, use  and sell  non-live EBV  vaccines
incorporating  the Company's technology for prophylactic and therapeutic uses on
a worldwide basis,  except in  South and  North Korea  (together, "Korea").  The
Company  has retained the right to co-distribute a monovalent formulation of the
vaccine in certain markets in the  United States and to have SmithKline  Beecham
supply  such  vaccine.  SmithKline  Beecham  has  agreed  to  fund  research and
development at the  Company related  to the  EBV vaccine,  in specified  minimum
amounts, during the first two years of the SB Agreement. SmithKline Beecham made
an initial upfront payment to the Company and agreed to make additional payments
upon  the achievement of certain product  development milestones. The Company is
entitled to royalties from SmithKline Beecham based on net sales of the vaccine.
No assurance can be given, however, that the Company will receive any additional
payments from SmithKline Beecham or  that SmithKline Beecham will not  terminate
its agreement with the Company. See "Business -- Collaborative Agreements."
 
    In  May 1995, the  Company entered into a  Development and License Agreement
with Sang-A.  The  Company granted  to  Sang-A exclusive  clinical  development,
manufacturing  and marketing rights in Korea for specified products developed by
Aviron, including vaccines  for influenza (cold  adapted and recombinant),  EBV,
CMV,  HSV-2 and RSV. However, the Company  is under no obligation to develop any
product. Sang-A  also will  make  payments to  the  Company upon  the  Company's
meeting  certain regulatory milestones for each product  in Korea and will pay a
royalty to the Company on net sales of such products in Korea. No assurance  can
be  given, however, that  the Company will  receive any payments  from Sang-A or
that Sang-A will not terminate its agreement with the Company. See "Business  --
Collaborative Agreements."
 
    The  Company currently  is evaluating the  costs and  benefits of developing
internal   manufacturing   capabilities   or   contracting   with    third-party
manufacturers.  The Company presently  is funding the  construction of its pilot
manufacturing facility through a capital lease  line of credit, however, if  the
Company decides to establish its own commercial-scale manufacturing facility, it
would require a significant amount of funds. See "Business -- Manufacturing."
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
    The  Company's business is  subject to significant  risks, including but not
limited to the risks inherent in its research and development efforts, including
preclinical testing  and clinical  trials,  uncertainties associated  both  with
obtaining  and enforcing its patents  and with the patent  rights of others, the
lengthy, expensive  and  uncertain  process  of  seeking  regulatory  approvals,
uncertainties regarding government reforms and product pricing and reimbursement
levels,  technological change  and competition,  manufacturing uncertainties and
dependence on third  parties. Even  if the Company's  product candidates  appear
promising  at an early stage  of development, they may  not reach the market for
numerous reasons. Such reasons include the possibilities that the products  will
be  found unsafe  or ineffective  during clinical  trials, will  fail to receive
necessary regulatory  approvals, will  be difficult  to manufacture  on a  large
scale,   will   be   uneconomical  to   market   or  will   be   precluded  from
commercialization by proprietary rights of third parties.
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
  THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1995
 
    REVENUES
 
    Total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 1996 was $188,000, and no
revenue was earned for  the three months  ended March 31,  1995. Revenue in  the
three  months ended March 31, 1996 resulted primarily from the Company's license
and  development   agreement  with   SmithKline   Beecham.  See   "Business   --
Collaborative Agreements -- SmithKline Beecham Biologicals S.A."
 
    OPERATING EXPENSES
 
    Research  and development  expenses were $3.0  million for  the three months
ended March 31, 1996 and $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 1995.
Included in research and development expenses  for the three months ended  March
31,  1995 is a  one-time charge of  $1.6 million relating  to Aviron's agreement
with the University of Michigan (see  Note 2 of Notes to Financial  Statements).
Without  the one-time charge,  research and development  expenses increased 103%
between the three  months ended March  31, 1996 and  1995. These increases  were
primarily due to increases in research and development staffing, licensing fees,
expenses associated with clinical trials of the Company's cold adapted influenza
vaccine and preclinical testing associated with other programs.
 
    General  and administrative  expenses increased 52%  to $1.1  million in the
three months ended March 31, 1996 from $701,000 in the three months ended  March
31,  1995.  These  increases were  incurred  to support  the  Company's expanded
research and development efforts and facilities, patent and legal expenses,  and
corporate development activities.
 
    NET INTEREST INCOME
 
    The  Company's net interest income increased to $183,000 in the three months
ended March 31, 1996, from $32,000 in the three months ended March 31, 1995. The
increase reflects  the effect  of  the Comany's  higher  average cash  and  cash
equivalents and short-term investment balances.
 
  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 AND 1994
 
    REVENUES
 
    Total  revenue for 1995 was  $1.7 million, and no  revenue was earned in the
year ended  December 31,  1994. Revenue  in  the year  ended December  31,  1995
resulted  primarily from  the Company's  license and  development agreement with
SmithKline Beecham.  See "Business  --  Collaborative Agreements  --  SmithKline
Beecham Biologicals S.A."
 
    OPERATING EXPENSES
 
    Research  and development  expenses increased 142%  to $10.2  million in the
year ended December 31, 1995  from $4.2 million in  the year ended December  31,
1994.   These  increases  were  primarily  due  to  increases  in  research  and
development staffing, licensing fees (including the one-time charge relating  to
Aviron's  agreement  with  the  University  of  Michigan  discussed  above), and
expenses associated primarily with clinical trials of its cold adapted influenza
vaccine and  preclinical  testing  associated  with  the  herpes  simplex  virus
program.  General and administrative  expenses increased 30%  to $3.3 million in
the year ended December 31, 1995 from
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
$2.5 million in the year ended December 31, 1994. These increases were  incurred
to   support  the  Company's  expanded  research  and  development  efforts  and
facilities, patent and legal expenses, and corporate development activities.
 
    NET INTEREST INCOME
 
    The Company's net  interest income  increased 75%  to $362,000  in the  year
ended  December 31, 1995, from $207,000 in the year ended December 31, 1994. The
increase in 1995 reflects  the effect of the  Company's higher average cash  and
cash  equivalents  and  short-term  investment  balances,  offset  by  increased
interest expense related to capital lease obligations.
 
  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 AND 1993
 
    OPERATING EXPENSES
 
    Research and development expenses increased 103% to $4.2 million in the year
ended December 31, 1994, from $2.1 million in the year ended December 31,  1993.
These  increases were  primarily due  to increases  in research  and development
staffing and preclinical testing. General and administrative expenses  increased
33%  from $2.5 million in the year ended December 31, 1994, from $1.9 million in
the year ended December 31, 1993.  These increases were incurred to support  the
Company's  expanded research and  development efforts and  facilities and patent
and legal expenses.
 
    NET INTEREST INCOME
 
    The Company's net  interest income  increased 18%  to $207,000  in the  year
ended  December 31, 1994, from $175,000 in the year ended December 31, 1993. The
increase reflected the  effect of  the Company's  higher average  cash and  cash
equivalents  and  short-term  investment balances,  offset  by  interest expense
related to capital lease obligations in 1994.
 
  NET OPERATING LOSS CARRYFORWARD
 
    As of  December 31,  1995, the  Company  had a  federal net  operating  loss
carryforward  of approximately $20.0 million  available to offset future taxable
income, if any. The net operating loss carryforward will expire at various dates
beginning from  2007 through  2010,  if not  utilized.  Utilization of  the  net
operating losses and credits may be subject to substantial annual limitation due
to the "change in ownership" provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and
similar  state provisions. The annual limitation may result in the expiration of
net operating losses  and credits  before utilization. See  Note 8  of Notes  to
Financial Statements.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
    Aviron  had cash, cash  equivalents and short-term  investments at March 31,
1996 of approximately $14.5 million. In order to preserve principal and maintain
liquidity,  the  Company's  funds  are   invested  in  United  States   Treasury
obligations,   highly-rated   corporate   obligations   and   other   short-term
investments.
 
    The Company has  financed its operations  since inception primarily  through
private  placements of Preferred Stock. Through  March 31, 1996, the Company had
raised approximately $38.4  million from  such sales net  of offering  expenses.
Cash  used in operations was  $3.4 million, $6.1 million,  $8.9 million and $3.0
million in 1993, 1994,  1995 and the first  quarter of 1996, respectively.  Cash
expended  for  capital  additions  and  to  repay  lease  financing arrangements
amounted to approximately  $593,000, $472,000,  $622,000 and  $659,000 in  1993,
1994  and 1995 and the first quarter  of 1996, respectively. The Company expects
expenditures for capital  additions will  increase in 1996  as a  result of  the
construction of a pilot manufacturing facility. The Company expects expenditures
for  research  and  development,  clinical  trials  and  general  administrative
expenditures will  continue to  increase in  1996 as  the Company  develops  its
products and expands its clinical trials.
 
   
    The  Company anticipates that the proceeds of this offering, and the sale of
Sang-A Shares  together  with  the  interest  thereon,  revenues  from  existing
collaborations,  cash, cash equivalents and  short-term investments, will enable
it to maintain  its current and  planned operations at  least through 1997.  The
Company's  future cash requirements  will depend on  numerous factors, including
continued scientific progress in the  research and development of the  Company's
technology  and vaccine programs, the size and complexity of these programs, the
ability of the  Company to  establish and  maintain collaborative  arrangements,
progress with preclinical
    
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
testing and clinical trials, the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory
approvals,  the cost involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and
enforcing patent claims, and  product commercialization activities. The  Company
is  seeking additional collaborative agreements  with corporate partners and may
seek access to the public or private equity markets. There can be no  assurance,
however,  that any such agreements will be entered into or that they will reduce
the Company's funding requirements or that additional funding will be available.
The Company expects that additional equity  or debt financings will be  required
to  fund  its operations.  There can  be no  assurance that  such funds  will be
available on favorable terms,  if at all. If  adequate funds are not  available,
the  Company may be required to delay, reduce  the scope of, or eliminate one or
more of  its  research  or  development programs  or  to  obtain  funds  through
collaborative  agreements with others that may require the Company to relinquish
rights to certain of its technologies,  product candidates or products that  the
Company  would otherwise  seek to develop  or commercialize  itself, which would
materially adversely  affect the  Company's  business, financial  condition  and
results of operations.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS
 
    The  following  Business section  contains forward-looking  statements which
involve risks  and  uncertainties. The  Company's  actual results  could  differ
materially  from  those anticipated  in  these forward-looking  statements  as a
result of certain factors,  including those set forth  under "Risk Factors"  and
elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
OVERVIEW
 
   
    Aviron  is  a  biopharmaceutical  company  whose  strategy  is  to  focus on
prevention of  disease.  The  Company's  goal  is to  become  a  leader  in  the
discovery,  development, manufacture and marketing  of live virus vaccines which
are sufficiently cost effective  to justify their  use in immunization  programs
targeting  the  general  population.  Live virus  vaccines,  such  as  those for
smallpox, polio, measles, mumps and rubella,  have had a long record of  success
in  preventing, and in some cases eliminating, disease. The Company currently is
analyzing data from Phase I and Phase II clinical trials in children and  adults
of  its  live cold  adapted intranasal  vaccine for  influenza. The  Company has
recently in-licensed a live  intranasal vaccine for  Parainfluenza Virus Type  3
(PIV-3)  which has  been tested  by others  in Phase  I/II clinical  trials. The
Company also is developing a vaccine for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). In  addition,
Aviron is using its proprietary "Rational Vaccine Design" technology to discover
new  live  virus  vaccines. Rational  Vaccine  Design involves  the  deletion or
modification of  virulence  proteins,  changes to  the  virus'  genetic  control
signals  to slow down its replication, or addition of information to enhance the
virus' stimulation of the immune system. The Company is applying this technology
to develop candidates  for the prevention  of influenza in  elderly persons  and
diseases  caused by Cytomegalovirus  (CMV), Herpes Simplex  Virus Type 2 (HSV-2)
and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
    
 
BACKGROUND
 
  PREVENTION TECHNOLOGY IN THE ERA OF MANAGED CARE AND COST CONTAINMENT
 
   
    Market-based changes  already  underway in  the  United States  health  care
system are dramatically altering prospects for technologies which can be used to
manage  disease or lower the cost of  health care for patients in managed health
plans. Medical cost-containment efforts and the reorganization of United  States
health  care  delivery  into managed  care  systems  are changing  the  basis of
competition  for  producers   of  health  care   products.  Health   maintenance
organization  enrollment was  approximately 54 million  in the  United States in
1995 and is growing rapidly. Decision makers  in the United States, such as  HMO
medical   directors,  clinical   practice  committees,   and  government  health
authorities, are  increasingly evaluating  whether preventive  technologies  are
more  cost  effective than  treating disease  once it  is present.  For example,
vaccinations are widely  used by  managed care organizations  and in  government
programs. In determining whether to use an FDA-approved vaccine, decision makers
consider   whether  it  has  been  recommended  by  the  Advisory  Committee  on
Immunization Practices (the ACIP) of the CDC and whether it is cost effective.
    
 
    Health care  cost  containment efforts  are  also  evident in  many  of  the
developed  economies outside the United  States. These efforts include physician
budgets in Germany  and general practice  schemes in the  United Kingdom,  where
doctors are given responsibility for the cost of their patients' overall care.
 
  THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND VACCINES
 
    Infections  occur  when  a  pathogenic microorganism,  such  as  a  virus or
bacterium, invades body tissues and begins to replicate. The human immune system
responds with a battery of resources  to contain and eliminate this threat.  The
process begins when specialized cells recognize that molecules on the surface of
invading  pathogens  are foreign  (antigens).  Immune responses  to  contain and
eliminate the threat include:
 
    - ANTIBODIES: Antigens  stimulate  the  immune system  to  produce  specific
      molecules   (antibodies)  which  bind  to  and  neutralize  the  virus  or
      bacterium.
 
    - CELL-MEDIATED RESPONSE: An effective immune response typically also  leads
      to   the  multiplication  of  specific  types  of  white  blood  cells  (a
      cell-mediated response) which have the ability to inactivate the  pathogen
      or to destroy infected cells, thereby limiting replication of the virus or
      bacterium.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
    - MUCOSAL   IMMUNITY:  In   addition  to  circulating   antibodies  and  the
      cell-mediated response, antibodies are  produced in the mucous  membranes,
      such  as  those  which  line  the nose  and  throat.  Mucosal  immunity is
      important in  protecting  against pathogens  which  cause disease  in  the
      respiratory,  gastrointestinal and  genitourinary systems,  or which enter
      the body through these portals.
 
    Vaccines are designed to stimulate a  person's immune system through one  or
more  of the above mechanisms to induce memory of specific antigens prior to the
invasion of a  pathogen. This memory  primes the  immune system so  that it  can
inactivate  the specific  pathogen if  encountered again.  This may  be achieved
through one of several techniques,  including introduction of a live  attenuated
(weakened)  virus  or  bacterium,  administration  of  an  antigen  fragment  (a
subunit), or administration of an inactivated (killed) virus.
 
  HISTORY OF VACCINES
 
    The first successful vaccine  against an infectious  disease was created  by
Edward  Jenner who, in 1796, demonstrated that introduction of infected material
from a diseased cow  could be used  to protect humans  from the deadly  smallpox
virus.  Smallpox  vaccination programs  based on  this  live virus  vaccine were
gradually adopted by industrialized countries, and a concerted global effort  by
public health authorities in this century succeeded in eradicating smallpox from
the human population in the 1970s.
 
    Vaccines  against  two life-threatening  bacterial diseases,  diphtheria and
tetanus, came  into  use  early  in this  century.  These  vaccines  consist  of
bacterial  toxins  which  have  been  chemically  inactivated.  These  are often
administered in combination with an  inactivated pertussis bacterium vaccine  to
prevent  whooping cough.  This combination is  known as the  "DTP" vaccine. Just
prior to World  War II, a  live attenuated virus  vaccine was developed  against
yellow  fever,  used  primarily  in  protecting  military  personnel  and  those
traveling to areas where  this disease is  endemic. In the  years after the  war
following  several  widespread polio  epidemics,  Jonas Salk  created  the first
successful polio  vaccine by  growing the  wild-type virus  and inactivating  it
before injection. Salk's vaccine was introduced into widespread use in the early
1950s,  but was supplanted in the United  States and many other countries by the
orally administered  live attenuated  polio virus  vaccine developed  by  Albert
Sabin  and first  introduced in  1961. In the  1960s and  1970s, live attenuated
virus  vaccines  against  measles,  mumps  and  rubella  (German  measles)  were
successfully  developed and recommended by the  ACIP to be included in childhood
immunization programs.
 
    After a period of almost two decades during which no new vaccines came  into
widespread  use, a  genetically engineered subunit  vaccine for  hepatitis B was
introduced in the mid-1980s  and is now part  of the ACIP-recommended  childhood
immunization program. In 1990, a vaccine for bacterial meningitis was also added
to  this program.  Two inactivated vaccines  against the hepatitis  A virus were
approved in  the  United  States in  1995  and  1996. In  1995,  the  ACIP  also
recommended  that children be vaccinated against  chicken pox using a live virus
vaccine recently approved by the FDA.
 
    Current  challenges  for  vaccine  innovation  include  providing  effective
protection  against  the major  infectious diseases  for  which no  vaccines are
currently available and improving on current vaccines to achieve higher efficacy
or greater ease of administration.
 
  TYPES OF VACCINES
 
    LIVE VIRUS VACCINES
 
    Live virus vaccines expose  the immune system to  an attenuated form of  the
virus which is sufficiently infectious to stimulate a lasting immune response to
the  natural (or wild-type) virus.  All of the live  virus vaccines in use today
are strains  derived from  natural  infections of  humans. Attenuation  of  live
viruses,  including polio, yellow fever, measles, mumps and rubella, and chicken
pox  vaccines  was  accomplished  by  "passaging,"  or  propagating,  the  virus
repeatedly  in non-human cells. As a result of this process, viruses may acquire
mutations that decrease  the ability of  the virus to  cause disease in  humans.
After  an  arbitrary  number  of  passages, the  mutated  strain  is  tested for
attenuation in  animal models,  if  available, or  directly in  human  subjects.
Following  assessment  of safety  and immunogenicity  (stimulation of  an immune
response) in a limited number of human subjects, larger-scale trials are used to
demonstrate efficacy in preventing naturally acquired infections.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
    Live  virus  vaccines  mimic  the  natural  disease-causing  infection   and
therefore may activate the same protective mechanisms of the human immune system
as  the  disease itself.  This  process results  in  a balanced  immune response
activating  all  parts  of  the  immune  system  including  systemic  and  local
antibodies  as well  as cell-mediated  immunity. As  a result,  live viruses are
often considered to be more effective than other types of vaccines in  providing
immunity to natural variations in the wild-type viruses which cause disease. For
example,  the live polio vaccine is believed to be more effective in eliminating
wild-type polio  virus  than inactivated  polio  vaccines. The  basis  of  these
advantages  is  that live  vaccines  typically present  all  of the  surface and
internal antigens associated with the natural pathogen. Live virus vaccines  may
also  be  easier  to  administer  through  their  natural  route  of  infection,
intranasally or orally, as in the case of the oral polio vaccine.
 
    However, an attenuated live vaccine  could cause disease resembling  natural
infection,  as  might  occur in  people  with  an immune  system  impaired  by a
congenital disease,  HIV  infection  or  drug  treatment  for  cancer  or  organ
transplantation.  To date, the live virus vaccines in widespread use rarely have
been associated with  significant adverse  events. For example,  the 19  million
doses  of  live attenuated  polio vaccine  administered  annually in  the United
States are thought  to be responsible  for only  eight to 10  cases of  clinical
polio  per  year. To  further  reduce the  number of  these  cases, the  ACIP is
recommending that the inactivated polio vaccine be given for the initial  infant
dose,  now  that wild-type  polio has  been virtually  eradicated in  the United
States.
 
    Live virus strains can change  as they replicate in  human hosts, and it  is
possible  that a  vaccine virus could  revert to  the wild-type characteristics.
This reversion  potential is  a small  but recognized  problem for  some of  the
current  live  vaccines, including  polio.  Finally, there  are  two theoretical
concerns regarding live attenuated viruses.  First, an attenuated vaccine  virus
may exchange genetic information with wild-type strains after immunization, with
the  resulting strain being more dangerous than either alone. Second, the DNA of
a live virus  vaccine could  integrate into  the genome  of the  host and  cause
cancer or other problems in the future.
 
    INACTIVATED AND SUBUNIT VIRUS VACCINES
 
    Inactivated  virus vaccines are produced by killing a virus using chemicals.
Some vaccines,  such  as  the hepatitis  A  vaccine,  are based  on  the  whole,
inactivated  virus.  Other  vaccines  are  the  result  of  various  degrees  of
purification  to  concentrate  certain  surface  glycoproteins  (subunits)  most
responsible  for producing  immunity. A different  approach is used  to make the
current hepatitis B vaccine, the  first successful recombinant subunit  vaccine.
For  this vaccine,  the tools  of molecular  biology were  applied to  clone and
express the  dominant  hepatitis  surface glycoprotein  in  a  yeast  production
system.  Inactivated and  subunit vaccines offer  the advantage of  little or no
risk of  infection  from  the  vaccine  itself,  assuming  the  virus  has  been
adequately   inactivated.  Good  manufacturing   techniques  also  minimize  the
possibility of contamination with other viruses or fragments of DNA which  could
integrate into the recipient's genes.
 
    The  principle  disadvantage of  inactivated and  subunit vaccines  for many
viruses has been a lack of success in creating protective immunity. A successful
subunit vaccine requires  knowledge of which  specific antigens are  responsible
for   providing  protection.  Subunit  and   inactivated  vaccines  may  produce
reasonable levels  of circulating  antibodies, but  are less  able to  stimulate
antibodies  in  the mucosal  sites of  viral entry,  such as  the lining  of the
respiratory, gastrointestinal or genitourinary tracts. To improve stimulation of
the cellular components  of the  immune system,  adjuvants (non-specific  immune
stimulants)  are typically added  to inactivated or  subunit vaccines. Only alum
(an aluminum salt preparation) is approved for use as an adjuvant in the  United
States.  Several  new adjuvants  are in  clinical testing  and show  promise for
boosting the  immune  response  to  subunit antigens.  The  mechanism  by  which
adjuvants  work is still poorly understood, so each vaccine-adjuvant combination
must be evaluated in  a trial and  error process in  animal models and  clinical
trials. Finally, certain inactivated vaccines in clinical trials left recipients
more  vulnerable  to  disease after  vaccination,  due to  an  unbalanced immune
response. For example,  in trials of  experimental inactivated vaccines  against
RSV  and measles, some  children were shown to  experience more severe, atypical
disease  when  they  later  acquired  the  natural  viral  infection   following
vaccination.
 
    EMERGING VACCINE TECHNOLOGIES
 
    Several   companies  and  academic  scientists  have  reported  that  direct
injection of DNA  encoding viral  antigens can be  used to  stimulate an  immune
response.   Although   at  an   early  stage,   this  approach   shows  promise.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
However, it is  not clear  whether the  sustained expression  of viral  antigens
obtainable  by  this  approach  is advantageous  in  eliciting  a  better immune
response. In addition, it  is possible that the  administered DNA may  integrate
into the genes of the recipient and cause potential unwanted effects.
 
    Another  new technology for  vaccination is based  on genetic engineering to
modify one  virus so  that it  carries antigens  which may  stimulate an  immune
response  to  protect against  other pathogens.  For  example, pox  virus vector
strains, related  to the  virus used  successfully to  eradicate smallpox,  have
shown  usefulness in  protecting dogs and  cats against rabies.  Other pox virus
vectors are being  evaluated in experimental  models of human  malaria and in  a
hybrid  regimen combining  doses of  a modified  live virus  with a  subunit HIV
vaccine to protect high-risk individuals.
 
AVIRON'S TECHNOLOGY
 
    Aviron's vaccine programs  are based  on both classical  live virus  vaccine
attenuation   techniques  and  the  Company's  proprietary  genetic  engineering
technology.
 
  COLD ADAPTED INFLUENZA TECHNOLOGY
 
    The Company is applying its expertise in the molecular biology of  influenza
to  develop  a  live  virus  vaccine  discovered  using  classical cold-adaption
techniques. This cold adapted influenza  vaccine technology was first  developed
by  Dr. H.F. Maassab at the University  of Michigan in 1967. Dr. Maassab created
attenuated influenza strains  by propagating the  virus in progressively  colder
conditions  until these strains had lost the  ability to grow well at human body
temperature. The  Company has  obtained exclusive  rights to  this cold  adapted
influenza vaccine technology.
 
    The  cold adapted influenza  vaccine technology includes  the master strains
for influenza A and  B, as well  as techniques useful  for updating the  vaccine
each  year according to recommendations of the  CDC and the FDA. Updated strains
are made by mating the master strains with recent strains to obtain viruses with
the attenuated properties of  the cold adapted master  strain and the  antigenic
properties  of  the current  wild-type strain.  This  process is  called genetic
reassortment. After cultured cells  are infected with  two different strains  of
virus,  the eight RNA  genes of influenza mix  at random in the  cells and it is
possible to  select the  two genes  for the  antigens of  the expected  epidemic
strain  and the six remaining  genes from the cold  adapted master donor strain.
The Company has  received the technology  for updating the  cold adapted  master
strains  from the University of  Michigan and has extended  this approach by the
introduction of  Aviron's proprietary  techniques,  including those  of  reverse
genetics,  which  may facilitate  the annual  process  of creating  a reassorted
vaccine.
 
  RATIONAL VACCINE DESIGN
 
    Since the Company's founding, its  core vaccine discovery strategy has  been
to  apply genetic engineering techniques to create live attenuated virus vaccine
candidates  for  targets  where  traditional  discovery  techniques  have   been
inadequate. The Company believes that this "Rational Vaccine Design" approach is
more  flexible and systematic than traditional methods of live vaccine discovery
and is a platform that can be applied to many viral targets and, potentially, to
the creation  of viruses  used in  gene  therapy and  the treatment  of  cancer.
Furthermore,  Aviron believes  that a  particular advantage  of Rational Vaccine
Design is that engineered viruses can be  designed so that they are less  likely
to  revert to wild-type characteristics than classically derived vaccines. Three
ways of implementing this approach are:
 
    - DELETING  OR  MODIFYING  SPECIFIC  VIRAL  GENES  WHICH  ENCODE   VIRULENCE
      PROTEINS.   Virulence  proteins   are  viral  components   thought  to  be
      particularly important  in the  mechanism of  disease, but  which are  not
      required  for  the  virus  to  replicate  and  stimulate  a  strong immune
      response. An example of this strategy is the Company's program to create a
      live attenuated  vaccine  against the  HSV-2  virus which  causes  genital
      herpes.  One of the Company's founders,  Dr. Bernard Roizman, discovered a
      particular protein important  in the  ability of  HSV-2 to  grow in  nerve
      cells.  Since nerve  ganglia are  the reservoir  from which  HSV-2 reseeds
      itself to cause painful skin lesions,  deletion of the gene encoding  this
      protein  is the basis of the Company's Rational Vaccine Design program for
      development of a vaccine for this target.
 
    - ALTERING THE  GENETIC INFORMATION  USED BY  THE VIRUS  IN CONTROLLING  ITS
      REPLICATION.  An example of this strategy is work by Company scientists to
      create live attenuated vaccine  candidates for influenza. Until  recently,
      it
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
      was  impossible  to  genetically  engineer  vaccine  strains  of influenza
      because influenza genes  are composed of  negative-strand RNA rather  than
      DNA  or  positive-strand  RNA.  Dr. Peter  Palese,  one  of  the Company's
      founders, discovered how to create recombinant negative-strand RNA viruses
      using reverse  genetics. Company  scientists  have employed  this  reverse
      genetics  technology  to  engineer  mutations  into  a  gene  used  by the
      influenza virus  to  make copies  of  itself. The  resulting  strains  are
      attenuated in animal models and at least one strain has been identified as
      a potential candidate for clinical trials.
 
    - ADDING ANTIGENIC INFORMATION DISPLAYED BY THE VACCINE VIRUS. An example of
      this  strategy  is  the  Company's  approach to  the  creation  of  a live
      attenuated CMV vaccine, which begins  with a vaccine candidate thought  to
      be  over-attenuated and  thus insufficiently  immunogenic. Aviron recently
      discovered genes for certain antigen  structures present in wild-type  CMV
      viruses.  These genes are being engineered into an over-attenuated vaccine
      candidate to create  a potentially more  immunogenic vaccine. The  Company
      believes  this  technique  of  adding antigen  structures  may  enable the
      Company to create  combination vaccines expressing  antigens of more  than
      one virus in a single vaccine strain.
 
BUSINESS STRATEGY
 
    Aviron's  objective is  to become  a leader  in the  discovery, development,
manufacture and marketing  of live  virus vaccines which  are sufficiently  cost
effective  to justify their  use in immunization  programs targeting the general
population. The Company's strategy is to:
 
    ADDRESS   INFECTIOUS   DISEASES   WHICH   MERIT   WIDESPREAD    IMMUNIZATION
PROGRAMS.  The concept of universal immunization is well established for certain
infectious  diseases where  safe and  effective vaccines  are already available,
including immunization against pathogens such as polio, measles, mumps,  rubella
and  hepatitis B. For each of its potential products, the Company's objective is
to produce vaccine  strains which are  sufficiently safe and  cost effective  to
obtain  official recommendations for universal use in childhood vaccine regimens
or, in the case of influenza, annual use in the general population.
 
    APPLY  RATIONAL   VACCINE   DESIGN   TECHNOLOGY  TO   A   RANGE   OF   VIRAL
TARGETS.   Aviron believes that its proprietary genetic engineering technologies
may be  used to  create  live attenuated  vaccines for  a  wide range  of  viral
targets, such as viruses related to influenza and herpes viruses.
 
    SELECT  PROGRAMS AND MARKET VACCINES BASED ON PHARMACOECONOMIC DATA.  Public
health agencies and  managed care  systems are increasingly  concerned with  the
economic  impact of potential new mandates for vaccines. In setting its internal
product development priorities, the Company considers the costs of  implementing
widespread  vaccine programs based on its products in relation to potential cost
savings to the government and managed health care systems and intends to perform
rigorous cost-effectiveness analyses on its products.
 
    IN-LICENSE PROMISING  VACCINE  TECHNOLOGY.   Aviron  evaluates  in-licensing
opportunities  and intends to  add programs which  complement the Company's core
technologies and  capabilities.  For  example, the  Company  obtained  exclusive
rights  to the cold adapted influenza  vaccine technology from the University of
Michigan and the NIH, and to the PIV-3 vaccine from the NIH.
 
    ESTABLISH  COLLABORATIVE   ARRANGEMENTS  TO   ENHANCE  PRODUCT   DEVELOPMENT
EFFORTS.  Aviron intends to enter into collaborative arrangements to gain access
to specific technologies and skills which may accelerate product development and
provide  additional financial resources to  support its research and development
and commercialization efforts,  particularly outside of  the United States.  The
Company  has entered into collaborative arrangements with SmithKline Beecham for
development of  an  EBV  vaccine and  with  Sang-A  for certain  rights  to  the
Company's products in Korea.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
VACCINE PRODUCTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT
 
    The  following table  summarizes Aviron's  most advanced  potential products
under research  and development.  This table  is qualified  in its  entirety  by
reference  to  the  more  detailed  descriptions  appearing  elsewhere  in  this
Prospectus.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  COMMERCIAL
      PROGRAM                       VACCINE TYPE                              STATUS (1)          RIGHTS (2)
      ----------------------------  ----------------------------------------  ------------------  --------------
      <S>                           <C>                                       <C>                 <C>
      Influenza
 
        Adults                      Cold adapted live virus                   Phase II Conducted  Aviron
 
        Children                    Cold adapted live virus                   Phase I/II          Aviron
                                                                              Conducted
 
        Elderly                     Cold adapted live virus                   Clinical Trials     Aviron
                                     (co-administered with inactivated        Planned
                                     vaccine)
                                    Genetically engineered live virus         Preclinical         Aviron
 
      Parainfluenza Virus Type 3    Bovine live virus                         IND Planned         Aviron
 
      Epstein-Barr Virus            Recombinant subunit glycoprotein          Preclinical         SmithKline
                                                                                                  Beecham/
                                                                                                  Aviron (3)
 
      Cytomegalovirus               Genetically engineered live virus         Preclinical         Aviron
 
      Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2   Genetically engineered live virus         Preclinical         Aviron
 
      Respiratory Syncytial Virus   Genetically engineered live virus         Research            Aviron
      ----------------
      (1)    "Phase   II  Conducted"  means   Aviron  is  evaluating   data  from  multi-center,   double-blind,
           placebo-controlled clinical trials for safety, immunogenicity and efficacy and the Company intends to
           proceed directly to Phase III clinical trials.
          "Phase   I/II  Conducted"   means  Aviron   is  evaluating   data  from   multi-center,  double-blind,
          placebo-controlled clinical trials for safety and  immunogenicity in a limited patient population  and
          the Company intends to proceed directly to Phase III clinical trials.
          "Clinical  Trials Planned" indicates  that no clinical trials  have been conducted  by Aviron to date.
          Aviron intends to discuss with the FDA its plans to proceed directly to Phase III clinical trials.
          "Preclinical" includes assessment of specific vaccine candidates for growth properties in cell culture
          and for attenuation and immunogenicity in animal models.
          "IND Planned" indicates that no clinical trials have been conducted by Aviron to date. The Company  is
          evaluating the timing and level of commitment for Aviron-sponsored clinical trials.
          "Research"  includes  identification of  vaccine  candidates and  approaches  to create  new candidate
          strains. See "Government Regulation."
      (2)  Commercial rights for Korea  for most listed programs are  licensed to Sang-A. See "--  Collaborative
           Agreements."
      (3)  Worldwide rights licensed to SmithKline Beecham; Aviron retains certain United States co-promotion
           rights.
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
INFLUENZA
 
   
    Every  year  in mid-  to late-winter,  influenza  spreads across  the globe,
infecting  an  average  of  approximately  10%  to  20%  of  the  United  States
population.  In the  United States,  20 to 50  million cases  of influenza occur
annually. Influenza  cases are  associated with  symptoms lasting  for at  least
three  to five  days, an  average of  approximately three  days of  lost work or
missed school, and approximately 20,000 deaths each year. Field studies indicate
the attack rate ranges from a low of 10% in persons over age 65 to a high of 36%
in children  aged one  to 18.  Children are  also a  major factor  in  spreading
influenza  to  other  population  segments,  including  those  at  high  risk of
contracting the disease. At the peak of a typical epidemic, reportedly 9% to 22%
of  all  physician  office  visits  are  for  flu-like  symptoms.  Over  90%  of
influenza-related  deaths occur  in people over  age 65, but  children under age
five and women in the third trimester  of pregnancy are also at higher risk  for
serious  complications. Several times this century,  influenza has appeared as a
much more serious pandemic. These major pandemics occur when the influenza virus
undergoes "antigenic shift"  in which  one influenza  subtype is  replaced by  a
different  strain for  which the  population has  not developed  antibodies and,
therefore, for which it is extremely susceptible to infection.
    
 
    The variability of certain components  of the influenza virus requires  that
the  influenza  vaccine  be modified  annually.  The  CDC and  the  World Health
Organization (the "WHO") maintain a global network which generates data required
to select strains  for the  coming influenza  season's vaccine  and monitor  the
occurrence  of especially severe epidemics. Based on these data, the FDA and the
CDC discuss circulating influenza strains which are candidates for inclusion  in
the  following season's  influenza vaccine. A  similar process  is undertaken in
Europe  by  the  WHO  and  various  national  authorities.  Currently  available
inactivated  influenza vaccines  contain three  strains of  influenza virus (two
strains of influenza A and one strain  of influenza B) and are therefore  called
trivalent  vaccines.  Typically one  or sometimes  two of  the strains  in these
trivalent vaccines are recommended for updating annually. Current vaccines  have
been  variously  reported to  be  60% to  80%  effective in  preventing illness,
pneumonia, hospitalization and death due to complications from influenza.
 
    The ACIP  has  identified  the  principal  target  groups  for  the  current
influenza   vaccine   as   those  at   increased   risk   for  influenza-related
complications: persons age  65 or older,  residents of chronic-care  facilities,
adults  and children with  chronic disorders of  the pulmonary or cardiovascular
system, adults  and children  who  have required  regular medical  follow-up  or
hospitalization  during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic diseases
or immunosuppression,  and children  and teenagers  receiving long-term  aspirin
therapy  and therefore at risk of developing  Reye's syndrome. The next level of
priority for vaccination identified by the ACIP includes certain groups, such as
health care  personnel  and household  members  (including children),  that  may
transmit  influenza to high-risk persons.  Furthermore, the ACIP recommends that
physicians administer influenza vaccine to any  person who wishes to reduce  the
chance of becoming ill with influenza.
 
    The  FDA  estimates  that  over  75  million  influenza  vaccine  doses were
manfactured for use in  the United States  in 1995. According  to the CDC,  over
half  of the  34 million  Americans over  age 65  received the  annual influenza
vaccine for the 1993 influenza season, up from less than approximately 25% a few
years ago. The Company believes that a lower percentage of high-risk individuals
under age 65 were vaccinated in 1994,  and that the majority of influenza  doses
used in the United States are being administered to healthy adults under age 65,
many  of whom participate in voluntary work place immunization programs. Experts
suggest that very few of the 70 million children under age 18 receive the annual
influenza vaccine.
 
    In addition  to  the  currently  available  vaccines,  two  oral  drugs  are
currently  approved  for use  in the  prevention and  treatment of  influenza A:
amantadine, which has  been on  the market for  many years,  and rimantidine,  a
closely  related compound  which produces fewer  side effects.  Both agents have
been shown to be effective in reducing  the severity of influenza A disease  and
the  number of days  of disability, but  are not effective  against influenza B.
Both are also recommended for daily  use during the influenza season by  certain
high-risk  persons for whom  the influenza vaccine  is contraindicated. However,
there is a concern that widespread  prophylactic use could lead to emergence  of
drug-resistant strains.
 
    AVIRON'S  COLD  ADAPTED  INFLUENZA  VACCINE.   The  Company's  most advanced
program is based on the live cold adapted influenza vaccine technology  licensed
from  the University of  Michigan and on a  Cooperative Research and Development
Agreement ("CRADA")  with  the  NIH.  The  cold  adapted  influenza  vaccine  is
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
currently  undergoing  extensive clinical  trials by  Aviron  with a  network of
NIH-sponsored investigators.  Prior to  Company-initiated  trials, at  least  65
clinical  trials  of the  cold adapted  influenza  vaccine technology  have been
performed since 1977, involving more than 15,000 volunteers, of whom over  7,000
received the cold adapted influenza vaccine. See "-- Influenza Clinical Trials."
 
    The  Company  intends  to develop  the  cold adapted  influenza  vaccine for
widespread annual use in children and adults, and for co-administration with the
inactivated vaccine for improved protection in  the elderly. The quality of  the
immune  response induced  by cold  adapted influenza  vaccine differs  from that
induced by inactivated  influenza vaccines. The  cold adapted influenza  vaccine
elicits  an immune  response to  multiple viral  proteins mimicking  the natural
immunobiology of influenza,  whereas the response  to the classical  inactivated
vaccine  is directed primarily to  one component of the  virus. Because the cold
adapted influenza vaccine is delivered as a nasal spray, the Company believes it
would provide the first practical way  to immunize children on an annual  basis.
Children  are  an important  target because,  while  the elderly  experience the
greatest mortality from the annual influenza epidemic, much of the morbidity and
illness occurs in young children. Children  are also thought to be important  in
the  spread of influenza in  the population. In addition  to its proposed use in
physician's offices,  Aviron believes  that  the nasal  spray delivery  of  this
vaccine  will enable  it to  be administered  by adults  without special medical
training, so that  it will  be practical  to consider  delivery via  pharmacies,
schools, day care centers, and possibly in the home.
 
    Aviron  also is  targeting healthy  adults, many  of whom  are being offered
influenza prophylaxis by their employer  and who may prefer Aviron's  intranasal
administration to injection. The Company believes that many adults who regularly
receive  the inactivated influenza vaccine will select the intranasal vaccine if
given the choice, and that people who have avoided "flu shots" in the past  will
receive  a vaccination if the intranasal  alternative is available. In addition,
the Company is developing its vaccine for co-administration by nasal spray  with
the  inactivated influenza vaccine injection for  the elderly. While efficacy in
the elderly has not been conclusively demonstrated, nursing home studies suggest
that simultaneous  administration  of  the  intranasal  cold  adapted  influenza
vaccine  with an  injection of the  inactivated vaccine  offers added protection
compared to administration of the  inactivated vaccine alone. Aviron intends  to
seek  recommendations from the  ACIP and the American  Academy of Pediatrics for
use of the cold adapted influenza vaccine in the appropriate population.
 
    The Company  has completed  enrollment of  259 adults  and 356  children  in
multicenter  Phase I/II clinical trials designed to show that Aviron's trivalent
formulation and nasal spray delivery  system are generally safe, well  tolerated
and immunogenic. These studies were followed by a Phase II challenge study in 92
adults.  Data  from these  studies  are under  analysis.  Additional large-scale
clinical trials are planned for the  influenza seasons of 1996 through 1998.  In
addition,  the Company intends to  discuss with the FDA  its plans for Phase III
clinical trials  to  demonstrate  efficacy of  the  co-administration  with  the
inactivated  influenza vaccine in  the elderly. No assurances  can be given that
the Company will commence clinical trials as planned, or that if commenced, such
trials can be  successfully completed  on a  timely basis,  if at  all. See  "--
Clinical Trials."
 
    AVIRON'S  NEXT-GENERATION  GENETICALLY  ENGINEERED INFLUENZA  VACCINE.   The
Company is using its proprietary reverse genetics technology to engineer  future
generations of influenza vaccines which are designed to the needs of various age
groups  in the  population. The Company's  first priority is  to develop strains
which offer  improved  protection  in  the elderly  compared  to  the  currently
available  inactivated vaccines. Since most  elderly persons have had experience
with several influenza infections in their lifetime, pre-existing antibodies may
prevent the cold adapted  virus from multiplying sufficiently  to be used as  an
alternative  to the currently available vaccines in the elderly. To address this
problem, Aviron  scientists  have  created  new  strains  of  influenza  vaccine
candidates  which have been evaluated and shown  to be attenuated in ferrets, an
animal model for  influenza. Vaccinated animals  were protected from  subsequent
challenge with a virulent strain of influenza. Some of the Company's genetically
engineered  strains have been found to better replicate in the upper respiratory
tract of these animals than the cold adapted influenza vaccine, while  retaining
the  property of restricted growth in the lower respiratory tract. Work with the
cold adapted influenza vaccine has shown that these features are associated with
desirable characteristics  of  attenuation  in  humans.  However,  animal  model
results  are  not  necessarily  predictive of  results  in  humans.  The Company
believes that these strains may be more
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
immunogenic than the cold adapted vaccine and, therefore, more suitable for  use
as  a single-dose vaccine  for the elderly.  No assurance can  be given that the
Company will be able to commence  or successfully complete clinical trials on  a
timely basis, if at all.
 
   
PARAINFLUENZA VIRUS TYPE 3
    
 
    PIV-3  is a common respiratory virus of childhood which causes croup, cough,
fever and pneumonia. Every year, primarily during the spring and summer  months,
PIV-3  infects infants, children and adults. In  the United States, at least 60%
of children are infected  by the time they  reach two years of  age, and 80%  by
four  years of age. These cases are  associated with symptoms lasting from three
to eight days and approximately  17,000 hospitalizations per year. Children  are
also  a major  factor in  introducing PIV-3  infection into  the family setting.
PIV-3 frequently  reoccurs  and  children  typically  experience  two  to  three
infections of decreasing severity. Unlike influenza, PIV-3 undergoes only a very
minor  degree of variation in the surface proteins from year to year; therefore,
a PIV-3 vaccine will not require annual updates.
 
    Both serum and nasal  antibodies directed to PIV-3  surface proteins play  a
role  in protection against PIV-3 disease. It  is thought that protection of the
lower respiratory tract from PIV-3  replication and disease requires high  serum
antibody  levels, whereas resistance to infection and protection against disease
in the upper respiratory tract requires mucosal antibodies in the nose. There is
currently no available vaccine to protect  against PIV-3 infection, and no  drug
for treatment of PIV-3 disease.
 
   
    AVIRON'S  LIVE PARAINFLUENZA VIRUS TYPE 3 VACCINE.  The Company's live PIV-3
vaccine program utilizes bovine PIV-3 (bPIV-3) vaccine technology licensed  from
the  NIH.  Use of  bPIV-3 as  a vaccine  to protect  humans against  human PIV-3
strains is based on  the successful strategy first  used by Jenner for  smallpox
vaccination,  in  which an  animal  virus is  used  to protect  humans  from the
analogous human virus. It is thought that the attenuation of bPIV-3 in  primates
is due to mutations sustained throughout its genome during its long evolutionary
adaptation to the bovine host.
    
 
    Prior  to  the Company's  in-licensing of  the bPIV-3  vaccine, it  had been
tested in Phase I/II clinical trials in adults, children and infants. In all age
groups,  the  bPIV-3  vaccine  appeared  satisfactorily  attenuated,  safe   and
genetically  stable.  Eighty-five percent  of seronegative  children (six  to 60
months of age) were infected  by the tested dose,  and 61% of bPIV-3  recipients
developed  a level  of antibody to  PIV-3 previously  associated with protection
from disease. The vaccine strain infected 92% of infants younger than six months
of age, even in the  presence of maternally-derived PIV-3 antibodies.  Infection
with  the bPIV-3 vaccine stimulated an immune  response to PIV-3 in 42% of these
young infants. The Company is evaluating the timing and level of commitment  for
Aviron-sponsored  Phase II clinical  trials of bPIV-3  using the existing bPIV-3
vaccine supply produced and tested for the NIAID. There can be no assurance that
this vaccine supply will be  suitable for clinical trials  or that these or  any
additional  clinical  trials  will  be  commenced  or,  if  commenced,  will  be
successful, or  that  the Company  will  develop successfully  and  receive  FDA
approval of its bPIV-3 vaccine.
 
EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS
 
    Epstein-Barr  virus, a  herpes virus  that causes  infectious mononucleosis,
infects most people at some  point in their lifetime.  Infection at a young  age
may   cause  mild  symptoms,   but  the  debilitating   syndrome  of  infectious
mononucleosis is  most common  where infection  first occurs  in adolescence  or
young  adulthood via exchange of saliva. Sore throat and swollen neck glands are
followed by a period of  fatigue and lethargy which can  last for weeks or  even
months.  Approximately 10% of  high school and  college students become infected
with EBV each  year in  the United  States, of which  half or  more may  develop
infectious   mononucleosis.  The   disease  usually  runs   its  course  without
significant medical  intervention;  however,  the long  duration  of  infectious
mononucleosis  can be a serious problem for high school and college students and
workers. Enlargement  of  the liver  and  spleen  are also  common,  so  doctors
typically  prohibit  participation  in athletic  activities  to  prevent serious
injuries. EBV is one of the viruses implicated as a contributing cause of cancer
in humans,  including Hodgkin's  disease, post-transplant  and other  lymphomas,
nasopharyngeal  carcinoma (the most common head and neck cancer in large regions
of Asia) and Burkitt's lymphoma (a significant disease in Africa).
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
   
    The Company is  developing a  subunit vaccine for  EBV based  on the  single
surface  antigen responsible for most  of the neutralizing antibodies stimulated
by EBV infection. Quantities of this  antigen have been expressed, purified  and
evaluated in a rabbit model, where preliminary results indicate that the antigen
is immunogenic when combined with an adjuvant. In 1995, the Company entered into
a  worldwide  collaboration with  SmithKline  Beecham, excluding  Korea, whereby
SmithKline Beecham will fund the development of Aviron's EBV vaccine in exchange
for certain marketing rights. See "-- Collaborative Agreements."
    
 
CYTOMEGALOVIRUS
 
    Most people become  infected with CMV,  another member of  the herpes  virus
family,  at some  time in their  life, and  in the United  States 40%  to 60% of
infections occur in  childhood. These infections  are typically asymptomatic  or
result  in mild illness with sore  throat, headache, fatigue and swollen glands.
CMV  also   can   cause   an  infectious   mononucleosis   syndrome   clinically
indistinguishable  from  that associated  with EBV  infection. More  serious CMV
disease is also  often associated  with a weakened  immune system,  as is  often
found  in AIDS, cancer and transplant patients, which may be due to reactivation
of CMV acquired early in life or a primary infection. In addition, if a woman is
first exposed to  this virus  early in  pregnancy, the  resulting infection  can
cause  serious fetal abnormalities.  Approximately 40,000 infants  in the United
States are infected each  year, resulting in varying  levels of brain damage  or
deafness  in  over 10%  of  these infants.  Congenital  CMV syndrome  results in
significant expenditures for neonatal intensive care.
 
    No vaccine currently is available for CMV. Antibodies from persons with high
levels of  immunity are  available  in the  form  of hyperimmune  globulins  for
certain  high-risk patients,  but use  of these  products can  be costly  and of
limited efficacy. The Company believes  that widespread vaccination of  children
with a safe effective CMV vaccine is justified for the same reason that children
in  the United States are vaccinated against rubella: to protect unborn children
from birth defects  by reducing the  risk that mothers  are exposed to  infected
children.
 
    A live attenuated CMV vaccine candidate, known as the Towne strain, has been
tested  by third parties in several hundred  people. This strain was reported to
be well tolerated, but did not provide sufficient protection in pregnant mothers
of children in day care  who were at risk for  congenital CMV, or in  transplant
recipients  at risk  of acquiring CMV  from the donor  organs. Aviron scientists
have discovered differences between the genome  of the Towne strain and that  of
wild-type  CMV.  Based on  this  knowledge, the  Company  has used  its Rational
Vaccine Design approach to create new  recombinant CMV vaccine candidates in  an
attempt  to strike the  appropriate balance between  attenuation and protection.
Some of  these vaccine  candidates have  been made  and tested  by Aviron  in  a
specialized  animal model. The Company expects  to select a vaccine candidate to
prevent CMV infection for testing in clinical trials. However, no assurance  can
be  given  that the  Company will  be  successful in  identifying a  CMV vaccine
candidate.
 
   
HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE 2
    
 
    It is estimated that HSV-2, the cause of genital herpes, infects one out  of
five  persons in the United States.  Only one-third of those infected experience
symptoms, but a significant portion of new infections are caused by transmission
from asymptomatic  individuals. Genital  herpes is  a non-lethal  but  incurable
disease  that  invades  the body  once  and  settles in  for  a  lifetime, often
manifesting its presence several times a year with painful sores in the  genital
area.  It is estimated that  there are over 700,000  new cases of genital herpes
per year in  the United States,  and that  the disease is  responsible for  over
500,000 physician visits per year.
 
    Genital  herpes also can be acquired by  newborn babies as they pass through
the birth  canal of  infected  mothers. Neonatal  herpes simplex  infection  can
result  in serious damage to the brain and many other organs. Even with therapy,
over 20% of the 1,500 infants infected  each year in the United States die,  and
many  of the survivors  are seriously impaired. In  addition, efforts to prevent
neonatal herpes contribute significantly to  the cost of the disease.  Thousands
of  women in the United  States with a history of  genital herpes are advised to
undergo a  Cesarean section  when prenatal  cultures or  examinations suggest  a
recurrence  near the time of delivery. HSV-2  infection can also lead to serious
and fatal complications in  adults with impaired immune  systems due to AIDS  or
drug therapy for organ transplants.
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
    The  most widely used drug therapy for HSV-2 disease is acyclovir (Zovirax),
which has been shown  to reduce the severity  and duration of herpetic  lesions,
although  most patients treated still experience symptoms for several days. When
taken several times a day  as a prophylaxis for  HSV-2, acyclovir also has  been
shown  to reduce the  frequency of recurrences.  Several additional therapeutics
are available  or  are  in the  late  stages  of clinical  trials,  and  several
prophylactic  vaccines are in clinical trials;  however, no vaccine currently is
available to prevent  genital herpes. At  least two companies  are in Phase  III
clinical  trials  of  subunit vaccines  for  the primary  prevention  of genital
herpes.
 
    Aviron is using its Rational Vaccine Design approach to create an injectable
live attenuated vaccine to  be used in uninfected  children and young adults  to
prevent  genital herpes. Two of the  Company's founders, Dr. Bernard Roizman and
Dr. Richard Whitley, in  collaboration with Pasteur  Merieux Serums et  Vaccins,
developed  a prototype live herpes vaccine based on an oral herpes virus (HSV-1)
backbone. After extensive preclinical testing,  the virus was tested in  humans;
however, the immune response following vaccination was deemed insufficient. This
insufficiency  was attributed to  the use of  the HSV-1 backbone  from which too
many important genes had been deleted, thus rendering the virus over-attenuated.
Aviron has licensed this technology, along with patents covering strategies  for
more specific deletions, from ARCH Development Corporation. Aviron has used this
technology  to create live vaccine candidates  using an HSV-2 backbone, which it
currently is evaluating  in preclinical  models. Several  candidates have  shown
attenuation  in various rodent models, as  well as efficacy in protecting guinea
pigs and primates  from challenge  with a lethal  dose of  wild-type HSV-2.  The
Company  intends to use the  results of animal studies  to select these or other
strains under development  for evaluation in  clinical trials. There  can be  no
assurance,  however,  that the  Company will  commence or  successfully complete
clinical trials on a timely basis, if at all.
 
    Aviron is currently in discussions with a third party to license certain  of
Aviron's patent rights covering or related to the use of HSV for cancer and gene
therapy (excluding vaccines).
 
RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS
 
    RSV is the major cause of lower respiratory tract illness in the very young,
responsible  for over 90,000 hospitalizations and  more than 4,000 deaths a year
in the United States. Infection  is manifested as cough  and fever and, in  some
cases,  pneumonia. While RSV infection can occur  at any time of year, epidemics
generally occur in the winter. Most cases  are in children under age four,  with
the peak of severe illness under six months of age, particularly in infants with
pre-existing  heart and lung disease. No vaccine for RSV currently is available,
although certain third parties  are testing a cold  adapted live attenuated  RSV
vaccine  in infants.  Available drug  therapy is  reserved for  the most serious
cases as it  has significant side  effects. Aviron is  developing a  genetically
engineered  live attenuated virus vaccine for  RSV using its proprietary reverse
genetics technology. Aviron's objective  is to use this  technology to create  a
number  of live virus  vaccine candidates which  can be tested  in animal models
before selecting a candidate for testing in humans. However, no assurance can be
given that the Company will be successful in identifying a vaccine candidate.
 
INFLUENZA CLINICAL TRIALS
 
CLINICAL TRIALS CONDUCTED BY OTHERS
 
    The Company's most  advanced vaccine product  is based on  the cold  adapted
influenza  vaccine technology licensed  from the University  of Michigan and the
NIH. The  Company has  obtained from  the  NIH and  the University  of  Michigan
exclusive  rights  to  trial results  and  data  from the  work  at  the Vaccine
Treatment Evaluation Units (the "VTEUs")  and Wyeth-Ayerst. Aviron has  reviewed
the  data from  over 65  previous clinical  trials of  influenza vaccine viruses
derived from the University of Michigan master strains. These studies, performed
since 1976, involved more  than 15,000 volunteers, of  whom over 7,000  received
the  cold  adapted influenza  vaccine. Most  of these  trials were  conducted by
academic investigators  to explore  the biology  of the  vaccines and  were  not
designed  to support an application to the FDA for approval to market a product.
Each of the 15  vaccine strains that  were tested were  derived from the  master
strains  and typically corresponded to the contemporaneous inactivated influenza
vaccine for the year of testing.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
    Those who received the cold adapted vaccine ranged in age from two months to
over 80 years.  More than  50 of  these trials  studied strains  of influenza  A
vaccine,  involving more  than 13,000 volunteers,  and 15 of  the trials studied
strains of influenza  B vaccines, involving  approximately 2,200 volunteers.  In
the aggregate, these clinical trials involved over 2,000 children. Nearly all of
these   trials  used   monovalent  (one   strain)  or   bivalent  (two  strains)
formulations, containing only one or two  of the three strains usually found  in
the  current trivalent inactivated vaccine. These  trials used either placebo or
an inactivated virus vaccine  as controls. In  these clinical trials,  trivalent
formulations  were administered to  about 350 adults and  200 children. The cold
adapted influenza vaccine  was given in  most of these  clinical trials as  nose
drops, although in some instances it was given as a nasal spray.
 
    The  effectiveness  of  the  cold adapted  influenza  vaccine  in preventing
influenza infection in adults and children has been evaluated in seven adult and
three pediatric challenge  studies. Six  of these adult  challenge studies  were
placebo-controlled and involved 254 seronegative (relatively low levels of prior
antibodies  to  the  influenza  strains  used  in  the  study)  adults  who were
challenged within six  months of vaccination.  A challenge study  is a  clinical
trial  in  which,  typically, 20  to  30  adult volunteers  are  given wild-type
influenza by  nose drops,  one to  two months  following immunization  with  the
experimental or control vaccine preparation. Compared to placebo rates, the cold
adapted  influenza strains  resulted in significant  reduction (66%  to 100%) in
systemic illness compared to the placebo group and a reduction (17% to 100%)  in
infection  as  measured by  evidence of  challenge  virus replication,  or virus
shedding, in the  nose of the  recipient. Two  of these six  studies included  a
comparison  group of subjects treated with the inactivated virus vaccines. While
these studies  did  not  have  a  sufficient number  of  patients  to  detect  a
statistical  difference between the  cold adapted and  inactivated vaccines, the
cold adapted vaccine protection rates were  equal or better than those seen  for
the  inactivated vaccine in each of the  five studies. In one study where adults
were challenged seven  months after  immunization, less protection  was seen  as
measured  by  infection or  any illness  for both  inactivated and  cold adapted
vaccines. However, protection  rates against  systemic illness,  such as  fever,
were 79% to 100% for the cold adapted vaccine and 67% to 84% for the inactivated
vaccine.
 
    Children  are challenged  in such studies  using the  cold adapted influenza
vaccine as  the  challenge  virus  rather than  virulent  wild-type  virus.  The
endpoint  measured in children is protection  from infection, defined as vaccine
virus growth  in  the nose  after  challenge. Of  the  three  placebo-controlled
studies  in  86 children,  prior immunization  with  the cold  adapted influenza
vaccine was associated with a significant reduction (52% to 100%) in the percent
of children infected with the challenge  virus compared to placebo. In the  only
children's  study that  included a comparison  to inactivated  vaccine, the cold
adapted vaccine  resulted in  a 52%  reduction in  virus shedding,  whereas  the
inactivated vaccine reduced shedding by 6% compared to the placebo.
 
    Cold  adapted influenza vaccines also have been tested in field trials where
children and adults were  vaccinated before the influenza  season, and are  then
followed  during  the next  six  months in  order  to assess  protection against
influenza disease.  The  largest  study  was  conducted  over  four  consecutive
influenza seasons. Approximately 1,500 children and adults from ages three to 65
were  randomly  assigned to  each arm  of this  double-blind, placebo-controlled
study. This study  design only allowed  comparison of the  inactivated and  cold
adapted   influenza  A   components.  Both   vaccines  were   considered  to  be
well-tolerated, with slightly increased redness and tenderness at the  injection
site  in those  receiving the  inactivated vaccine  and slightly  increased sore
throat or runny  nose, lethargy and  aches in those  receiving the vaccine  nose
drops.  This  study  showed that  both  cold adapted  and  inactivated influenza
vaccines were  well  tolerated  and  reduced  infection  and  morbidity  due  to
influenza  A.  The  relative efficacy  of  the  two vaccines  differed  from one
epidemic year to another and according  to which measurement was used to  assess
efficacy.  As measured by  rises in circulating  antibodies during the influenza
season  (seroconversion),  the  inactivated  vaccine  appeared  more  effective.
However, it is not clear how well this correlates with actual protection, as the
cold   adapted  and   inactivated  vaccines   both  protected   recipients  from
culture-positive disease at rates  which did not differ  by an amount which  was
statistically significant.
 
CLINICAL TRIALS BY AVIRON
 
    The  Company intends  to conduct  additional clinical  trials to demonstrate
safety and efficacy  of its cold  adapted influenza vaccine.  While the  Company
believes  that it can use  the previous data to  support its regulatory filings,
the Company's use of the previous trial data to establish safety and efficacy of
its proposed
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
vaccine is limited because very few of the clinical trials involved a  trivalent
vaccine  delivered through a nasal spray.  The additional studies will relate to
the safety  of  the  formulation as  well  as  the safety  of  its  delivery  by
intranasal spray. Aviron enrolled a total of 615 patients in Phase I/II clinical
trials  and 92 patients in a  Phase II challenge study in  five VTEUs as part of
the Company's CRADA with the NIH.
 
    The first study, conducted at three university research laboratories, was  a
safety  and  immunogenicity study  involving 259  healthy adults.  Patients were
randomly assigned to  receive either Aviron's  trivalent cold adapted  influenza
vaccine  by nasal spray or nose drops, or  placebo by nasal spray or nose drops.
No serious adverse events were seen  in any subjects. In a preliminary  analysis
based on approximately 80% of the patients enrolled, there were no statistically
significant  differences in  the occurrence of  fever, sore  throat, runny nose,
cough, headache or any  other potential reaction assessed  in the study  between
the  vaccine or  placebo or between  the different types  of administration. The
Company is in the process of assessing additional safety and immunogenicity data
from this study.
 
    Two hundred thirty-eight  children between the  ages of 18  months and  five
years  were enrolled at four VTEUs and  118 children were enrolled at the Center
for  Vaccine  Development  in  Santiago,  Chile,  in  a  Phase  I/  II   safety,
immunogenicity  and dose-escalation study.  The study design  and endpoints were
similar to the adult  study, except that  the initial phases  used a dose  lower
than  that given to adults. No serious  adverse events were seen in any subjects
in any  of the  three phases  of the  dose escalation.  Based on  a  statistical
analysis of safety data by an NIH-appointed data monitoring and safety committee
following  each  of the  escalating  dose phases  of  the children's  study, the
Company received notification from the committee that it had no objection to the
Company proceeding with a  larger-scale Phase III pivotal  trial in children  at
the  highest dose  tested. The  Company intends  to initiate  such a large-scale
field trial in the second  half of the year. However,  the FDA must review  data
from  its completed Phase I/II trials before  the Company can enroll subjects in
the pivotal trial. The Company intends to enroll approximately 900 children  who
will  be vaccinated with either the cold  adapted influenza vaccine or a placebo
and observed for evidence of illness or infection during the 1996-1997 influenza
season  and,  if  required,  revaccinated  and  observed  during  the  1997-1998
influenza season.
 
    Aviron's   trivalent  intranasal  spray  formulation  of  the  cold  adapted
influenza vaccine also  has been tested  in a  Phase II challenge  study at  two
VTEUs  involving ninety-two  healthy young  adults. Subjects  were randomized to
receive either  the trivalent  cold adapted  intranasal vaccine,  the  trivalent
inactivated vaccine injection or a placebo. There were no serious adverse events
attributed  to the  study vaccine seen  in any  subjects. The Company  is in the
process of  analyzing safety  and  efficacy data  from this  study.  Preliminary
analysis  of  clinical  illness and  viral  shedding following  exposure  to the
challenge virus indicates that a lower  than expected percentage of subjects  in
the  placebo  group experienced  influenza-like illness  than  had been  seen in
previous challenge studies. The Company believes that this may have been due  to
a  problem with the challenge virus used to produce influenza in the subjects or
to a  problem  with selection  of  subjects based  on  their prior  exposure  to
influenza.  Therefore, the Company believes that the challenge study is unlikely
to show statistically significant efficacy on the primary endpoint of preventing
laboratory-confirmed influenza. Regardless  of the  results of  this study,  the
Company  intends to discuss with the FDA  its plans to proceed directly to Phase
III clinical trials  in adults and  does not intend  to conduct other  challenge
studies.
 
    Additional  trials in children,  adults and the elderly  will be required to
assess the safety and efficacy of the Company's cold adapted influenza  vaccine.
There can be no assurance that these or any additional trials will be successful
or  that the Company will  successfully develop and receive  FDA approval of its
cold adapted influenza vaccine.
 
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS
 
LIVE VIRUSES AS VECTORS
 
    Aviron believes that its virus engineering technology may be used to  create
strains which carry "foreign" genes and are able to deliver genetic or antigenic
information  to specific  tissues in  the host. For  example, it  is possible to
engineer antigens  from  other  viruses  into influenza,  as  has  already  been
demonstrated  for small antigenic  regions from agents such  as HIV and malaria.
RSV and PIV-3 are two other  important causes of childhood infections which  may
be targeted by using the influenza virus as a vector to deliver antigens.
 
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<PAGE>
    Members  of the  herpes virus  family may also  serve as  vectors to deliver
antigens to  make vaccines  which  protect against  other  viruses. Due  to  the
natural  properties  of  this  virus,  it  may  be  useful  to  delivery genetic
information to the central nervous system. Aviron is considering entering into a
collaboration to develop  the Company's  proprietary technology for  the use  of
herpes simplex virus as a vector in gene therapy. There can be no assurance that
the  Company will  be able to  enter into  a collaboration or  that the Company,
alone or with others, will be successful in developing this technology.
 
MODIFIED HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUSES TO TREAT BRAIN CANCER
 
    The Company's proprietary  technology to modify  herpes simplex viruses  has
been  evaluated by others  in animal models  for the treatment  of brain cancer.
Malignant glioma is  the most  lethal of the  common tumors  originating in  the
brain.  In spite of  surgical therapy, radiotherapy  and chemotherapy, five-year
survival rates  of approximately  5%  are seen.  Many  new therapies  have  been
investigated,  including  radiation, hyperthermia,  phototherapy, immunotherapy,
novel drug delivery for chemotherapy and gene therapy. Two of Aviron's founders,
Dr. Richard Whitley and Dr. Bernard  Roizman, modified the herpes simplex  virus
using  genetic engineering  and have  tested this  virus in  an animal  model of
malignant glioma. Preliminary results  show that tumor size  was reduced by  the
modified  viruses,  resulting in  a survival  benefit  for the  treated animals.
However, no  assurance can  be given  that  the Company  will be  successful  in
developing this technology.
 
MANUFACTURING
 
    All  of the  vaccine material being  used in the  Company's current clinical
trials is being supplied  by Evans Medical Limited,  a subsidiary of Medeva  plc
("Evans").  Evans is one  of the four  companies licensed by  the FDA to produce
influenza vaccine for sale in the United States. Evans has also agreed to supply
clinical vaccine  material  for  the 1996-1997  influenza  season.  The  Company
currently  does  not have  facilities  to manufacture  products  for large-scale
clinical  trials  or  in  commercial   quantities  and  has  no  experience   in
commercial-scale  manufacturing.  To  manufacture its  products  for large-scale
clinical trials or on a commercial scale, the Company will have to build or gain
access to a large-scale manufacturing facility which will require a  significant
amount  of funds. The production of the Company's cold adapted influenza vaccine
is subject to the availability of a large number of pathogen-free hen eggs,  for
which  there  are  currently a  limited  number of  suppliers.  Contamination or
disruption of  this source  of  supply would  adversely  affect the  ability  to
manufacture  the Company's cold adapted influenza  vaccine. In addition, to make
the vaccine  available  for  clinical  trials or  commercial  sales  before  the
influenza  season, the  Company must  successfully modify  the vaccine  within a
six-month period to include selected strains for a particular year.
 
    The Company  currently is  considering  whether to  construct  manufacturing
facilities  capable of producing  both pilot-scale and  commercial quantities of
its potential vaccine products and  is presently building a pilot  manufacturing
facility  for its potential vaccine  products other than cold-adapted influenza.
This scale-up process will require the Company to develop advanced manufacturing
techniques and  rigorous  process controls.  Furthermore,  the Company  will  be
required  to  register  its  facility  with  the  FDA  and  with  the California
Department of  Health  Services  and  will  be  subject  to  state  and  federal
inspections   confirming   the  Company's   compliance  with   cGMP  regulations
established by the FDA. However, no assurance can be given as to the ability  of
the  Company  to  produce commercial  quantities  of its  potential  products in
compliance with applicable regulations or at an acceptable cost, or at all.
 
    The Company is alternatively considering  the use of contract  manufacturers
for the commercial production of its potential products. The Company is aware of
only  a limited number of  manufacturers which it believes  have the ability and
capacity to  manufacture  its potential  products,  including the  cold  adapted
influenza  vaccine,  in a  timely manner.  There  can be  no assurance  that the
Company would  be  able  to  contract  with  any  of  these  companies  for  the
manufacture  of its  products on  acceptable terms,  if at  all. If  the Company
enters into an agreement with a third-party manufacturer, it will be required to
relinquish control of  the manufacturing process,  which might adversely  affect
the  Company's results  of operations.  Furthermore, a  third-party manufacturer
also will be required to manufacture  the Company's products in compliance  with
state  and federal regulations. Failure of  any such third-party manufacturer to
comply with state and federal regulations and to deliver the required quantities
on a  timely  basis  and  at commercially  reasonable  prices  would  materially
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
adversely  affect  the Company's  business, financial  condition and  results of
operations. No assurance can be  given that the Company,  alone or with a  third
party, will be able to make the transition to commercial-scale production of its
potential  products successfully, if at all,  or that if successful, the Company
will be able to maintain such production.
 
    In November 1995,  the Company and  Evans entered into  a manufacturing  and
development  agreement (the  "Evans Agreement").  Under the  terms of  the Evans
Agreement, Evans is performing  the development of  a manufacturing process  for
production  of a cold adapted influenza vaccine and will produce such vaccine in
sufficient quantities to enable the Company to conduct its planned field  trials
and  large-scale clinical trials of the vaccine, subject to certain limitations.
In addition, in the event that  the Company seeks to offer manufacturing  rights
to  a third party, Evans has a right of first negotiation to supply a portion of
the Company's  commercial  requirements  for the  vaccine  in  certain  European
markets.  The  Company also  granted  Evans a  right  of first  negotiation with
respect to distribution  rights for the  vaccine in Europe.  After December  31,
1996,  either party may terminate the Evans  Agreement upon six months notice to
the other party.
 
MARKETING AND SALES
 
    The current purchasers  of vaccines are  principally physicians, large  HMOs
and  state and  federal government agencies.  However, the  United States health
care system is undergoing significant  changes and the relative proportion  that
each  group  will  represent  in  the future  will  depend  on  factors  such as
legislative changes and the  economy. The Company intends  to sell its  products
directly to HMOs and state and federal health care agencies, and to other buyers
through  partners with strong capabilities in  local markets. Outside the United
States, the Company plans to  sell its potential products through  collaborative
agreements   with   strategic   partners.  Aviron   intends   to   use  rigorous
cost-effectiveness analysis as a guide for  its pricing strategy and in  support
of its marketing plans.
 
    The  Company currently has no marketing, sales or distribution capabilities.
To market any  products, Aviron  must either obtain  the assistance  of a  third
party  with a suitable distribution system, develop a direct sales and marketing
staff of its own or combine the efforts  of a third party with its own  efforts.
Other  than SmithKline Beecham and Sang-A, the Company to date has no agreements
for marketing or distributing its potential products.
 
    The success and commercialization of the Company's products is dependent  in
part  upon the  ability of  the Company  to maintain  and enter  into additional
collaborative agreements with  corporate partners for  the development,  testing
and  marketing of certain  of its vaccines  and upon the  ability of these third
parties to perform their responsibilities. Although Aviron believes that parties
to any  such  arrangements would  have  an  economic motivation  to  succeed  in
performing   their  contractual  responsibilities,  the  amount  and  timing  of
resources devoted to  these activities  will not be  within the  control of  the
Company.  There can  be no  assurance that  any such  agreements or arrangements
would be available  on terms acceptable  to the  Company, if at  all, that  such
third  parties would perform their obligations  as expected, or that any revenue
would be derived from  such arrangements. If  Aviron is not  able to enter  into
such  agreements or arrangements,  it could encounter  delays in introducing its
potential products  into the  market or  be forced  to limit  the scope  of  its
commercialization  activities. If the Company  were to market products directly,
significant additional  expenditures, management  resources  and time  would  be
required to develop a marketing and sales staff within the Company. In addition,
the  Company would  also be competing  with other companies  that currently have
experienced and  well-funded marketing  and sales  operations. There  can be  no
assurance that the Company will be able to establish its own marketing and sales
force or that any such force, if established, would be successful.
 
COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS
 
    The  Company's strategy for the  development, clinical trials, manufacturing
and commercialization  of  certain  of its  products  includes  maintaining  and
entering   into  various  collaborations  with  corporate  partners,  licensors,
licensees and others. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
maintain existing
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
collaborative agreements, negotiate collaborative arrangements in the future  on
acceptable terms, if at all, or that any such collaborative arrangements will be
successful.  To date  the Company has  entered into  the following collaborative
agreements.
 
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES -- PARAINFLUENZA VIRUS
TYPE 3
 
    In May 1996, the Company obtained exclusive rights from the NIAID of the NIH
to certain biological materials and clinical  trial data for its PIV-3  program.
The  NIH granted to the  Company exclusive rights in  specific strains of bovine
parainfluenza virus (the  "Licensed Materials") to  develop, test,  manufacture,
use  and sell  products for  vaccination against  human parainfluenza  virus and
other human and animal diseases ("Licensed Products"). In addition, the  Company
obtained  from the NIAID the right to reference an existing IND and certain data
relating to  the Licensed  Materials. The  NIH retained  certain rights  to  the
Licensed Materials on behalf of the United States Government to conduct research
and  to grant research licenses to third parties under certain circumstances. In
return for the rights granted by NIH,  the Company will make payments to NIH  on
the  achievement of specified milestones and  will make certain royalty payments
to NIH. Unless otherwise terminated,  the Agreement will terminate on  cessation
of  commercial sales of Licensed Products by the Company or its sublicensee. The
Company has the unilateral right to terminate the Agreement in any country  upon
providing 60 days notice to NIH.
 
SMITHKLINE BEECHAM BIOLOGICALS S.A.
 
   
    In  October 1995,  the Company signed  an agreement  with SmithKline Beecham
defining a  collaboration  on the  Company's  EBV vaccine  technology  (the  "SB
Agreement"). Under the terms of the SB Agreement, the Company granted SmithKline
Beecham  an exclusive  license to  produce, use  and sell  non-live EBV vaccines
incorporating the Company's technology for prophylactic and therapeutic uses  on
a  worldwide basis,  except in  South and  North Korea  (together, "Korea"). The
Company has retained the right to co-distribute a monovalent formulation of  the
vaccine  in certain markets in the United  States and to have SmithKline Beecham
supply such vaccine. In addition, SmithKline  Beecham obtained a right of  first
refusal to an exclusive, worldwide (except Korea) license under any intellectual
property  rights  relating  to  any live  EBV  vaccine  technology  developed or
controlled by the Company during the term of the SB Agreement.
    
 
    SmithKline Beecham  has  agreed to  fund  research and  development  at  the
Company  related to  the EBV vaccine,  in specified minimum  amounts, during the
first two years of the SB Agreement. SmithKline Beecham made an initial  upfront
payment  to  the  Company  and  agreed  to  make  additional  payments  upon the
achievement of certain product development  milestones. The Company is  entitled
to  royalties from SmithKline Beecham based on  net sales of the vaccine. Unless
otherwise terminated,  the SmithKline  Beecham Agreement  will expire  upon  the
expiration  or  invalidation of  the  last remaining  patent  covered by  the SB
Agreement or 10 years  from the date  of first commercial  sale of the  vaccine,
whichever  is later.  The SB Agreement  may be terminated  by SmithKline Beecham
with respect to any country at any time.
 
SANG-A PHARM. CO., LTD.
 
    In May 1995, the  Company entered into a  Development and License  Agreement
with  Sang-A.  The Company  granted  to Sang-A  exclusive  clinical development,
manufacturing and marketing rights in Korea for specified products developed  by
Aviron,  including vaccines for  influenza (cold adapted  and recombinant), EBV,
CMV, HSV-2 and RSV. However, the Company  is under no obligation to develop  any
product.  Sang-A  also will  make  payments to  the  Company upon  the Company's
meeting certain regulatory milestones for each  product in Korea and will pay  a
royalty to the Company on net sales of such products in Korea.
 
    Sang-A also is obligated to establish a manufacturing facility with at least
enough  capacity to  meet demand  for all  Korean product  requirements for each
product that  reaches commercialization,  if  any. In  the event  that  Sang-A's
manufacturing  capabilities satisfy certain objective criteria and subject to an
obligation to cooperate  with the  Company's future corporate  partners for  any
given    products,    Sang-A    has    a    right    of    first    refusal   to
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
manufacture a portion of the total  requirements of the Company, its  affiliates
and  sublicensees  for the  specified products,  with the  exception of  the EBV
vaccine, in specified countries, including  the United States, provided that  it
can do so at a competitive price, quality and timeline.
 
   
    The  term of this agreement extends, on a product-by-product basis, until 10
years from the date of  first commercial sale of each  product in Korea. At  the
conclusion  of  the term,  Sang-A has  an option  to extend  the agreement  on a
product-by-product basis,  for the  longer  of an  additional  10 years  or  the
expiration  of the  patents covering  such product.  During any  such extension,
Sang-A will  have either  no royalty  obligation  to the  Company or  a  reduced
royalty obligation, depending on the product.
    
 
    In return for the rights granted to Sang-A, Sang-A made an equity investment
in  the Company in  May 1995 of approximately  $4.0 million. Sang-A subsequently
made an  additional  equity investment  of  approximately $1.6  million  in  the
Company's  private  placement of  Series C  Preferred  Stock and  currently owns
4,265,480 shares of  the Company's  Series C Preferred  Stock, convertible  into
853,096  shares of the Company's Common  Stock, representing approximately 9% of
the Company's Common Stock (on an as-converted basis) outstanding prior to  this
offering. In addition, Sang-A has agreed to purchase, if so requested by Aviron,
10%  of any subsequent  offerings by the  Company of new  securities at the same
price offered to other purchasers in any such offering. This purchase obligation
expires following the closing of  the first firmly underwritten public  offering
of  the Company's Common Stock. Concurrent with this offering, Aviron intends to
sell to Sang-A in a private placement,  at the initial public offering price,  a
number  of shares of Common Stock equal to 10% of the aggregate number of shares
sold in the offering  and in the private  placement, provided however, that  the
total  number of  shares to  be purchased by  Sang-A will  not exceed $5,000,000
divided by the initial public offering price.
 
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES -- COLD ADAPTED INFLUENZA
VACCINE
 
    Following a  competitive application  process, the  Company entered  into  a
CRADA  in  March 1995  with  the National  Institute  of Allergy  and Infectious
Diseases of the  NIH to conduct  clinical trials of  the Company's cold  adapted
influenza  vaccine. Wyeth-Ayerst licensed certain rights to the vaccine from the
NIH in 1989 and was developing it  for sale in collaboration with the NIH  until
relinquishing  its rights  in 1993.  Aviron has  obtained from  the NIH  and the
University of Michigan exclusive rights to trial results and data from the  work
at  the VTEUs  and Wyeth-Ayerst.  The NIH  has agreed  to support  the trials by
enrolling subjects in its  network of VTEUs. In  addition, the Company  acquired
exclusive  commercial rights to data generated from all previous clinical trials
conducted by the NIH and Wyeth-Ayerst using  the vaccine. The term of the  CRADA
will  not exceed five years  without a written amendment  by the parties. Either
party may terminate the CRADA for material breach.
 
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
 
    In February  1995,  the  Company  entered  into  a  materials  transfer  and
intellectual  property agreement (the "Michigan  Agreement") with the University
of Michigan.  Pursuant to  the Michigan  Agreement, the  University of  Michigan
granted  the  Company  exclusive  rights to  certain  intellectual  property and
technology relating to a  cold adapted influenza  vaccine and proprietary  donor
strains   of  influenza  viruses  useful  in  the  production  of  products  for
vaccination against influenza and  potentially for gene  therapy and other  uses
(the  "Master Strains"). Specifically, the  Company obtained the exclusive right
to develop, manufacture, use,  market and sell  products incorporating any  such
intellectual  property or utilizing  the Master Strains in  all countries of the
world except Japan. Aviron  is in the process  of acquiring the Japanese  rights
from   the  University   of  Michigan   for  no   additional  consideration.  In
consideration for the  rights granted to  the Company, the  Company (i) made  an
initial cash payment to the University of Michigan; (ii) agreed to pay a royalty
to  the University of Michigan on net  sales of products subject to the license;
(iii) entered  into  a  sponsored  research agreement  with  the  University  of
Michigan  for a period of at least two  years; and (iv) issued to the University
of Michigan  1,323,734 shares  of  Series B  Preferred Stock,  convertible  into
264,746  shares of the Company's Common  Stock, representing approximately 3% of
the Company's Common Stock (on an as-converted basis) outstanding prior to  this
offering.   In  addition,  in  the  event   that  Aviron  receives  approval  to
commercially market a product  based on the  University of Michigan  technology,
the  Company has  agreed to  issue a  warrant to  the University  of Michigan to
purchase
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
shares of the  Company's Common Stock,  for a number  of shares to  be based  on
1.25%  of the Common Stock outstanding on  the date of the first commercial sale
of  the  product  incorporating  the  University  of  Michigan  technology.  See
"Description of Capital Stock -- Warrants."
 
    Pursuant  to the Michigan Agreement, the Company is required to grant to the
University  of  Michigan  an  irrevocable,  royalty-free  license  for  research
purposes, or for transfer to a subsequent licensee should the Michigan Agreement
be  terminated, to (i) all improvements developed by the Company, its affiliates
or sublicensees, whether or not patentable, relating to delivery mechanisms  and
processes   for  administration  and  manufacturing  of  products,  as  well  as
packaging, storage and preservation processes  for the Master Strains, and  (ii)
all  new  technical  information  acquired by  the  Company,  its  affiliates or
sublicensees relating to the Master Strains and products.
 
    The term of the Michigan Agreement is until the later of the last to  expire
of  the the University of  Michigan patents licensed to  the Company or 20 years
from the date of first commercial  sale of a product incorporating the  Michigan
technology.  The Company has the further right  to terminate for any reason upon
12 months notice to the University of Michigan.
 
THE MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
 
    In February 1993, the Company  entered into a technology transfer  agreement
with  The Mount  Sinai School  of Medicine  of the  City University  of New York
("Mount Sinai"). Under this agreement, Mount  Sinai assigned to the Company  all
of  its  rights,  title  and  interest in  and  to  certain  patents  and patent
applications,  as  well   as  all  associated   know-how  and  other   technical
information,  relating  to  recombinant  negative  strand  RNA  virus expression
systems and vaccines, attenuated influenza viruses and certain other technology.
Mount Sinai also granted the Company  (i) an option to acquire any  improvements
to  the inventions  disclosed in  the assigned  patents and  patent applications
thereafter developed by Mount Sinai and (ii) a right of first negotiation for  a
license or assignment to certain additional related technology. In consideration
for  the rights granted to the Company, the Company issued to Mount Sinai 35,000
shares of the  Company's Common Stock.  The Company also  issued to Mount  Sinai
three  warrants to  purchase up to  a total  of 225,000 shares  of the Company's
Series A Preferred Stock, each exercisable  for a term of five years  commencing
upon  the  occurrence  of certain  milestone  events which  accelerate  upon the
effectiveness of this  offering. Warrants to  purchase 45,000 of  the shares  of
Series  A Preferred  Stock (convertible into  9,000 shares of  Common Stock) are
exercisable at a purchase price of $4.50 per share of Common Stock. Warrants  to
purchase  148,750 shares  of Series A  Preferred Stock  (convertible into 29,750
shares of Common Stock), will become  exercisable at the effective date of  this
offering  at a  price per share  of Common Stock  of 125% of  the initial public
offering price  of the  Company's  Common Stock.  The  warrant to  purchase  the
remaining  31,250 shares of  Series A Preferred  Stock will be  cancelled on the
effective date of this offering. See "Capital Stock -- Warrants."
 
ARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
 
    In July  1992,  the Company  entered  into  a license  agreement  with  ARCH
Development   Corporation  ("ARCH"),  an   Illinois  not-for-profit  corporation
associated with  the  University  of  Chicago, pursuant  to  which  the  Company
obtained  an exclusive, worldwide  commercialization license, with  the right to
sublicense, to  certain  patent rights  and  related intellectual  property  and
materials  pertaining to the herpes simplex viruses, EBV and various recombinant
methods and materials.  In return for  the rights granted  to the Company  under
this  agreement, the Company will make payments  to ARCH upon the achievement of
certain milestones in  the development of  products covered by  the license  and
will  pay royalties to ARCH on net sales of such products. ARCH also granted the
Company certain rights  to improvements and  additional related technology.  The
term of this agreement extends until the expiration of the last-to-expire patent
rights  covered  under  the license.  In  connection with  this  agreement, ARCH
purchased 40,000  shares  of the  Company's  Common Stock.  Subsequent  to  this
agreement,  affiliates  of ARCH  made equity  investments in  Aviron, purchasing
700,000, 300,000 and 113,999 shares of the Company's Series A, B and C Preferred
Stock, respectively, convertible into a total of 222,799 shares of the Company's
Common  Stock.  ARCH  and  its  affiliates  together  own  shares   representing
approximately  2.5% of  the Company's  Common Stock  (on an  as-converted basis)
outstanding prior to this offering.
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
 
   
    Aviron believes that patent and trade secret protection is important to  its
business  and that its future will depend in part on its ability to maintain its
technology licenses,  maintain  trade  secret  protection,  obtain  patents  and
operate without infringing the proprietary rights of others. The Company owns or
has licensed rights to United States and foreign patents and patent applications
covering  aspects of technology relating to  herpes viruses, including EBV, CMV,
and  HSV-2  and  negative  strand  RNA  viruses,  such  as  influenza  and   RSV
technologies.  Aviron has  acquired or  licensed rights  to over  a dozen patent
applications pending  in  the United  States,  and seven  issued  United  States
patents.
    
 
    The  Company has  no issued  patents on the  technology related  to its cold
adapted influenza vaccine. The Company's rights to this technology are based  on
a  license of materials and know-how from the University of Michigan, which owns
the master  strains from  which the  vaccine is  derived, and  on a  license  of
know-how and clinical trial data from the NIH. There can be no assurance, that a
third  party will not reproduce the  Company's cold adapted influenza vaccine or
that a third party will not  develop another live-virus influenza vaccine  which
might be comparable to Aviron's in terms of safety and efficacy.
 
    The  Company  also  relies  on  trade  secrets  to  protect  its technology,
especially where  patent  protection  is  not  believed  to  be  appropriate  or
obtainable.  Certain of  the Company's licensors  also rely on  trade secrets to
protect technology  which has  been licensed  to Aviron,  and as  a result,  the
Company  is dependent on  the efforts of  these licensors to  protect such trade
secrets. For example, the University of Michigan relies in part on trade secrets
to protect the master strains  of the cold adapted  influenza virus used by  the
Company  and  the NIH  relies in  part on  trade secrets  to protect  the master
strains of  the bPIV-3  virus. Aviron  protects its  proprietary technology  and
processes,   in  part,   by  confidentiality  agreements   with  its  employees,
consultants, collaborators and  certain contractors. There  can be no  assurance
that these agreements will not be breached, that the Company would have adequate
remedies  for any breach,  or that the  Company's trade secrets  or those of its
licensors will  not otherwise  become known  or be  independently discovered  by
competitors.   To  the  extent  that  Aviron  or  its  consultants  or  research
collaborators use intellectual property  owned by others in  their work for  the
Company,  disputes  may also  arise as  to  the rights  in related  or resulting
know-how and inventions.
 
   
    The Company's success  also will  depend in part  on its  ability to  obtain
patents,  both  in  the  United  States and  in  other  countries.  Since patent
applications in the United States are maintained in secrecy until patents  issue
and  since publication  of discoveries  in the  scientific or  patent literature
often lag behind actual discoveries, the  Company cannot be certain that it  was
the  first  to  make  the  inventions covered  by  each  of  its  pending patent
applications or  that it  was the  first to  file patent  applications for  such
inventions.  The patent positions of  biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies
can be highly  uncertain and involve  complex legal and  factual questions,  and
therefore  the  breadth of  claims allowed  in biotechnology  and pharmaceutical
patents or their enforceability cannot be  predicted. There can be no  assurance
that  any of  the Company's  patents or  patent applications  will issue,  or if
issued, will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, or that the  rights
granted thereunder will provide proprietary protection or competitive advantages
to the Company.
    
 
    The commercial success of Aviron additionally will depend, in part, upon the
Company's  not infringing patents  issued to others.  A number of pharmaceutical
companies, biotechnology companies, universities and research institutions  have
filed  patent applications  or received  patents in  the areas  of the Company's
programs. Some  of these  applications  or patents  may  limit or  preclude  the
Company's  applications, or conflict in certain  respects with claims made under
the Company's applications.
 
   
    The Company is aware of pending patent applications that have been filed  by
others  that may pertain to certain aspects of the Company's programs, including
a genetically engineered influenza vaccine,  the Company's herpes virus  program
or  other of its issued or pending patent applications. If patents are issued to
others  containing  preclusive  or  conflicting  claims  and  such  claims   are
ultimately  determined  to  be valid,  the  Company  may be  required  to obtain
licenses to these  patents or to  develop or obtain  alternative technology.  No
assurance can be given that patents have not been issued, or will not be issued,
to  third parties that contain preclusive  or conflicting claims with respect to
the cold adapted influenza vaccine or  any of the Company's other programs.  The
Company's  breach  of an  existing license  or  failure to  obtain a  license to
technology required to commercialize  its products may  have a material  adverse
effect   on  the  Company's   business,  financial  condition   and  results  of
    
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
operations. Litigation, which could result in substantial costs to the  Company,
may  also  be necessary  to  enforce any  patents issued  to  the Company  or to
determine  the  scope  and  validity  of  third-party  proprietary  rights.   If
competitors  of the Company  prepare and file patent  applications in the United
States that claim technology also claimed  by the Company, the Company may  have
to  participate in interference proceedings declared by the United States Patent
and Trademark Office to determine priority  of invention, which could result  in
substantial  cost to the Company,  even if the eventual  outcome is favorable to
the Company.  An  adverse  outcome  could subject  the  Company  to  significant
liabilities  to third parties and require the Company to license disputed rights
from third parties or to cease using such technology.
 
    On May 22, 1996, the Company received notice from Chiron that Chiron intends
to file a lawsuit against Aviron,  unless a prompt negotiated settlement can  be
reached,  alleging that certain of Aviron's  patent applications relating to its
EBV program are  based on  Chiron proprietary information  which was  improperly
conveyed  to Aviron by  a former Chiron employee.  Aviron believes that Chiron's
allegations are  without  merit  and,  if  a  complaint  is  filed,  intends  to
vigorously  defend itself against  any such action. Aviron  does not utilize the
alleged proprietary information in any of its programs. The Company has received
terms of a  proposed settlement from  Chiron and is  in discussions with  Chiron
regarding  a possible settlement of the dispute.  No assurance can be given that
litigation will not ensue, which could be costly and time-consuming.
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
 
    Regulation  by  government  authorities  in  the  United  States  and  other
countries will be a significant factor in the manufacturing and marketing of any
products  that may be  developed by the  Company. All of  the Company's products
will   require   regulatory   approval   by   government   agencies   prior   to
commercialization.  The  Company's  vaccine  products  are  subject  to rigorous
preclinical testing and clinical trial and other approval procedures by the  FDA
and  similar health authorities  in foreign countries.  Various federal statutes
and regulations also  govern or influence  the manufacturing, safety,  labeling,
storage, record keeping and marketing of such products.
 
    The Company believes that its vaccine products will be classified by the FDA
as  "biologic products,"  as opposed  to "drug  products." The  steps ordinarily
required before  a drug  or biological  product may  be marketed  in the  United
States  include (a) preclinical testing and  clinical trials; (b) the submission
to the FDA of  an IND, which  must become effective  before clinical trials  may
commence;  (c)  adequate and  well-controlled clinical  trials to  establish the
safety and efficacy  of the drug;  (d) the submission  to the FDA  of a  Product
License  Application ("PLA") together with  an Establishment License Application
("ELA"); and (e)  FDA approval  of the  application, including  approval of  all
product labeling and, in some instances, advertising.
 
    Preclinical  testing  includes laboratory  evaluation of  product chemistry,
formulation and stability,  as well as  animal studies to  assess the  potential
safety  and efficacy of each product. Preclinical safety tests must be conducted
by laboratories  that  comply with  FDA  regulations regarding  Good  Laboratory
Practice.  The results of the preclinical tests are submitted to the FDA as part
of an  IND and  are reviewed  by the  FDA before  the commencement  of  clinical
trials.  Unless the FDA objects to an IND, the IND will become effective 30 days
following its receipt by the FDA. There  can be no assurance that submission  of
an  IND will result in FDA authorization to commence clinical trials or that the
lack of an objection means that  the FDA will ultimately approve an  application
for marketing approval.
 
    Clinical trials involve the administration of the investigational product to
humans  under the  supervision of  a qualified  principal investigator. Clinical
trials must  be  conducted in  accordance  with Good  Clinical  Practices  under
protocols  submitted to the FDA  as part of the  IND. In addition, each clinical
trial must  be approved  and conducted  under the  auspice of  an  Institutional
Review  Board and with patient informed  consent. The Institutional Review Board
will consider, among other things, ethical factors, the safety of human subjects
and the possible liability of the institution conducting the clinical trial.
 
    Phase I clinical trials are  generally performed in healthy human  subjects.
The  goal of  the Phase  I clinical  trials is  to establish  initial data about
safety and tolerance  of the  vaccine in humans.  Also, the  data regarding  the
immune  response to  a vaccine  may be  obtained. In  Phase II  clinical trials,
evidence is sought about the desired therapeutic efficacy of a drug or antibody,
or the immune response to  a vaccine, in limited  studies with small numbers  of
carefully selected subjects. Efforts are made to evaluate the effects of various
dosages and to
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
establish  an optimal dosage  level and dosage  schedule. Additional safety data
are also  gathered from  these studies.  The Phase  III clinical  trial  program
consists  of  expanded,  large-scale,  multicenter studies  of  persons  who are
susceptible to the disease.  The goal of these  studies is to obtain  definitive
statistical  evidence of  the efficacy  and safety  of the  proposed product and
dosage regimen.
 
    All data obtained from this comprehensive development program are  submitted
as a PLA to the FDA and the corresponding agencies in other countries for review
and  approval. FDA approval of the PLA and the associated ELA is required before
marketing may begin in the  United States. The FDA  will present to the  Vaccine
and  Related  Biological Products  Advisory Committee  documentation on  most of
Aviron's products for  review and recommendation  before PLA approval.  Although
the  FDA's policy is  to review priority  applications within 180  days of their
filing, in practice longer  times may be required.  The FDA frequently  requests
that additional information be submitted requiring significant additional review
time.  All proposed  products of  the Company will  be subject  to demanding and
time-consuming PLA or  similar approval  procedures in the  countries where  the
Company  intends to market  its products. These regulations  define not only the
form and content of  the development of safety  and efficacy data regarding  the
proposed product, but also impose specific requirements regarding manufacture of
the  product, quality  assurance, packaging,  storage, documentation  and record
keeping,  labelling  and  advertising,   and  marketing  procedures.   Effective
commercialization also requires inclusion of the Company's products in national,
state, provincial, or institutional formularies or cost reimbursement systems.
 
    FDA   approval  of  the  Company's  products,  including  a  review  of  the
manufacturing processes and facilities  used to produce  such products, will  be
required  before such products may be marketed in the United States. The process
of obtaining approvals from the FDA can be costly, time consuming and subject to
unanticipated delays.  The  FDA may  refuse  to  approve an  application  if  it
believes that applicable regulatory criteria are not satisfied. The FDA may also
require  additional testing  for safety and  efficacy of the  drug. Moreover, if
regulatory approval of a drug product  is granted, the approval will be  limited
to  specific  indications.  There can  be  no  assurance that  approvals  of the
Company's proposed products, processes or facilities will be granted on a timely
basis, if at all.  Any failure to  obtain or delay  in obtaining such  approvals
would  have  a  material adverse  effect  on the  Company's  business, financial
condition and results of  operations. Moreover, even  if regulatory approval  is
granted, such approval may include significant limitations on indicated uses for
which a product could be marketed.
 
    In  addition to regulations enforced by the FDA, the Company also is subject
to regulation under the  Occupational Safety and  Health Act, the  Environmental
Protection  Act,  the  Toxic  Substances  Control  Act,  the  Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, the Resource  Conservation and  Recovery Act and  other present  and
potential future federal, state or local regulations. The Company's research and
development  involves the controlled  use of hazardous  materials and chemicals.
Although the  Company  believes that  its  safety procedures  for  handling  and
disposing  of such materials  comply with the standards  prescribed by state and
federal regulations, there can be no assurance that accidental contamination  or
injury  from these materials will  not occur. In the  event of such an accident,
the Company  could be  held liable  for any  damages that  result and  any  such
liability could exceed the resources of the Company.
 
    Whether  or not  FDA approval  has been obtained,  approval of  a product by
comparable regulatory authorities may be necessary in foreign countries prior to
the commencement of  marketing of the  product in such  countries. The  approval
procedure  varies among countries, can involve  additional testing, and the time
required may differ from that required for FDA approval. Although there is now a
centralized European Union  approval mechanism in  place, each European  country
may  nonetheless impose its  own procedures and requirements,  many of which are
time consuming and expensive. Thus, there can be substantial delays in obtaining
required approvals from both  the FDA and  foreign regulatory authorities  after
the  relevant applications are  filed. The Company expects  to rely on corporate
partners and licensees,  along with  Company expertise,  to obtain  governmental
approval in foreign countries of drug formulations utilizing its candidates.
 
    The  Company believes that  the approval process for  vaccines may be longer
than for other  therapeutic products.  In addition, regulatory  scrutiny may  be
particularly  intense for  products, such as  Aviron's cold-attenuated influenza
vaccine, which are designed to be given to otherwise healthy children.
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
COMPETITION
 
    The Company operates in a rapidly  evolving field. Any product developed  by
the Company would compete with existing and new drugs and vaccines being created
by pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. If the Company
were  able  to successfully  develop its  vaccines, it  would be  competing with
larger companies that  have already introduced  vaccines and have  significantly
greater  marketing,  manufacturing,  financial  and  managerial  resources.  For
example, with respect to its cold adapted influenza vaccine, the Company will be
competing  against  larger   companies  such  as   Pasteur  Merieux   Connaught,
Wyeth-Ayerst,   Parke-Davis  and  Evans.  Each  of  these  companies  sells  the
inactivated injectable influenza vaccine in the United States, has significantly
greater financial  resources  than  Aviron and  has  established  marketing  and
distribution  channels for such  products. The Company is  also aware of several
companies that are  marketing or are  in late-stage development  of products  to
prevent  HSV  disease, including  Glaxo, SmithKline  Beecham and  Chiron Biocine
Corporation. In addition, the Company  is also aware of the  use in Russia of  a
cold  adapted influenza  vaccine, research programs  by some  of the competitors
listed above, among others, to develop  more effective influenza vaccines and  a
cold adapted PIV-3 vaccine developed with NIH support which may be licensed to a
large vaccine company.
 
    New  developments are  expected to continue  in both  the pharmaceutical and
biotechnology industries  and  in  academia.  Other  companies  may  succeed  in
developing  products that are safer, more effective or less costly than any that
may be developed by the Company. Such companies may also be more effective  than
the  Company in  the production  and marketing  of their  products. Furthermore,
rapid technological  development  by competitors  may  result in  the  Company's
products  becoming obsolete before the Company  is able to recover its research,
development or commercialization expenses incurred  in connection with any  such
product.  Many  potential  competitors  have  substantially  greater  financial,
technical and marketing resources than the Company. Some of these companies also
have considerable experience in preclinical  testing, clinical trials and  other
regulatory   approval  procedures.  Moreover,   certain  academic  institutions,
government agencies and other research organizations are conducting research  in
areas  in  which  the  Company  is  working.  These  institutions  are  becoming
increasingly aware of the  commercial value of their  findings and are  becoming
more  active in seeking patent protection  and licensing arrangements to collect
royalties for the use of technology that they have developed. These institutions
may also market competitive  commercial products on their  own or through  joint
ventures.
 
    Aviron  believes  that  competition in  the  markets it  is  addressing will
continue to be intense. The vaccine  industry is characterized by intense  price
competition,  and the Company anticipates that it will face this and other forms
of competition. There can be no assurance that pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical
and biotechnology companies will not develop more effective products than  those
of  the Company or will not market and sell their products more effectively than
the Company,  which  would have  a  material  adverse effect  on  the  Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
PHARMACEUTICAL PRICING AND REIMBURSEMENT
 
    Political, economic and regulatory influences are subjecting the health care
industry  in  the United  States to  fundamental  change. Recent  initiatives to
reduce the federal  deficit and to  reform health care  delivery are  increasing
cost-containment   efforts.  The   Company  anticipates   that  Congress,  state
legislatures  and  the  private  sector  will  continue  to  review  and  assess
alternative  benefits, controls on  health care spending  through limitations on
the growth  of  private health  insurance  premiums and  Medicare  and  Medicaid
spending,  the creation of large insurance  purchasing groups, price controls on
pharmaceuticals and  other  fundamental  changes to  the  health  care  delivery
system.  Any such  proposed or  actual changes  could cause  the Company  or its
collaborative partners to limit or  eliminate spending on development  projects.
Legislative debate is expected to
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
continue  in the future, and market forces are expected to demand reduced costs.
Aviron cannot predict what  impact the adoption of  any federal or state  health
care reform measures or future private sector reforms may have on its business.
 
    In  both  domestic  and foreign  markets,  sales of  the  Company's proposed
vaccines will  depend  in  part  upon the  availability  of  reimbursement  from
third-party  payors,  such  as  government  health  administration  authorities,
managed care  providers, private  health insurers  and other  organizations.  In
addition,  other third-party payors  are increasingly challenging  the price and
cost effectiveness  of medical  products and  services. Significant  uncertainty
exists  as to the  reimbursement status of newly  approved health care products.
There can  be  no  assurance  that  the  Company's  proposed  products  will  be
considered  cost effective  or that  adequate third-party  reimbursement will be
available to enable  Aviron to maintain  price levels sufficient  to realize  an
appropriate  return on  its investment  in product  development. Legislation and
regulations affecting  the  pricing of  pharmaceuticals  may change  before  the
Company's  proposed  products  are  approved  for  marketing.  Adoption  of such
legislation could further limit reimbursement for medical products. If  adequate
coverage  and  reimbursement  levels  are not  provided  by  the  government and
third-party payors for the  Company's products, the  market acceptance of  these
products would be adversely affected, which would have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
    Several of the Company's proposed vaccines are intended for use in children.
Widespread  use of these  proposed vaccines is  unlikely without recommendations
for their use in  childhood immunization programs from  authorities such as  the
ACIP, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians.
The  ACIP has a role in making recommendations which affect the market for most,
if  not  all,  of  the  products  Aviron  intends  to  make.  The  CDC  develops
epidemiologic  data in support of the need for new vaccines and monitors vaccine
usage and changes in disease incidence. In addition, CDC staff frequently act as
key advisors to the FDA in their review process. There can be no assurance  that
such  authorities will  recommend the  use of  the Company's  proposed products,
which would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,  financial
condition and results of operations.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
   
    As  of June 1, 1996, the Company had 70 full-time employees. Thirty-eight of
the Company's employees were in research and development, 16 were in  regulatory
affairs,  quality assurance and quality control,  and 16 were in administration.
No Company employee is  represented by a  labor union, and  the Company has  not
experienced  any work stoppages. The Company considers its employee relations to
be good.
    
 
FACILITIES
 
   
    Aviron leases  approximately 52,800  square feet  of office  and  laboratory
space in Mountain View, California. The Company has leased this facility through
October  2005 and has two  options to extend the  lease for successive five-year
terms. The Company currently subleases approximately 15,000 square feet of space
to three subtenants. The subleases run through June 1996 and may be extended  at
Aviron's discretion. The Company believes that this facility is adequate to meet
its needs for the foreseeable future.
    
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    The  Company is not a  party to any material  legal proceedings. However, on
May 22, 1996,  the Company received  notice from Chiron  that Chiron intends  to
file  a lawsuit  against Aviron,  unless a  prompt negotiated  settlement can be
reached, alleging that certain of  Aviron's patent applications relating to  its
EBV  program are  based on Chiron  proprietary information  which was improperly
conveyed to Aviron by  a former Chiron employee.  Aviron believes that  Chiron's
allegations  are  without  merit  and,  if  a  complaint  is  filed,  intends to
vigorously defend itself against  any such action. Aviron  does not utilize  the
alleged proprietary information in any of its programs. The Company has received
terms  of a possible  settlement from Chiron  and is in  discussions with Chiron
regarding a proposed settlement of the  dispute. No assurance can be given  that
litigation will not ensue, which could be costly and time-consuming.
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
 
    Aviron's  scientific advisors are consultants who  devote six to 20 days per
year to the  Company. Some  meet frequently  with Company  employees to  discuss
specific  projects and others participate primarily via the Company's two annual
meetings of the Scientific Advisory Board.
 
    ANN ARVIN, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology and Immunology at the
Stanford University  School of  Medicine, has  been a  member of  the  Company's
Scientific  Advisory Board since  1992. Dr. Arvin has  conducted research on the
epidemiology of maternal-to-infant transmission of HSV-2 and she directs one  of
the  leading laboratories in  the study of  the interaction of  the human immune
system with the  varicella zoster  (chicken pox)  virus in  natural and  vaccine
infections.
 
    HARRY  GREENBERG, M.D.,  Professor of Medicine,  Microbiology and Immunology
and Chief  of  the  Division  of Gastroenterology  and  Associate  Chairman  for
Academic  Affairs, Department of  Medicine at the  Stanford University School of
Medicine, has been  a member of  the Company's Scientific  Advisory Board  since
1992. Dr. Greenberg's research deals with the immunology and pathogenesis of the
principal viruses which cause infectious diarrhea and hepatitis.
 
    ELLIOT  KIEFF, M.D.,  PH.D., Albee  Professor of  Medicine, Microbiology and
Molecular Genetics and Chairman of  the Virology Program at Harvard  University,
and Director of Infectious Disease at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, has been
a  member of  the Company's  Scientific Advisory  Board since  1992. Dr. Kieff's
laboratory conducts  research  on the  molecular  mechanisms  of how  EBV  is  a
contributory cause of cancer in humans.
 
    JOSHUA  LEDERBERG, PH.D., the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Foundation Scholar
and former President  of The Rockefeller  University, has been  a member of  the
Company's  Scientific Advisory Board since 1992.  He received the Nobel Prize in
Physiology or Medicine for his  discovery of genetic recombination in  bacteria.
His  laboratory at the Rockefeller University  studies molecular genetics and he
is active in formulation of national policy concerning emerging infections.
 
    HUNEIN F. MAASSAB, PH.D., Chairman of the Department of Epidemiology, School
of Public  Health, at  the University  of Michigan,  has been  a member  of  the
Company's  Scientific Advisory Board since 1995. He  is the inventor of the cold
adapted influenza vaccine licensed to the Company by the University of  Michigan
and  has published numerous  papers on this subject.  His laboratory is studying
the  molecular  basis  of  influenza  virus  attenuation  and  is  involved   in
development of new vaccines for other respiratory viruses.
 
    EDWARD  MOCARSKI, JR.,  PH.D., Professor and  Chairman of  the Department of
Microbiology and Immunology at the  Stanford University School of Medicine,  has
been  a  member  of the  Company's  Scientific  Advisory Board  since  1992. His
laboratory  engineered   the  first   recombinant   CMV  providing   the   first
demonstration  of  this virus  as  a vector  and is  one  of the  leading groups
conducting research on CMV gene regulation.
 
    PETER PALESE, PH.D., a founder of  the Company and member of the  Scientific
Advisory  Board  since 1992,  is  Professor and  Chairman  of the  Department of
Microbiology at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New
York.  His  laboratory  developed  the  first  successful  strategy  for  making
genetically  engineered influenza  viruses. This invention  is the  subject of a
United States patent issued in 1992 covering the genetic engineering of negative
strand RNA viruses rights to which patent have been acquired by the Company. Dr.
Palese's research group has  been responsible for developing  a genetic map  for
influenza virus, elucidating the function of viral proteins, and the creation of
recombinant  influenza  strains which  demonstrate the  use of  this virus  as a
vector.
 
    GERALD V. QUINNAN, JR., M.D., Professor of Preventive Medicine, Medicine and
Microbiology, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics at the  Uniformed
Services  University of  the Health Sciences  in Bethesda, Maryland,  has been a
member of the Company's  Scientific Advisory Board since  1995. Dr. Quinnan  was
employed  by the FDA from 1977 until 1993. From 1980 to 1988, he was Director of
the Virology  Division,  subsequently  serving as  Deputy  Director  and  Acting
Director,  of the  Center for Biologics  Evaluation and  Research. Dr. Quinnan's
research concerns aspects of HIV immunology related to vaccine development.
 
    BERNARD ROIZMAN, SC.D., a founder and director of the Company and member  of
the Scientific Advisory Board since 1992, is the Joseph Regenstein Distinguished
Service Professor of the Departments of Molecular
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
Genetics  and  Cell Biology  and of  Biochemistry and  Molecular Biology  at The
University of  Chicago.  His laboratory  is  a  leading center  of  research  on
neurovirulence  of the  herpes simplex viruses,  created the first  example of a
large DNA virus  which had been  genetically engineered and  provided the  first
demonstration  of herpes simplex virus  as a vector. Dr.  Roizman is a member of
the United  States National  Academy of  Sciences. The  Company's HSV-2  vaccine
program is based on his patented technology, licensed to Aviron.
 
    JOHN  SKEHEL,  PH.D., FRS,  Director of  the  National Institute  of Medical
Research of  the Medical  Research Council  and the  WHO Influenza  Surveillance
Center  in Mill Hill near London, has  been a member of the Company's Scientific
Advisory Board since 1992. His laboratory  has contributed new knowledge on  the
structure  of the influenza virus as well  as the molecular epidemiology of this
virus.
 
    RICHARD WHITLEY, M.D., a founder of the Company and member of the Scientific
Advisory Board  since  1992,  is  Professor  of  Pediatrics,  Microbiology,  and
Medicine  and Vice Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of
Alabama School of  Medicine in  Birmingham. He has  conducted pharmacologic  and
clinical  studies on many antiviral drugs and his laboratory is a leading center
of research on the mechanism by  which herpes simplex virus causes disease,  and
he  is studying the  use of modified  herpes viruses to  treat brain cancer. Dr.
Whitley is former Chairman of the  NIH Data Monitoring and Safety Committee  for
AIDS Therapy and a member of the Committee on Infectious Disease of the American
Academy of Pediatrics (The Redbook Committee).
 
    MAX  WILHELM, PH.D., is  a consultant to the  biotechnology industry and has
been a member  of the  Company's Scientific Advisory  Board since  1993. He  has
retired  from a 35-year career at Ciba-Geigy where he was most recently a member
of the  Pharmaceuticals Division  Committee  overseeing worldwide  research  and
development operations. He was involved in the formation of The Biocine Company,
a joint venture vaccine company between Ciba-Geigy and Chiron, serving as one of
its  original directors, and is currently Chairman  of the Board of Directors of
Genelabs Technologies, Inc.
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
    The executive officers and directors  of the Company as  of June 1, 1996  is
set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                NAME                 AGE               POSITION
  ---------------------------------  ---  -----------------------------------
  <S>                                <C>  <C>
  J. Leighton Read, M.D............  45   Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
                                          and Chief Financial Officer
  Martin L. Bryant, M.D., Ph.D.....  47   Vice President, Research
  Victor Jegede, Ph.D..............  51   Vice President, Technical Affairs
  Vera Kallmeyer, M.D., Ph.D.......  37   Vice President, Corporate
                                          Development
  Paul M. Mendelman, M.D...........  48   Vice President, Clinical Research
  Eric J. Patzer, Ph.D.............  47   Vice President, Development
  Reid W. Dennis (1)(2)............  70   Director
  Paul H. Klingenstein (1)(2)......  40   Director
  Jane E. Shaw, Ph.D...............  57   Director
  L. James Strand, M.D. (1)(2).....  54   Director
  Bernard Roizman, Sc.D............  67   Director
  Alan C. Mendelson................  48   Secretary
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------
(1) Member of the Compensation Committee.
 
(2) Member of the Audit Committee.
 
    J.  LEIGHTON READ, M.D., a founder of  the Company, has been Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and  Chief Financial  Officer of  the Company  since 1992.  In
1989, he co-founded Affymax N.V. with Dr. Alejandro Zaffaroni, serving initially
as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and later, from 1990
to  1991, as President of the Pharma Division  and as a Managing Director of the
parent company. From  1991 to 1993,  Dr. Read was  a principal with  Interhealth
Limited, an investment partnership. Prior to 1989, Dr. Read held appointments at
the Harvard Medical School and School of Public Health, where his research dealt
with techniques for assessing the cost effectiveness of pharmaceutical products.
He  has served on the boards of  a number of private biotechnology companies and
is currently on the board of a  private biotechnology company. Dr. Read holds  a
B.S.  in  Biology and  Psychology  from Rice  University  and an  M.D.  from the
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
 
    MARTIN L. BRYANT,  M.D., PH.D.,  has been  Vice President,  Research of  the
Company  since 1995. Dr. Bryant also currently is Consulting Associate Professor
of Pediatrics, Microbiology and Immunology at the Stanford University School  of
Medicine  and  Adjunct  Associate  Professor of  Molecular  Microbiology  at the
Washington University School of  Medicine. From 1991 to  1995, he was  Director,
Infectious  Disease Research for  G. D. Searle  & Co./Monsanto, a pharmaceutical
company. From  1990  to 1991,  he  was  an Instructor  in  Pediatric  Infectious
Diseases  at the  Washington University School  of Medicine. Dr.  Bryant holds a
B.A. in Chemistry  from Duke  University, an M.A.  in Chemistry  from San  Diego
State  University,  and an  M.D. and  a  Ph.D. from  the University  of Southern
California.
 
    VICTOR JEGEDE,  PH.D., has  been Vice  President, Technical  Affairs of  the
Company since 1995. From 1992 to 1994, Dr. Jegede was Vice President, Regulatory
Affairs  and  Quality  for  Creative  BioMolecules,  Inc.,  a biopharmaceuticals
company, and from 1989 to 1992, he was Director, Regulatory Affairs and  Quality
for  WelGen Manufacturing  Partnership (BW  Manufacturing, Inc.),  a division of
Burroughs Welcome Manufacturing, Inc., a pharmaceutical manufacturer. Dr. Jegede
holds a B.S. and  an M.S. in  Biology, and a Ph.D.  in Bacteriology from  Boston
College.
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
    VERA  KALLMEYER, M.D., PH.D., has been Vice President, Corporate Development
of the Company since 1994. From 1993 to 1994, Dr. Kallmeyer was Vice  President,
Healthcare  Banking/Biotech at Flemings, a London-based merchant bank. From 1990
to 1993, she was an Associate  in Investment Banking at Wasserstein Perella  and
Company.  In  1994,  she  co-founded  Pacific  Futures,  an  investment advisory
business located in Hong Kong, for which she currently serves as Senior Advisor.
Dr.  Kallmeyer  holds  an  M.D.  and  a  Ph.D.  in  Pediatric  Cardiology   from
Ludwig-Alexander  University in Erlangen,  Germany, and an  M.B.A. from Stanford
University. She has  also studied at  the Harvard Medical  School and the  Royal
Postgraduate Medical School in London.
 
    PAUL  M. MENDELMAN, M.D., has been  Vice President, Clinical Research of the
Company since  May  1996.  Prior  to joining  the  Company,  Dr.  Mendelman  was
Director,   Clinical   Research,   Infectious   Diseases   for   Merck  Research
Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company, since September 1991. From 1983 to 1991,
Dr. Mendelman was  Clinical Instructor, Assistant  Professor and then  Associate
Professor  of Pediatrics at the University  of Washington. Dr. Mendelman holds a
B.S. and an  M.D. from Ohio  State University and  is a fellow  of the  American
Academy of Pediatrics.
 
    ERIC  J. PATZER, PH.D., has been  Vice President, Development of the Company
since 1996. Prior to joining the Company, Dr. Patzer had held various  positions
with  Genentech, Inc.,  a pharmaceutical company,  since 1981,  most recently as
Vice President, Development. Dr. Patzer  holds a B.S. in Mechanical  Engineering
from  The Pennsylvania  State University  and a  Ph.D. in  Microbiology from the
University of Virginia.
 
    REID W. DENNIS has been a director of the Company since 1992. Mr. Dennis has
been active in venture capital investments since 1952. He founded  Institutional
Venture  Partners ("IVP"),  a venture  capital firm, in  1980, and  has acted as
general partner of IVP since that time.  He is currently a director of  Collagen
Corporation,  as well as several  private companies. Mr. Dennis  holds a B.S. in
Electrical Engineering and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.
 
    PAUL H. KLINGENSTEIN  has been  a director of  the Company  since 1993.  Mr.
Klingenstein  has been associated  with Accel Partners,  a venture capital firm,
since 1986, where he has been a General Partner since 1988. He is a director  of
several  private health  care and biopharmaceutical  companies. Mr. Klingenstein
holds an A.B. from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.
 
    BERNARD ROIZMAN, SC.D., has been a  director of the Company since 1992.  Dr.
Roizman  has  been  the  Joseph Regenstein  Distinguished  Service  Professor of
Virology at the University of Chicago since 1984. He holds B.A. and M.S. degrees
from Temple  University and  an Sc.D.  from The  Johns Hopkins  University.  Dr.
Roizman is also a member of the Company's Scientific Advisory Board.
 
    JANE  E. SHAW, PH.D., has been a Director of the Company since May 1996. Dr.
Shaw has been associated with The Stable Network, a biopharmaceutical consulting
company, since she founded it in 1995. From 1987 to 1994, Dr. Shaw was President
and Chief Operating Officer of ALZA Corporation, a pharmaceutical company, where
she began  her career  as a  research  scientist in  1970. Dr.  Shaw is  also  a
director   of  Intel   Corporation,  McKesson  Corporation   and  Boise  Cascade
Corporation. Dr. Shaw holds  a B.Sc. and a  Ph.D. in physiology from  Birmingham
University,  England,  and  an honorary  Doctorate  of Science  degree  from the
Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
 
    L. JAMES STRAND, M.D., has  been a director of  the Company since 1992.  Dr.
Strand began consulting for IVP, a venture capital firm, in 1986, was named Life
Sciences Venture Partner of IVP in 1993 and a General Partner in 1994. From 1983
to  1993, Dr. Strand was President of Advanced Marketing Decisions, a biomedical
marketing and product development consulting  company. Dr. Strand is a  director
of  Microcide Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  and several privately-held  health care and
biomedical companies. He holds B.S., M.A.  and M.D. degrees from the  University
of  California at San Francisco and an M.B.A. from Santa Clara University and is
a fellow of the American College of Physicians.
 
    ALAN C. MENDELSON has served as Secretary of the Company since 1992. He  has
been  a  partner of  Cooley Godward  Castro  Huddleson &  Tatum, counsel  to the
Company, since 1980 and served as Managing Partner of its Palo Alto office  from
1990  to 1995. Mr. Mendelson also served as Secretary and Acting General Counsel
of Amgen Inc.,  a biopharmaceutical company,  from 1990 to  1991, and served  as
Acting General Counsel at
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
Cadence  Design Systems, Inc., an electronic design automation software company,
from 1995  to 1996.  He is  a director  of Acuson  Corporation, CoCensys,  Inc.,
Elexsys International, Inc. and Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. Mendelson holds a
B.A.  from the University of California at Berkeley, and a J.D. from the Harvard
Law School.
 
    The Board of  Directors has  an Audit  Committee which  consists of  Messrs.
Dennis,  Klingenstein and Strand.  The Audit Committee  makes recommendations to
the Board  regarding  the  selection of  independent  accountants,  reviews  the
results  and scope  of the  audit and other  services provided  by the Company's
independent  accountants,  and  reviews  and  evaluates  the  Company's  control
functions. The Board of Directors has a Compensation Committee which consists of
Messrs.  Dennis,  Klingenstein  and  Strand.  The  Compensation  Committee makes
recommendations to the Board concerning salaries and incentive compensation  for
employees and consultants of the Company.
 
    The  Board of  Directors presently consists  of six members  who hold office
until the annual meeting of stockholders  and until a successor is duly  elected
and  qualified. Effective upon the  Company's reincorporation into Delaware, the
Board of Directors will be divided into  three classes of equal size. One  class
of  directors will be  elected annually and  its members will  hold office for a
three year term  or until their  successors are duly  elected and qualified,  or
until  their  earlier  removal  or resignation.  The  number  of  directors will
initially be six and may be changed  by a resolution of the Board of  Directors.
Executive  officers are elected by  the Board of Directors.  There are no family
relationships among any of the directors and executive officers of the Company.
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
    Directors currently receive no cash compensation from the Company for  their
services  as members of the Board of  Directors. They are reimbursed for certain
expenses in connection with attendance at Board and Committee meetings.
 
    All  of   Aviron's   non-employee   directors  are   entitled   to   receive
non-discretionary   annual  stock   option  grants  under   the  Company's  1996
Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan  (the "Directors' Plan"). Each  option
granted  pursuant to the Directors' Plan has an exercise price equal to the fair
market value  of the  Common Stock  on  the date  of grant,  and is  subject  to
three-year  vesting in equal  annual installments. The  Directors' Plan provides
for initial grants of  options to purchase 15,000  shares for each  non-employee
director  who  joins the  Board following  the offering,  plus annual  grants of
options to purchase 3,000 shares.
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
    The following table sets forth certain  compensation awarded or paid by  the
Company  during the  fiscal year  ended December 31,  1995 to  its President and
Chief Executive Officer and four of  the Company's other executive officers  who
earned more than $100,000 during the year ended December 31, 1995 (collectively,
the "Named Executive Officers"):
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      ANNUAL COMPENSATION
                                                    ------------------------
                                                               OTHER ANNUAL       ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION                          SALARY    COMPENSATION    COMPENSATION (1)
- --------------------------------------------------  --------  --------------   ----------------
<S>                                                 <C>       <C>              <C>
J. Leighton Read, M.D. ...........................  $210,000  $  --                $   743
  Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief
  Financial Officer
Francis R. Cano, Ph.D. (2) .......................   222,500     --                 20,381
  President and Chief Operating Officer
Martin L. Bryant, M.D., Ph.D. (3) ................   153,333   121,351(4)(5)           940
  Vice President, Research
Victor Jegede, Ph.D. (6) .........................   156,667    94,195(4)            1,555
  Vice President, Technical Affairs
Vera Kallmeyer, M.D., Ph.D. ......................   148,167     --                    304
  Vice President, Corporate Development
</TABLE>
 
                                       53
<PAGE>
- -------------------
(1)  Includes group term life insurance paid by the Company and reimbursement by
    the Company of $18,120 paid  by Dr. Cano as a  premium payment on his  split
    dollar life insurance policy.
 
(2)  Dr. Cano  resigned as a  director, officer  and employee of  the Company in
    April 1996.
 
(3) Dr. Bryant began his employment with the Company on January 16, 1995.
 
(4) Includes reimbursement  of moving,  housing and other  expenses incurred  in
    connection with relocating to California as follows: for Dr. Bryant, $45,308
    in direct reimbursement, $16,000 in relocation assistance, $8,000 in monthly
    housing  assistance, and  $25,953 in  federal income  tax gross-up;  for Dr.
    Jegede, $47,042 in direct  reimbursement, $16,000 in relocation  assistance,
    $6,500  in monthly  housing assistance,  and $23,097  in federal  income tax
    gross-up.
 
(5) Includes $25,000 paid  to Dr. Bryant  in March 1995  as reimbursement for  a
    bonus forfeited upon Dr. Bryant's leaving his former employer.
 
(6) Dr. Jegede began his employment with the Company on January 9, 1995.
 
                       OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
                                     -----------------------------
                                      NUMBER OF           %                                  POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE AT ASSUMED
                                      SECURITIES      OF TOTAL                                    ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK PRICE
                                      UNDERLYING   OPTIONS GRANTED   EXERCISE                   APPRECIATION FOR OPTION TERM (3)
                                       OPTIONS     TO EMPLOYEES IN   PRICE PER   EXPIRATION  --------------------------------------
NAME                                   GRANTED     FISCAL YEAR (1)   SHARE (2)      DATE         0%           5%           10%
- -----------------------------------  ------------  ---------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                  <C>           <C>              <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>           <C>
J. Leighton Read, M.D..............      60,000            19.4%     $    0.50     05/08/05  $  690,000  $  1,124,700  $  1,787,100
                                         20,000(4)          6.5           0.50     05/08/05     230,000       374,900       595,700
                                         20,000(4)          6.5           1.25     12/12/05     215,000       350,450       556,850
Francis R. Cano, Ph.D. (5).........      40,000            12.9           0.50     05/08/05     460,000       749,800     1,191,400
Martin L. Bryant, Ph.D.............      24,000             7.8           0.50     03/14/05     276,000       449,880       714,840
Victor Jegede, Ph.D................      24,000             7.8           0.50     03/14/05     276,000       449,880       714,840
Vera Kallmeyer, M.D., Ph.D.........       4,000             1.3           0.50     05/08/05      46,000        74,980       119,140
                                          5,000             1.6           0.50     05/08/05      57,500        93,725       148,925
                                         15,000             4.9           0.50     05/08/05     172,500       281,175       446,775
                                         20,000             6.5           1.25     12/12/05     215,000       350,450       556,850
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------
(1)  Based on an aggregate of 309,000 options granted to employees and directors
    of the Company in  fiscal 1995, including the  Named Executive Officers  set
    forth  in the "Summary Compensation Table"  above and directors set forth in
    "Director Compensation" above.
 
(2) The exercise price is equal to 100%  of the fair market value of the  Common
    Stock at the date of grant.
 
(3) The potential realizable value is calculated based on the term of the option
    at  the time of grant (ten years).  Stock price appreciation of five percent
    and ten percent is assumed pursuant  to rules promulgated by the  Securities
    and  Exchange Commission and does not  represent the Company's prediction of
    its  stock  price  performance.  The   potential  realizable  value  of   0%
    appreciation  measures the value of the option at effectiveness based on the
    assumed initial public offering price per share of $12.00 less the  exercise
    price.  The  potential  realizable  value  at  5%  and  10%  appreciation is
    calculated by  assuming  that  the assumed  initial  public  offering  price
    appreciates at the indicated rate for the entire term of the option and that
    the  option is exercised at  the exercise price and sold  on the last day of
    its term at the appreciated price.
 
(4) Options granted outside of the 1996 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
(5) Dr. Cano  resigned as a  director, officer  and employee of  the Company  in
    April 1996.
 
                                       54
<PAGE>
                AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                       AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             NUMBER OF SECURITIES
                                                                  UNDERLYING              VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                             UNEXERCISED OPTIONS          IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
                                   SHARES                    AT DECEMBER 31, 1995         AT DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                 ACQUIRED ON     VALUE    --------------------------  -----------------------------
NAME                              EXERCISE     REALIZED   EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE  EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE (1)
- ------------------------------  -------------  ---------  -----------  -------------  ------------  ---------------
<S>                             <C>            <C>        <C>          <C>            <C>           <C>
J. Leighton Read, M.D.........      60,000(2)  $  15,000      40,000        --        $    445,000    $   --
Francis R. Cano, Ph.D.........       --           --         110,000        30,000       1,282,500        352,500
Martin L. Bryant, Ph.D........       --           --          --            24,000         --             276,000
Victor Jegede, Ph.D...........       --           --          --            24,000         --             276,000
Vera Kallmeyer, M.D., Ph.D....       --           --          14,780        49,220         169,970        551,030
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------
(1)  Based on  the assumed  initial public offering  price of  $12.00 per share,
    minus the exercise price, multiplied by the number of shares underlying  the
    option.
 
(2) As of June 1, 1996, 34,200 of the shares acquired upon exercise were subject
    to repurchase by the Company.
 
   
EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS
    
 
   
    The  Company's offer of employment to Martin L. Bryant, Ph.D., the Company's
Vice President,  Research, in  December  1994, provided  for an  initial  annual
salary of $160,000 and payment of $25,000 as reimbursement for a bonus forfeited
by Dr. Bryant when he left his previous employer. The Company also agreed to pay
certain  relocation expenses and to  loan Dr. Bryant up  to $50,000 in aggregate
principal amount due in five years, at  7.75% simple interest, to assist him  in
the  purchase of a  home. Interest on  this loan will  be forgiven annually, and
principal will be forgiven annually at the rate  of 20% per year as long as  Dr.
Bryant remains with the Company.
    
 
   
    The  Company's offer of employment to Victor A. Jegede, Ph.D., the Company's
Vice President, Technical  Affairs, in  December 1994, provided  for an  initial
annual  salary of  $160,000. The Company  also agreed to  pay certain relocation
expenses and to loan Dr. Jegede up to $50,000 in aggregate principal amount  due
in  five years,  at 7.75% simple  interest, to assist  him in the  purchase of a
home. Interest on  this loan will  be forgiven annually,  and principal will  be
forgiven annually at the rate of 20% per year as long as Dr. Jegede remains with
the Company.
    
 
   
    The  Company's offer of  employment to Eric J.  Patzer, Ph.D., the Company's
Vice President, Development, in  December 1995, provided  for an initial  annual
salary  of $185,000 and a bonus payment of $25,000 upon signing of the agreement
and $25,000 after the completion of one year of service. The Company also agreed
to pay certain  relocation expenses and  to loan  Dr. Patzer up  to $100,000  in
aggregate  principal  amount due  in five  years, at  7.75% simple  interest, to
assist him in the purchase of a home. Interest on this loan, when made, will  be
forgiven  annually, and principal will  be forgiven annually at  the rate of 20%
per year as long as Dr. Patzer remains with the Company.
    
 
   
    The Company's offer of employment to Paul M. Mendelman, M.D., the  Company's
Vice President, Clinical Research, in April 1996, provided for an initial annual
salary  of  $185,000  and  a  bonus  payment  of  $25,000  upon  Dr. Mendelman's
acceptance of the offer. The Company also agreed to reimburse Dr. Mendelman  for
certain  relocation  expenses  and  to  loan Dr.  Mendelman  up  to  $100,000 in
aggregate principal  amount due  in five  years, at  7.75% simple  interest,  to
assist  him in the purchase of a home. Interest on this loan, when made, will be
forgiven annually and principal will be forgiven at the rate of 20% per year  as
long as Dr. Mendelman remains with the Company.
    
 
    Francis  R. Cano, Ph.D. resigned as  Director, President and Chief Operating
Officer of  the Company  effective  April 19,  1996.  Pursuant to  an  agreement
between  Dr. Cano and  the Company, Dr. Cano  will continue to  be employed as a
consultant by the Company until April 18, 1997. In consideration for Dr.  Cano's
consulting  services, the  Company will  continue to  pay Dr.  Cano's salary and
benefits during the consulting period.
 
                                       55
<PAGE>
STOCK OPTION PLANS
 
    EQUITY  INCENTIVE PLAN.   In March 1996,  the Board adopted  the 1996 Equity
Incentive Plan (the  "Incentive Plan") as  an amendment and  restatement of  its
1992  Stock Option Plan and increased the number of shares reserved for issuance
under the Incentive Plan  to 1,750,000 shares. The  Incentive Plan provides  for
grants  of incentive stock options to employees (including officers and employee
directors) and  nonstatutory stock  options, restricted  stock purchase  awards,
stock bonuses and stock appreciation rights to employees (including officers and
employee  directors) and  consultants of  the Company.  It is  intended that the
Incentive Plan  will  be  administered  by  the  Compensation  Committee,  which
determines  recipients and types of awards to be granted, including the exercise
price, number of shares subject to the award and the exercisability thereof.
 
    The term of a  stock option granted under  the Incentive Plan generally  may
not  exceed 10 years. The exercise price  of options granted under the Incentive
Plan is determined by the Board of  Directors, but, in the case of an  incentive
stock  option, cannot be less  than 100% of the fair  market value of the Common
Stock on the date of  grant or, in the case  of 10% stockholders, not less  than
110%  of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. Options
granted under the Incentive Plan to new employees and consultants generally will
vest at the  rate of of  the shares subject  to the option  on the first  annual
anniversary  of the date  of hire and 1/48th  of such shares at  the end of each
calendar month thereafter. No  option may be transferred  by the optionee  other
than  by will  or the  laws of  descent or  distribution or,  in certain limited
instances, pursuant to a qualified  domestic relations order. An optionee  whose
relationship  with the Company or any  related corporation ceases for any reason
(other than by death or permanent and total disability) may exercise options  in
the  three-month period following such  cessation (unless such options terminate
or expire sooner by their terms) or  in such longer period as may be  determined
by the Board of Directors.
 
    Shares  subject  to options  which have  lapsed or  terminated may  again be
subject to options granted under the  Incentive Plan. Furthermore, the Board  of
Directors  may  offer to  exchange new  options for  existing options,  with the
shares subject to the existing options again becoming available for grant  under
the  Incentive Plan.  In the event  of a decline  in the value  of the Company's
Common Stock, the Board  of Directors has the  authority to offer optionees  the
opportunity  to replace outstanding higher priced  options with new lower priced
options.
 
    Restricted stock purchase  awards granted  under the Incentive  Plan may  be
granted  pursuant to a repurchase  option in favor of  the Company in accordance
with a vesting  schedule determined  by the Board.  The purchase  price of  such
awards  will be at least 85% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the
date of grant. Stock bonuses may  be awarded in consideration for past  services
without  a purchase payment.  Stock appreciation rights  authorized for issuance
under the Incentive  Plan may  be tandem stock  appreciation rights,  concurrent
stock appreciation rights or independent stock appreciation rights.
 
    Upon  any merger or consolidation in which  the Company is not the surviving
corporation, all outstanding  awards under  the Incentive Plan  shall either  be
assumed  or  substituted  by  the  surviving  entity.  If  the  surviving entity
determines not to assume or substitute  such awards, the time during which  such
awards  may be exercised shall  be accelerated and the  awards terminated if not
exercised prior to the merger or consolidation.
 
    As of June  1, 1996, 643,480  options were outstanding  under the  Incentive
Plan,  with  1,106,520  shares  reserved for  future  grants  or  purchases. The
Incentive Plan will terminate in January  2006, unless terminated sooner by  the
Board of Directors. See Note 7 of Notes to Financial Statements.
 
    EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.  In March 1996, the Board adopted the Employee
Stock  Purchase  Plan (the  "Purchase Plan")  covering  an aggregate  of 250,000
shares of Common Stock. The Purchase Plan is intended to qualify as an  employee
stock  purchase plan within  the meaning of  Section 423 of  the Code. Under the
Purchase Plan, the Board  of Directors may  authorize participation by  eligible
employees,  including officers, in periodic  offerings following the adoption of
the Purchase Plan. The offering period for any offering will be no more than  27
months.
 
    Employees  are eligible to participate if  they are employed by the Company,
or an affiliate  of the Company  designated by  the Board of  Directors, for  at
least  20 hours per week and are employed by the Company, or an affiliate of the
Company designated by  the Board, for  at least five  months per calendar  year.
Employees who
 
                                       56
<PAGE>
participate  in  an offering  can  have up  to  15% of  their  earnings withheld
pursuant to the Purchase Plan. The amount withheld will then be used to purchase
shares of  the  Common Stock  on  specified dates  determined  by the  Board  of
Directors.  The price of Common Stock purchased  under the Purchase Plan will be
equal to 85% of the lower  of the fair market value  of the Common Stock on  the
commencement  date of  each offering period  or on the  specified purchase date.
Employees may end  their participation in  the offering at  any time during  the
offering  period. Participation ends automatically  on termination of employment
with the Company.
 
    In the  event  of a  merger,  reorganization, consolidation  or  liquidation
involving  the Company, in  which the Company is  not the surviving corporation,
the Board of  Directors has discretion  to provide that  each right to  purchase
Common Stock will be assumed or an equivalent right substituted by the successor
corporation,  or the Board may  shorten the offering period  and provide for all
sums collected by payroll deductions to be applied to purchase stock immediately
prior to such merger or other  transaction. The Purchase Plan will terminate  at
the  Board's discretion. The Board  has the authority to  amend or terminate the
Purchase Plan,  subject to  the limitation  that no  such action  may  adversely
affect  any outstanding rights to purchase Common  Stock. See Note 7 of Notes to
Financial Statements.
 
    1996 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK  OPTION PLAN.  In  March 1996, the  Board
adopted  the  1996 Non-Employee  Directors' Stock  Option Plan  (the "Directors'
Plan") to  provide for  the automatic  grant of  options to  purchase shares  of
Common  Stock to non-employee  directors of the Company.  The Directors' Plan is
administered  by   the  Board   of  Directors,   unless  the   Board   delegates
administration to a committee comprised of members of the Board.
 
    The  maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to
options granted under the Directors' Plan  is 200,000. Pursuant to the terms  of
the  Directors' Plan, each director of the Company not otherwise employed by the
Company and who is first elected as a non-employee director after the completion
of this offering  automatically will  be granted  an option  to purchase  15,000
shares  of Common Stock upon such election. Finally, each director who continues
to serve as a non-employee director of the Company will be granted an additional
option to purchase 3,000 shares of Common Stock on December 31 of each year. All
such options vest one-third on  the first anniversary of  the date of grant  and
one-third per year thereafter.
 
    In   the  event   of  a   merger,  consolidation,   reverse  reorganization,
dissolution, sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, or  certain
changes  in the beneficial ownership of the Company's securities representing at
least a  50%  change of  such  ownership,  then options  outstanding  under  the
Directors' Plan will automatically become fully vested and will terminate if not
exercised prior to such event.
 
    No  option  granted under  the Directors'  Plan may  be exercised  after the
expiration of ten  years from the  date it  was granted. The  exercise price  of
options under the Directors' Plan will equal the fair market value of the Common
Stock  on the date of grant. The Directors' Plan will terminate in January 2006,
unless earlier  terminated  by the  Board.  See Note  7  of Notes  to  Financial
Statements.
 
                                       57
<PAGE>
                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
    In  June and  July 1992,  14 investors  purchased an  aggregate of 5,000,000
shares of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock at a per share price of  $0.50.
Institutional  Venture Partners V  and Institutional Venture  Management V, each
affiliated with Institutional Venture Partners ("IVP"), purchased 2,955,000  and
45,000  shares,  respectively,  of  Series  A  Preferred  Stock.  IVP  is  a  5%
stockholder of the Company, and Reid W. Dennis and L. James Strand, directors of
the Company, are each General Partners of IVP. J. Leighton Read, M.D.,  Chairman
of  the Board of Directors, Chief  Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
of the  Company, and  Bernard  Roizman, a  director  of the  Company,  purchased
500,000 and 100,000 shares, respectively, of Series A Preferred Stock. Albert L.
Zesiger, a member of Zesiger Capital Group LLC, a 5% stockholder of the Company,
purchased  300,000 shares of Series A  Preferred Stock. Peter Palese and Richard
Whitley, two  of the  founders  of the  Company,  purchased 100,000  and  10,000
shares,  respectively, of Series A Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock
purchased by the IVP  affiliates and by Drs.  Read, Roizman, Palese and  Whitley
were  purchased on  the same  terms and conditions  as Series  A Preferred Stock
purchased by other investors. The Series  A Preferred Stock is convertible  into
Common  Stock of the Company at  the rate of one share  of Common Stock for each
five shares of Series A Preferred Stock owned.
 
    In September 1993, 34 investors purchased an aggregate of 16,666,667  shares
of  the  Company's Series  B  Preferred Stock  at a  per  share price  of $0.90.
Institutional  Venture  Partners  V  and  Institutional  Venture  Management   V
purchased  1,361,667  and 27,767  shares,  respectively, of  Series  B Preferred
Stock. In addition, Institutional Venture  Partners V and Institutional  Venture
Management  V  received 1,633,333  shares  and 33,333  shares,  respectively, of
Series B Preferred Stock upon  conversion of promissory notes, bearing  interest
at  a 4% annualized rate and aggregating $1,500,000, which the Company issued to
these entities in connection with bridge  loan financing in June 1993.  Entities
affiliated  with  Accel Partners,  a 5%  stockholder  of the  Company, purchased
shares of Series B Preferred Stock  as follows: Accel IV L.P., 2,811,111  shares
and  Accel Japan L.P., 244,444  shares. Paul H. Klingenstein,  a director of the
Company, is a General Partner of Accel Partners. Entities controlled by  Zesiger
Capital  Group  LLC, an  affiliate  of Abingworth  Bioventures  SICAV, purchased
2,065,000 shares  of Series  B  Preferred Stock.  Abingworth Bioventures,  a  5%
stockholder  of the  Company, purchased 2,777,778  shares of  Series B Preferred
Stock. Entities affiliated with Brinson Partners, Inc., a 5% stockholder of  the
Company,  purchased shares of Series B Preferred Stock as follows: Brinson Trust
Company as trustee of the Brinson MAP Venture Capital Fund III, 311,598  shares,
and  Brinson  Venture  Capital Fund  III,  1,910,624 shares.  Peter  Palese also
purchased 55,556 shares  of Series  B Preferred  Stock. The  Series B  Preferred
Stock  purchased by the affiliates of 5%  stockholders of the Company and by Dr.
Palese were purchased on the same terms and conditions as the Series B Preferred
Stock purchased by other investors. The Series B Preferred Stock is  convertible
into  Common Stock of the Company  at the rate of one  share of Common Stock for
each five shares of Series B Preferred Stock owned.
 
    In September 1993, the Company issued warrants to purchase 400,000 shares of
its Series B Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $1.25 per share to entities
affiliated with IVP. The warrants expired unexercised in June 1995.
 
    In May  1995, Sang-A  Pharm. Co.,  Ltd., a  5% stockholder  of the  Company,
purchased  2,941,863 shares of Series C Preferred  Stock at $1.35 per share. The
Series C Preferred Stock is convertible into Common Stock of the Company at  the
rate  of one share  of Common Stock for  each five shares  of Series C Preferred
Stock owned.
 
    From July  through November  1995, 66  investors purchased  an aggregate  of
13,099,707 shares of the Company's Series C Preferred Stock at a per share price
of  $1.35. Dr.  Bernard Roizman  purchased 20,000  shares of  Series C Preferred
Stock. Institutional Venture Partners V  and Institutional Venture Management  V
purchased  653,332 and 13,335 shares, respectively, of Series C Preferred Stock.
Various entities affiliated  with Accel  Partners purchased shares  of Series  C
Preferred  Stock as follows:  Accel Investors '93 L.P.,  41,112 shares; Accel IV
L.P., 930,000  shares; Accel  Japan L.P.,  88,890 shares;  Accel Keiretsu  L.P.,
20,000  shares;  Ellmore  C.  Patterson  Partners,  24,444  shares;  and Prosper
Partners, 6,666 shares. Sang-A  Pharm. Co., Ltd.  purchased 1,187,295 shares  of
Series C Preferred Stock. Orefund, whose investment in the Company is controlled
by  Zesiger Capital Group LLC, purchased  1,481,400 shares of Series C Preferred
Stock. Abingworth  Bioventures  SICAV  purchased  370,370  shares  of  Series  C
Preferred Stock. Biotech Growth, a 5% stockholder of the
 
                                       58
<PAGE>
Company,  purchased  3,000,000  shares  of Series  C  Preferred  Stock. Entities
affiliated with Brinson Partners,  Inc. purchased shares  of Series C  Preferred
Stock  as follows: First National  Bank of Chicago, as  custodian to the Brinson
MAP Venture Capital Fund III, 36,872 shares, and First National Bank of Chicago,
as custodian to  the Brinson  Venture Capital  Fund III,  226,091 shares.  Sally
Whitley,  wife of Richard Whitley purchased  10,000 shares of Series C Preferred
Stock. The Series  C Preferred shares  purchased by the  5% stockholders of  the
Company  and their affiliates and by Dr. Roizman and Mrs. Whitley were purchased
on the same terms and conditions as Series C Preferred shares purchased by other
investors. The Series C Preferred Stock is convertible into Common Stock of  the
Company  at the rate of one share of Common Stock for each five shares of Series
C Preferred Stock owned.
 
    In March 1996, Sang-A Pharm Co.,  Ltd. purchased 136,326 shares of Series  C
Preferred  Stock, at a price of $1.35 per share. The Series C Preferred Stock is
convertible into Common Stock of the Company at the rate of one share of  Common
Stock for each five shares of Series C Preferred Stock owned.
 
    Vera  Kallmeyer, Vice President, Corporate Development  of the Company, is a
founder, senior  advisor,  and  15% shareholder  of  Pacific  Futures  (formerly
Pacific  Century),  a  Hong  Kong-based  investment  advisory  business. Pacific
Futures received a sales commission on the  sale of Series C Preferred Stock  to
Sang-A,  in an aggregate amount of  $334,462 during 1995. Dr. Kallmeyer received
no portion of such sales commission,  and is currently receiving no salary  from
Pacific Futures.
 
    Pursuant  to certain  offer letters to  certain of its  senior officers, the
Company made loans to  these officers to facilitate  home purchases and  certain
other commitments. As of June 1, 1996, the amounts outstanding for principal and
interest on these loans was $40,388 to Martin L. Bryant and $40,388 to Victor A.
Jegede. See "Management -- Employment Contracts."
 
    In  January 1996, the  Company extended loans to  certain senior officers to
facilitate the early  exercise of options  to purchase shares  of Common  Stock,
including  loans of $70,000 to Dr. Patzer; $65,000 to Dr. Bryant; $65,000 to Dr.
Jegede; $70,000 to Dr. Cano; and $40,000 to Dr. Kallmeyer. The loans bear simple
interest at a  rate of  5.73% per year.  Principal on  each loan is  due on  the
earlier of 50 months from the date of the underlying option grant or the date of
employment termination.
 
    See also "Management -- Employment Contracts."
 
                                       59
<PAGE>
                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
 
    The  following  table sets  forth  certain information  regarding beneficial
ownership of the  Company's Common Stock  as of June  1, 1996 held  by (i)  each
person  who is  known by  the Company to  own beneficially  more than  5% of the
outstanding shares  of Common  Stock,  (ii) each  director and  Named  Executive
Officer  of the Company, and  (iii) all directors and  executive officers of the
Company as a group.  Unless otherwise indicated below,  to the knowledge of  the
Company,  all persons  listed below have  sole voting and  investment power with
respect to  their shares  of Common  Stock, except  to the  extent authority  is
shared  by spouses  under applicable law.  Except as otherwise  noted below, the
address of  each person  listed below  is c/o  the Company,  297 North  Bernardo
Avenue, Mountain View, California 94043.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                PERCENTAGE OF
                                                                                             SHARES BENEFICIALLY
                                                                                                  OWNED (1)
                                                                                 SHARES      -------------------
                                                                              BENEFICIALLY   PRIOR TO    AFTER
BENEFICIAL OWNER                                                               OWNED (1)     OFFERING   OFFERING
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------   --------   --------
<S>                                                                           <C>            <C>        <C>
Entities affiliated with Institutional Venture Partners (2) ................   1,344,553      15.02%     10.94%
  3000 Sand Hill Road
  Building 2, Suite 290
  Menlo Park, CA 94025
Sang-A Pharm. Co., Ltd. (3) ................................................     853,096       9.53%      9.66%
  640-9 Deung Chon Dung
  Kangseo-Ku
  Seoul, South Korea
Entities affiliated with Accel Partners (4) ................................     833,330       9.31%      6.78%
  One Embarcadero Center, Suite 3820
  San Francisco, CA 94111
Entities controlled by Zesiger Capital Group LLC (5) .......................     769,280       8.59%      6.26%
  320 Park Avenue
  New York, NY 10022
Abingworth Bioventures SICAV ...............................................     629,629       7.03%      5.12%
  26 St. James's Street
  London SW1A 1HA England
Biotech Growth .............................................................     600,000       6.70%      4.88%
  Bellevue Asset Management
  Grundstrasse 12
  CH-6343 Rotkreuz
  Switzerland
Entities affiliated with Brinson Partners, Inc. (6) ........................     497,035       5.55%      4.05%
  209 South LaSalle Street, Suite 114
  Chicago, IL 60604-1295
J. Leighton Read, M.D. (7)..................................................     395,000       4.41%      3.22%
Martin L. Bryant, M.D., Ph.D. (8)...........................................      34,640       *          *
Victor Jegede, Ph.D. (9)....................................................      34,640       *          *
Vera Kallmeyer, M.D., Ph.D. (10)............................................      45,673       *          *
Eric J. Patzer, Ph.D. (11)..................................................      40,000       *          *
Reid W. Dennis (2)..........................................................   1,344,553      15.02%     10.94%
Paul H. Klingenstein (4)....................................................     833,330       9.31%      6.78%
Bernard Roizman, Sc.D. (12).................................................     175,200       1.96%      1.43%
Jane E. Shaw, Ph.D. (13)....................................................       4,000       *          *
L. James Strand, M.D. (14)..................................................   1,354,553      15.12%     11.02%
All directors and executive officers as a group
  (11 persons) (15).........................................................   2,917,036      32.38%     23.63%
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------
*   Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the outstanding shares of
    the Company's Common Stock.
 
                                       60
<PAGE>
(1)  Calculated  as  if all  outstanding  shares  of Preferred  Stock  have been
    converted into Common Stock at a ratio of five shares of Preferred Stock for
    one share of Common Stock. Beneficial ownership is determined in  accordance
    with  the  rules of  the Securities  and  Exchange Commission  and generally
    includes voting or investment power  with respect to securities.  Beneficial
    ownership  also includes  shares of  stock subject  to options  and warrants
    currently exercisable or convertible,  or exercisable or convertible  within
    60  days of the  date of this  table. Percentage of  beneficial ownership is
    based on 8,952,657 shares  of Common Stock outstanding  as of June 1,  1996,
    and  12,285,990 shares of Common Stock  outstanding after completion of this
    offering and the concurrent sale of the Sang-A Shares.
 
(2) Includes  1,320,666 shares  held  by Institutional  Venture Partners  V  and
    23,887  shares  held by  Institutional Venture  Management  V, of  which Mr.
    Dennis, a  Director  of the  Company  is a  general  partner.  Institutional
    Venture  Management  V  is  the  general  partner  of  Institutional Venture
    Partners V. Mr. Dennis disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held  by
    Institutional  Venture Partners  V and  Institutional Venture  Management V,
    except to the extent of his pecuniary interests therein.
 
(3)  Percentage  of  shares  beneficially  owned  after  offering  includes  the
    estimated  333,333  shares Sang-A  intends to  purchase concurrent  with the
    offering.
 
(4) Includes 697,500 shares held by Accel IV, L.P., 66,666 shares held by  Accel
    Japan,  L.P., 30,833 shares held by Accel Investors '93, L.P., 18,332 shares
    held by Ellmore C. Patterson Partners, 15,000 shares held by Accel Keiretsu,
    L.P. and 4,999 shares held by Prosper Partners. Mr. Klingenstein, a Director
    of the Company  is a  general partner  of Accel  Partners. Mr.  Klingenstein
    disclaims  beneficial ownership of the shares  held by Accel IV, L.P., Accel
    Japan, L.P.,  Accel  Investors '93,  L.P.,  Ellmore C.  Patterson  Partners,
    Prosper  Partners  and Accel  Keiretsu, L.P.,  except to  the extent  of his
    pecuniary interests therein.
 
(5) Includes  8,000 shares  held by  A. Carey  Zesiger Revocable  Trust,  22,000
    shares  held by  Atwell & Co.,  11,000 shares  held by Batrus  & Co., 11,000
    shares held by Booth  & Co., 11,000  shares held by  Calmont & Co.,  100,000
    shares held by Comply & Co., 33,000 shares held by Daly & Co., 28,000 shares
    held by Heil & Co., 17,000 shares held by J.C. Orr & Co., 90,000 shares held
    by  Kane & Co., 17,000 shares held  by Domenic Mizio, 296,280 shares held by
    Orefund, 28,000 shares held by Sigler & Co., 60,000 shares held by Albert L.
    Zesiger, 7,000 shares held by Alexa L. Zesiger, 22,000 shares held by  Barry
    Ramsay  Zesiger and 8,000 shares held  by Nicola L. Zesiger. Zesiger Capital
    Group LLC disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares.
 
(6) Includes 427,342 shares held by  Brinson Venture Capital Fund III, L.P.  and
    69,693  shares held by Brinson  Trust Company as Trustee  of The Brinson MAP
    Venture Capital Fund III.
 
(7) Includes 40,000 shares Dr. Read  acquired pursuant to the exercise of  stock
    options.  Also includes an aggregate of  110,000 shares acquired pursuant to
    an early exercise of stock options, of which an aggregate of 76,400 will  be
    subject  to repurchase by the Company as  of July 31, 1996. Also includes an
    aggregate of 32,000 shares held by The Travis Read 1993 Trust and The  Haley
    Read  1993 Trust (the  "Trusts") of which Robert  Fitzwilson is the trustee.
    Dr. Read disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Trusts.
 
(8) Includes  26,000 shares  acquired pursuant  to an  early exercise  of  stock
    options,  of which 22,880 will be subject to repurchase by the Company as of
    July 31,  1996. Also  includes 8,640  shares  Dr. Bryant  has the  right  to
    acquire pursuant to options exercisable as of July 31, 1996.
 
(9)  Includes  26,000 shares  acquired pursuant  to an  early exercise  of stock
    options, of which 22,880 will be subject to repurchase by the Company as  of
    July  31,  1996. Also  includes 8,640  shares  Dr. Jegede  has the  right to
    acquire pursuant to options exercisable as of July 31, 1996.
 
(10) Includes 16,000  shares acquired  pursuant to  an early  exercise of  stock
    options,  of which 14,080 will be subject to repurchase by the Company as of
    July 31, 1996. Also  includes 29,673 shares Dr.  Kallmeyer has the right  to
    acquire pursuant to options exercisable as of July 31, 1996.
 
(11)  Includes 40,000  shares acquired  pursuant to  an early  exercise of stock
    options, all of which are subject to repurchase by the Company.
 
                                       61
<PAGE>
(12) Includes 12,000 shares which are  subject to repurchase by the Company  and
    1,200  shares  Dr. Roizman  has  the right  to  acquire pursuant  to options
    exercisable as of July 31, 1996.
 
(13) Includes 4,000 shares Dr. Shaw has the right to acquire pursuant to options
    exercisable as of July 31, 1996.
 
(14) Includes 1,320,666 shares  held by Institutional  Venture Partners V  ("IVP
    V"),  of which Dr.  Strand is a  limited partner, and  23,887 shares held by
    Insitutional Venture Management V,  which is the general  partner of IVP  V,
    and  5,000 shares Dr.  Strand has the  right to acquire  pursuant to options
    exercisable as of July 31,  1996. Dr. Strand disclaims beneficial  ownership
    of the shares held by IVP V and Institutional Venture Management V.
 
(15)  Includes  2,177,883  shares  held  by  entities  affiliated  with  certain
    directors of the Company as described in footnotes 2 and 3 above and  57,153
    shares subject to options exercisable as of July 31, 1996.
 
                                       62
<PAGE>
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
    The  following description of  the capital stock of  the Company and certain
provisions of  the  Company's Certificate  of  Incorporation and  Bylaws  to  be
effective  upon completion of this offering is a summary and is qualified in its
entirety by the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, which
have been filed as  exhibits to the Company's  Registration Statement, of  which
this Prospectus is a part.
 
    Upon  the  closing of  this offering,  the authorized  capital stock  of the
Company will consist of 30,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001  and
5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
    Upon  completion of this offering, there will be 12,285,990 shares of Common
Stock outstanding (plus up to 38,888 shares that may be issued upon exercise  of
outstanding  warrants). The holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for
each  share  held  of  record  on  all  matters  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the
stockholders.  The holders of Common Stock are not entitled to cumulative voting
rights with respect to the election of directors, and as a consequence, minority
stockholders will not be  able to elect  directors on the  basis of their  votes
alone.
 
    Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding shares
of Preferred Stock, holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably such
dividends  as may  be declared by  the Board  of Directors out  of funds legally
available therefore.  See  "Dividend  Policy."  In  the  event  of  liquidation,
dissolution  or  winding up  of the  Company,  holders of  the Common  Stock are
entitled to share ratably in all  assets remaining after payment of  liabilities
and  the  liquidation preference  of any  then  outstanding shares  of Preferred
Stock. Holders of Common Stock have no preemptive rights and no right to convert
their Common Stock into any other securities. There are no redemption or sinking
fund provisions applicable to the Common Stock. All outstanding shares of Common
Stock are, and all shares of Common  Stock to be outstanding upon completion  of
this offering will be, fully paid and nonassessable.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
    Upon  the closing of  this offering, all outstanding  Preferred Stock of the
Company will be converted  into Common Stock. The  Board of Directors will  have
the  authority,  without further  action  by the  stockholders,  to issue  up to
5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and to fix the rights,
preferences, privileges  and restrictions  thereof, including  dividend  rights,
conversion  rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences,
sinking fund  terms and  the number  of shares  constituting any  series or  the
designation  of  such  series,  without  any  further  vote  or  action  by  the
stockholders. The issuance of Preferred Stock could adversely affect the  voting
power  of holders  of Common  Stock and  the likelihood  that such  holders will
receive dividend payments and payments upon  liquidation may have the effect  of
delaying,  deferring or  preventing a  change in  control of  the Company, which
could have  a depressive  effect on  the market  price of  the Company's  Common
Stock. The Company has no present plan to issue any shares of Preferred Stock.
 
WARRANTS
 
    In February 1993, the Company entered into an agreement with The Mount Sinai
School  of Medicine of  the City University  of New York  ("Mount Sinai"), under
which Mount Sinai transferred to the  Company rights to certain patents,  patent
applications,  and associated  know-how and  other technical  information. Mount
Sinai also granted the Company (i) an option to acquire any improvements to  the
inventions  disclosed in the licensed patents and patent applications thereafter
developed by Mount Sinai and (ii) a right of first negotiation for a license  or
assignment  to certain related technology.  In connection with these agreements,
the Company  issued to  Mount Sinai  warrants (the  "Mount Sinai  Warrants")  to
purchase,  in the aggregate, 225,000 shares  of the Company's Series A Preferred
Stock (45,000 shares of Common Stock  upon conversion of the Series A  Preferred
Stock).  Each Mount  Sinai Warrant  is exercisable  for a  period of  five years
commencing upon the occurrence of  specified milestone events, which  accelerate
upon  the effectiveness  of this  offering. Warrants  to purchase  45,000 of the
shares are exercisable at a purchase price of $0.90 per share (convertible  into
9,000  shares of Common Stock) issuable  upon exercise of the warrants. Warrants
to purchase 148,750  of the shares  will become exercisable  upon the  effective
date  of this offering, at a purchase price per share of Common Stock receivable
upon
 
                                       63
<PAGE>
conversion of  the  Series A  Preferred  Stock  issuable upon  exercise  of  the
warrants  equal to  125% of the  per share  price of this  offering. Warrants to
purchase the remaining 31,250 shares will  be canceled on the effective date  of
this  offering. See  "Business --  Collaborative Agreements  -- The  Mount Sinai
School of Medicine of the City University of New York."
 
    In connection  with an  agreement entered  into in  February 1995  with  the
University  of Michigan  ("Michigan"), under  which Michigan  transferred to the
Company certain  intellectual  property  rights and  technology  (the  "Michigan
Technology"),  the Company agreed to issue  to Michigan a warrant (the "Michigan
Warrant") to purchase shares of its Common Stock upon the first commercial  sale
of a product incorporating the Michigan Technology, for a number of shares equal
to  1.25% of  the total  issued and outstanding  shares of  the Company's Common
Stock as of  the date of  such first  commercial sale (excluding  shares of  the
Company's  Common Stock issued by the Company in connection with its acquisition
of another company,  in connection  with any  corporate partnering  transaction,
issued  in connection with other technology transfers not involving the Michigan
Technology, or unvested  employee or  director option  shares), at  a per  share
exercise  price equal to  125% of the  price of this  Offering. See "Business --
Collaborative Agreements -- University of Michigan."
 
    In connection with  a private  placement of  Series C  Preferred Stock,  the
Company  issued to the placement  agent a warrant to  purchase 352,536 shares of
its  Series  C  Preferred  Stock  at  an  exercise  price  of  $1.62  per  share
(convertible  into  70,507  shares of  Common  Stock), exercisable  at  any time
through November 9, 2000.
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
 
   
    The holders (or  their permitted transferees)  ("Holders") of  approximately
8,433,659  shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase approximately 148,145
shares of  Common Stock  are entitled  to  certain rights  with respect  to  the
registration of such shares under the Securities Act. If the Company proposes to
register  any of  its securities  under the Securities  Act, either  for its own
account or for the account of  other security holders, the Holders are  entitled
to  notice of  the registration  and are entitled  to include,  at the Company's
expense, such shares therein.  In addition, certain of  the Holders may  require
the Company at its expense on not more than two occasions to file a Registration
Statement  under  the Securities  Act, with  respect to  their shares  of Common
Stock, and  the Company  is  required to  use its  best  efforts to  effect  the
registration,  subject  to  certain  conditions  and  limitations.  Further, the
Holders may require the Company at its expense to register their shares on  Form
S-3  when  such  form  becomes  available to  the  Company,  subject  to certain
conditions and limitations.
    
 
DELAWARE ANTI-TAKEOVER LAW AND CERTAIN CHARTER PROVISIONS
 
    Upon completion of  the Company's reincorporation  in Delaware, the  Company
will  be  subject to  the  provisions of  Section  203 of  the  Delaware General
Corporation Law  (the "Delaware  Law"), an  anti-takeover 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.
A  "business combination"  includes a  merger, asset  sale or  other transaction
resulting in a  financial benefit to  the stockholder. For  purposes of  Section
203,  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 voting stock.
 
    Upon  completion of the Company's reincorporation in Delaware, the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation will  provide that each director  will serve for  a
three-year  term, with  approximately one-third of  the directors  to be elected
annually. Candidates  for  director  may  be nominated  only  by  the  Board  of
Directors  or by a stockholder who gives  written notice to the Company at least
20 days before the annual meeting. The Company may have the number of  directors
as  determined from time to time to pursuant to a resolution of the Board, which
currently consists of six members.  Between stockholder meetings, the Board  may
appoint  new directors  to fill  vacancies or  newly created  directorships. The
Certificate will not provide for  cumulative voting at stockholder meetings  for
election  of directors. As  a result, stockholders controlling  more than 50% of
the outstanding Common  Stock can  elect the  entire Board  of Directors,  while
stockholders  controlling 49% of the outstanding Common Stock may not be able to
elect any directors. A director may be removed from office only for cause by the
affirmative vote  of  a  majority of  the  combined  voting power  of  the  then
outstanding  shares  of stock  entitled  to vote  generally  in the  election of
directors.
 
                                       64
<PAGE>
    Upon completion of the Company's reincorporation in Delaware, the  Company's
Certificate  of Incorporation will require that any action required or permitted
to be taken by  stockholders of the  Company must be effected  at a duly  called
annual  or special meeting of stockholders and  may not be effected by a consent
in writing. The Company's  Certificate of Incorporation  also provides that  the
authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the Board of
Directors.  See "Management --  Directors and Executive  Officers." Delaware Law
and these charter provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile  takeovers
or  delaying changes in control or management of the Company, which could have a
depressive effect on the market price of the Company's Common Stock.
 
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
 
    Upon completion of the Company's reincorporation in Delaware, the  Company's
Certificate  of Incorporation  will contain  certain provisions  permitted under
Delaware Law relating to the liability of directors. These provisions  eliminate
a  director's personal liability for monetary damages resulting from a breach of
fiduciary duty, except in certain circumstances involving certain wrongful acts,
such as (i) for any breach of the  director's duty of loyalty to the Company  or
its  stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the
director derives an improper personal benefit. These provisions do not limit  or
eliminate  the rights  of the  Company or  any stockholder  to seek non-monetary
relief, such  as an  injunction  or rescission,  in the  event  of a  breach  of
director's fiduciary duty. These provisions will not alter a directors liability
under  federal securities laws. The  Company's Certificate of Incorporation also
contains provisions indemnifying the  directors and officers  of the Company  to
the  fullest extent permitted  by Delaware General  Corporation Law. The Company
believes that  these  provisions  will  assist the  Company  in  attracting  and
retaining qualified individuals to serve as directors.
 
TRANSFER AGENT
 
    The transfer agent for the Common Stock of the Company is The First National
Bank of Boston.
 
                                       65
<PAGE>
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
    Prior  to this offering, there has not been any public market for the Common
Stock of the Company.  Further sales of substantial  amounts of Common Stock  in
the  open  market may  adversely affect  the  market price  of the  Common Stock
offered hereby.
 
    Upon completion of this offering, based on the number of shares  outstanding
as of June 1, 1996, the Company will have outstanding an aggregate of 12,285,990
shares  of Common Stock  assuming (i) the  issuance by the  Company of 3,000,000
shares of Common Stock offered hereby,  (ii) the issuance of the 333,333  Sang-A
Shares,  (iii)  no  issuance  of  148,145 shares  of  Common  Stock  relating to
outstanding warrants to purchase Common  Stock, (iv) no exercise of  outstanding
options  exercisable  to purchase  643,480 shares  of Common  Stock, and  (v) no
exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment  option to purchase 450,000  shares
of Common Stock. Of these shares, 3,000,000 shares sold in this offering will be
freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities
Act,  except for  shares held  by "affiliates"  of the  Company as  that term is
defined in Rule 144 under  the Securities Act (whose  sales would be subject  to
certain  limitations  and  restrictions  described  below)  and  the regulations
promulgated thereunder.
 
   
    The remaining  8,952,657  shares  held by  officers,  directors,  employees,
consultants  and other shareholders of  the Company were sold  by the Company in
reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities  Act
and  are  "restricted"  securities within  the  meaning  of Rule  144  under the
Securities Act. Approximately 149,329  of these shares of  Common Stock will  be
eligible  for  sale  in  the  public  market  upon  the  effective  date  of the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part (the "Effective Date")
in reliance on Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act. Beginning 90 days after the
Effective Date, an additional  37,395 of these shares  will become eligible  for
sale  subject to the provisions of Rule 144  and Rule 701 of the Securities Act.
Beginning 180 days after  the Effective Date, an  additional 5,311,881 of  these
shares  will become eligible for  sale subject to the  provisions of Rule 144 or
Rule 701 upon the expiration of agreements not to sell such shares. In addition,
90 days after the Effective Date, 283,160 shares subject to vested options  will
be  available for sale, subject  to compliance with Rule  701, and an additional
33,726 shares subject to additional vested options and 148,145 shares subject to
exercisable warrants  will be  available for  sale upon  the expiration  of  the
Lock-Up Period described below.
    
 
    Each  officer, director and certain stockholders  of the Company have agreed
with the representatives of the Underwriters for a period of 180 days after  the
effective  date of  this Prospectus (the  "Lock-Up Period"),  subject to certain
exceptions, not to offer to sell,  contract to sell, or otherwise sell,  dispose
of, loan, pledge or grant any rights with respect to any shares of Common Stock,
any  options  or  warrants  to  purchase any  shares  of  Common  Stock,  or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock owned  as
of  the date of this Prospectus or  thereafter acquired directly by such holders
or  with  respect  to  which  they  have  or  hereafter  acquire  the  power  of
disposition, without the prior written consent of Robertson, Stephens & Company.
However,  Robertson, Stephens & Company  may, in its sole  discretion and at any
time without notice,  release all or  any portion of  the securities subject  to
lock-up  agreements. In addition, the Company has agreed that during the Lock-Up
Period, the Company will  not, without the prior  written consent of  Robertson,
Stephens  & Company,  subject to  certain exceptions,  issue, sell,  contract to
sell, or  otherwise dispose  of, any  shares  of Common  Stock, any  options  or
warrants  to purchase any  shares of Common Stock  or any securities convertible
into, exercisable for or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock.
 
    In general, under  Rule 144  as currently in  effect, a  person (or  persons
whose shares are aggregated), including an affiliate, who has beneficially owned
shares for at least two years is entitled to sell, within any three-month period
commencing  90 days after the  Effective Date, a number  of shares that does not
exceed the greater  of (i) 1%  of the  then outstanding shares  of Common  Stock
(approximately  122,860 shares  outstanding immediately after  this offering) or
(ii) the  average weekly  trading volume  in the  Common Stock  during the  four
calendar  weeks preceding such  sale, subject to  the filing of  a Form 144 with
respect to  such  sale  and  certain  other  limitations  and  restrictions.  In
addition, a person who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of the Company at
any  time during  the three  months preceding a  sale, and  who has beneficially
owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least three years, would be entitled
to   sell   such   shares   under   Rule   144(k)   without   regard   to    the
 
                                       66
<PAGE>
requirements  described above. To  the extent that shares  were acquired from an
affiliate of the Company, such stockholder's  holding period for the purpose  of
effecting  a sale  under Rule  144 commences  on the  date of  transfer from the
affiliate.
 
    Any employee,  officer or  director  of or  consultant  to the  Company  who
purchased shares or was granted options to purchase shares pursuant to a written
compensatory  plan or contract  ("Rule 701 Shares")  is entitled to  rely on the
resale provisions of  Rule 701. Rule  701 permits non-affiliates  to sell  their
Rule   701  Shares  without  having   to  comply  with  the  public-information,
holding-period, volume-limitation or notice provisions  of Rule 144 and  permits
affiliates  to sell  their Rule  701 Shares  without having  to comply  with the
holding period restrictions of Rule 144,  in each case commencing 90 days  after
the  Effective  Date.  However, all  officers  and directors  and  certain other
stockholders have agreed not to sell or otherwise dispose of Common Stock of the
Company  during  the  Lock-Up  Period  without  the  prior  written  consent  of
Robertson, Stephens & Company. See "Underwriting."
 
    The  Company intends to  file a registration  statement under the Securities
Act to register shares  of Common Stock reserved  for issuance under the  Option
Plan,  thus permitting the resale of such shares by non-affiliates in the public
market without restriction under the Securities Act. Such registration statement
will become effective immediately upon filing.
 
                                       67
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
    The  Underwriters  named   below,  acting   through  their   representatives
Robertson,  Stephens & Company  LLC, Bear, Stearns  & Co. Inc.,  and Hambrecht &
Quist LLC (the "Representatives"), have  severally agreed, subject to the  terms
and  conditions of the Underwriting Agreement,  to purchase from the Company the
number of  shares of  Common Stock  set forth  opposite their  names below.  The
Underwriters  are committed to purchase and pay  for all such shares, if any are
purchased.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   NUMBER OF
                           UNDERWRITER                               SHARES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
<S>                                                                <C>
Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC................................
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc..........................................
Hambrecht & Quist LLC............................................
 
                                                                   ----------
    Total........................................................   3,000,000
                                                                   ----------
                                                                   ----------
</TABLE>
 
    The Representatives have advised the  Company that the Underwriters  propose
to offer the shares of Common Stock to the public at the initial public offering
price  set forth on the cover page of  this Prospectus and to certain dealers at
such price less a  concession of not  more than $           per share, of  which
$         may be  reallowed to other dealers. After the initial public offering,
the public offering price, concession and reallowance to dealers may be  reduced
by the Representatives. No such reduction shall change the amount of proceeds to
be received by the Company as set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus.
 
    The  Company has granted  to the Underwriters  an option, exercisable during
the 30-day period after the date of  this Prospectus, to purchase up to  450,000
additional  shares of Common  Stock at the  same price per  share as the Company
will receive  for the  3,000,000 shares  that the  Underwriters have  agreed  to
purchase.  To the extent that the Underwriters exercise such option, each of the
Underwriters will  have a  firm commitment  to purchase  approximately the  same
percentage  of such additional shares that the  number of shares of Common Stock
to be purchased by it shown in the above table represents as a percentage of the
3,000,000 shares offered hereby.  If purchased, such  additional shares will  be
sold  by the  Underwriters on  the same  terms as  those on  which the 3,000,000
shares are being sold.
 
    The  Underwriting  Agreement  contains  covenants  of  indemnity  among  the
Underwriters  and  the  Company  against  certain  civil  liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities  Act and liabilities  arising from breaches  of
representations and warranties contained in the Underwriting Agreement.
 
    Each  executive officer and  director and certain  other shareholders of the
Company have agreed with the Representatives for the Lock-Up Period not to offer
to sell, contract to sell, or otherwise sell, dispose of, loan, pledge or  grant
any  rights with respect to any shares  of Common Stock, any options or warrants
to purchase any shares  of Common Stock, or  any securities convertible into  or
exchangeable  for shares of Common Stock owned as of the date of this Prospectus
or thereafter acquired directly  by such holders or  with respect to which  they
have  or hereinafter acquire the power of disposition, without the prior written
consent of Robertson,  Stephens &  Company LLC. However,  Robertson, Stephens  &
Company  LLC may,  in its  sole discretion  at any  time or  from time  to time,
without notice, release  all or  any portion of  the securities  subject to  the
lock-up  agreements. Approximately 5,311,881 of such shares will be eligible for
immediate public sale following expiration of the Lock-Up Period, subject to the
provisions of Rule  144. In  addition, the Company  has agreed  that during  the
Lock-Up  Period, it  will not, without  the prior written  consent of Robertson,
Stephens & Company LLC,  issue, sell, contract to  sell or otherwise dispose  of
any  shares of Common Stock,  any options or warrants  to purchase any shares of
Common Stock or any securities convertible into, exercisable for or exchangeable
for shares of  Common Stock other  than the  issuance of Common  Stock upon  the
exercise  of outstanding options and under  the existing employee stock purchase
plan and the Company's issuance of options under existing employee stock  option
plans. See "Shares Eligible For Future Sale."
 
                                       68
<PAGE>
    The  Underwriters do not intend to confirm  sales to any accounts over which
they exercise discretionary authority in excess of 5% of the number of shares of
Common Stock offered hereby.
 
    Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock
of the Company. Consequently, the initial  public offering price for the  Common
Stock  offered hereby was determined through  negotiations among the Company and
the Representatives.  Among the  factors considered  in such  negotiations  were
prevailing  market  conditions, certain  financial  information of  the Company,
market valuations of other  companies that the  Company and the  Representatives
believe  to be comparable to the Company, estimates of the business potential of
the Company, the present  state of the Company's  development and other  factors
deemed relevant.
 
    In  addition  to the  3,000,000 shares  of Common  Stock to  be sold  by the
Company in this offering, concurrent with  this offering the Company intends  to
sell  in a private placement a number of  shares of Common Stock equal to 10% of
the aggregate  number  of  shares sold  in  this  offering and  in  the  private
placement  at  the  initial  public offering  price  per  share  (333,333 shares
assuming a purchase price of $12.00 per share); provided however, that the total
number of shares to be purchased by Sang-A will not exceed $5,000,000 divided by
the initial public  offering price.  Such sale will  be effected  pursuant to  a
separate agreement with Sang-A and not pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
 
    An  individual associated  with Bear, Stearns  & Co.  Inc. beneficially owns
10,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    The validity of  the shares of  Common Stock offered  hereby will be  passed
upon  for the  Company by  Cooley Godward Castro  Huddleson &  Tatum, Palo Alto,
California. GC&H Investments,  an entity affiliated  with Cooley Godward  Castro
Huddleson  &  Tatum, beneficially  owns 22,000  shares  of the  Company's Common
Stock. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters by  Wilson
Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Palo Alto, California.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The  financial statements of Aviron as of December 31, 1994 and 1995 and for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995 appearing in  this
Prospectus  and Registration Statement  have been audited by  Ernst & Young LLP,
independent auditors, as set  forth in their  report theron appearing  elsewhere
herein  and are included in reliance upon  such report given on the authority of
such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
    A Registration Statement on Form S-1, including amendments thereto, relating
to the  Common Stock  offered hereby  has been  filed by  the Company  with  the
Securities  and Exchange Commission. This Prospectus does not contain all of the
information set  forth  in  the  Registration Statement  and  the  exhibits  and
schedules thereto. Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of
any  contract or other document referred to  are not necessarily complete and in
each instance reference is made to 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. For  further  information  with
respect to the Company and the Common Stock offered hereby, reference is made to
such  Registration Statement, exhibits and schedules. A copy of the Registration
Statement may  be  inspected  by  anyone  without  charge  at  the  Commission's
principal  office located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, the
New York Regional Office located at 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New  York,
New  York 10048, and the Chicago  Regional Office located at Northwestern Atrium
Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511, and copies of all
or any part  thereof may be  obtained from  the Public Reference  Branch of  the
Commission upon the payment of certain fees prescribed by the Commission.
 
                                       69
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
 
                         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                         <C>
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.........................   F-2
 
Audited Financial Statements
 
Balance Sheets............................................................   F-3
Statements of Operations..................................................   F-4
Statement of Stockholders' Equity.........................................   F-5
Statements of Cash Flows..................................................   F-7
Notes to Financial Statements.............................................   F-7
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
               REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
The Board of Directors
Aviron
 
    We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Aviron as of December 31,
1994  and 1995, and the related  statements of operations, stockholders' equity,
and cash flows  for each of  the three years  in the period  ended December  31,
1995.  These  financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of  the Company's
management. Our  responsibility is  to  express an  opinion on  these  financial
statements based on our audits.
 
    We  conducted  our audits  in  accordance with  generally  accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to  obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also  includes
assessing  the  accounting principles  used  and significant  estimates  made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement  presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In  our opinion, the financial statements  referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Aviron at December 31,  1994
and  1995, and the results of its operations  and its cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1995, in conformity with  generally
accepted accounting principles.
 
                                             ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Palo Alto, California
January 26, 1996,
except as to the first paragraph of Note 1 and
Note 10, for which the date is May 30, 1996
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
 
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
 
                       (in thousands, except share data)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                DECEMBER 31,
                                                            --------------------
                                                              1994       1995
                                                            ---------  ---------
                                                                                   MARCH 31,    UNAUDITED
                                                                                     1996       PRO FORMA
                                                                                  -----------  STOCKHOLDERS'
                                                                                                EQUITY AT
                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)   MARCH 31,
                                                                                                  1996
                                                                                               -----------
                                                                                                (NOTE 10)
                                                  ASSETS
<S>                                                         <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents...............................  $     952  $  11,532   $  10,000
  Short-term investments..................................      5,497      6,287       4,494
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets...............        105        679         873
                                                            ---------  ---------  -----------
Total current assets......................................      6,554     18,498      15,367
Property and equipment, net...............................      1,216      1,275       1,816
Deposits and other assets.................................         19        105          92
                                                            ---------  ---------  -----------
  Total assets............................................  $   7,789  $  19,878   $  17,275
                                                            ---------  ---------  -----------
                                                            ---------  ---------  -----------
 
                                   LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable........................................  $     101  $     312   $     703
  Accrued compensation....................................         68        130         149
  Accrued clinical trial costs............................         --        545         470
  Accrued expenses and other liabilities..................        201        108         319
  Deferred revenue........................................         --        208         437
  Current portion of capital lease obligations............        307        420         485
                                                            ---------  ---------  -----------
Total current liabilities.................................        677      1,723       2,563
Capital lease obligations, noncurrent.....................        750        618         545
Commitments
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred Stock, no par value; 43,000,000 shares
   authorized, issuable in series; 21,666,667, 39,031,971
   and 39,168,297, convertible preferred shares issued and
   outstanding at December 31, 1994 and 1995 and March 31,
   1996 respectively, aggregate liquidation preference of
   $40,347,481 and $40,531,520 at December 31, 1995 and
   March 31, 1996, respectively (pro forma at March 31,
   1996 -- $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized,
   none issued and outstanding)...........................     17,406     39,844      40,028    $      --
  Common Stock, no par value; 53,000,000 shares
   authorized; 695,414, 758,306 and 1,040,822 shares
   issued and outstanding at December 31, 1994 and 1995,
   and March 31, 1996 respectively (pro forma at March 31,
   1996 -- $0.001 par value 30,000,000 shares authorized,
   8,874,456 shares issued and outstanding)...............         16        317       1,579            9
  Additional paid-in capital..............................         --         --          --       41,598
  Notes receivable from stockholders......................         --         --        (310)        (310)
  Deferred compensation...................................         --       (180)       (938)        (938)
  Accumulated deficit.....................................    (11,060)   (22,444)    (26,192)     (26,192)
                                                            ---------  ---------  -----------
Total stockholders' equity................................      6,362     17,537      14,167       14,167
                                                            ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity..............  $   7,789  $  19,878   $  17,275    $  17,275
                                                            ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                            ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                (in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                             YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,              MARCH 31,
                                                        ----------------------------------  ----------------------
                                                           1993        1994        1995        1995        1996
                                                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                                 (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                     <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Revenues:
  License revenue.....................................  $       --  $       --  $    1,500  $       --  $       --
  Contract revenue....................................          --          --         207          --         188
                                                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Total revenues........................................          --          --       1,707          --         188
Operating expenses:
  Research and development............................       2,073       4,216      10,220       3,088       3,044
  General and administrative..........................       1,874       2,493       3,252         701       1,063
                                                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Total operating expenses..............................       3,947       6,709      13,472       3,789       4,107
                                                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Loss from operations..................................      (3,947)     (6,709)    (11,765)     (3,789)     (3,919)
Other income (expense):
  Interest income.....................................         175         306         520          71         220
  Interest expense....................................          --         (99)       (158)        (39)        (37)
                                                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Total other income, net...............................         175         207         362          32         183
                                                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Net loss..............................................  $   (3,772) $   (6,502) $  (11,403) $   (3,757) $   (3,736)
                                                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Pro forma net loss per share..........................  $    (0.56) $    (0.73) $    (1.24) $    (0.41) $    (0.41)
                                                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Shares used in computing pro forma net loss per
 share................................................   6,696,454   8,948,240   9,182,642   9,061,525   9,223,033
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
                       STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                       (in thousands, except share data)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           PREFERRED STOCK           COMMON STOCK
                                        ----------------------  ----------------------      NOTES         DEFERRED
                                         SHARES      AMOUNT      SHARES      AMOUNT      RECEIVABLE     COMPENSATION
                                        ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -------------  ---------------
<S>                                     <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>            <C>
Balances at December 31, 1992.........  5,000,000   $   2,471     648,000   $       3            --       $      --
  Issuance of Series B Convertible
   Preferred Stock at $0.90 per share
   for cash and conversion of notes
   payable in September 1993, net of
   issuance costs of $65..............  16,666,667     14,935          --          --            --              --
  Issuance of Common Stock at $0.25
   per share in April 1993 for certain
   technology and patent rights.......         --          --      35,000           9            --              --
  Exercise of stock options at $0.25
   per share for cash.................         --          --       2,550           1            --              --
  Net loss............................         --          --          --          --            --              --
                                        ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------        -----           -----
Balance at December 31, 1993..........  21,666,667     17,406     685,550          13            --              --
  Exercise of stock options at $0.25
   to $0.50 per share for cash........         --          --       9,864           3            --              --
  Net unrealized loss on available-
   for-sale investments...............         --          --          --          --            --              --
  Net loss............................         --          --          --          --            --              --
                                        ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------        -----           -----
Balance at December 31, 1994..........  21,666,667     17,406     695,414          16            --              --
  Issuance of Series B Convertible
   Preferred Stock at $1.20 per share
   in February 1995 for certain
   in-process technology..............  1,323,734       1,588          --          --            --              --
  Issuance of Series C Convertible
   Preferred Stock at $1.35 per share
   for cash in June through November
   1995, net of issuance costs of
   $807...............................  16,041,570     20,850          --          --            --              --
  Exercise of stock options at $0.25
   to $0.50 per share for cash........         --          --      62,892          31            --              --
  Deferred compensation related to the
   grant of certain stock options.....         --          --          --         270            --            (270)
  Amortization of deferred
   compensation.......................         --          --          --          --            --              90
  Change in net unrealized loss on
   available-for-sale investments.....         --          --          --          --            --              --
  Net loss............................         --          --          --          --            --              --
                                        ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------        -----           -----
Balance at December 31, 1995..........  39,031,971  $  39,844     758,306   $     317            --       $    (180)
  Issuance of Series C Convertible
   Preferred Stock at $1.35 per share
   for cash in March 1996
   (unaudited)........................    136,326         184          --          --            --              --
  Exercise of stock options at $0.25
   to $2.50 per share for cash
   (unaudited)........................         --          --     114,516         168            --              --
  Exercise of stock options at $0.50
   to $2.50 per share for notes
   receivable (unaudited).............         --          --     168,000         310          (310)             --
  Deferred compensation related to the
   grant of certain stock options
   (unaudited)........................         --          --          --         784            --            (784)
  Amortization of deferred
   compensation (unaudited)...........         --          --          --          --            --              26
  Change in net unrealized gain on
   available-for-sale Investments
   (unaudited)........................         --          --          --          --            --              --
  Net loss (unaudited)................         --          --          --          --            --              --
                                        ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------        -----           -----
Balance at March 31, 1996
 (unaudited)..........................  39,168,297  $  40,028   1,040,822   $   1,579     $    (310)      $    (938)
                                        ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------        -----           -----
                                        ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------        -----           -----
 
<CAPTION>
                                                           TOTAL
                                         ACCUMULATED   STOCKHOLDERS'
                                           DEFICIT        EQUITY
                                        -------------  -------------
<S>                                     <C>            <C>
Balances at December 31, 1992.........    $    (753)     $   1,721
  Issuance of Series B Convertible
   Preferred Stock at $0.90 per share
   for cash and conversion of notes
   payable in September 1993, net of
   issuance costs of $65..............           --         14,935
  Issuance of Common Stock at $0.25
   per share in April 1993 for certain
   technology and patent rights.......           --              9
  Exercise of stock options at $0.25
   per share for cash.................           --              1
  Net loss............................       (3,772)        (3,772)
                                        -------------  -------------
Balance at December 31, 1993..........       (4,525)        12,894
  Exercise of stock options at $0.25
   to $0.50 per share for cash........           --              3
  Net unrealized loss on available-
   for-sale investments...............          (33)           (33)
  Net loss............................       (6,502)        (6,502)
                                        -------------  -------------
Balance at December 31, 1994..........      (11,060)         6,362
  Issuance of Series B Convertible
   Preferred Stock at $1.20 per share
   in February 1995 for certain
   in-process technology..............           --          1,588
  Issuance of Series C Convertible
   Preferred Stock at $1.35 per share
   for cash in June through November
   1995, net of issuance costs of
   $807...............................           --         20,850
  Exercise of stock options at $0.25
   to $0.50 per share for cash........           --             31
  Deferred compensation related to the
   grant of certain stock options.....           --             --
  Amortization of deferred
   compensation.......................           --             90
  Change in net unrealized loss on
   available-for-sale investments.....           19             19
  Net loss............................      (11,403)       (11,403)
                                        -------------  -------------
Balance at December 31, 1995..........    $ (22,444)     $  17,537
  Issuance of Series C Convertible
   Preferred Stock at $1.35 per share
   for cash in March 1996
   (unaudited)........................           --            184
  Exercise of stock options at $0.25
   to $2.50 per share for cash
   (unaudited)........................           --            168
  Exercise of stock options at $0.50
   to $2.50 per share for notes
   receivable (unaudited).............           --             --
  Deferred compensation related to the
   grant of certain stock options
   (unaudited)........................           --             --
  Amortization of deferred
   compensation (unaudited)...........           --             26
  Change in net unrealized gain on
   available-for-sale Investments
   (unaudited)........................          (12)           (12)
  Net loss (unaudited)................       (3,736)        (3,736)
                                        -------------  -------------
Balance at March 31, 1996
 (unaudited)..........................    $ (26,192)     $  14,167
                                        -------------  -------------
                                        -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
 
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
                                 (in thousands)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,           MARCH 31,
                                                             -------------------------------  --------------------
                                                               1993       1994       1995       1995       1996
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                          <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss...................................................  $  (3,772) $  (6,502) $ (11,403) $  (3,757) $  (3,736)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
 operating activities:
  Depreciation and amortization............................        223        416        544        127        110
  Acquired technology and patent rights....................          9         --      1,588      1,588         --
  Amortization of deferred compensation....................         --         --         90         --         26
  Changes in assets and liabilities:
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets..............        (16)       (46)      (574)       (66)      (194)
    Deposits and other assets..............................         (1)        (4)       (86)        --         13
    Accounts payable.......................................        (34)       (39)       211         61        391
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities.................        168         96        514        (19)       155
    Deferred revenue.......................................         --         --        208         --        229
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Net cash used in operating activities......................     (3,423)    (6,079)    (8,908)    (2,066)    (3,006)
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of short-term investments........................     (7,854)    (9,755)    (9,493)      (441)    (3,147)
Maturities of short-term investments.......................      1,815     11,579      8,722      4,257      4,928
Expenditures for property and equipment....................       (593)      (260)      (238)       (75)      (545)
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities........     (6,632)     1,564     (1,009)     3,741      1,236
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from capital lease line of credit.................         --        620         --         --         --
Principal payments on capital lease obligation.............         --       (212)      (384)       (85)      (114)
Proceeds from notes payable................................      1,500         --         --         --         --
Cash proceeds from issuance of:
  Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.....................     13,434         --         --         --         --
  Series C Convertible Preferred Stock.....................         --         --     20,850         --        184
  Common Stock.............................................          1          3         31          1        168
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Cash flows provided by financing activities................     14,935        411     20,497        (84)       238
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents.......      4,880     (4,104)    10,580      1,591     (1,532)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year.............        176      5,056        952        952     11,532
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year...................  $   5,056  $     952  $  11,532  $   2,543  $  10,000
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of Common Stock and Preferred Stock for certain
 technology and patent rights..............................  $       9  $      --  $   1,588  $   1,588  $      --
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Conversion of notes payable to Series B Preferred Stock....  $   1,500  $      --  $      --  $      --  $      --
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Equipment acquired under line of credit....................  $      --  $     648  $     365  $     114  $     106
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Deferred compensation related to the grant of certain stock
 options...................................................  $      --  $      --  $     270  $      --  $     784
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
 
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1995
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
 
1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS
 
    Aviron  (the "Company") was incorporated in the State of California on April
15, 1992 and will be reincorporated in the State of Delaware in June, 1996.  The
Company  was  organized to  develop  and commercialize  cost-effective  forms of
disease prevention and treatment based on live virus vaccines. Prior to  October
1995, the Company was considered to be in the development stage.
 
    The  Company  anticipates  working  on  a  number  of  long-term development
projects which will involve experimental  and unproven technology. The  projects
may  require many years and substantial  expenditures to complete, and which may
ultimately  be  unsuccessful.  Therefore,  the  Company  will  need  to   obtain
additional  funds from outside sources to  continue its research and development
activities, fund  operating  expenses,  pursue regulatory  approvals  and  build
production,  sales and marketing capabilities, as necessary. Management believes
it has  sufficient  capital to  achieve  planned business  objectives  including
supporting preclinical development and clinical testing, through at least 1996.
 
INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
    The  financial information  at March  31, 1996,  for the  three months ended
March 31, 1995 and  1996 is unaudited but  includes all adjustments  (consisting
only  of normal recurring adjustments) which the Company considers necessary for
a fair presentation of the financial position at such date and of the  operating
results  and cash flows  for those periods.  Results of the  1996 period are not
necessarily indicative of results expected for the entire year.
 
USE OF ESTIMATES
 
    The preparation of  the financial  statements in  conformity with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and
assumptions that affect  the amounts  reported in the  financial statements  and
accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
    The  Company  considers  all  highly  liquid  investments  with  an original
maturity of 90  days or less  to be cash  equivalents. Cash equivalents  include
$11,831,000  and $9,667,000 in money market funds at December 31, 1995 and March
31, 1996, respectively.
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
 
    The Company  adopted the  provisions of  Statement of  Financial  Accounting
Standards  No.  115,  "Accounting for  Certain  Investments in  Debt  and Equity
Securities" ("SFAS  No. 115")  for  investments held  as  of or  acquired  after
January 1, 1994.
 
    The Company's entire short-term investment portfolio is currently classified
as available-for-sale and is carried at fair value based on quoted market prices
with  the  unrealized gains  and losses  included  in stockholders'  equity. The
amortized cost of debt securities  classified as available-for-sale is  adjusted
for  amortization  of  premiums and  accretion  of discounts  to  maturity. Such
amortization is  included  in interest  income.  Realized gains  or  losses  and
declines  in  value  judged to  be  other-than-temporary are  included  in other
income. The cost  of securities  sold is  based on  the specific  identification
method. The Company has not experienced any significant realized gains or losses
on its investments.
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1995
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
 
1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
    Property  and equipment  is stated  at cost.  Depreciation is  provided on a
straight-line basis over  the estimated  useful lives of  the respective  assets
which range from three to seven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a
straight-line  basis over the shorter  of their useful lives  or the term of the
lease.
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
    Collaborative  research  revenue  earned  is  based  on  research   expenses
incurred.  Amounts received in advance of  services to be performed are recorded
as deferred revenue until the related expenses are incurred. Milestone  payments
are recognized as revenue in the period earned.
 
STOCK COMPENSATION
 
    In  October 1995, the Financial  Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
No. 123,  "Accounting  for  Stock-Based  Compensation"  ("SFAS  No.  123").  The
Statement  is  effective  for Aviron  beginning  in  1996. Under  SFAS  No. 123,
stock-based compensation  expense  to employees  is  measured using  either  the
intrinsic-value  method as prescribed by  Accounting Principle Board Opinion No.
25 or the fair-value  method described in SFAS  No. 123. Companies choosing  the
intrinsic-value  method will be required to disclose but not actually record the
pro forma impact of the fair-value method on net income and earnings per  share.
The  Company plans to adopt  the SFAS No. 123  in 1996 using the intrinsic-value
method for stock awards to  employees. There will be  no effect of adopting  the
SFAS No. 123 on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
 
RECENT PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
    During March 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
No.  121 (SFAS 121), "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for
Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of,"  which requires the Company to review  for
impairment  of  long-lived  assets.  SFAS  121  will  become  effective  for the
Company's  year  ending  December  31,   1996.  The  Company  has  studied   the
implications  of SFAS 121 and, based on  its initial evaluation, does not expect
it to have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or results  of
operations.
 
NET LOSS PER SHARE
 
    Except  as noted below, historical net loss  per share is computed using the
weighted average number of common  shares outstanding. Common equivalent  shares
from  stock options, convertible preferred stock  and warrants are excluded from
the computation as their  effect is antidilutive, except  that, pursuant to  the
Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletins, common and common
equivalent  shares issued  during the  period beginning  12 months  prior to the
initial filing of the proposed public offering at prices substantially below the
assumed public offering price have been  included in the calculation as if  they
were  outstanding for all periods presented (using the treasury stock method and
the assumed  public  offering price  for  stock  options and  warrants  and  the
if-converted method for convertible preferred stock).
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1995
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
 
1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
    Historical net loss per share information is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,              MARCH 31,
                                          ----------------------------------  ----------------------
                                             1993        1994        1995        1995        1996
                                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                       <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Net loss per share......................  $    (0.82) $    (1.41) $    (2.47) $    (0.81) $    (0.81)
                                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Shares used in computing net loss per
 share..................................   4,600,440   4,614,907   4,624,721   4,624,078   4,624,953
                                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
    Pro  forma net loss per share has  been computed as described above and also
gives effect  to the  conversion of  convertible preferred  shares not  included
above  that will automatically convert upon  completion of the Company's initial
public offering  (using  the if-converted  method)  from the  original  date  of
issuance.
 
2.  LICENSE AGREEMENTS
 
ARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
 
    On  July 1,  1992, the Company  entered into an  exclusive license agreement
with ARCH  Development Corporation  ("ARCH") to  acquire the  rights to  use  or
sublicense  certain technology and make, use  or sell certain licensed products.
The agreement calls for the Company to make certain payments to ARCH totaling as
much as $2.6 million as certain  milestones are met. No benchmark payments  were
made  or were  due through 1995.  If commercialization is  achieved, the Company
will be  required to  pay ARCH  royalties based  on net  sales of  the  licensed
products. Further, if the Company were to sublicense the technology, it would be
required  to  pay ARCH  royalties on  net  sales of  the sublicensee  and, under
certain circumstances, up to 50% of the license fee paid by the sublicensee.  In
conjunction  with  this license  agreement, the  Company  sold 40,000  shares of
Common Stock to ARCH at $0.005 per share in 1992. Subsequent to this  agreement,
affiliates  of  ARCH  purchased  700,000,  300,000  and  113,999  shares  of the
Company's Series A, B and C Preferred Stock, respectively.
 
THE MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
 
    In 1993, the Company entered into  a technology transfer agreement with  The
Mount  Sinai  School of  Medicine of  the  City University  of New  York ("Mount
Sinai") to acquire certain patent rights and technical information. Pursuant  to
the  agreement, the Company issued to Mount  Sinai 35,000 shares of Common Stock
which resulted in a  charge to research and  development expense of $8,750,  and
warrants  to purchase,  in the aggregate,  225,000 shares of  Series A Preferred
Stock.  The  warrants  become  exercisable  upon  the  occurrence  of   specific
milestones and expire five years from such date or on the day preceding the sale
of  the Company. Upon the closing of  an initial public offering by the Company,
warrants covering  148,750  shares  of  Series A  Preferred  Stock  will  become
exercisable  at a price per share of Common  Stock of 125% of the initial public
offering price of the Common Stock. The remaining warrants will be cancelled. At
December 31, 1995 and March 31, 1996, warrants covering 45,000 shares of  Series
A  Preferred  Stock are  exercisable at  $0.90  per share.  The Company  is also
required to reimburse  Mount Sinai  for costs  incurred in  connection with  the
maintenance and protection of certain patents.
 
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
 
    In February 1995, the Company signed a license agreement with the University
of  Michigan. The license agreement gives the Company a worldwide license to the
University of Michigan's inventions and discoveries
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1995
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
 
2.  LICENSE AGREEMENTS (CONTINUED)
related to a cold adapted influenza  vaccine, including the ability to  develop,
use,  sublicense, manufacture  and sell  products and  processes claimed  in the
patent rights.  Under  the  arrangement,  the Company  paid  the  University  of
Michigan  and expensed a  $100,000 fee and  issued 1,323,734 shares  of Series B
Preferred Stock which resulted in a  charge to research and development  expense
of  $1,588,481.  Upon  commercialization  of the  vaccine  product,  the license
agreement provides that the Company will pay royalties based on net revenues  as
well  as  issuing  warrants  to  purchase  1.25%  of  the  Company's  then total
outstanding Common Stock at  an exercise price  equal to 125%  of the per  share
price  of Common Stock in the Company's initial public offering of Common Stock.
The warrant  will be  exercisable for  five years  after its  issuance date.  In
conjunction  with the license agreement, the Company signed a research agreement
with  the  University  of   Michigan  which  obligates   the  Company  to   fund
approximately  $530,000 of specific research projects.  As of December 31, 1996,
the Company had funded $184,000 for  research under this agreement. The  Company
had also paid the University of Michigan $67,000 for other research services.
 
3.  DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
 
SMITHKLINE BEECHAM BIOLOGICALS S.A.
 
   
    In  October 1995,  the Company signed  an agreement  with SmithKline Beecham
Biologicals  S.A.  ("SmithKline  Beecham")   which  grants  SmithKline   Beecham
exclusive   worldwide  (excluding  Korea)  rights  to  produce  and  market  any
prophylactic and  therapeutic  Epstein-Barr  Virus ("EBV")  vaccines  under  the
Company's  patents. Under the  Agreement, SmithKline Beecham  paid the Company a
$1,500,000 nonrefundable  licensing  fee  and is  required  to  make  additional
benchmark  payments  as  certain  milestones  are  met.  Upon commercialization,
SmithKline Beecham  will  pay the  Company  a royalty  based  on net  sales  (by
country). In conjunction with the licensing rights, SmithKline Beecham will fund
the Company's development of the EBV vaccine for a minimum of two years based on
approved  budgeted amounts.  For the year  ended December 31,  1995, the Company
recognized $1,500,000 of  license revenue  and $125,000  of development  revenue
pursuant  to the agreement.  As of December  31, 1995, the  Company has recorded
$208,000 in deferred revenue relating to development that will be recognized  in
1996.
    
 
SANG-A PHARM. CO., LTD.
 
    In  May 1995, the Company signed  a development and licensing agreement with
Sang-A Pharm.  Co.,  Ltd.  ("Sang-A"),  a  Korean  pharmaceutical  company.  The
agreement  covers  a  wide  range  of vaccine  products  and  grants  Sang-A the
exclusive rights  and  licenses  to  such products  in  South  and  North  Korea
("Korea").  Under the terms  of the agreement, Sang-A  will conduct all clinical
development work necessary for approval in Korea at its expense, and is required
to make payments based on certain milestones and, upon commercialization of each
product, to pay royalties based on net revenues. The agreement also gives Sang-A
the first  right of  refusal to  supply  a percentage  of Aviron's  products  in
selected countries.
 
    In  connection  with this  agreement, Sang-A  purchased 2,941,863  shares of
Series C Preferred Stock for $3,971,515. Sang-A subsequently purchased 1,187,295
additional shares of  Series C Preferred  Stock for $1,602,848.  In the  future,
Sang-A  is  required to  purchase  10% of  any  offering of  new  securities (as
defined) of the Company, if  requested by the Company,  until the earlier of  36
months  following  Sang-A's initial  investment or  an initial  public offering.
During the three months ended March 31, 1996, Sang-A purchased 136,326 shares of
Series C Preferred Stock for $184,040.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1995
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
 
4.  SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
    At  December  31,  1994  and  1995,  the  Company's  short-term  investments
consisted  of the following debt securities, all  of which had maturities of one
year or less (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES
                                       -------------------------------------------
                                                 GROSS        GROSS      ESTIMATED
                                               UNREALIZED   UNREALIZED     FAIR
                                        COST     GAINS        LOSSES       VALUE
                                       ------  ----------   ----------   ---------
<S>                                    <C>     <C>          <C>          <C>
As of December 31, 1994:
U.S. Treasury securities and
 obligations of U.S. government
 agencies............................  $2,261   $ --           $(22)      $2,239
U.S. corporate commercial paper......   2,983     --             (1)       2,982
U.S. corporate obligations...........     514     --             (1)         513
Foreign government securities........     520     --             (9)         511
                                       ------  ----------       ---      ---------
                                       $6,278   $ --           $(33)      $6,245
                                       ------  ----------       ---      ---------
                                       ------  ----------       ---      ---------
As of December 31, 1995:
U.S. Treasury securities and
 obligations of U.S. government
 agencies............................  $1,025   $     2        $ (4)      $1,023
U.S. corporate commercial paper......   3,705     --             --        3,705
U.S. corporate obligations...........   1,571     --            (12)       1,559
                                       ------  ----------       ---      ---------
                                       $6,301   $     2        $(16)      $6,287
                                       ------  ----------       ---      ---------
                                       ------  ----------       ---      ---------
</TABLE>
 
    Included in  the above  table as  of December  31, 1994  are corporate  debt
obligations  with a fair value of $748  which are classified as cash equivalents
in the accompanying balance sheet.
 
5.  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
    Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             DECEMBER 31,       MARCH 31,
                                                           1994       1995        1996
                                                         ---------  ---------  -----------
<S>                                                      <C>        <C>        <C>
Laboratory equipment...................................  $   1,220  $   1,512   $   1,601
Computer equipment.....................................        199        323         370
Office equipment.......................................         68         90         100
Leasehold improvements.................................        336         62         567
                                                         ---------  ---------  -----------
                                                             1,823      1,987       2,638
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization.........       (607)      (712)       (822)
                                                         ---------  ---------  -----------
                                                         $   1,216  $   1,275   $   1,816
                                                         ---------  ---------  -----------
                                                         ---------  ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
6.  LEASE ARRANGEMENTS
    In April 1994, the Company entered into a $2,500,000 equipment and leasehold
improvement lease line of credit that bears interest based on an average of  the
three-year  and five-year indices  of U.S. Treasury  bonds. Outstanding balances
under the line are  secured by the related  equipment purchased. The lease  line
was  extended and expires December 31, 1996.  At March 31, 1996, $761,000 of the
line was available. In connection  with this financing arrangement, the  Company
issued  warrants to purchase 116,667 shares  of the Company's Series B Preferred
Stock. These warrants are  exercisable at an exercise  price of $0.90 per  share
and will expire at the earlier of March 2000 or upon the initial public offering
of  the Company's  Common Stock. As  consideration for  extending the expiration
date of the lease line, the Company  issued warrants in 1995 to purchase  77,778
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1995
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
 
6.  LEASE ARRANGEMENTS (CONTINUED)
shares of the Company's Series B Preferred Stock. These warrants are exercisable
at  an exercise price of $0.90  per share and will expire  at the earlier of May
2001 or upon the initial  public offering of the  Company's Common Stock. As  of
March 31, 1996, none of the warrants had been exercised.
 
    Included  in property and equipment at December  31, 1995 and March 31, 1996
are  assets  with  a  cost  of  $1,826,125  and  $2,032,532,  respectively,  and
accumulated amortization of $688,594 and $786,784, respectively, which have been
financed pursuant to the lease line of credit.
 
    The  Company has  entered into an  operating lease agreement  for office and
research facilities which expires  in 2005 and includes  an option allowing  the
Company  to extend the  lease for two additional  five-year terms. The agreement
requires  the  Company  to  pay  operating  costs,  including  property   taxes,
utilities,  insurance and maintenance. Rent expense for the years ended December
31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 was $130,400, $167,568 and $412,869, respectively.
 
    At  December  31,  1995,  the  Company's  aggregate  commitment  under  such
arrangements are as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         CAPITAL LEASE   OPERATING
                                                          OBLIGATIONS      LEASE
                                                         -------------  -----------
<S>                                                      <C>            <C>
Years ending December 31,
  1996.................................................    $     528     $     747
  1997.................................................          424           866
  1998.................................................          226           919
  1999.................................................           49           924
  2000.................................................       --               950
  Thereafter...........................................       --             4,910
                                                              ------    -----------
                                                               1,227     $   9,316
                                                                        -----------
                                                                        -----------
Less amounts representing interest.....................         (189)
                                                              ------
                                                               1,038
Less current portion...................................         (420)
                                                              ------
                                                           $     618
                                                              ------
                                                              ------
</TABLE>
 
7.  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
    COMMON STOCK
 
    During June and July 1992, 648,000 shares of Common Stock were issued to the
Company's  founders,  consultants and  a licensor  of  technology at  $0.005 per
share. These shares  are subject  to certain transfer  restrictions. Certain  of
these  shares,  until vested,  are  subject to  repurchase  at $0.005  per share
(adjusted to reflect  any stock  splits or  stock dividends)  on termination  of
employment.  In addition,  certain shares of  Common Stock issued  to members of
management in 1995 and  1996 through exercises of  stock options are subject  to
repurchase  by the Company at $0.50-$2.50 per  share. The above shares vest over
periods specified by the Board of Directors. At December 31, 1995 and March  31,
1996,  101,700  and 268,480  shares  remain subject  to  the Company's  right of
repurchase, respectively.
 
    PREFERRED STOCK
 
    Preferred Stock  is issuable  in series.  Series A,  Series B  and Series  C
Preferred  Stock are convertible into 0.20 share  of Common Stock of the Company
at  the  option  of   the  holder,  and  carry   voting  rights  equivalent   to
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1995
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
 
7.  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
Common  Stock on a  share-for-share basis. The conversion  rate of the Preferred
Stock is subject to adjustment in the event of, among other things, stock splits
and stock dividends. Each share  of Preferred Stock automatically converts  into
0.20  shares of Common Stock  in the event of an  initial public offering of the
Company's Common Stock  in which  the gross  offering proceeds  equal or  exceed
$10.0  million or upon approval of the conversion by a majority of the preferred
stockholders voting  together as  a single  class. The  Series A,  Series B  and
Series  C preferred stockholders are entitled  to noncumulative dividends at the
rate of $0.05, $0.09 and $0.135 per share, respectively, when and if declared by
the board of directors. None have been declared.
 
    The Series  A, Series  B  and Series  C Preferred  Stock  are subject  to  a
liquidation  preference of $0.50, $0.90 and  $1.35 per share, respectively, plus
all declared but unpaid dividends.
 
    The Preferred Stock authorized, issued and outstanding at December 31,  1995
is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            SHARES      SHARES ISSUED    LIQUIDATION
                                                          AUTHORIZED   AND OUTSTANDING   PREFERENCE
                                                         ------------  ---------------  -------------
<S>                                                      <C>           <C>              <C>
Series A...............................................     5,225,000       5,000,000   $   2,500,000
Series B...............................................    18,650,000      17,990,401      16,191,361
Series C...............................................    18,000,000      16,041,570      21,656,120
Undesignated...........................................     1,125,000        --              --
                                                         ------------  ---------------  -------------
                                                           43,000,000      39,031,971   $  40,347,481
                                                         ------------  ---------------  -------------
                                                         ------------  ---------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    In  November 1995,  in conjunction  with the  private placement  of Series C
Preferred Stock, the Company issued to the placement agent warrants to  purchase
352,536 shares of the Company's Series C Preferred Stock. These warrants have an
exercise  price of $1.62 per share and will expire in November 2000. As of March
31, 1996, none of the warrants had been exercised.
 
    A total of 771,981 shares of Preferred Stock have been reserved for issuance
upon exercise of  outstanding warrants  as of December  31, 1995  and March  31,
1996.
 
    In  addition,  8,600,000  shares  of Common  Stock  have  been  reserved for
issuance upon the conversion of convertible Preferred Stock.
 
    STOCK OPTIONS
 
    On September 15, 1992, the board of directors adopted the 1992 Stock  Option
Plan  (the "1992 Plan"). The Company initially reserved 272,000 shares of Common
Stock for issuance under the 1992 Plan which was increased by 200,000 shares  in
1993 and 300,000 shares in 1994.
 
    The  1992 Plan provides for both incentive and nonqualified stock options to
be granted to employees, directors and consultants. The 1992 Plan provides  that
incentive  stock options will be  granted at no less than  the fair value of the
Company's Common Stock  (no less  than 85% of  the fair  value for  nonqualified
stock  options), as  determined by  the board  of directors  at the  date of the
grant. If, at the time the Company grants an option, the optionee owns more than
10% of  the total  combined voting  power of  all the  classes of  stock of  the
Company,  the option  price shall  be at least  110% of  the fair  value and the
option shall not be exercised more than five years after the date of grant.  The
options  vest and  become exercisable  over periods  determined by  the board of
directors. Except as noted above, options expire no more than 10 years after the
date of grant, or earlier if employment terminates.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1995
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
 
7.  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
    Option activity under the Plan is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 OPTIONS OUTSTANDING
                                                                              --------------------------
                                                                    SHARES                   EXERCISE
                                                                   AVAILABLE   NUMBER OF     PRICE PER
                                                                   FOR GRANT    SHARES         SHARE
                                                                   ---------  -----------  -------------
<S>                                                                <C>        <C>          <C>
Balance at December 31, 1992.....................................    157,100     114,900    $      0.25
  Options authorized.............................................    200,000      --            --
  Options granted................................................   (235,117)    235,117    $0.25-$0.50
  Options exercised..............................................     --          (2,550)   $      0.25
  Options canceled...............................................      9,550      (9,550)   $      0.25
                                                                   ---------  -----------  -------------
Balance at December 31, 1993.....................................    131,533     337,917    $0.25-$0.50
  Options authorized.............................................    300,000      --            --
  Options granted................................................    (71,230)     71,230    $      0.50
  Options exercised..............................................     --          (9,864)   $0.25-$0.50
  Options canceled...............................................     29,996     (29,996)   $0.25-$0.50
                                                                   ---------  -----------  -------------
Balance at December 31, 1994.....................................    390,299     369,287    $0.25-$0.50
  Options granted................................................   (269,000)    269,000    $0.50-$1.25
  Options exercised..............................................     --         (62,892)   $0.50-$1.25
  Options canceled...............................................      2,357      (2,357)   $0.25-$0.50
                                                                   ---------  -----------  -------------
Balance at December 31, 1995.....................................    123,656     573,038    $0.25-$1.25
  Options granted (unaudited)....................................    (96,625)     96,625    $      2.50
  Options exercised (unaudited)..................................     --         (64,516)   $0.25-$0.50
  Options canceled (unaudited)...................................        735        (735)   $0.25-$2.50
                                                                   ---------  -----------  -------------
Balance at March 31, 1996 (unaudited)............................     27,766     604,412    $0.25-$2.50
                                                                   ---------  -----------  -------------
                                                                   ---------  -----------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    In addition, during 1995  fully-vested non-qualified stock options  covering
40,000  shares  were issued  outside  of the  1992  Plan at  exercise  prices of
$0.50-$1.25 per share. During January 1996, 208,000 non-qualified stock  options
were  issued outside the 1992 Plan at  exercise prices of $1.75-$2.50 per share.
Of the  stock options  issued outside  of the  1992 Plan,  218,000 options  were
exercised  at exercise prices of $0.50-$2.50 per share during the quarter ending
March 31, 1996.
 
    During the  three months  ended  March 31,  1996,  officers of  the  Company
exercised  options for 168,000  shares by signing  promissory notes amounting to
$310,000 which bear interest at 5.73%.
 
    As of December 31, 1995 and March 31, 1996, options to purchase 347,893  and
291,491 shares of Common Stock were exercisable.
 
    For  certain options granted during 1995 and 1996, the Company recognized as
deferred compensation the  excess of  the deemed value  for financial  reporting
purposes of the Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such options over the
aggregate  exercise  price  of  such  options.  Total  deferred  compensation of
$270,000 recorded through December 31, 1995 is being amortized over the  vesting
period  of  such options.  A portion  of these  options vested  immediately upon
grant. In January 1996, the Company  granted an additional 304,625 options  with
exercise  prices of $1.75 to $2.50 and recorded related deferred compensation of
approximately $784,000. In May 1996, the Company granted 102,950 options with an
exercise  price  of  $2.50  and   recorded  related  deferred  compensation   of
approximately $463,000.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1995
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
 
7.  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
    In  March 1996, the Company  amended and restated the  1992 Plan as the 1996
Equity Incentive Plan (the "1996 Plan").  Total shares of Common Stock  reserved
for  future issuance under the  1996 Plan were increased  to 1,750,000. The 1996
Plan provides  for the  grant of  incentive and  nonstatutory stock  options  to
employees and consultants of the Company.
 
    In  March 1996, the  Company adopted the  1996 Non-Employee Directors' Stock
Option Plan (the "Directors' Plan") under  which 200,000 shares of Common  Stock
are reserved for issuance pursuant to nonstatutory stock options.
 
    In  March 1996,  the Company also  adopted the Employee  Stock Purchase Plan
(the "Purchase Plan"). A  total of 250,000 shares  of Common Stock are  reserved
for  issuance  under  the  Purchase Plan.  The  Purchase  Plan  permits eligible
employees to purchase Common Stock through  payroll deductions at a price  equal
to  the lower of 85% of  the fair market value of  the Company's Common Stock at
the beginning or end of the applicable offering period.
 
8.  INCOME TAXES
    As of  December 31,  1995, the  Company  had a  federal net  operating  loss
carryforward  of approximately $20,000,000. The  net operating loss carryforward
will expire at various dates beginning from 2007 through 2010, if not  utilized.
Utilization  of  the  net operating  losses  and  credits may  be  subject  to a
substantial annual limitation due  to the "ownership  change" provisions of  the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
 
    Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                                           -------------------------------
                                                                             1993       1994       1995
                                                                           ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   (in thousands)
<S>                                                                        <C>        <C>        <C>
Net operating loss carryforward..........................................  $   1,500  $   3,800  $   7,100
Capitalized research expenses............................................     --            200      1,060
Research tax credits (expires from 2007-2010)............................        100        300        550
Other....................................................................        200        100        140
                                                                           ---------  ---------  ---------
Net deferred tax assets..................................................      1,800      4,400      8,850
Valuation allowance......................................................     (1,800)    (4,400)    (8,850)
                                                                           ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                           $  --      $  --      $  --
                                                                           ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                           ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    Because  of the  Company's lack  of earnings  history, the  net deferred tax
asset has been fully  offset by a valuation  allowance. The valuation  allowance
increased by approximately $1,500,000 in 1993.
 
9.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
    In  1995, the  Company made unsecured  loans to  officers totalling $100,000
which bear interest at 7.75% and are due in April 2000.
 
    An officer  of  the Company  is  a  shareholder in  an  investment  advisory
business  which was paid  a commission by the  Company of approximately $334,000
during 1995 related to the Sang-A transaction (see Note 3). The officer received
no direct compensation from the transaction.
 
10. SUBSEQUENT EVENT -- PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING AND RELATED MATTERS
    On May 30, 1996, the board of directors authorized management of the Company
to file a  Registration Statement  with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
offering  shares  of  its  Common  Stock  to  the  public.  If  the  offering is
consummated under the terms  presently anticipated, all  of the Preferred  Stock
outstanding will
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>
                                     AVIRON
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1995
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
 
10. SUBSEQUENT EVENT -- PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING AND RELATED MATTERS (CONTINUED)
automatically  convert into 7,833,634 shares of Common Stock upon the closing of
the offering. Unaudited pro forma stockholders'  equity as of December 31,  1995
as  adjusted for the assumed  conversion of the Preferred  Stock is set forth on
the accompanying balance sheet.
 
    In May  1996,  the  Company  filed restated  Articles  of  Incorporation  in
California  to  effect a  one-for-five reverse  stock  split of  all outstanding
shares of Common Stock, Common Stock options and warrants. The conversion  ratio
of all outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock were adjusted such that
each  preferred share converts into .20 shares of common stock. All common share
and per share data  in the accompanying financial  statements has been  adjusted
retroactively to give effect to the reverse stock split. In conjunction with the
registration,  the board of directors also authorized the reincorporation of the
Company in Delaware.
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>
                                     [LOGO]
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 13.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
    The  following table  sets forth all  expenses, other  than the underwriting
discounts and commissions, payable by the Registrant in connection with the sale
of the Common Stock being registered.  All the amounts are estimates except  for
the registration fee and the NASD filing fee.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>
Registration fee..........................................  $  15,466
NASD filing fee...........................................      4,985
Blue sky qualification fees and expenses..................      5,000
Printing and engraving expenses...........................    125,000
Legal fees and expenses...................................    300,000
Accounting fees and expenses..............................    130,000
Transfer agent and registrar fees.........................     10,000
Miscellaneous.............................................      9,549
                                                            ---------
    Total.................................................  $ 600,000
                                                            ---------
                                                            ---------
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 14.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
    Under  Section 145 of  the Delaware General  Corporation Law, the Registrant
has broad powers  to indemnify  its directors and  officers against  liabilities
they  may incur in  such capacities, including  liabilities under the Securities
Act of 1933,  as amended (the  "Securities Act"). The  Registrant's Bylaws  also
provide  that the Registrant will indemnify its directors and executive officers
and may indemnify its other officers, employees and agents to the fullest extent
permitted by Delaware law.
 
    The Registrant's Certificate of  Incorporation provides for the  elimination
of liability for monetary damages for breach of the directors' fiduciary duty of
care  to the Registrant and its  stockholders. These provisions do not eliminate
the directors'  duty  of  care  and,  in  appropriate  circumstances,  equitable
remedies  such an injunctive  or other forms of  non-monetary relief will remain
available under Delaware  law. In addition,  each director will  continue to  be
subject  to  liability for  breach  of the  director's  duty of  loyalty  to the
Registrant, for acts  or omissions not  in good faith  or involving  intentional
misconduct,  for knowing violations  of law, for any  transaction from which the
director derived an improper personal benefit,  and for payment of dividends  or
approval  of stock repurchases  or redemptions that  are unlawful under Delaware
law. The provision does not affect a director's responsibilities under any other
laws, such as  the federal  securities laws  or state  or federal  environmental
laws.
 
    The  Underwriting  Agreement  filed  as  Exhibit  1.1  to  this Registration
Statement, will  provide  for  indemnification by  the  Underwriters  and  their
controlling  persons, on the one hand, and of the Registrant and its controlling
persons on the other hand, for certain liabilities arising under the  Securities
Act or otherwise.
 
ITEM 15.  RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
 
    Since   inception,  the  Registrant  has   sold  and  issued  the  following
unregistered securities (adjusted  to give  effect to  the one-for-five  reverse
stock split):
 
        (1)  From April  1992 through June  1, 1996, the  Registrant has granted
    stock options to purchase 889,822 shares of the Company's Common Stock at  a
    weighted average exercise price of $1.02 per share to employees, consultants
    and  directors pursuant  to its 1996  Equity Incentive  Plan, or predecessor
    plans (the "Plans").  Of these  options, 58,318 have  been canceled  without
    being exercised, 218,024 have been exercised and 613,480 remain outstanding.
    In  January 1996,  208,000 options were  issued outside the  Plan to certain
    senior executives and founders  of the Company,  at exercise prices  ranging
    from $1.75 to $2.50 per share.
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
        (2)  In June  and July 1992,  the Registrant issued  5,000,000 shares of
    Series A  Preferred  Stock to  14  purchasers at  $0.50  per share,  for  an
    aggregate  purchase price of $2,500,000. Shares  of Series A Preferred Stock
    are convertible into  shares of Common  Stock at  the rate of  one share  of
    Common Stock for each five shares of Series A Preferred Stock owned.
 
        (3)  In February  1993, the  Company issued  warrants to  purchase up to
    225,000 shares of  Series A  Preferred Stock to  The Mount  Sinai School  of
    Medicine  of the City  University of New York  ("Mount Sinai") in connection
    with the  transfer by  Mount  Sinai to  the  Company of  certain  technology
    rights. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the
    warrants  are convertible  into shares  of Common Stock  at the  rate of one
    share of  Common Stock  for each  five shares  of Series  A Preferred  Stock
    owned.
 
        (4) In September 1993, the Registrant issued 16,666,667 shares of Series
    B  Preferred Stock to  34 purchasers (including  two purchasers who received
    1,666,666 shares upon conversion of promissory notes aggregating $1,500,000)
    at $0.90 per share, for an  aggregate purchase price of $15,000,000.  Shares
    of  Series B Preferred Stock are convertible  into shares of Common Stock at
    the rate of  one share  of Common  Stock for each  five shares  of Series  B
    Preferred Stock owned.
 
        (5)  In  September  1993,  the Registrant  issued  warrants  to purchase
    400,000 shares of  its Series  B Preferred Stock,  at an  exercise price  of
    $1.25  per share,  to entitles affiliated  with IVP.  These warrants expired
    unexercised in June 1995.
 
        (6) In February 1995,  the Registrant entered  into a license  agreement
    with the University of Michigan under which, in return for certain rights to
    the  University of Michigan's  inventions and discoveries  related to a cold
    adapted influenza vaccine,  the Registrant  issued 1,323,734  shares of  the
    Registrant's  Series B  Preferred Shares, plus  a warrant to  purchase up to
    1.25% of the Registrant's outstanding Common Stock under certain conditions.
    Shares of Series  B Preferred Stock  are convertible into  shares of  Common
    Stock  at the  rate of  one share of  Common Stock  for each  five shares of
    Series B Preferred Stock owned.
 
        (7) In  April 1994  and  May 1995,  the  Registrant issued  warrants  to
    purchase  an aggregate of 194,445  shares of Series B  Preferred Stock at an
    exercise price of $0.90 per share to Lease Management Services, Inc.
 
        (8) In May 1995,  the Registrant entered into  a license agreement  with
    Sang-A Pharm Co., Ltd., ("Sang-A") under which, in return for certain rights
    to certain of the Registrant's products in Korea, Sang-A purchased 2,941,863
    of  the Registrant's Series  C Preferred Stock for  $3,971,575, or $1.35 per
    share. Shares of  Series C Preferred  Stock are convertible  into shares  of
    Common  Stock at the rate of one share  of Common Stock for each five shares
    of Series C Preferred Stock owned.
 
        (9) From July  through November 1995,  the Registrant issued  13,099,707
    shares  of Series C Preferred Stock to  66 purchasers at a purchase price of
    $1.35 per share  (including 1,187,295  shares to Sang-A),  for an  aggregate
    purchase  price  of  $17,684,604. Shares  of  Series C  Preferred  Stock are
    convertible into shares of Common Stock at  the rate of one share of  Common
    Stock for each five shares of Series C Preferred Stock owned.
 
        (10)  In  November 1995,  the Registrant  issued  a warrant  to purchase
    352,536 shares of the  Series C Preferred Stock  of the Company to  Raymond,
    James  &  Associates,  Inc.,  for  an  exercise  price  of  $1.62  per share
    (convertible into 70,507 shares of  Common Stock) issuable upon exercise  of
    the  warrant. Shares of Series C Preferred Stock are convertible into shares
    of Common Stock  at the  rate of  one share of  Common Stock  for each  five
    shares of Series C Preferred Stock owned.
 
        (11)  In March  1996, the Registrant  issued 136,315 shares  of Series C
    Preferred Stock  to  Sang-A Pharm  Co.,  Ltd. at  $1.35  per share,  for  an
    aggregate purchase price of $184,025. Shares of Series C Preferred Stock are
    convertible  into shares of Common Stock at  the rate of one share of Common
    Stock for each five shares of Series C Preferred Stock owned.
 
    The sales and issuances of securities described in paragraph (1) above  were
deemed to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of Rule
701  of the Securities Act.  The sales and issuances  of securities described in
paragraphs (2) through  (9) above  were deemed  to be  exempt from  registration
under the
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
Securities  Act  by virtue  of Rule  4(2) of  the Securities  Act. The  sale and
issuance of  securities described  in paragraph  (10) above  were deemed  to  be
exempt  from registration under the Securities Act  by virtue of Rule 3(a)(9) of
the Securities Act.
 
    Appropriate legends  are affixed  to the  stock certificates  issued in  the
aforementioned transactions. Similar legends were imposed in connection with any
subsequent sales of any such securities. All recipients either received adequate
information  about the  Registrant or  had access,  through employment  or other
relationships, to such information.
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
    (a)   The  following  is  a  list  of exhibits  filed  as  a  part  of  this
Registration Statement:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   EXHIBIT
   NUMBER                        DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
- -------------  ------------------------------------------------------------
<C>            <S>
      *1.1     Form of Underwriting Agreement.
       3.1     Amended  and  Restated  Articles  of  Incorporation  of  the
                Registrant, as amended.(1)
       3.2     Amendment  to   the  Amended   and  Restated   Articles   of
                Incorporation of the Registrant.
       3.3     Bylaws of the Registrant.(1)
      *3.4     Form of Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant to be
                filed upon reincorporation in Delaware.
      *3.5     Form  of  Bylaws  of  the Registrant  to  be  effective upon
                reincorporation in Delaware.
      *3.6     Form  of  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of   the
                Registrant, to be filed after completion of this offering.
      *3.7     Form  of Restated Bylaws of  the Registrant, to be effective
                upon the completion of this offering.
       4.1     Reference is made to Exhibits  3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4., 3.5  and
                3.6.
      *4.2     Specimen Stock Certificate.
       4.3     Warrant  for Series A  Preferred Stock, issued  to The Mount
                Sinai School of Medicine of the City of New York.(1)
       4.4     Warrant for Series  A Preferred Stock,  issued to The  Mount
                Sinai School of Medicine of the City of New York.(1)
      *4.5     Warrant  for Series A  Preferred Stock, issued  to The Mount
                Sinai School of Medicine of the City of New York.
      *4.6     Warrant for Series  A Preferred Stock,  issued to The  Mount
                Sinai School of Medicine of the City of New York.
      *4.7     Warrant  for Series  C Preferred  Stock, issued  to Raymond,
                James & Associates.
       4.8     Investors Rights Agreement, dated  July 18, 1995, among  the
                Registrant and the investors named therein.(1)
       5.1     Opinion of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum.(1)
     +10.1     License   Agreement   between   the   Registrant   and  ARCH
                Development Corporation, dated July 1, 1992.(1)
     +10.2     Technology Transfer Agreement between the Registrant and The
                Mount Sinai School  of Medicine of  the City University  of
                New York, dated February 9, 1993.(1)
     +10.3     Materials   Transfer  and  Intellectual  Property  Agreement
                between the Registrant and the Regents of the University of
                Michigan, dated February 24, 1995.(1)
      10.4     Stock Transfer  Agreement  between the  Registrant  and  the
                Regents  of the University of  Michigan, dated February 24,
                1995.(1)
     +10.5     Development and License Agreement between the Registrant and
                Sang-A Pharm. Co., Ltd., dated May 3, 1995.(1)
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   EXHIBIT
   NUMBER                        DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
- -------------  ------------------------------------------------------------
<C>            <S>
     +10.6     Cooperative Research and  Development Agreement between  the
                Registrant and the National Institutes of Health, dated May
                30, 1995.(1)
     +10.7     Heads  of  Agreement between  the Registrant  and SmithKline
                Beecham Biologicals S.A., dated October 8, 1995.
     +10.8     Manufacturing  and   Development   Agreement   between   the
                Registrant  and  Evans Medical  Limited, dated  November 7,
                1995.(1)
      10.9     1996 Equity Incentive Plan.(1)
      10.10    1996 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.(1)
      10.11    1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.(1)
      10.12    Industrial  Lease  between  the  Registrant  and  the  Vanni
                Business   Park  General  Partnership,   dated  August  29,
                1995.(1)
     +10.13    First Amendment to License Agreement between the  Registrant
                and ARCH Development Corporation, dated March 15, 1996.
     +10.14    Biological   Materials   License   Agreement   between   the
                Registrant and the National Institutes of Health, dated May
                31, 1996.
      11.1     Statement regarding Computation  of Pro Forma  Net Loss  Per
                Share.(1)
      23.1     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
      24.2     Consent   of  Cooley  Godward   Castro  Huddleson  &  Tatum.
                Reference is made to Exhibit 5.1.
      25.1     Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-5.(1)
      27.1     Financial Data Schedules.(1)
</TABLE>
    
 
- -------------------
 *  To be filed by amendment.
 +  Confidential treatment has been requested for portions of this exhibit.
   
(1) Previously filed with the Registration Statment on Form S-1.
    
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
    The Registrant hereby undertakes to provide the Underwriters at the  closing
specified  in the Underwriting Agreement  certificates in such denominations and
registered in  such names  as  required by  the  Underwriters to  permit  prompt
delivery to each purchaser.
 
    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 provisions described  in Item 14  or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in  the opinion of the Securities and  Exchange
Commission  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 governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
    The undersigned Registrant undertakes that: (1) for purposes of  determining
any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of
prospectus  filed as  part of the  registration statement in  reliance upon Rule
430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under  the Securities Act shall be deemed to  be
part of the registration statement as of the time it was declared effective, and
(2)  for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each
post-effective amendment that contains a form  of prospectus 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.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
    In  accordance  with the  requirements of  the Securities  Act of  1933, the
Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be  signed
on  its behalf by the undersigned, in the  City of Moutain View, County of Santa
Clara, State of California, on the 19th day of June, 1996.
    
 
                                          AVIRON
 
                                          By:    /s/ J. LEIGHTON READ
                                             -----------------------------------
                                               J. Leighton Read, M.D.
                                               CHAIRMAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                               AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                                               (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER)
 
   
    IN ACCORDANCE WITH  THE REQUIREMENTS  OF THE  SECURITIES ACT  OF 1933,  THIS
AMENDMENT  NO. 1 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT WAS SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING
PERSON IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES STATED.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<C>                                               <S>                             <C>
                   SIGNATURE                                  TITLE                    DATE
- ------------------------------------------------  ------------------------------  --------------
                                                  Chairman, Chief Executive
                                                  Officer and Chief Financial
              /s/ J. LEIGHTON READ                Officer
     --------------------------------------       (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER    June 19, 1996
             J. Leighton Read, M.D.               AND PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND
                                                  ACCOUNTING OFFICER)
 
                       *
     --------------------------------------       Director                        June 19, 1996
                 Reid W. Dennis
 
                       *
     --------------------------------------       Director                        June 19, 1996
              Paul H. Klingenstein
 
                       *
     --------------------------------------       Director                        June 19, 1996
             Bernard Roizman, Sc.D.
 
                       *
     --------------------------------------       Director                        June 19, 1996
             L. James Strand, M.D.
 
                       *
     --------------------------------------       Director                        June 19, 1996
              Jane E. Shaw, Ph.D.
 
              /s/ J. LEIGHTON READ
     --------------------------------------
             *  (Attorney-in-fact)
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                        SEQUENTIAL
 EXHIBIT                                                                                                   PAGE
 NUMBER                                      DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT                                      NUMBER
- ---------  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
<C>        <S>                                                                                          <C>
    *1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement.............................................................
     3.1   Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended(1)............
     3.2   Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant..........
     3.3   Bylaws of the Registrant(1)................................................................
    *3.4   Form of Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant to be filed upon reincorporation in
            Delaware..................................................................................
    *3.5   Form of Bylaws of the Registrant to be effective upon reincorporation in Delaware..........
    *3.6   Form of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, to be filed after
            completion of this offering...............................................................
    *3.7   Form of Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, to be effective upon the completion of this
            offering..................................................................................
     4.1   Reference is made to Exhibits 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4., 3.5 and 3.6.............................
    *4.2   Specimen Stock Certificate.................................................................
     4.3   Warrant for Series A Preferred Stock, issued to The Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the
            City of New York(1).......................................................................
     4.4   Warrant for Series A Preferred Stock, issued to The Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the
            City of New York(1).......................................................................
    *4.5   Warrant for Series A Preferred Stock, issued to The Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the
            City of New York..........................................................................
    *4.6   Warrant for Series A Preferred Stock, issued to The Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the
            City of New York..........................................................................
    *4.7   Warrant for Series C Preferred Stock, issued to Raymond, James & Associates................
     4.8   Investors Rights Agreement, dated July 18, 1995, among the Registrant and the investors
            named therein(1)..........................................................................
     5.1   Opinion of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum(1)......................................
   +10.1   License Agreement between the Registrant and ARCH Development Corporation, dated July 1,
            1992(1)...................................................................................
   +10.2   Technology Transfer Agreement between the Registrant and The Mount Sinai School of Medicine
            of the City University of New York, dated February 9, 1993(1).............................
   +10.3   Materials Transfer and Intellectual Property Agreement between the Registrant and the
            Regents of the University of Michigan, dated February 24, 1995(1).........................
    10.4   Stock Transfer Agreement between the Registrant and the Regents of the University of
            Michigan, dated February 24, 1995(1)......................................................
   +10.5   Development and License Agreement between the Registrant and Sang-A Pharm. Co., Ltd., dated
            May 3, 1995(1)............................................................................
   +10.6   Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between the Registrant and the National
            Institutes of Health, dated May 30, 1995(1)...............................................
   +10.7   Heads of Agreement between the Registrant and SmithKline Beecham Biologicals S.A., dated
            October 8, 1995...........................................................................
   +10.8   Manufacturing and Development Agreement between the Registrant and Evans Medical Limited,
            dated November 7, 1995(1).................................................................
    10.9   1996 Equity Incentive Plan(1)..............................................................
    10.10  1996 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan(1)..........................................
    10.11  1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan(1).......................................................
    10.12  Industrial Lease between the Registrant and the Vanni Business Park General Partnership,
            dated August 29, 1995(1)..................................................................
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                        SEQUENTIAL
 EXHIBIT                                                                                                   PAGE
 NUMBER                                      DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT                                      NUMBER
- ---------  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
<C>        <S>                                                                                          <C>
   +10.13  First Amendment to License Agreement between the Registrant and ARCH Development
            Corporation, dated March 15, 1996.........................................................
   +10.14  Biological Materials License Agreement between the Registrant and the National Institutes
            of Health, dated May 31, 1996.............................................................
    11.1   Statement regarding Computation of Pro Forma Net Loss Per Share(1).........................
    23.1   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP...............................................................
    24.2   Consent of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum. Reference is made to Exhibit 5.1.......
    25.1   Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-5(1).......................................
    27.1   Financial Data Schedules(1)................................................................
</TABLE>
    
 
- -------------------
 *  To be filed by amendment.
 +  Confidential treatment has been requested for portions of this exhibit.
   
(1) Previously filed with the Registration Statment on Form S-1.
    

<PAGE>

                                   [Letterhead]
                               STATE OF CALIFORNIA
                               SECRETARY OF STATE


                               CORPORATE DIVISION

     I, BILL JONES, Secretary of State of the State of California, hereby
certify:

     That the annexed transcript has been compared with the corporate record
on file in this office, of which it purports to be a copy, and that same is
full, true and correct.


                                       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I execute this
                                       certificate and affix the Great Seal
                                       of the State of California this

                                                    May 29, 1996
                                       ----------------------------------------


[Seal of the State of California]                  /s/ BILL JONES
                                                 Secretary of State




<PAGE>

                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                 AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                                     AVIRON


     J. Leighton Read and Alan C. Mendelson certify that:

     1.   They are the Chief Executive Officer and the Secretary, respectively,
          of Aviron, a California corporation (the "Corporation").

     2.   Article III.C.4(f) of the Amended and Restated Articles of the
          Corporation is amended and restated as follows:

          "f.  AUTOMATIC CONVERSION.  Each share of Preferred Stock
          shall automatically be converted into shares of Common Stock
          at the then effective Conversion Price immediately upon (i)
          the closing of the sale of the Corporation's Common Stock in
          a firm commitment, underwritten public offering registered
          under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (other than a
          registration relating solely to a transaction under Rule 145
          under such Act (or any successor thereto) or to an employee
          benefit plan of the Company), with aggregate proceeds to the
          Corporation (before deduction for underwriter commissions
          and expenses relating to the issuance, including without
          limitation fees of the Corporation's counsel) of which equal
          or exceed $10,000,000 or (ii) upon receipt by the
          Corporation of the affirmative vote at a duly noticed
          shareholders meeting or pursuant to a duly solicited written
          consent of approval of the holders of at least a majority of
          the then outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock,
          the Series B Preferred Stock, and the Series C Preferred
          Stock, voting together as a single class in favor of the
          conversion of all of the shares of Preferred Stock into
          Common Stock."

     3.   The following is added to Article III of the Amended and Restated
          Articles of the Corporation:

          "D.  Effective at the time of filing of this Certificate of Amendment
          with the Secretary of State of California (the "Effective Time"), each
          five shares of the Corporation's Common Stock, issued and outstanding
          or held in treasury at the Effective Time shall, automatically and
          without any action on the part of 


<PAGE>

          the respective holders thereof, be reclassified into one (1) share of
          Common Stock, of the Corporation.  No fractional shares will be issued
          and, in lieu thereof, any holder of less than one share of Common
          Stock shall be entitled to receive cash for such holder's fractional
          share based on the fair market value of the Common Stock as of the
          Effective Time, as determined by the Board of Directors of the
          Corporation."

     4.   The foregoing amendment of the Amended and Restated Articles of
          Incorporation has been duly approved by the Board of Directors.

     5.   The foregoing amendment has been duly approved by the required vote of
          the shareholders of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 902
          and 903 of the California Corporations Code.  The total number of
          outstanding shares of the Corporation is 5,330,965 shares of Common
          Stock, 5,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, 17,990,401 shares
          of Series B Preferred Stock and 16,041,570 shares of Series C
          Preferred Stock.  The number of shares voting in favor of the
          amendment equaled or exceeded the vote required.  The percentage vote
          required was more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Common
          Stock and more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Preferred
          Stock, each class voting separately.

     We further declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of
California that the matters set forth in this certificate are true and correct
of our own knowledge.

Date: February 26, 1996


                                                 /s/ J. LEIGHTON READ
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      J. Leighton Read, Chief Executive Officer



                                                 /s/ ALAN C. MENDELSON
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                             Alan C. Mendelson, Secretary



                                      2.


<PAGE>



                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.7

<PAGE>


CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN DELETED, AS
MARKED BY BRACKETS, AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO RULE 406 OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED.


                                  HEADS OF AGREEMENT


                                    by and between


                         SMITHKLINE BEECHAM BIOLOGICALS S.A.


                                         and


                                        AVIRON



<PAGE>


                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS


     1. DEFINITIONS                                                           3
     2. LICENSE GRANT                                                         6
     3. OPTION RETAINED BY AVIRON                                             7
     4. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT                                      8
     5. DEVELOPMENT                                                           9
     6. LICENSE FEES AND MILESTONES                                           9
     7. ROYALTIES                                                            10
     8. DUE DILIGENCE                                                        11
     9. COMPULSORY LICENSES                                                  12
    10. EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND CONFIDENTIALITY                          12
    11. PATENT PROSECUTION AND LITIGATION                                    14
    12. TRADEMARKS                                                           15
    13. STATEMENTS AND REMITTANCES                                           16
    14. TERM AND TERMINATION                                                 17
    15. RIGHTS AND DUTIES UPON TERMINATION                                   18
    16. WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS                                       18
    17. LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION                                        19
    18. FORCE MAJEURE                                                        20
    19. GOVERNING LAW                                                        20
    20. ARBITRATION                                                          20
    21. SEPARABILITY                                                         20
    22. ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT                                  21
    23. NO WAIVER                                                            21
    24. NOTICES                                                              21
    25. ASSIGNMENT                                                           22
    APPENDICES

                                                                              2.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


                                  HEADS OF AGREEMENT
                                    by and between

                         SMITHKLINE BEECHAM BIOLOGICALS S.A.
                   Rue de l'Institut 89, B 1330 Rixensart, Belgium

                                         and

                                        AVIRON
                     1450 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010, USA


These Heads of Agreement are made this eight day of October 1995, between
SMITHKLINE BEECHAM BIOLOGICALS S.A. a company organised under Belgian law and
having its registered office at 89 rue de l'Institut, B-1330 Rixensart, 
Belgium and AVIRON, a company organised under Californian law and having its
offices at 1450 Rollins Road, Burlingame, California 94010, USA (hereinafter
"AVIRON").  The parties have been in discussions concerning the grant to SB of
an exclusive license under AVIRON's patents and know-how relating to
prophylactic and therapeutic Epstein-Barr virus ("EBV") vaccines.

While the parties acknowledge the need, as the case may be, for supplementary
binding documents, such as a SUBLICENSE AGREEMENT (as hereinafter defined), (a)
Supply Agreement(s), a Research Outline, a Commercial Agreement for Korea, the
parties now set forth the heads of a license agreement and their definitive
agreement on certain main principles thereof, which are as follows:


1. DEFINITIONS

    (a)  "AFFILIATE(S)" shall mean any corporation, firm, partnership or other
         entity, whether DE JURE or DE FACTO, which directly or indirectly
         owns, is owned by or is under common ownership with a party to these
         Heads of Agreement to the extent of [                        ] of the
         equity (or such lesser percentage which is the maximum allowed to be
         owned by a foreign corporation in a particular jurisdiction) having
         the power to vote on or direct the affairs of the entity and any
         person, firm, partnership, corporation or other entity actually
         controlled by, controlling or under common control with a party to
         these Heads of Agreement.

    (b)  "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" as used in these Heads of Agreement shall
         mean any confidential or proprietary information (including data,
         schematics, drawings, techniques, whether tangible or intangible)
         relating to any research project, work in progress, future
         development, scientific engineering, manufacturing, marketing,
         financial or personnel matter of the disclosing party, whether in oral
         (and, if practicable, confirmed in written summary form), written,
         graphic or electronic form.  In particular, "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION"
         of AVIRON shall include (i) all proprietary information with respect
         to the PATENTS [                          ] and any KNOW-HOW made 
         available by AVIRON to SB and (ii) the terms and provisions of the 
         Arch


                                                                              3.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


         Corporation/Aviron Agreement and CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION of SB shall
         include all information disclosed to AVIRON pursuant to Section 8 of
         these Heads of Agreement.

    (c)  "FIELD" shall mean any and all prophylactic and therapeutic EBV
         vaccines.

    (d)  [                                                            ]

    (e)  "KNOW-HOW" shall mean all present and future technical information,
         materials and know-how developed, owned, proprietary to and/or
         controlled by AVIRON with the right to sublicense, which is [          
                                                                 ] and which is
         necessary for or useful to the development or commercialization of
         products in the FIELD and shall include, without limitation, [         
                               ] relating thereto.  KNOW-HOW shall not include
         any information, know-how or materials which are generally
         ascertainable from publicly available information.

         For the purposes of this paragraph 1 (e) and this Agreement, the
         terms:

         (i)  [           ] shall mean [                                        
                                                                                
                                                                ]

         (ii) [           ] shall mean that [                                   
                                                                                
                                                                ]

         (iii) [          ] shall mean that [                                   

                                                  ]

    (f)  "NET SALES" shall mean the gross receipts from sales of PRODUCT by SB,
         its Affiliates, sublicensees or distributors, but not by or to AVIRON,
         to third parties hereunder after deducting:

                                                                              4.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


         (i)       [                            ] to cover transportation
                   charges, including insurance; and

         (ii)      SB's standard costs for [                                    
                                                                                
                                                                  ] and

         (iii)     sales and excise taxes and duties paid or allowed by a
                   selling party and any other governmental charges imposed
                   upon the production, importation, use or sale of PRODUCT,
                   including without limitation, government - mandated vaccine
                   insurance premiums, such as the National Childhood Vaccine
                   Injury Act; and

         (iv)      reasonable and customary trade, quantity and cash discounts,
                   commissions and other customary rebates; and

         (v)       allowances or credits to customers or charges back from
                   customers on account of rejection or return of PRODUCT or on
                   account of retroactive price reductions all to the extent
                   actually allowed or given; and

         (vi)      [                                                            
                                                                                
                                                                  ] and

         (vii)     the [                                                        
                                                                                
                                     ]

              Sales between or among SB and its AFFILIATES, sublicensees or
              distributors shall be excluded from the computation of NET SALES
              except where such AFFILIATES, sublicensees or distributors are
              end users, but NET SALES shall include the subsequent final sales
              to third parties by the AFFILIATES or sublicensees or
              distributors.

              In the event of a PRODUCT incorporating one or more non-EBV
              antigens (hereinafter "COMBINATION PRODUCT"), NET SALES shall
              exclude the VALUE, as specified below, of any non-EBV antigens
              included in the PRODUCT. "VALUE" for purpose of [                 
                          ] this paragraph shall mean [                         
                                                                                
                                                                  ]  To
              determine the NET SALES of COMBINATION PRODUCT for royalty
              calculation purposes, NET SALES of COMBINATION PRODUCT shall be
              multiplied by A/(A+B) whereby [                                   
                                                                                
                                           ]


    (g)  "PATENTS" shall mean all patents and patent applications which are or
         become owned and/or controlled, in whole or in part, by AVIRON, as to
         which AVIRON otherwise has, now or in the future, the right to grant
         licenses or sublicenses [                              ] which
         generically or specifically

                                                                              5.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


         claim vaccines against EBV. [                                          
                                                                                
                                   ] Included within the definition of PATENTS
         are any continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions, patents of
         addition, reissues, renewals or extensions thereof. Also included
         within the definition of PATENTS are any patents or patent
         applications which generically or specifically claim [                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                             ] during the term of these Heads
         of Agreement.  The current list of patent applications and patents
         encompassed within PATENTS is set forth in Appendix A attached hereto.

    (h)  "PRODUCT" shall mean any [                            ] product, in
         any configuration or formulation including COMBINATION PRODUCT(S), for
         the prevention and/or treatment of EBV, the manufacture, use or sale
         of which is covered by a pending or issued and unexpired claim of one
         or more of the PATENTS in the particular country in which it is sold
         and/or which utilizes, contains, is based upon, or is derived from the
         KNOW-HOW.

    (i)  "SB" shall mean SmithKline Beecham Biologicals S.A. and its
         AFFILIATES.

    (j)  "SUBLICENSE AGREEMENT" shall mean the definitive agreement between
         AVIRON and SB by which AVIRON shall sublicense to SB the rights under
         the [                      ] to make, have made, use, have used,
         import, offer for sale, sell and have sold PRODUCTS in the FIELD [





                                                      ]

    (k)  "TERRITORY" shall mean all the countries and territories of the world
         [                                      ]

2.  LICENSE GRANT

    (a)  Subject to AVIRON's option as provided in section 3 below, AVIRON
         hereby grants to SB an exclusive license in the TERRITORY, subject to
         any residual rights [         ] the US Government, with the right to
         grant sublicenses on conditions at least as favourable to AVIRON as
         the ones contained herein, under any and all PATENTS and KNOW-HOW now
         and during these Heads of Agreement, to make, have made, use, have
         used, import, export, offer for sale, sell and have sold PRODUCTS in
         the FIELD.

    (b)  AVIRON hereby grants SB a right of first refusal to an exclusive
         licence in all countries of the TERRITORY under any patents and/or
         other intellectual property rights relating to any live-virus
         vaccines technology developed and/or controlled by AVIRON in the 
         FIELD and/or under which AVIRON has now or in the future the right 
         to grant licences.

    (c)  The parties hereto will enter into a definitive SUBLICENSE AGREEMENT
         [                            ] promptly after the execution of these
         Heads of

                                                                              6.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


         Agreement.  Such sub-licence grant shall be construed as conferring
         upon SB the same rights to make, have made, use, have used, import,
         export, sell and have sold PRODUCT [

                   ] Further, the parties agree that the SUBLICENSE AGREEMENT
         shall contain such provisions as are necessary to properly effectuate
         such sublicense [       ] to SB.

    (d)  SB agrees and acknowledges that the PATENTS and KNOW-HOW licensed
         and/or transferred to SB by AVIRON under this Section 2 [              
                                                                                
                                  ] in the development and/or manufacture of
         PRODUCTS.  During the life of these Heads of Agreement AVIRON shall be
         [                                                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                ]

3.  OPTION RETAINED BY AVIRON

    (a)  AVIRON retains an option to co-distribute itself in the United States,
         including co-selling and co-marketing, PRODUCT in monovalent finished
         form, delivered by SB to AVIRON [                                      
                                                                                
                                 ] for sale by AVIRON in the [     ] United
         States market only [                                                   
                                                                                
                                                                     ] This
         option is transferable only upon consent of SB, which consent shall be
         at SB's sole discretion, and must be exercised under written notice by
         AVIRON, prior to, and not later than, [                              
                                                                                
                                            ] Upon exercise of such option by
         AVIRON, the parties shall negotiate in good faith and execute a Supply
         Agreement which will be customary in the field and under which SB
         shall use its reasonable efforts to supply AVIRON with all of AVIRON's
         requirements of monovalent PRODUCT for sale in the United States
         [     ] market, and provided that SB uses its reasonable efforts to
         supply AVIRON with all such AVIRON's requirements of PRODUCT.  SB
         shall be entitled to [                                                 
                                                                         ]
         unless SB fails to supply AVIRON with its requirements of monovalent
         PRODUCT in accordance with the terms of the Supply Agreement as
         contemplated hereabove.  If AVIRON has failed to exercise its option
         when [                                                                 
                                              ] AVIRON's option to co-
         distribution will revert back to SB.

    (b)  In the event AVIRON exercises its option under Section 3 (a) and later
         ceases co-distribution, co-sale and co-marketing of the PRODUCT, [

                                                                              7.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


                                                          ]

    (c)  SB shall not sublicense the rights to co-distribute, co-sell or co-
         market the PRODUCT in monovalent finished form to any entity other
         than AVIRON until such time as AVIRON declines to exercise its option
         or AVIRON's rights under its option revert to SB pursuant to Section 3
         (a) above.

    (d)  AVIRON shall support royalties SB otherwise would have to pay on
         AVIRON's sales of PRODUCT in the United States, other than royalties
         to [                                                                   
            ] for which SB shall be responsible, without however causing the
         delivery price of PRODUCT to AVIRON to exceed [                        
                                     ]  Aviron shall be responsible for all its
         expenses related to the promotion, distribution and selling of PRODUCT
         by AVIRON hereunder.

    (e)  SB shall use its reasonable efforts to supply AVIRON's [          ] in
         North Korea and South Korea ("Sang-A") with [                          
                                 ] for distribution in North Korea and South
         Korea under the terms of a Supply Agreement to be negotiated in good
         faith between the parties hereto.  At SB's discretion, SB shall
         discuss with AVIRON the conditions for supplying Sang-A with [         
                                    ] for North Korea and South Korea. In any
         event, Sang-A shall not be authorised to sell PRODUCT [                
                   ] outside North Korea and South Korea.

4.  RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT

    (a)  A collaborative research program ("Research Program") shall be
         performed by AVIRON dedicated to the development of a PRODUCT for two
         (2) years starting on [                       ] such period extendable
         by mutual written agreement at least [                  ] before the
         expiration of the initial two (2) year period.  The parties shall
         agree on the scientific objectives, activities, and responsibilities
         for the collaborative research program, the principles of which shall
         be set forth in a Research Outline to be attached as an Appendix C to
         these Heads of Agreement. SB shall provide research funding to AVIRON
         [                                                                     
                                                                               
                                                 ] to support these activities,
         in an amount of: [                                                    
                                                                         ] and
         [                                                                      
                                                                     ] AVIRON
         shall undertake all reasonable efforts to fulfill SB's requests with
         regard to how the R&D funding shall be spent and shall, upon SB's
         request, provide a complete accounting of all R&D expenses.

         For the duration of these Heads of Agreement AVIRON shall not enter
         into any collaborative research agreement with a third party with
         respect to the development or research of [                 ] in the
         FIELD unless mutually agreed upon by AVIRON and SB in writing.

    (b)  Any invention or discovery that arises out of the Research Program
         made solely by an employee or agent of SB shall belong to SB alone.


                                                                              8.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


         Any invention or discovery that arises out of the Research Program
         made solely by an employee or agent of AVIRON shall be owned by
         AVIRON.

         Any invention or discovery that arises out of the Research Program
         made by an employee or agent of AVIRON jointly with a SB employee or
         agent,[

                      ]shall be jointly owned by SB and AVIRON.

    (c)  SB shall have the first right to prepare, file, prosecute, and
         maintain patent application on any invention or discovery arising out
         of the Research Program at its own expense.  Any patent application
         arising out of an invention or discovery made solely by an employee or
         agent of SB shall be filed in the name of SB.  Any patent application
         arising out of an invention or discovery made solely by an employee or
         agent of AVIRON shall be filed in the name of AVIRON.  Any patent
         application arising out of an invention or discovery jointly made by
         AVIRON and SB shall be filed in the joint names of SB and AVIRON.

5.  DEVELOPMENT

    As part of the Research Program, AVIRON shall provide to SB all [
                          ] related to or useful for development of the PRODUCT
    and shall prepare [                                                   ]
    Aviron shall supply SB with all [                      ] as appropriate.  
    SB shall prepare [           ] which shall be tested by AVIRON according to 
    [
                                     ]

6.  LICENSE FEES AND MILESTONES

    (a)  SB will pay AVIRON a licensing fee of one million five hundred 
         thousand US dollars (US $1,500,000) within fifteen (15) days from 
         execution of these Heads of Agreement.

    (b)  SB shall also pay AVIRON, within thirty (30) days, upon achievement of
         particular milestones relating to the first PRODUCT, or the first
         COMBINATION PRODUCT, whichever occurs first as follows:

         [                               ]:[                                 ]
         [                               ]:[
                                                              ]
         [                               ]:[                                 ]
         [                                :[
                    ]                                          ]
         [                             ]  :[
                                                               ]


                                                                              9.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


         [                               ]:[
                                                              ]
         [                                :[
                                                              ]


                         ]
                                            ------------------------------------
         TOTAL                             [
                                                              ]
    [

                                                                               ]
7. ROYALTIES

    (a)  SB shall pay AVIRON a royalty on NET SALES covered by a valid claim of
         a granted PATENT in the particular country where sales are made, as
         follows:

         (i) In United States:
              [

                                                                             ]

         (ii) In other countries:
              [

                                                                             ]

    (b)  SB shall pay AVIRON a royalty of [ ] on NET SALES in countries where
         there is no valid claim of a granted PATENT, except [

                               ]

    (c)  [


                                                                             10.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


                                     ]
         [




                                           ]

    (d)  The royalty specified in subparagraph 7(a).(i) shall be reduced by[
                                                           ]
    (e)  The parties shall share any costs associated with [



                                                              ] through a credit
         against royalties due by SB to AVIRON, [
                                                         ] Any dispute between
         AVIRON and SB arising under this Section 7(e)[
                                ] shall be resolved by the procedure set forth
         in Section 20(b).

    (f)  Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in these Heads of
         Agreement, SB agrees that for the calculation of the royalty to be
         paid by SB on NET SALES of PRODUCTS by SB in the United States
         pursuant to subparagraph 7(a)(i), the definition of NET SALES as set
         forth in the Aviron/Arch Agreement attached hereto as Appendix B and
         Incorporated by reference herein, shall be used to calculate a
         [           ] royalty payable to AVIRON under these Heads of
         Agreement.  The remaining [                               ] royalty
         due AVIRON, as applicable [
                       ] shall be calculated using the definition of NET SALES
         provided for in subparagraph 1(f) of these Heads of Agreement.

8.  DUE DILIGENCE

    (a)  Except for AVIRON's responsibilities pursuant to the Research Program
         and paragraphs 4 and 5, SB will be responsible for, and shall bear a
         expenses associated with, the research, development, manufacture and
         commercialization of PRODUCTS. SB will [


                                                                          ] SB


                                                                             11.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


         will keep AVIRON informed on a regular basis [                   ] of
         its progress in the development of PRODUCTS.

    (b)  SB shall [
                                                                    ] within
         [
                    ] In addition,  SB agrees to use diligent efforts to
         promote the sale, marketing and distribution of the PRODUCT in the
         TERRITORY, consistent with applicable legal requirements and with
         accepted business practices, [
                                                                   ] SB will
         keep AVIRON informed on a regular basis of its progress in the
         commercialization of PRODUCTS in the TERRITORY.

9.  COMPULSORY LICENSES

    In the event that, subsequent to the execution of these Heads of Agreement,
    a governmental agency in any country or territory grants or compels AVIRON
    to grant a license to any third party for PRODUCT provided such license is
    not granted pursuant to the US Government march-in rights :(i) SB shall be
    responsible and have control over any such compulsory licence arrangements
    provided that SB shall use its best efforts to keep the level of royalty to
    AVIRON consistent with the one set forth in these Heads of Agreement and
    provided further that AVIRON's consent shall be required if such royalty
    rate falls below the one set forth herein; (ii) SB shall have the benefit in
    such country or territory (and in any other country(ies) affected by such
    compulsory license) of the terms granted to such third party to the extent
    that such terms are more favourable to the third party than those of these
    Heads of Agreement.

10. EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND CONFIDENTIALITY

    (a)  During the term of these Heads of Agreement, AVIRON shall promptly
         disclose to SB and/or supply SB with all KNOW-HOW.

    (b)  During the term of these Heads of Agreement, each party shall promptly
         inform the other party of any information that it obtains or develops
         regarding the utility and safety of PRODUCT and shall promptly report
         to the other party any confirmed information of serious or unexpected
         reactions or side effects related to the utilisation or medical
         administration of PRODUCT.  In particular, each party shall provide
         the other with any and all phase IV results and data related to
         safety/adverse effects issues of which it will be or become aware,
         anywhere in the TERRITORY.  [



                     ]

    (c)  During the term of these Heads of Agreement and for [     ] years
         thereafter, irrespective of any termination earlier than the
         expiration of the term of these Heads of Agreement, AVIRON and SB shall
         not use or reveal or disclose to third parties any CONFIDENTIAL
         INFORMATION received from the other party or otherwise developed by
         either party in the performance of activities in furtherance of these
         Heads of Agreement without first obtaining the written


                                                                             12.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


         consent of the disclosing party, except as may be otherwise provided
         herein, or as may be required for purposes of investigating,
         developing, manufacturing or marketing PRODUCT or for securing
         essential or desirable authorisations, privileges or rights from
         governmental agencies, or is required to be disclosed to a
         governmental agency, or is necessary to file or prosecute patent
         applications concerning PRODUCT or to carry out any litigation
         concerning PRODUCT.  This confidentiality obligation shall not apply
         to such information which is or becomes a matter of public knowledge,
         or is already in the possession of the receiving party without
         restrictions on disclosure, or is disclosed to the receiving party by
         a third party having the right to do so, or is subsequently and
         independently developed by employees of the receiving party or
         AFFILIATES thereof who had no knowledge of the CONFIDENTIAL
         INFORMATION disclosed.  The parties shall take reasonable measures to
         assure that no unauthorised use or disclosure is made by others to
         whom access to such information is granted.

    (d)  Nothing herein shall be construed as preventing SB from disclosing 
         any information received from AVIRON to an AFFILIATE, sublicensee or 
         distributor of SB, provided such AFFILIATE, sublicensee or 
         distributor has undertaken a similar obligation of confidentiality 
         with respect to the CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

    (e)  All CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION disclosed by one party to the other shall
         remain the intellectual property of the disclosing party.  In the
         event that a court or other legal or administrative tribunal, directly
         or through an appointed master, trustee or receiver, assumes partial
         or complete control over the assets of a party to these Heads of
         Agreement based on the insolvency or bankruptcy of such party, the
         bankrupt or insolvent party shall promptly notify the court or other
         tribunal (i) that CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION received from the other
         party under these Heads of Agreement remains the property of the other
         party and (ii) of the confidentiality obligations under these Heads of
         Agreement.  In addition, the bankrupt or insolvent party shall, to the
         extent permitted by law, take all steps necessary or desirable to
         maintain the confidentiality of the other party's CONFIDENTIAL
         INFORMATION and to insure that the court, other tribunal or appointee
         maintains such information in confidence in accordance with the terms
         of these Heads of Agreement.


    (f)  The parties shall make a public announcement concerning the existence
         of these Heads of Agreement promptly following execution thereof, the
         content of which shall be mutually agreed upon.  [




                                                                  ]  The party
         desiring to make any such other public announcement or other
         disclosure shall inform the other party of the proposed announcement
         or disclosure in reasonable sufficient time prior to public release,
         and shall provide the other party with a written copy thereof, in
         order to allow such other party to comment upon such announcement or
         disclosure.


                                                                             13.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


    (g)  Neither SB nor AVIRON shall submit for written or oral publication any
         manuscript, abstract or the like which includes CONFIDENTIAL
         INFORMATION generated and provided by the other party without first
         obtaining the prior written consent of the other party.  The
         contribution of each party shall be noted in all publications or
         presentations by acknowledgment or coauthorship, whichever is
         appropriate.


11. PATENT PROSECUTION AND LITIGATION

    (a)  AVIRON shall disclose to SB the complete texts of all patent
         applications within the PATENTS filed by AVIRON as well as all
         information received by AVIRON concerning the institution or possible
         institution of any interference, opposition, re-examination, reissue,
         revocation, nullification or any official proceeding involving a
         PATENT, [                      ] anywhere in the TERRITORY.  [






                                        ] SB shall hold all information
         disclosed to it under this section as CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION subject
         to the provisions of Section 10.

    (b)  [

                                                         ] AVIRON shall during
         the term of these Heads of Agreement disclose to SB any and all
         patentable improvements made and/or controlled by AVIRON in the FIELD
         to the extent they relate to the manufacture, use and/or sale of
         PRODUCT and/or under which AVIRON has the right to grant licenses and
         the parties hereto shall together determine whether and where patent
         filings should be sought.

    (c)  SB shall have the right to assume responsibility for any PATENT or any
         part of a PATENT which AVIRON intends to abandon or otherwise cause or
         allow to be forfeited.  AVIRON shall provide SB with a reasonable
         notice of its intention to abandon any PATENT or part of a PATENT.
         The foregoing provisions of this subparagraph 10(c) shall not apply
         to [                          ] which shall be subject to [
                                   ]

    (d)  SB agrees to and hereby does indemnify and hold AVIRON, its employees
         and directors, harmless from and will defend against any and all
         claims, damages, losses, costs and expenses, including reasonable
         attorney's fees, which AVIRON may incur arising out of or resulting
         from any claim by a third party that a patent or other right owned by
         it is infringed or misappropriated by the manufacture, use, sale,
         distribution or marketing of the PRODUCT(S) provided, however, (i)
         that SB will have control over the defense and settlement of any such
         action or claim, (ii) that AVIRON give prompt notice of any such
         claim, (iii) that AVIRON cooperate, at AVIRON'S expense, in the
         defense of such claim, and (iv) [


                                                                             14.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


                                           ]

    (e)  In the event that AVIRON or SB becomes aware of actual or threatened
         infringement of a PATENT anywhere in the TERRITORY, that party shall
         promptly notify the other party in writing, [





                                                                         ] In
         any event, AVIRON and SB shall assist one another and cooperate in
         any such litigation at the other's request without expense to the
         requesting party.  The foregoing revisions of this subparagraph 10(e)
         shall apply to [
                                  ]

    (f)  AVIRON and SB shall recover their respective actual out-of-pocket
         expenses, or equitable proportions thereof, associated with any
         litigation or settlement thereof under paragraph 11 (e) from any
         recovery made by any party.  Any excess amount shall be shared between
         the parties with the litigating party receiving [               ] and
         the other party receiving [                  ] of such excess.

    (f)  The parties shall keep one another informed of the status of and of
         their respective activities regarding any litigation or settlement
         thereof concerning PRODUCT(S).

    (g)  AVIRON shall authorise SB to act as AVIRON's agent for the purpose of
         making any application for any extensions of the term of PATENTS and
         shall provide reasonable assistance therefor to SB, at AVIRON's
         expense. (In the United States of America as permitted under Title 35
         of the United States Code).

    (h)  AVIRON, on behalf of itself, its officers, agents and successors
         hereby waives any and all actions and causes of action, claims and
         demands whatsoever in law or equity of any kind against SB'S or its
         AFFILIATES' performance of SB's rights under paragraph 11 (c).


12. TRADEMARKS

    (a)  SB, at its expense, shall be responsible for the selection,
         registration and maintenance of all trademarks which it employs in
         connection with PRODUCT(S) and COMBINATION PRODUCT(S) and shall own
         and/or control such trademarks.  SB shall mention on any packaging of
         PRODUCT that the latter is manufactured under a licence from AVIRON,
         provided such mention is in compliance with local legal requirements.

    (b)  AVIRON shall be responsible, in consultation with SB, for the
         selection, registration and maintenance of its own trademarks for
         distribution of


                                                                             15.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


         PRODUCT in monovalent form in the United States, pursuant to Section 3
         above.

    (c)  Nothing in these Heads of Agreement shall be construed as a grant of
         rights, by license or otherwise, to use the trademarks of the other
         party for any purpose.  However, as and within the time limits
         required by US laws, the parties shall agree upon a joint labelling of
         the PRODUCT provided AVIRON has exercised in Option pursuant to
         Section 3 above.


13. STATEMENTS AND REMITTANCES

    (a)  SB shall keep and require its AFFILIATES, sublicensees and
         distributors to keep complete and accurate records of all sales of
         PRODUCT(S) and COMBINATION PRODUCT(S) under the licenses granted
         herein in sufficient detail to permit the royalties payable under
         these Heads of Agreement to be determined.  AVIRON shall have the
         right, at AVIRON's expense, through a certified public accountant or
         like person reasonably acceptable to SB, to examine such records
         during regular business hours during the life of these Heads of
         Agreement and for [           ] after their termination; provided,
         however, that such examination shall not take place more often than
         [         ] and shall not cover such records for more than [
                                  ] and provided further that such accountant
         shall report to AVIRON only as to the accuracy of the royalty
         statements and payments.

    (b)  Within [            ] after the close of each calendar quarter, SB
         shall deliver to AVIRON a true accounting of all PRODUCTS and
         COMBINATION PRODUCTS sold by SB, its sublicensees and distributors
         during such quarter and shall at the same time pay all royalties due.
         Such accounting shall show sales on a country-by-country and product-
         by-product basis.

    (c)  Any tax paid or required to be withheld by SB on account of royalties
         payable to AVIRON under these Heads of Agreement shall be deducted
         from the amount of royalties otherwise due.  SB shall secure and send
         to AVIRON proof of any such taxes withheld and paid by SB, its
         sublicensees or distributors for the benefit of AVIRON.

    (d)  All royalties due under these Heads of Agreement shall be payable in
         US Dollars.  If governmental regulations prevent remittances from a
         foreign country with respect to sales made in that country, the
         obligation of SB to pay royalties on sales in that country shall be
         suspended until such remittances are possible.  AVIRON shall have the
         right, upon giving written notice to SB, to receive payment in that
         country in local currency.

    (e)  Monetary conversions from the currency of a foreign country in which
         PRODUCT is sold into US currency shall be made at the exchange rate in
         force on the last business day of the period for which the royalties
         are being paid as published by the Generale de Banque of Brussels, 
         Belgium, or on another basis mutually agreed to by both parties in
         writing.


                                                                             16.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


14. TERM AND TERMINATION

    (a)  Royalty obligations in each country of the TERRITORY where there is a
         valid claim of a granted PATENT covering PRODUCT(S) shall expire upon
         the expiration or invalidation of the last remaining PATENT in such
         country provided that if such expiration or invalidation occurs prior
         to [       ] after the date of the [
                                   ] a royalty for KNOW-HOW shall be due by SB
         to AVIRON pursuant to Section 7 (b) ABOVE, until the end of such [
              ] period.  Royalty obligations on PRODUCT in the countries of the
         TERRITORY where there is no valid claim of a granted PATENT covering
         PRODUCT(S) pursuant to Section 7 (b) above, shall expire [          ]
         from the date of [                                                   ]

    (b)  Unless otherwise terminated, these Heads of Agreement shall expire
         upon the expiration, lapse or invalidation of the last remaining
         PATENT in the TERRITORY.  Expiration of these Heads of Agreement under
         this provision shall not preclude SB from continuing to market PRODUCT
         and to use KNOW-HOW for the purpose of making, having made, importing,
         offering, for sale and selling PRODUCT without any further royalty
         payments.

    (c)  If either party fails or neglects to perform covenants or provisions
         of these Heads of Agreement and if such default is not corrected
         within [          ] after receiving written notice from the other
         party with respect to such default, such other party shall have the
         right to terminate these Heads of Agreement by giving written notice
         to the party in default provided the notice of termination is given
         [                                                                  ]

    (d)  SB may terminate these Heads of Agreement with respect to any country
         by giving AVIRON at least [           ] written notice thereof at any
         time before SB first markets PRODUCT in such country(ies).  After
         marketing PRODUCT, SB may terminate these Heads of Agreement with
         respect to any country by giving AVIRON at least [          ] prior
         written notice thereof.

    (e)  Either party may terminate these Heads of Agreement if, at any time,
         the other party shall file in any court or agency pursuant to any
         statute or regulation of any state or country, a petition in
         bankruptcy or insolvency or for reorganisation or for an arrangement
         or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee of the party or of its
         assets, or if the other party proposes a written agreement of
         composition or extension of its debts, or if the other party shall be
         served with an involuntary petition against it, filed in any
         insolvency proceeding, and such petition shall not be dismissed with
         sixty (60) days after the filing thereof, or if the other party shall
         propose or be a party to any dissolution or liquidation, or if the
         other party shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors.

    (f)  Notwithstanding the bankruptcy of AVIRON, or the impairment of
         performance by AVIRON of its obligations under these Heads of
         Agreement as a result of bankruptcy or insolvency of AVIRON, SB shall
         be entitled to retain the licenses granted herein, without any further
         obligations to AVIRON other than royalty obligations, subject to
         AVIRON's right to terminate these Heads


                                                                             17.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED

         of Agreement for reasons other than bankruptcy or insolvency as
         expressly provided in these Heads of Agreement.

15. RIGHTS AND DUTIES UPON TERMINATION

    (a)  Upon termination of these Heads of Agreement, AVIRON shall have the
         right to retain any sums already paid by SB hereunder, and SB shall
         pay all sums accrued hereunder which are then due.

    (b)  Upon termination of these Heads of Agreement in its entirety or with
         respect to any country under Paragraph 14 (c), 14 (d) or 14 (e), SB
         shall notify AVIRON of the amount of PRODUCT SB and its sublicensees
         and distributors then have on hand, the sale of which would, but for
         the termination, be subject to royalty, and SB and its sublicensees
         and distributors shall thereupon be permitted to sell that amount of
         PRODUCT provided that SB shall pay the royalty thereon at the time
         herein provided for.

    (c)  Termination of these Heads of Agreement shall terminate all
         outstanding obligations and liabilities between the parties arising
         from these Heads of Agreement except those described in Paragraphs 10
         (c), 10 (d), 10 (e), 10 (f), 10 (g), 11 (c), 11 (e), 11 (f), 11 (g),
         12 (a), 12 (b), 13 (a), 13 (b), 13 (c), 13 (d), 13 (e), 15 (a), 15
         (b), 15 (c) and Sections 19, 20 and 24.

    (d)  In the event of termination of these Heads of Agreement by AVIRON for
         breach by SB in accordance with Paragraph 14 (c) above.  SB shall give
         AVIRON a right of reference to the PLA held by SB for PRODUCT.


16. WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS

    [


                                             ]

    Nothing in these Heads of Agreement shall be construed as a representation
    or warranty that any issued patent contained within the PATENTS is or will
    be valid or enforceable or that the manufacture, use, importation, offer
    for sale or sale of PRODUCT(S) does not infringe any patent or
    proprietary rights of third parties.

    [

               ]

    [






                                ]
                                                                             18.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


    [

                                                                     ]

17. LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

    (a)  SB agrees to and hereby does indemnify and hold AVIRON harmless from
         and against all third party claims, including without limitation, any
         claims with respect to death or injury to a person or damage to
         property, and all damages, losses, costs and expenses, including
         reasonable attorney's fees, which AVIRON may incur arising out of or
         resulting from (i) the development of the PRODUCT by SB, its
         AFFILIATES or sublicensees and the conduct of human clinical trials
         therefore by SB, its AFFILIATES or sublicensees (ii) the manufacture,
         handling or storage of the PRODUCT by SB, its AFFILIATES or
         sublicensees (iii) the sale or other distribution of PRODUCTS by SB,
         its AFFILIATES or sublicensees (iv) any representation made or
         warranty given by SB, its AFFILIATES or sublicensees with respect to
         the PRODUCT (other than the labelling for the PRODUCT as approved by
         FDA or other governmental authority), and (v) the negligence,
         recklessness or wilful misconduct of SB its AFFILIATES or sublicensees
         or each of their officers, employees or agents.  SB shall have no
         obligation towards AVIRON with respect to claims, damages, losses,
         costs, expenses or liability arising out of the negligent acts.
         recklessness or wilful misconduct of AVIRON, its officers, employees
         or agents.

    (b)  AVIRON agrees to and hereby does indemnify and hold SB harmless from
         and against all third party claims, including without limitation, any
         claims with respect to death or injury to a person or damage to
         property, and all damages, losses, costs and expenses.  Including
         reasonable attorney's fees, which SB may incur arising out of or
         result from (i) the handling or storage of the PRODUCT by AVIRON, or
         its [         ] in North Korea and/or South Korea (ii) the sale or
         other distribution of PRODUCTS by AVIRON, or, its [         ] in North
         Korea and/or South Korea, or use of PRODUCTS by any purchasers from
         AVIRON (iii) any representation made or warranty given by AVIRON, with
         respect to the PRODUCT (other than the labelling for the PRODUCT as
         approved by FDA or other governmental authority), and (iv) the
         negligence, recklessness or wilful misconduct of AVIRON, or each of
         its officers, employees or agents.  AVIRON shall have no obligation
         towards SB with respect to claims, damages, losses, costs, expenses or
         liability arising out of the negligent acts, recklessness or wilful
         misconduct of SB, its officers, employees or agents.

    (c)  The party seeking indemnification under this Section 17 (the
         "Indemnified Party") shall (i) give the other party (the "Indemnifying
         Party") notice to the relevant claim, (ii) cooperate with the
         Indemnifying Party, at the Indemnifying Party's expense, in the
         defence of such claim, and (iii) give the Indemnifying party the right
         to control the defence and settlement of any such claim, except that
         the Indemnifying Party shall not enter into any settlement that
         affects the Indemnified Party's rights or interest without the
         Indemnified Party's prior written approval.  The Indemnified Party
         shall have no authority to settle any claim on behalf to the
         Indemnifying Party.


                                                                             19.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


18. FORCE MAJEURE

    If the performance of any part of these Heads of Agreement by either party,
    or of any obligation under these Heads of Agreement, is prevented,
    restricted, interfered with or delayed by reason of any cause beyond the
    reasonable control of the party liable to perform, unless conclusive
    evidence to the contrary is provided, the party so affected shall, upon
    giving written notice to the other party, be excused from such performance
    to the extent of such prevention, restriction, interference or delay,
    provided that the affected party shall use its reasonable best efforts to
    avoid or remove such causes of non-performance and shall continue
    performance with the utmost dispatch whenever such causes are removed. 
    When such circumstances arise, the parties shall discuss what, if any,
    modification of the terms of these Heads of Agreement may be required in
    order to arrive at an equitable solution.


19. GOVERNING LAW

    These Heads of Agreement shall be deemed to have been made in the United
    States of America and their form, execution, validity, construction and
    effect shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of New
    York.

20. ARBITRATION

    (a)  Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to these
         Heads of Agreement, or the breach, termination, or invalidity thereof,
         shall be settled by arbitration.  The appointing authority shall be
         the American Arbitration Association, in New York, and the case shall
         be administrated in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules
         of the American Arbitration Association.  The number of arbitrators
         shall be three (3).  The arbitration decision shall be binding and
         shall not be appealable to any court in any jurisdiction and the
         prevailing party may enter such decision in any court having
         jurisdiction.

    (b)  [








                                                                     ]

21. SEPARABILITY

    In the event any portion of these Heads of Agreement shall be held illegal,
    void or ineffective, the remaining portions hereof shall remain in full
    force and effect.

    If any of the terms or provisions of these Heads of Agreement are in
    conflict with any applicable statute or rule of law, then such terms or
    provisions shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that they may conflict
    therewith and shall be deemed to be modified to conform with such statute
    or rule of law.


                                                                             20.

<PAGE>


    In the event that the terms and conditions of these Heads of Agreement are
    materially altered as a result of provisions of this Section 21, the
    parties will renegotiate the terms and conditions of these Heads of
    Agreement to resolve any inequities.


22. ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT

    These Heads of Agreement, entered into as of the date first written above,
    constitutes the entire agreement between the parties relating to the
    subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous writings and
    understandings.  No terms or provisions of these Heads of Agreement shall
    be varied or modified by any prior or subsequent statement, conduct or act
    of either of the parties, except that the parties may amend these Heads of
    Agreement by written instruments specifically referring to and executed in
    the same manner as these Heads of Agreement.

    These Heads of Agreement shall be legally binding regarding the
    transactions described herein.  It is recognized that the transactions
    contemplated by these Heads of Agreement may involve the execution by the
    parties of one or more additional agreements.  However, neither the
    execution, non-execution or substance of any such additional agreement
    shall in any way limit or negate the legally binding effect of these Heads
    of Agreement.

23. NO WAIVER

    The failure of either party at any time to exercise any of their respective
    rights under these Heads of Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver thereof,
    nor shall such failure in any way prevent either party, as the case may be,
    from subsequently asserting or exercising such rights.

24. NOTICES

    Any notice required or permitted under these Heads of Agreement shall be
    sent by registered air mail, postage pre-paid, international cable or telex
    to the following addresses of the parties:

                   if to AVIRON:

                   AVIRON
                   1450 Rollins Road,
                   Burlingame, CA 94010
                   USA

                   if to SB:

                   SMITHKLINE BEECHAM BIOLOGICALS S.A.
                   rue de l'Institut 89
                   1330 Rixensart, Belgium
                   Attention: Senior Vice President, General Manager

    Any notice required or permitted to be given concerning these Heads of
    Agreement shall be effective upon receipt by the party to whom it is
    addressed.


                                                                             21.

<PAGE>

25. ASSIGNMENT

    These Heads of Agreement and the licenses herein granted shall be binding
    upon and inure to the benefit of the successors in interest of the
    respective parties.  Neither these Heads of Agreement nor any interest
    hereunder shall be assignable by either party without the written consent
    of the other provided, however, that either party may assign these Heads of
    Agreement (but not without all PATENTS and KNOW-HOW owned and/or controlled
    by it) to any AFFILIATE or to any corporation with which it may merge or
    consolidate without obtaining the consent of the other party, provided such
    assignment does not negatively affect the rights granted by AVIRON to SB
    hereunder.  Notwithstanding this right to assign, it is understood that the
    rights retained by AVIRON under paragraph 3, whether or not AVIRON has
    exercized the option thereunder, are not assignable, not sublicensable and
    not transferable under any circumstance.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties, through their authorized officers, have
executed these Heads of Agreement as of the date first written above.

SMITHKLINE BEECHAM BIOLOGICALS S.A.              AVIRON


/s/ J. STEPHENNE                                 /s/ V. KALLMEYER

By: J. STEPHENNE                                 By: V. KALLMEYER
    Senior Vice President, General Manager           Vice President, Corporate 
                                                     Development


                                                                             22.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


                     APPENDIX A - PATENTS AND PATENT APPLICATIONS

1.[
                                      ]

2.[
                                                              ]

    For the purposes of these Heads of Agreement, the patent applications set
    forth in item two above expressly exclude [

                                                                     ]


                                                                             23.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


                                      APPENDIX B

        NET SALES DEFINITION OF THE LICENSE AGREEMENT BETWEEN [
                                                                          ]

"Net Sales" means:

(a) with respect to Licensed Products, the gross sales price actually charged
    by Licensee or an Affiliate or sublicensee of Licensee in the Commercial
    Sale of such Licensed Product less:

    (i)  trade, prompt payment, quantity or cash discounts, rebates, and non-
         affiliated brokers' or agents' commissions, each as actually and
         customarily allowed and taken;

    (ii) amounts actually repaid or credited to customers on account of
         rejections or returns of specified products on which Royalties have
         been paid hereunder or on account of retroactive price reductions
         affecting such products;

    (iii) customary freight and other transportation costs, including Insurance
         charges, and duties, tariffs, sales, use and excise taxes and other
         governmental charges based directly on sales, turnover or delivery of
         the specified products and actually paid or allowed by Licensee, an
         Affiliate of Licensee or a sublicensee; and

    (iv) commercially reasonable allowances for bad debts incurred with respect
         to the initial Licensed Product during the first full year of
         Commercial Sales of such Licensed Product, provided that such bad debt
         reserve shall be deemed extinguished within hundred eighty (180) days
         of the end of such first full year, and any amount of such reserve not
         actually debited in accordance with commercially reasonable practices
         during that period shall be deemed to be receipts of Net Sales for all
         purposes of this Agreement; and

(b) with respect to Combination Products, the gross sales price actually
    charged by Licensee or an Affiliate or sublicensee of Licensee in the
    Commercial Sale of such Combination Product, less the deductions set forth
    in subsections (a) (i) - (iv) above, multiplied by a fraction having (i) a
    numerator of [


                                                                              ]
    and (ii) a denominator of [

                                                                          ] The
    "fair market value" for any Licensed Product or Other Agent shall be
    determined for [

              ] When no fair market value is available, the fraction set forth
    above shall be changed to a fraction having (x) a numerator of [

             ] and (y) a denominator of [

              ] provided that in no event shall the fraction be less than (A)
    [           ] if only one Other Agent is included with a Licensed
    Product(s) in such Combination Product, (B)[                 ] if two Other
    Agents are included with a


                                                                             24.

<PAGE>

                                               CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED


Licensed Product(s) in such Combination Product, and (C) [             ] if 
three or more Other Agents are included with a Licensed Product(s) in such 
Combination Product.  "Cost" as used above means [



                  ]

"Commercial Sale" means any transfer to another person or entity, for value,
after which transfer the seller has no right or power to determine the
transferee's resale price, if any.  A transfer by Licensee to an Affiliate or
sublicensee shall not constitute a Commercial Sale.  "Commercial Sale" does not
include distribution of free promotional samples of any Licensed Product or
Combination Product by Licensee or any of its Affiliates or sublicensees in
amounts determined to be commercially reasonable by Vector.


                                                                             25.

<PAGE>

                                      APPENDIX C

                                   RESEARCH OUTLINE

[Not Completed In Original Document]


                                                                             26.


<PAGE>

CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN DELETED, 
AS MARKED BY BRACKETS, AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND 
EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO RULE 406 OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS 
AMENDED.

                                            Confidential Treatment Requested


                                                               Exhibit 10.13

                    FIRST AMENDMENT TO LICENSE AGREEMENT

     This First Amendment to License Agreement (the "Amendment") is entered 
into this 15th day of March, 1996 by and between ARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, 
an Illinois not-for-profit corporation ("ARCH") and AVIRON, a California 
corporation formerly known as Vector Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Licensee"), with 
respect to the following facts.

                                 BACKGROUND

     ARCH and Licensee have entered into that certain License Agreement dated 
as of July 1, 1992 (the "Agreement"), whereunder ARCH granted to Licensee an 
exclusive license to practice the Inventions within the Licensed Field and in 
the Territory.

     Licensee and the University have previously entered into that certain 
Materials Transfer Agreement ("MTA") attached hereto as Exhibit 1, whereunder 
Licensee shall supply to the University certain Materials (as defined in the 
MTA) for use by [                    ] as principal investigator, solely for 
the conduct of certain Research (as defined in the MTA).

     [                   ] is an employee of the University of Chicago (the 
"University"), and an inventor or co-inventor of many of the Inventions 
licensed to Licensee under the Agreement.

     ARCH and [           ] desire that Licensee return to ARCH certain of 
the rights licensed to Licensee under the Agreement that have not been 
commercially developed, and Licensee is willing to return such rights to 
ARCH, all as set forth in and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

     Now, therefore, in consideration of the mutual obligations set forth 
herein and of other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of 
which are hereby acknowledged, ARCH and Licensee agree as follows:

                                   AGREEMENT

1. Definitions

       a. All capitalized terms used herein if not defined herein shall have
the meaning assigned thereto in the Agreement, unless explicitly otherwise 
provided.

       b. The following definition shall be added to Article I of the 
Agreement:

       "[               ]" means and is limited to the practice of any 
Invention for the making, having made, using, selling, identification, 
development, and commercialization of products that [
                                                     ] The [               ]
expressly excludes the making, using, or selling of any vector or vaccine 
claimed or disclosed in the Licensed Patents.

2. Partial Reversion of License Rights

       The following shall be added as new Section 2.8 of Article II of the 
Agreement:

       2.8 REVERSION OF RIGHTS TO [                    ]

       (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Amendment, the 
exclusive license granted to

<PAGE>

                      Confidential Treatment Requested

Licensee under Section 2.1 (a) of the Agreement, to the extent such license
covers the [                ] is terminated in its entirety as of 
[                 ]. In addition, all other Sections of the Agreement and the 
MTA are hereby revised as of said date to exclude from their terms the 
[                ] including, without limiting the generality of the 
foregoing, the definitions of Licensed Field, Improvements and Later 
Developments.

       (b) The termination of Licensee's rights to the [               ] 
shall in no way affect Licensee's other rights under the Agreement, 
including, without limitation, Licensee's (i) license to use and practice the 
Inventions under Licensed Patent Rights to make, use and sell Licensed 
Products in the Licensed Field, but outside the [                ] (ii) right 
to continue to prosecute and maintain the Licensed Patent Rights as provided 
in Article V of the Agreement, but outside the [                ] as more 
fully set out in Subsection (c), and subject to (d) below, and (iii) right to 
enforce the Licensed Patent Rights as set forth in Article VI of the 
Agreement, but outside the [                ]

       (c) For any patent application which solely covers or for any claim 
contained in a patent application of the Licensed Patent Rights which covers 
any portion of the [                ] ARCH shall have the sole right to 
prosecute such applications and claims. With respect to all other applications
and claims of the Licensed Patent Rights, shall have the sole right to 
prosecute such applications and claims in accordance with the terms of 
Sections 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 of the Agreement. Where an application or any claim 
of an application of the Licensed Patent Rights covers any portion of both 
the [               ] and the Licensed Field retained by, both parties shall 
agree on the prosecution of such application or claim and will cooperate in 
good faith to do so. If any party desires to abandon any such application or 
claim referred to in the foregoing sentence, the other party shall have the 
right to pursue the same on its own (as a separate divisional application), 
at its own discretion, at its own cost and in ARCH's name. In the case of, 
shall prosecute and maintain any such application in accordance with the 
terms of Sections 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 of the Agreement. Each party shall pay a 
pro rata share of the patent prosecution and maintenance costs of each of the 
applications and issued patents within the Licensed Patent Rights, based upon 
the ratio of that party's claims to the total number of claims in the relevant 
application or patent.

       (d) If a license to any claim of any patent of the Licensed Patent 
Rights retained by is necessary for ARCH, or any licensee of the 
[               ] from ARCH, to practice the Inventions in the 
[               ] hereby grants to ARCH a worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual 
non-exclusive license to such claim of any such patent, with the right to 
sublicense to any licensee of the [               ] from ARCH, solely for the 
purpose of practicing the Inventions outside the [               ] but within 
the retained Licensed Field.

       (e) If a license to any claim of any patent of the Licensed Patent 
Rights in the [               ] is necessary for Licensee, or any sublicensee 
of the retained Licensed Patent Rights from Licensee, to practice the 
Inventions outside the [               ] but within the retained Licensed 
Field, ARCH hereby grants Licensee a worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual 
non-exclusive license to such claim of any such patent, with the right to 
sublicense to a any sublicensee of the retained Licensed Patent Rights from 
Licensee, solely for the purpose of practicing the Inventions outside the 
[               ] but within the retained Licensed Field.

       (f) If ARCH enters into negotiations with a third party to license 
some or all of its rights in the [                ] ARCH shall [ 
                                          ] such third party's agreement 
that it will either pay to ARCH (for payment to Licensee) or directly to 
Licensee an amount equal to [



                                                               ]

<PAGE>

                      Confidential Treatment Requested

3. Sublicenses.


Licensee represents and warrants that, except as stated in this Section, it 
did not, at any time prior to the date of this Amendment, grant any rights or 
grant any sublicense or any rights to obtain a sublicense to any third party 
(i) to the [               ] or (ii) that would in any way restrict or 
interfere wth ARCH's (including Affiliates and sublicensees or ARCH) rights to 
the [               ] as set forth in this Amendment. In an agreement dated 
May 5, 1995, Licensee granted a sublicense for South and North Korea to 
Sang-A Pharm, Co., Ltd., a Korean corporation. ("Sang-A") to certain of the 
rights licensed to Licensee under the Agreement, including certain rights to 
the [               ] such sublicense to become effective under certain 
circumstances. Licensee hereby assigns to ARCH [ 
  
  
                                                                           ]
at any time on and after the date hereof specifically for the rights granted 
Sang-A to the [               ] Licensee agrees to execute any and all 
documents requested by ARCH which are reasonably necessary to perfect ARCH's 
rights under this Section. The parties agree that notwithstanding the 
foregoing, any equity investment by Sang-A under or pursuant to the Sang-A 
agreement is expressly excluded from the foregoing assignment.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, in accordance with Section 10.3 
of the Agreement, have caused this Amendment to be executed by their 
respective duly authorized officers or representatives on the date first 
above written.


ARCH Development Corporation                Aviron

By   /s/ Thomas Churchwell                  By     /s/ L. Read          
  _____________________________               __________________________
Title: President                            Title: CEO



<PAGE>

CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN DELETED, 
AS MARKED BY BRACKETS, AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND 
EXCHANGE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO RULE 406 OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS 
AMENDED.

                              PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

                 BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS LICENSE AGREEMENT --  EXCLUSIVE

                                   COVER PAGE


- ----------------------------------------------------------------
For Office of Technology Transfer/NIH internal use only:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Biological Materials License Agreement Number: L-058-96

Reference Number For Licensed Materials: B-007-96/0

Licensee: Aviron and its Affiliates

CRADA Number (if applicable): None

Additional Remarks: None

- -----------------------------------------------------------------


This Biological Materials License Agreement, hereinafter referred to as the
"AGREEMENT", consists of this Cover Page, an attached AGREEMENT, a Signature
Page, Appendix A (Licensed Materials), Appendix B (Licensed Products, Fields of
Use and Territory), Appendix C (Royalties), Appendix D (Benchmarks), Appendix E 
(Deliverables), and Appendix F (List of Known Recipients). The Parties to this
AGREEMENT are:

     1)   The National Institutes of Health ("NIH"), the Centers for Disease
          Control and Prevention ("CDC"), or the Food and Drug Administration
          ("FDA"), hereinafter singly or collectively referred to as "PHS",
          agencies of the United States Public Health Service within the
          Department of Health and Human Services ("DHHS"); and

     2)   The person, corporation, or institution identified above and/or on the
          Signature Page, having offices at the address indicated on the
          Signature Page, and its AFFILIATES (defined below in Paragraph 2.10), 
          hereinafter referred to as "LICENSEE".


<PAGE>

                PHS BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS LICENSE AGREEMENT -- EXCLUSIVE


     PHS and LICENSEE agree as follows: 

1.    BACKGROUND

     1.01      In the course of conducting biomedical and behavioral
               research, PHS investigators made tangible embodiments of
               inventions that may have commercial applicability.

     1.02      DHHS, on behalf of the United States Government, owns any
               tangible embodiments of these inventions actually reduced to
               practice by PHS, regardless of whether United States or foreign
               patent applications or patents claiming such inventions exist.

     1.03      Pursuant to Sections 301(a) and 402(c) of the Public Health
               Services Act, PHS has the authority to enter into this AGREEMENT
               for the licensing of rights to these tangible embodiments.

     1.04      PHS desires to transfer the tangible embodiments of these
               inventions to the private sector through commercialization
               licenses to facilitate the commercial development of products and
               processes for U.S. public use and benefit.

     1.05      LICENSEE desires to acquire exclusive commercialization
               rights to the tangible embodiments of these inventions in order
               to develop processes, methods, or marketable products for U.S.
               public use and benefit.
 
 
2.   DEFINITIONS

     2.01      "LICENSED MATERIALS" means the biological materials
               identified in Appendix A.

     2.02      "LICENSED PRODUCT(S)" means the products identified in
               Appendix B.


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<PAGE>

                      Confidential Treatment Requested

     2.03      "LICENSED TERRITORY" means the geographical area identified
               in Appendix B.

     2.04      "LICENSED FIELDS OF USE" means the fields of use described
               in Appendix B.

     2.05      "NET SALES" means the amounts actually received for sales of
               LICENSED PRODUCTS by or on behalf of LICENSEE or its
               sublicensees, and from leasing, renting, or otherwise making
               LICENSED PRODUCTS available to others without sale or other
               dispositions, whether invoiced or not, less (i) returns and
               allowances actually granted, (ii) packing costs, insurance costs
               and freight out, (iii) taxes or excise duties imposed on the
               transaction (if separately invoiced), (iv) wholesaler and cash
               discounts in amounts customary in the trade.  No deductions shall
               be made for commissions paid to individuals, whether they be with
               independent sales agencies or regularly employed by LICENSEE or
               sublicensees, and on its payroll, or for the cost of 
               collections. Sales of LICENSED PRODUCTS intended for
               resale to third parties, made internally amongst LICENSEE and 
               its sublicensees, shall not be deemed sales for purposes of
               calculating NET SALES.  On sales of LICENSED PRODUCTS by LICENSEE
               to sublicensees or affiliated parties or on sales made in other
               than an arm's-length transaction, which LICENSED PRODUCTS are not
               intended for resale to third parties, the value of the NET SALES
               attributed under this Paragraph 2.05 to such a transaction shall
               be [
               
                                                        ]

               With respect to COMBINATION PRODUCTS (defined below in Paragraph
               2.06), NET SALES shall mean the amounts actually received for
               sales of COMBINATION PRODUCTS, and from leasing, renting, or
               otherwise making COMBINATION PRODUCTS available to others without
               sale or other dispositions, whether invoiced or not, less the
               deductions set forth above, multiplied by a fraction having (i) a


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<PAGE>

                      Confidential Treatment Requested

               numerator of the [
               
               
               
                                                       ]  The [
                     ] for any LICENSED PRODUCT shall be determined for a 
               [
               
                                                               ] When [
                           ] for the LICENSED PRODUCT is [
                             ] the fraction set forth above shall be changed to 
               a fraction having (x) [
                                                           ] and (y) [
               
               
               
                                                 ]

     2.06      "COMBINATION PRODUCT" means any product that is comprised in
               part of a LICENSED PRODUCT and in part of one or more
               biologically active agents which are not themselves LICENSED
               PRODUCTS (the "OTHER AGENTS").  OTHER AGENTS excludes [
                                                .]

     2.07      [                                                    ] in
               exchange for cash or some equivalent to which value can be
               assigned for the purpose of determining NET SALES.
 
     2.08      "GOVERNMENT" means the government of the United States
               of America.
 
     2.09      "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in
               Paragraph 11.01.  
 
     2.10      "AFFILIATE" shall mean any entity that directly or
               indirectly owns, is owned by or is under common ownership with a
               party to this AGREEMENT, where "own" or "ownership" means direct
               or indirect


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<PAGE>

                      Confidential Treatment Requested

               possession of at least fifty percent (50%) of the
               outstanding voting securities of a corporation or a comparable
               equity interest in any other type of entity.
 
     2.11      "COMPETITIVE PRODUCT" shall mean [                    
                                                                       .]
 
     2.12      "DELIVERABLES" shall mean the biological materials set forth
               in Appendix E.
 
 
3.   GRANT OF RIGHTS

     3.01      PHS hereby grants and LICENSEE accepts, subject to the terms
               and conditions of this AGREEMENT, an exclusive right and license
               in the LICENSED TERRITORY to make, have made, use, and transfer
               pursuant to Article 4 LICENSED MATERIALS and to develop, test,
               make, have made, use, have used, offer for sale, sell and have
               sold any LICENSED PRODUCTS in the LICENSED FIELDS OF USE.
 
     3.02      Promptly after receipt by PHS of LICENSEE's initial installment
               of the license issue royalty and the minimum annual royalty (pro-
               rated for calendar year 1996) as set forth in Appendix C, PHS
               agrees to provide LICENSEE with such quantities of LICENSED
               MATERIALS and DELIVERABLES as are set forth in Appendices A and E
               and, as available, to replace them at reasonable cost to LICENSEE
               in the event of their unintentional destruction.  LICENSEE agrees
               to retain control over the LICENSED MATERIALS and DELIVERABLES
               and shall not distribute or release them to others, without the
               prior written consent of PHS, except as otherwise permitted by
               this AGREEMENT.  If, [                                   



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<PAGE>

                      Confidential Treatment Requested

                                                                     . ]



     3.03      In order to ensure and preserve the exclusive nature of the
               rights granted LICENSEE under Paragraph 3.01, PHS warrants that
               it has not, prior to the EFFECTIVE DATE, entered into, and
               covenants that it will not in the future, enter into, any
               agreements with third parties for use of the LICENSED MATERIALS
               for the purpose of the commercial manufacture, distribution or
               sale of LICENSED PRODUCTS in the LICENSED TERRITORY.   PHS
               further covenants that it will not transfer or authorize the
               transfer of any LICENSED MATERIALS to any third party in the
               LICENSED TERRITORY except transfers required by the GOVERNMENT or
               by statute, as set forth in Paragraphs 5.01 or 5.05 of this
               AGREEMENT.  PHS acknowledges that the foregoing covenants are
               material obligations of PHS under this AGREEMENT.

     3.04      This AGREEMENT confers no license or rights by implication,
               estoppel, or otherwise under any patent applications or patents
               of PHS.

     3.05      PHS represents that all third parties who have received samples
               of the LICENSED MATERIALS directly from PHS, or where known by
               PHS, indirectly from PHS, as of the EFFECTIVE DATE are listed on
               the List of Known Recipients, which is attached hereto as
               Appendix F, and PHS will inform LICENSEE promptly if it discovers
               any third party in possession of LICENSED MATERIALS, which party 
               is not listed in Appendix F. If, after the EFFECTIVE DATE, PHS
               discloses to LICENSEE or LICENSEE discovers any entity in
               possession of LICENSED MATERIALS, and neither disclosed in
               Appendix G nor permitted to receive LICENSED MATERIALS under
               Paragraphs 5.01 or 5.05, PHS will make a good faith effort to
               retrieve LICENSED MATERIALS or obtain certification of
               destruction of same by such recipient. If, after the EFFECTIVE
               DATE, PHS discloses to LICENSEE or LICENSEE discovers any 


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<PAGE>

                      Confidential Treatment Requested


               third party  with [                     ] LICENSED MATERIALS in
               possession of LICENSED MATERIALS, LICENSEE may, at its election
               and in its sole discretion, effective immediately upon written
               notice to PHS, terminate this AGREEMENT and return LICENSED
               MATERIALS AND DELIVERABLES to PHS, or convert the license granted
               hereunder into a non-exclusive license.  Concurrently with such
               conversion, [
                                           ]

     3.06      Nothing in this AGREEMENT shall preclude or prohibit
               LICENSEE from, or otherwise adversely affect LICENSEE's efforts
               in, obtaining a license from PHS to make, use and sell products
               which are derived from the [
                                               ] or any other reagents and
               materials in the LICENSED FIELD OF USE, [                  
                                     . ]


4.     SUBLICENSING; TRANSFER OF LICENSED MATERIALS

     4.01      LICENSEE may sublicense to third parties the rights granted
               to it under this AGREEMENT; provided, however, that LICENSEE
               shall not sublicense such rights to any entity which is barred
               from doing business with the GOVERNMENT.

     4.02      Notwithstanding Paragraph 3.01, PHS recognizes and
               acknowledges that, in the normal course of the conduct of
               LICENSEE's business and the course of the development, testing,
               manufacture and use of the LICENSED PRODUCTS and LICENSED
               MATERIALS, LICENSEE shall have the right, at its discretion, [
                    
                                          
                                                                   .] 
               LICENSEE agrees that such transfers will be done pursuant to
               written agreement and that such agreement will provide
               restrictions on the further transfer and the use of such
               transferred LICENSED MATERIALS as

NH Office of Technology Transfer (L-058-96)
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<PAGE>

               are appropriate to the subject activity of such agreement.

     4.03      LICENSEE agrees that any sublicenses granted by it shall
               provide that the obligations to PHS of Paragraphs 5.01-5.05,
               7.01, 9.01, 9.02, and 11.08-11.10 of this AGREEMENT shall
               be binding upon the sublicensee as if it were a party to this
               AGREEMENT. LICENSEE further agrees to attach copies of these
               Paragraphs to all sublicense agreements.

     4.04      Any sublicenses granted by LICENSEE shall provide for the
               termination of the sublicense, or the conversion to a license
               directly between such sublicensees and PHS, at the option of the 
               sublicensee, upon termination of this AGREEMENT under Article 12.
               Such conversion is contingent upon (i) acceptance by the
               sublicensee of the remaining provisions of this AGREEMENT; and
               (ii) the sublicensee's compliance, at the time of conversion of
               the license, with the prerequisite set forth in Paragraph 4.01.

     4.05      LICENSEE agrees to forward to PHS a copy of each fully
               executed sublicense agreement postmarked within sixty (60) days
               of the execution of such agreement, which sublicense agreement
               shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions of Paragraph
               8.08.


5.   PHS REQUIREMENTS AND RESERVED GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

     5.01      On behalf of the GOVERNMENT, PHS reserves an irrevocable,
               nonexclusive, nontransferable, royalty-free license to use, for
               research purposes only (and not for commercial use or sale) the
               LICENSED MATERIALS throughout the world by or on behalf of the
               GOVERNMENT and on behalf of any foreign government or
               international organization pursuant to any existing or future
               treaty or agreement to which the GOVERNMENT is a signatory.

     5.02      LICENSEE agrees to use its reasonable best efforts, based on
               commercial needs, to cause products used

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               or sold in the United States embodying LICENSED PRODUCTS 
               to be manufactured substantially in the United States.

     5.03      LICENSEE acknowledges that PHS may enter into Cooperative
               Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) under the Federal
               Technology Transfer Act of 1986 that relate to the subject matter
               of this AGREEMENT, subject to restrictions set forth in Paragraph
               3.03.  LICENSEE agrees not to unreasonably deny requests for
               sublicense or cross-license rights for research purposes from
               such collaborators with PHS when acquiring such derivative rights
               is necessary in order to make a CRADA project feasible. LICENSEE
               may request an opportunity to join as a party to the proposed
               CRADA.

     5.04      DHHS has responsibility for funding basic biomedical
               research (including research on vaccines), for review and
               approval of vaccine products and for ensuring the availability of
               vaccines to state public health authorities in some instances. 
               Because of these responsibilities, and the public investment in
               the research that culminated in the LICENSED MATERIALS, LICENSEE
               agrees, upon regulatory approval for marketing of a LICENSED
               PRODUCT, to use its expertise to increase public awareness of the
               critical role vaccines play in protecting the public health and
               to contribute to the understanding of employers and managed care 
               organizations of the positive cost-benefit opportunities
               presented by vaccines.

     5.05      In addition to the license of Paragraph 5.01 above, PHS reserves
               the right to grant nonexclusive licenses to make and to use
               LICENSED MATERIALS and progeny and subclones thereof produced by
               PHS for purposes of research involving same, and not for purposes
               of commercial manufacture or in lieu of purchase.  The purpose of
               this research license is to encourage basic research, whether
               conducted at an academic or corporate facility. In order to
               safeguard the LICENSED MATERIALS, however, PHS shall consult with
               LICENSEE before granting to any

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                      Confidential Treatment Requested

               third party such a license or providing to them 
               samples of the LICENSED MATERIALS.  If PHS, in other 
               license agreements with such commercial entities, grants
               other rights under Paragraph 5.05 with respect to similar
               materials which may become [


                                  ]  In the event that LICENSEE can provide
               [                           ] to PHS that a commercial entity to
               which a research license to the LICENSED MATERIALS has been
               granted is developing the LICENSED MATERIALS for [


                        ] then LICENSEE can request that PHS [

                                               ] 


6.   ROYALTIES AND REIMBURSEMENT

     6.01      LICENSEE agrees to pay to PHS a noncreditable, nonrefundable
               license issue royalty as set forth in Appendix C.  The first
               installment of such license issue royalty shall be due within
               thirty (30) days after the EFFECTIVE DATE.  

     6.02      LICENSEE agrees to pay to PHS a [                            ]
               royalty as set forth in Appendix C. The [              ] royalty
               shall be invoiced to LICENSEE on [

                    ] except for calendar year 1996, in which the [
                     ] royalty shall be invoiced within thirty (30) days of the
               EFFECTIVE DATE of this AGREEMENT and shall be [
                                          ] the postmarked date of such invoice.
               The [              ] royalty due for the first calendar year of
               this Agreement shall be [                                  ] of 
               the calendar year remaining between the EFFECTIVE DATE of this
               AGREEMENT and the next subsequent [          ]

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                      Confidential Treatment Requested

               The [                                                     ]

     6.03      LICENSEE agrees to pay PHS earned royalties as set forth in
               Appendix C.

     6.04      LICENSEE agrees to pay PHS benchmark royalties, as set forth in
               Appendix C, for the first LICENSED PRODUCT to achieve the
               respective benchmark.  If development of a LICENSED PRODUCT is
               discontinued, and a new LICENSED PRODUCT is developed in its
               place ("REPLACEMENT PRODUCT"), [

                                                                     ]  The
               benchmark royalty for Benchmark (4) listed in Appendix C shall be
               [

                                                             ]

     6.05      LICENSEE shall provide to PHS [

                                          ] In addition, LICENSEE shall provide
               [
                                                                      ]  Any
               [         ] in the earned royalties due from LICENSEE as a result
               of the sale of such [                   ] in that country shall 
               be applied [
                                                    ] and shall be available 
               during the [                                      
                           ] The reduction in earned royalties shall extend for 
               a period of time [                
                                       ] from the market in that country, which
               period of time shall [

                                                                ]

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7.   RECORD KEEPING

     7.01      LICENSEE agrees to keep accurate and correct records of LICENSED
               PRODUCTS made, used, or sold under this AGREEMENT as appropriate
               to determine the amount of royalties due PHS. Such records shall
               be retained for [                            ] following a given
               reporting period. They shall be available during normal business
               hours for inspection at the expense of PHS, no more than once
               per calendar year, by an accountant or other designated auditor
               selected by PHS for the sole purpose of verifying reports and
               payments hereunder. The accountant or auditor shall only
               disclose to PHS information relating to the accuracy of reports
               and payments made under this AGREEMENT. If an inspection shows
               an underreporting or underpayment in excess of five percent (5%)
               for any twelve (12) month period, then LICENSEE shall reimburse
               PHS for the cost of the inspection at the time LICENSEE pays the
               unreported royalties, including any late charges as required by
               Paragraph 7.06 of this AGREEMENT. All payments required under
               this Paragraph shall be due within thirty (30) days of the date
               PHS provides LICENSEE notice of the payment due.


8.   REPORTS ON PROGRESS, BENCHMARKS, SALES, AND PAYMENTS

     8.01      Prior to signing this AGREEMENT, LICENSEE has provided to
               PHS a written commercialization plan ("COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
               PLAN") under which LICENSEE intends to bring the subject matter
               of the LICENSED MATERIALS into commercial use. The COMMERCIAL
               DEVELOPMENT PLAN is hereby incorporated by reference into this
               AGREEMENT. Based on this plan, performance benchmarks are
               determined as specified in Appendix D ("BENCHMARKS").

      8.02     LICENSEE shall provide written annual reports on its product
               development progress or efforts to commercialize under the
               COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN for each of the LICENSED FIELDS OF
               USE within sixty

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               (60) days after December 31 of each calendar
               year. These progress reports shall include, but not be limited
               to: progress on research and development, status of applications
               for regulatory approvals, manufacturing, sublicensing, marketing,
               and sales during the preceding calendar year, as well as plans
               for the present calendar year. If reported progress differs
               materially from that projected in the COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
               and BENCHMARKS, LICENSEE shall explain the reasons for such
               differences. LICENSEE may propose amendments in any such annual
               report to the COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, acceptance of which by
               PHS may not unreasonably be denied. LICENSEE agrees to provide
               any additional data reasonably required by PHS to evaluate
               LICENSEE'S performance. LICENSEE may amend the BENCHMARKS at any
               time upon written consent by PHS, which consent shall not
               unreasonably be withheld. PHS shall not unreasonably withhold
               approval of any request of LICENSEE to extend the time periods of
               this schedule if such request is supported by a reasonable
               showing by LICENSEE of diligence in its performance under the
               COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN and toward bringing the LICENSED
               PRODUCTS to the point of practical application as defined in 37
               CFR 404.3(d). LICENSEE shall amend the COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
               PLAN and BENCHMARKS at the request of PHS to address any LICENSED
               FIELDS OF USE not specifically addressed in the plan originally
               submitted.
 
      8.03     LICENSEE shall report to PHS the date of the [             
                           ] in each country in the LICENSED TERRITORY within
               thirty (30) days of such occurrence.
 
      8.04     After the date of [                      ] LICENSEE shall
               submit to PHS within sixty (60) days after each calendar half-
               year ending June 30 and December 31 a royalty report setting
               forth for the preceding half-year period the amount of the
               LICENSED PRODUCTS sold by or on behalf of LICENSEE in each
               country within the LICENSED TERRITORY, the NET SALES, and the
               amount of royalties accordingly due. With each such royalty
               report, LICENSEE shall

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               submit payment of the earned royalties
               due.  If no earned royalties are due to PHS for any reporting
               period, the written report shall so state.  The royalty report
               shall be certified as correct by an authorized officer of
               LICENSEE and shall include a detailed listing of all deductions
               made under Paragraph 2.05 to determine NET SALES made under
               Paragraph 2.05 to determine royalties due under Article 6.
 
      8.05     LICENSEE agrees to forward semi-annually to PHS a copy of
               such reports received by LICENSEE from its sublicensees during
               the preceding half-year period as shall be pertinent to a royalty
               accounting to PHS by LICENSEE for activities under the
               sublicense.
 
      8.06     Royalties due under Article 6 shall be paid in U.S. dollars.
               For conversion of foreign currency to U.S. dollars, the
               conversion rate shall be the rate quoted in THE WALL STREET
               JOURNAL on the day that the payment is due. All checks and bank
               drafts shall be drawn on United States banks and shall be payable
               to "NIH/Patent Licensing" at the address shown on the Signature
               Page below. Any loss of exchange, value, taxes, or other expenses
               incurred in the transfer or conversion to U.S. dollars shall be
               paid entirely by LICENSEE. All royalty payments due under this
               AGREEMENT shall be mailed to the following address: NIH, P.O. Box
               360120, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15251-6120. The royalty report
               required by Paragraph 8.04 of this AGREEMENT shall accompany each
               such payment and a copy of such report shall also be mailed to
               PHS at its address for notices indicated on the Signature Page of
               this AGREEMENT.
 
     8.07      Late charges will be applied to any overdue payments as
               required by the U.S. Department of Treasury in the Treasury
               Fiscal Requirements Manual, Section 8025.40. The payment of such
               late charges shall not prevent PHS from exercising any other
               rights it may have as a consequence of the lateness of any
               payment.

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     8.08      All plans and reports required by this Article 8 and marked
               "confidential" by LICENSEE and LICENSEE's license application
               shall be treated by PHS as commercial and financial information
               obtained from a person and as privileged and confidential
               information and, to the extent permitted by law, shall not be
               subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 5
               U.S.C. 552.


9.   PERFORMANCE

     9.01      LICENSEE shall use its [                               ] to
               introduce the LICENSED PRODUCTS into the commercial market for
               commercial use as soon as practicable. [
                       ] for the purpose of this provision shall include, but
               not be limited to, [



                                          ] The efforts of a sublicensee shall
               be considered the efforts of LICENSEE.

     9.02      Upon the [                     ] until the expiration of this
               AGREEMENT, LICENSEE shall use its [
                      ] to keep LICENSED PRODUCTS reasonably accessible to the
               U.S. public.


10.  NEGATION OF WARRANTIES; INDEMNIFICATION

     10.01     PHS does not warrant that the LICENSED MATERIALS may be
               exploited without infringing patents or other intellectual
               property rights of third parties.

     10.02     PHS MAKES NO WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE LICENSED MATERIALS,
               EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
               PARTICULAR PURPOSE. 

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     10.03     LICENSEE shall indemnify and hold PHS, its employees,
               students, fellows, agents, and consultants harmless from and
               against all liability, demands, damages, expenses, and losses,
               including but not limited to death, personal injury, illness, or
               property damage in connection with or arising out of a) the use
               by or on behalf of LICENSEE, its sublicensees, directors,
               employees, or third parties of any LICENSED MATERIALS OR
               DELIVERABLES, or b) the design, manufacture, distribution, or use
               of any LICENSED PRODUCTS, DELIVERABLES LICENSED MATERIALS or
               other materials, products or processes developed in connection
               with or arising out of the LICENSED MATERIALS. LICENSEE agrees to
               maintain a liability insurance program consistent with sound
               business practice.


11.  TERM, TERMINATION, AND MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS

     11.01     This AGREEMENT is effective when signed by all parties and
               shall terminate upon cessation of all commercial sales of
               LICENSED PRODUCTS by LICENSEE (or its sublicensee), unless sooner
               terminated as provided in this Article 11.

     11.02     In the event that LICENSEE is in default in the performance
               of any material obligations under this AGREEMENT, and if the
               default has not been remedied within ninety (90) days after the
               date of notice in writing of such default, or, if such default
               cannot be remedied within 90 days of such notice and LICENSEE has
               not made a good faith effort to remedy such default, PHS may
               terminate this AGREEMENT by written notice.

     11.03     In the event that LICENSEE becomes insolvent, files a
               petition in bankruptcy, has such a petition filed against it,
               determines to file a petition in bankruptcy, or receives notice
               of a third party's intention to file an involuntary petition in
               bankruptcy, LICENSEE shall immediately notify PHS in writing. 
               Furthermore, PHS shall have the right to terminate this AGREEMENT
               by giving LICENSEE 

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               sixty (60) days written notice, provided that such petition is
               not dismissed within sixty (60) days of filing. Termination of
               this AGREEMENT is effective upon expiration of the notice 
               period.  

     11.04     LICENSEE shall have a unilateral right to terminate this
               AGREEMENT and/or any licenses in any country by giving PHS sixty
               (60) days written notice to that effect.

     11.05     PHS shall specifically have the right to terminate or
               modify, at its option, this AGREEMENT, if PHS determines that the
               LICENSEE: 1) is not executing the COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
               submitted with its request for a license, as such PLAN may be
               amended from time to time, and the LICENSEE cannot otherwise
               demonstrate to PHS's satisfaction that the LICENSEE has taken, or
               can be expected to take within a reasonable time, effective steps
               to achieve practical application of the LICENSED MATERIALS; 2)
               has not achieved the BENCHMARKS as may be modified under
               Paragraph 8.02; 3) has willfully made a false statement of, or
               willfully omitted, a material fact in the license application or
               in any report required by the license agreement; 4) has committed
               a material breach of a covenant or agreement contained in the
               license; 5) cannot reasonably justify a failure to comply with
               the domestic production requirement of Paragraph 5.01 unless
               waived;  or 6) has failed to reasonably satisfy requirements for
               U.S. public use as specified by Federal regulations issued after
               the date of the license.  In making this determination, PHS will
               take into account the normal course of such commercial
               development programs conducted with sound and reasonable business
               practices and judgment and the annual reports submitted by
               LICENSEE under Paragraph 8.02.  PHS will also consider whether
               LICENSEE's actions under items 1) through 6) affect only one
               LICENSED FIELD OF USE and if so, PHS's remedy under this
               Paragraph 11.05 shall be invoked only as to the affected LICENSED
               FIELD OF USE.  Prior to invoking this right, PHS shall give
               written notice to LICENSEE providing LICENSEE specific notice of,
               and a ninety (90) day

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               opportunity to respond to, PHS's concerns as to the previous 
               items 1) to 6).  If LICENSEE fails to alleviate PHS's concerns
               as to the previous items 1) to 6) or fails to initiate 
               corrective action to PHS's satisfaction, PHS may terminate or
               modify this AGREEMENT.

     11.06     If PHS believes that LICENSEE (or its sublicensee) is not
               keeping LICENSED PRODUCTS reasonably available to the U.S. public
               after commercial use commences, it shall request LICENSEE, within
               sixty (60) days, to submit (1) a response demonstrating that
               LICENSED PRODUCTS  are reasonably available or (2) a development
               plan to make LICENSED PRODUCTS reasonably available to the U.S.
               public.  If following receipt of the response or development
               plan, and after opportunity for a meeting between the parties,
               PHS determines (1) that the LICENSED PRODUCTS  are not reasonably
               available to the U.S. public, (2) any development plan submitted
               by LICENSEE will not make LICENSED PRODUCTS so available, and (3)
               the granting of a sublicense would materially increase the
               availability to the U.S. public of the LICENSED PRODUCTS, then
               PHS shall have the right to require LICENSEE to grant sublicenses
               to responsible applicants, on reasonable terms, in the applicable
               LICENSED FIELD(S) OF USE.

     11.07     Within thirty (30) days of receipt of written notice of
               PHS's unilateral decision to modify or terminate this AGREEMENT,
               LICENSEE may appeal the decision by written submission to the
               Director of NIH or designee. The decision of the NIH Director or
               designee shall be the final agency decision. LICENSEE may
               thereafter exercise any and all administrative or judicial
               remedies that may be available.

     11.08     Within ninety (90) days of the termination or expiration of
               this AGREEMENT under this Article 11, LICENSEE agrees to:  (a)
               return all LICENSED MATERIALS, DELIVERABLES, and LICENSED
               PRODUCTS to PHS, or provide PHS with certification of their
               destruction; and (b) submit a final product development progress

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               report pursuant to Paragraph 8.02 and a final royalty report
               pursuant to Paragraph 8.04, as applicable.  Any royalty payments
               due to PHS shall become immediately due and payable upon
               termination or expiration.  If terminated under this Article 11,
               sublicensees may elect to convert their sublicenses to direct
               licenses with PHS pursuant to Paragraph 4.04.

12.  GENERAL PROVISIONS

     12.01     Neither Party may waive or release any of its rights or
               interests in this AGREEMENT except in writing. The failure of the
               GOVERNMENT to assert a right hereunder or to insist upon
               compliance with any term or condition of this AGREEMENT shall not
               constitute a waiver of that right by the GOVERNMENT or excuse a
               similar subsequent failure to perform any such term or condition
               by LICENSEE.

     12.02     This AGREEMENT constitutes the entire agreement between the
               Parties relating to the subject matter of commercial use of the
               LICENSED MATERIALS, and all other prior negotiations,
               representations, agreements, and understandings are merged into,
               extinguished by, and completely expressed by this AGREEMENT.

     12.03     The provisions of this AGREEMENT are severable, and in the
               event that any provision of this AGREEMENT shall be determined to
               be invalid or unenforceable under any controlling body of law,
               such determination shall not in any way affect the validity or
               enforceability of the remaining provisions of this AGREEMENT.

     12.04     If either Party desires a modification to this AGREEMENT,
               the Parties shall, upon reasonable notice of the proposed
               modification by the Party desiring the change, confer in good
               faith to determine the desirability of such modification. No
               modification will be effective until a written amendment is
               signed by the signatories to this AGREEMENT or their designees.

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     12.05     The construction, validity, performance, and effect of this
               AGREEMENT shall be governed by Federal law as applied by the
               Federal courts in the District of Columbia.

     12.06     All notices required or permitted by this AGREEMENT shall be
               given by prepaid, first class, registered or certified mail
               properly addressed to the other Party at the address designated
               on the following Signature Page, or to such other address as may
               be designated in writing by such other Party, and shall be
               effective as of the date of the postmark of such notice.

     12.07     This AGREEMENT shall not be assigned by LICENSEE except a)
               with the prior written consent of PHS, such consent not to be
               withheld unreasonably; or b) as part of a sale or transfer of all
               or substantially all of the business of LICENSEE relating to
               operations which concern this AGREEMENT. LICENSEE shall notify
               PHS within ten (10) days of any assignment of this AGREEMENT by
               LICENSEE.

     12.08     LICENSEE agrees in its use of any LICENSED MATERIALS,
               DELIVERABLES, or LICENSED PRODUCTS to comply with all applicable
               statutes, regulations, and guidelines, including Public Health
               Service and National Institutes of Health regulations and
               guidelines. LICENSEE agrees not to use LICENSED MATERIALS,
               DELIVERABLES, or LICENSED PRODUCTS for research involving human
               subjects or clinical trials in the United States without
               complying with 21 CFR Part 50 and 45 CFR Part 46. LICENSEE agrees
               not to use the LICENSED MATERIALS, DELIVERABLES, or LICENSED
               PRODUCTS for research involving human subjects or clinical trials
               outside of the United States without notifying PHS, in writing,
               of such research or trials and complying with the applicable
               regulations of the appropriate national control authorities.
               Written notification to PHS of research involving human subjects
               or clinical trials outside of the United States shall be given no
               later than sixty (60) days prior to commencement of such research
               or trials.

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     12.09     LICENSEE acknowledges that it is subject to and agrees to
               abide by the United States laws and regulations (including the
               Export Administration Act of 1979 and Arms Export Control Act)
               controlling the export of technical data, computer software,
               laboratory prototypes, biological material, and other
               commodities. The transfer of such items may require a license
               from the cognizant agency of the GOVERNMENT or written assurances
               by LICENSEE that it shall not export such items to certain
               foreign countries without prior approval of such agency. PHS
               neither represents that a license is or is not required or that,
               if required, it shall be issued.

     12.10     By entering into this AGREEMENT, PHS does not directly or
               indirectly endorse any product or service provided, or to be
               provided, by LICENSEE whether directly or indirectly related to
               this AGREEMENT. LICENSEE shall not state or imply that this
               AGREEMENT is an endorsement by the GOVERNMENT, PHS, any other
               GOVERNMENT organizational unit, or any GOVERNMENT employee.
               Additionally, LICENSEE shall not use the names of NIH, PHS, DHHS,
               THE GOVERNMENT, or their employees in any advertising or sales
               literature written or developed by LICENSEE without the prior
               written consent of PHS.

     12.11     The Parties agree to attempt to settle amicably any
               controversy or claim arising under this AGREEMENT or a breach of
               this AGREEMENT, except for appeals of modification or termination
               decisions provided for in Article 12. LICENSEE agrees first to
               appeal any such unsettled claims or controversies to the Director
               of NIH, or designee, whose decision shall be considered the final
               agency decision. Thereafter, LICENSEE may exercise any
               administrative or judicial remedies that may be available.

     12.12     Nothing relating to the grant of a license, nor the grant
               itself, shall be construed to confer upon any person any immunity
               from or defenses under the antitrust laws.

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     12.13     Paragraphs 4.03, 7.01, 8.06, 8.07, 10.01-10.03, 11.07,
               11.08, and 12.11 of this AGREEMENT shall survive termination of
               this AGREEMENT.

                          SIGNATURES BEGIN ON NEXT PAGE


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            PHS BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL LICENSE AGREEMENT--EXCLUSIVE

                               SIGNATURE PAGE

FOR PHS:

by:        Barbara McGarey                               5/31/96
    ------------------------------------         -----------------------
Barbara McGarey, J.D.                             Date
Deputy Director, Office of Technology Transfer
National Institutes of Health

Mailing Address for Notices:

Office of Technology Transfer 
National Institutes of Health
6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325 
Rockville, Maryland 20852


FOR LICENSEE (Upon information and belief, the undersigned expressly certifies
or affirms that the contents of any statements of LICENSEE made or referred to
in this document are truthful and accurate.):


by:        J. Leighton Read, M.D.                      May 29, 1996
    ------------------------------------         -----------------------
J. Leighton Read, M.D.                           Date
Chairman and CEO

Mailing Address for Notices:

Aviron
297 North Bernardo Avenue 
Mountain View, California  94043 


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                          APPENDIX A -- LICENSED MATERIALS
LICENSED MATERIALS:

(1) [


                                         ]

(2)  Earlier passages of (1), as follows:

     (a)  [                                             ]
     (b)  [                                         ]
     (c)  [                                                 ]
     (d)  [                                      ]
     (e)  [                                  ]

(3) [
                           ]

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                      Confidential Treatment Requested

          APPENDIX B -- LICENSED PRODUCTS, FIELDS OF USE AND TERRITORY
LICENSED PRODUCTS:

     "LICENSED PRODUCTS" shall mean (i) BPIV PRODUCTS and (ii) BPIV-VECTOR
     PRODUCTS. 

     "BPIV PRODUCTS" shall mean any products, in any formulation, for use in the
     LICENSED FIELDS OF USE, derived from items (1), (2) or (3) of the LICENSED
     MATERIALS in Appendix A, [                                              
                         ]  A BPIV PRODUCT may be [             
                                                         ]

     "BPIV-VECTOR PRODUCTS" shall mean any products, in any formulation, for 
     use in the LICENSED FIELDS OF USE, derived from [



                                                             ]


LICENSED TERRITORY: Worldwide


LICENSED FIELDS OF USE:

(1)  [
                                                                 ]

(2)  [
                                                                          ]

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                           APPENDIX C -- ROYALTIES


ROYALTIES:

LICENSE ISSUE ROYALTY

LICENSEE agrees to pay to PHS a [                            ] license issue
royalty in [                          ] according to the following schedule:

(1) [
                                ]

(2) [
                      ]

(3) [
                      ]

(4) [
                                ]

(5) [
                      ]

[                           ]

LICENSEE agrees to pay to PHS a [
                                                    ]

EARNED ROYALTIES FOR NET SALES OF BPIV PRODUCTS BY LICENSEE: 

(1) LICENSEE agrees to pay to PHS earned royalties of [

          ]

(2) [However, [                    ] 



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                                                      ]


EARNED ROYALTIES FOR NET SALES OF BPIV PRODUCTS BY SUBLICENSEE(S): 

(1) LICENSEE agrees to pay to PHS earned royalties of [

                                 ]

(2) [However, [                   ]



                                



                                                                ]

(3) LICENSEE agrees to pay to PHS earned royalties of [

                                 ]

(4) However, [                            



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               ] and

(5) LICENSEE further agrees to pay to PHS [    




                             ] 


EARNED ROYALTIES FOR NET SALES OF BPIV-VECTOR PRODUCTS:

LICENSEE agrees to pay to PHS earned royalties of [                ] of 
LICENSEE's and sublicensees' NET SALES of BPIV-VECTOR PRODUCTS in the human 
LICENSED FIELDS OF USE.


EARNED ROYALTIES FOR NET SALES OF ANY LICENSED PRODUCTS [IN THE [ 
                     ]

For LICENSED PRODUCTS in the [                  ], LICENSEE agrees to
pay to PHS:

(1) [                ] of NET SALES by LICENSEE of LICENSED PRODUCTS in the 
    [                            ]

(2) [                                 ] actually paid to LICENSEE by a 
    sublicensee in exchange for the right to sell LICENSED PRODUCTS in the 
    [                                   ] including earned royalties 
    paid to LICENSEE by such sublicensee, provided, however, that such payment
    obligation shall not apply to amounts received from such sublicensee for 

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     [


                                                              ] 

BENCHMARK ROYALTIES

LICENSEE agrees to pay PHS benchmark royalties as follows:

     (1)  [


                                                            ] and

     (2)  [ 

                 ] and 

     (3)  [


                                                     ] and

     (4)  [


                          ]

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                          APPENDIX D -- BENCHMARKS

Licensee agrees to the following BENCHMARKS for its performance under this
AGREEMENT and, within [                ] of achieving a BENCHMARK, shall notify
PHS that the BENCHMARK has been achieved:


(1)  [


              ]

(2)  [

                    ]

(3)  [


                                                              ]

(4)  [


                                       ]

(5)  [

                                                                         ]

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                          APPENDIX E - DELIVERABLES

All biological materials ("DELIVERABLES") listed in this Appendix E are being
provided to LICENSEE for research use only. 

(1) [
                                                ]

(2) [
                                                                 ]

(3) [

                                             ]

(4) [


                           ] 

(5) [








              ]

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                    APPENDIX F - LIST OF KNOWN RECIPIENTS

The following persons and entities are known by PHS to have received the
quantities of the LICENSED MATERIALS set forth below. The amounts in brackets
are those which PHS believes remain in the possession of the Known Recipients. 
PHS will make a good faith effort to retrieve these materials or to facilitate
delivery of same to LICENSEE.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

    Person/Entity        Description of Material      Quantity
    ------------         ----------------------       --------
<S>                      <C>                          <C>
1.  [
                                                             ]

2.  [
                                                             ]

3.  [
                                                             ]

4.  [
                                                             ]

5.  [
                                                             ]
</TABLE>

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[LOGO]                                                 [LETTERHEAD]

May 31, 1996

The National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institutes of Health

Re:  License of Rights to Information relating to Bovine Parainfluenza Virus
Type 3 ("BPIV3") strain 15626

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Aviron has licensed from The National Institutes of Health or the Centers for
Disease Control (collectively,"PHS") pursuant to that certain License Agreement
dated as of May 31, 1996 (the "License Agreement") the worldwide and exclusive
right to make, use and sell products ("Licensed Products") derived from the
Licensed Materials (defined below) .  In connection with that license, Aviron
wishes to obtain from The National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
("NIAID") certain information rights.  This letter ("Letter Agreement") sets
forth the parties' agreement with respect to those rights.

NIAID understands that Aviron (or its sublicensee) is to file and own any new
IND for the Licensed Products.  NIAID acknowledges that it is the holder
currently of IND No. [
                  ]  NIAID hereby grants Aviron an exclusive right of reference
to the Existing IND, and any new IND filed by NIAID with respect to the Licensed
Materials, including all Raw Data (defined below).  All Clinical Data and
Research Results (defined below) of NIAID shall be made available exclusively to
Aviron for use in obtaining regulatory approval for the commercialization and
marketing of Licensed Products.  However, nothing contained within this Letter
Agreement shall prohibit NIAID from publishing summary data of such Raw Data or
Clinical Data and Research Results, consistent with NIAID policy.  NIAID shall
take appropriate precautions to ensure that Aviron may review, cross reference
or, as appropriate, otherwise use the Existing IND in conducting clinical trials
within the scope of this Agreement and the License Agreement, and in fulfilling
all the requirements necessary for obtaining FDA approval to market Licensed
Products.  

We agree that Confidential Information (defined below) of either party 
obtained or disclosed as a result of activities performed under this Letter 
Agreement shall not be further disclosed, copied, reproduced, or otherwise 
made available to any person or entity without the consent of the disclosing 
party except as required under court order or the Freedom of Information Act 
(5 U.S.C. Section 552). Each party agrees to use its best efforts to maintain 
in confidence such Confidential Information and not to use such Confidential 
Information except as provided in this Letter Agreement.  Each party agrees 
that the other party is not

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Aviron/NIAID May 31, 1996                                     Page 2

liable for the disclosure of Confidential Information the disclosing party
determines may not lawfully be withheld, provided the concerned party has been
given an opportunity to obtain a court order to enjoin disclosure.  The
obligation to maintain the confidentiality of Confidential Information shall
expire [
          ] provided that upon the expiration of such [                  ] 
Licensee may request a [                         ] to this term when necessary
to protect Confidential Information relating to Licensed Products not yet 
commercialized. NIAID may not unreasonably deny such request and shall, upon 
such notice, refrain from disclosing any such Confidential Information for such 
[                          ]

The following definitions shall apply:

     "Confidential Information" shall mean all technical, scientific, product,
manufacturing, production, business, and financial information, whether
developed under the License Agreement, this Letter Agreement or existing prior
to this Letter Agreement and disclosed by either party to the other under this
Agreement, which is maintained as a trade secret by the disclosing party or
would be a trade secret or otherwise privileged or confidential if developed by
Licensee or its sublicensee in its ordinary course of business, provided that
such information:

(i)   is not publicly known or available from other resources who are not under
      a confidentiality obligation to the source of the information;

(ii)  has not been made available by the disclosing party to others without a
      confidentiality obligation;

(iii) is not already known by or available to the receiving party without a 
      confidentiality obligation; or

(iv)  cannot be demonstrated through adequate written documentation as having
      been independently developed or acquired by the receiving Party without
      reference to or reliance upon such Confidential Information.  Confidential
      Information includes all Clinical Data and Research Results and all Raw
      Data.  All information to be deemed confidential under this Letter
      Agreement shall be clearly marked "CONFIDENTIAL," "PROPRIETARY" or
      equivalent by the disclosing party within forty-five (45) days of such
      disclosure.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties may disclose any
      information relating to potential hazards or cautionary warnings
      associated with production, handling, or use of the Licensed Materials to
      any government authority in accordance with applicable laws and
      regulations.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Letter Agreement, all information
submitted to FDA under this Agreement by Aviron shall be deemed by NIAID to be
Confidential Information of Aviron.

     "Clinical Data and Research Results" means all information, data, case
report forms, tangible materials, and results first developed or obtained in
connection with the development, testing, use, manufacture or sale of License
Products, including information obtained under any clinical trials of the
Licensed Materials.  Such term includes all

<PAGE>

Aviron/NIAID May 31, 1996                                     Page 3

information required to be submitted with an application for approval of a 
biological product under 21 Code of Federal Regulations Part 601.

     "Raw Data" means the primary quantitative and empirical data first
collected by clinical investigators or others from experiments and clinical
trials conducted in connection with the development, testing, use, manufacture
or sale of Licensed Products, including case report forms and all information
required to be submitted in support of an Investigational New Drug Application
under 21 Code of Federal Regulations Part 312.

Very truly yours,

/s/ J. Leighton Read

J. Leighton Read, M.D.


Accepted and agreed to:


/s/ [illegible]

National Institute of Allergy 
and Infectious Diseases
for Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.
Director, NIAID

<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
   
    We  consent  to  the reference  to  our  firm under  the  captions "Selected
Financial Data" and "Experts"  and to the  use of our  report dated January  26,
1996  (except as to the  first paragraph of Note  1 and Note 10  as to which the
date is May  30, 1996), in  Amendment No.  1 to the  the Registration  Statement
(Form  S-1 No. 333-05209) and related  Prospectus of Aviron for the registration
of 3,450,000 shares of its Common Stock.
    
 
   
Palo Alto, California
June 18, 1996
    


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