AVIRON
424B3, 1998-10-22
BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS, (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES)
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<PAGE>   1

                                                              Filed Pursuant to
                                                             Rule 424(b)(3) and 
                                                            File No.  333-50505

               PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 8 DATED OCTOBER 22, 1998
                         TO PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 4, 1998

                                     AVIRON
                                  $100,000,000
                 5 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2005
                                       and
             Shares of Common Stock Issuable Upon Conversion thereof

         This Prospectus Supplement should be read in conjunction with the
Prospectus dated May 4, 1998 (the "Prospectus"). The table on pages 45 and 46 of
the Prospectus setting forth information concerning the Selling Securityholders
is superseded by the following table:

                             SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

         The following table sets forth the names of the Selling
Securityholders, the number of shares of Common Stock owned by each of them as
of the date of this supplement and the principal amount of Notes and number of
Conversion Shares which may be offered pursuant to this Prospectus. The
information is based upon information provided by or on behalf of the Selling
Securityholders. The Selling Securityholders may offer all, some or none of
their Notes or Conversion Shares.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>          
                                           PRINCIPAL
                                           AMOUNT OF           PRINCIPAL              COMMON      
                                             NOTES             AMOUNT OF               STOCK            COMMON
                                          OWNED PRIOR            NOTES              OWNED PRIOR          STOCK   
                                              TO                OFFERED                 TO              OFFERED
                NAME                      OFFERING(1)            HEREBY            OFFERING(1)(2)       HEREBY
                ----                      -----------            ------            --------------       -------
<S>                                     <C>                  <C>                  <C>                   <C>

AAM/Zazove Institutional Income           $   800,000         $   800,000                  0                    0
Fund, L.P.

Alexandra Global Investment Fund I,         2,000,000           2,000,000             70,716                    0
Inc.

Argent Classic Convertible                          0                   0                  0                    0
Arbitrage Fund L.P.

Argent Classic Convertible                  1,500,000           1,500,000                  0                    0
Arbitrage Fund (Bermuda) L.P.

BancAmerica Robertson Stephens                195,000             195,000                  0                    0

BNP Arbitrage SNC                           2,550,000           2,550,000                  0                    0

BT Holdings (New York), Inc.                1,000,000           1,000,000                  0                    0

Chrysler Corporation Master                 1,820,000           1,820,000                  0                    0
Retirement Trust

CIBC Oppenheimer                                    0                   0                  0                    0

</TABLE>

                                       1.



<PAGE>   2



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>          
                                           PRINCIPAL
                                           AMOUNT OF           PRINCIPAL              COMMON      
                                             NOTES             AMOUNT OF               STOCK            COMMON
                                          OWNED PRIOR            NOTES              OWNED PRIOR          STOCK   
                                              TO                OFFERED                 TO              OFFERED
                NAME                      OFFERING(1)            HEREBY            OFFERING(1)(2)       HEREBY
                ----                      -----------            ------            --------------       -------
<S>                                     <C>                  <C>                  <C>                   <C>

Contrary Fund LLC                                   0                   0                  0                    0

Declaration of Trust for the                  100,000             100,000                  0                    0
Defined Benefit Plans of ICI
American Holdings Inc.

Declaration of Trust for the                   65,000              65,000                  0                    0
Defined Benefit Plans of ZENECA
Holdings Inc.

Delaware PERS                                 720,000             720,000                  0                    0

Delaware State Employees'                     335,000             335,000                  0                    0
Retirement Fund

Deutsche Bank Securities                    2,000,000           2,000,000                  0                    0

Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette                        0                   0                  0                    0
Securities Corporation

Fidelity American Trust                       200,000             200,000                  0                    0

Fidelity Financial Trust Fidelity           1,800,000           1,800,000                  0                    0
Convertible Securities Fund

Forest Alternative Strategies Fund             82,000              82,000                  0                    0
II Series A-5I

Forest Alternative Strategies Fund          1,295,000           1,295,000                  0                    0
II LP Series A-5

Forest Alternative Strategies Fund             41,000              41,000                  0                    0
II LP Series A-5M

Forest Alternative Strategies Fund                  0                   0                  0                    0
Series B-3

Forest Global Convertible Fund              1,303,000           1,303,000                  0                    0
Series A-5

Forest Global Convertible Fund                      0                   0                  0                    0
Series B-1

Forest Global Convertible Fund                      0                   0                  0                    0
Series B-2

Forest Global Convertible Fund                      0                   0                  0                    0
Series B-3

Forest Global Convertible Fund                      0                   0                  0                    0
Series B-5

Forest Greyhound                                    0                   0                  0                    0

Forum Capital Markets L.P.                  1,000,000           1,000,000                  0                    0

Fox Family Foundation 10/10/87                      0                   0                  0                    0


</TABLE>


                                       2.

<PAGE>   3



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>          
                                           PRINCIPAL
                                           AMOUNT OF           PRINCIPAL              COMMON      
                                             NOTES             AMOUNT OF               STOCK            COMMON
                                          OWNED PRIOR            NOTES              OWNED PRIOR          STOCK   
                                              TO                OFFERED                 TO              OFFERED
                NAME                      OFFERING(1)            HEREBY            OFFERING(1)(2)       HEREBY
                ----                      -----------            ------            --------------       -------
<S>                                     <C>                  <C>                  <C>                   <C>

Fox Family Portfolio Partnership                    0                   0                  0                    0

Forest Performance Fund                             0                   0                  0                    0

Heritage Series Trust Small Cap             1,000,000           1,000,000            100,000                    0
Stock Fund

ICI American Holdings                         310,000             310,000                  0                    0

JMG Convertible Investments, L.P.             500,000             500,000                  0                    0

LDG Limited                                   550,000             550,000                  0                    0

Little Wing L.P.                                    0                   0                  0                    0

Lincoln National Convertible                1,700,000           1,700,000                  0                    0
Securities Fund

LLT Limited                                    64,000              64,000                  0                    0

MainStay Convertible Fund                   1,200,000           1,200,000             68,800                    0

McMahan Securities Company L.P.               515,000             515,000                  0                    0

Nalco Chemical Company                        160,000             160,000                  0                    0

Navesink Equity Derivative Fund, LDC        2,000,000           2,000,000                  0                    0

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance                  0                   0                  0                    0
Company

OCM Convertible Limited Partnership            70,000              70,000                  0                    0

OCM Convertible Trust                       1,875,000           1,875,000                  0                    0

Pacific Life Insurance Company              3,000,000           3,000,000                  0                    0

Paloma Securities L.L.C.                    1,500,000           1,500,000                  0                    0

Partner Reinsurance Company, Ltd.             275,000             275,000                  0                    0

Schroders & Co. Inc.                          250,000             250,000                  0                    0

Silverton International Fund Limited        1,500,000           1,500,000                  0                    0

Societe Generale Securities Corp.           6,500,000           6,500,000                  0                    0

State Employees' Retirement Fund of           545,000             545,000                  0                    0
the State of Delaware

State of Connecticut Combined               1,780,000           1,780,000                  0                    0
Investment Funds

Thermo Eletron Balanced                             0                   0                  0                    0

</TABLE>
                                       3.
<PAGE>   4



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>          
                                           PRINCIPAL
                                           AMOUNT OF           PRINCIPAL              COMMON      
                                             NOTES             AMOUNT OF               STOCK            COMMON
                                          OWNED PRIOR            NOTES              OWNED PRIOR          STOCK   
                                              TO                OFFERED                 TO              OFFERED
                NAME                      OFFERING(1)            HEREBY            OFFERING(1)(2)       HEREBY
                ----                      -----------            ------            --------------       -------
<S>                                     <C>                  <C>                  <C>                   <C>

Investment Fund

TQA Leverage Fund, L.P.                     1,100,000           1,100,000                  0                    0

TQA Vantage Fund, LTD                       2,300,000           2,300,000                  0                    0

TQA Vantage Plus, LTD                         750,000             750,000                  0                    0

Trade Winds L.P.                                    0                   0                  0                    0

Triton Capital Investments, Ltd.              500,000             500,000                  0                    0

Vanguard Convertible Securities             1,235,000           1,235,000                  0                    0
Fund, Inc.

Walker Art Center                             220,000             220,000                  0                    0

Weirton Trust                                 200,000             200,000                  0                    0

Zeneca Holdings Trust                         310,000             310,000                  0                    0
                                          -------------       ---------------     ---------------    ---------------       

TOTAL                                     $50,715,000.00      $50,715,000.00         239,516                    0
                                          ==============      ==============      ===============    ===============  
</TABLE>

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

(1)   Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the Rule of the SEC
      and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to
      securities. Except as otherwise indicated by footnote, and subject to
      community property laws where applicable, the persons named in the table
      have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares on Common
      Stock shown as beneficially owned by them. Numbers reflect ownership prior
      to the date of this Supplement.

(2)   Includes  Conversion  Shares based on a  conversion  price of $30.904 per 
      share and a cash payment in lieu of any fractional interest.

      Because the Selling Securityholders may offer all or some of the Notes
      that they hold and/or Conversion Shares pursuant to the offering
      contemplated by this Prospectus, and because there are currently no
      agreements, arrangements or understandings with respect to the sale of any
      of the Notes or Conversion Shares by the Selling Securityholders, no
      estimate can be given as to the principal amount of Notes or Conversion of
      Shares that will be held by the Selling Securityholders after completion
      of this offering.

                                       4.


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