<PAGE> 1
Filed Pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(3) and (c)
File No. 333-50505
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 6 DATED AUGUST 14, 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is superseded by the following table: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 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT COMMON STOCK OWNED COMMON STOCK
OF NOTES OWNED OF NOTES OFFERED PRIOR TO OFFERED
NAME PRIOR TO 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 1,000,000 1,000,000 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 2,330,000 2,330,000 0 0
Retirement Trust
CIBC Oppenheimer 0 0 0 0
</TABLE>
1.
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT PRINCIPAL AMOUNT COMMON STOCK OWNED COMMON STOCK
OF NOTES OWNED OF NOTES OFFERED PRIOR TO OFFERED
NAME PRIOR TO 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
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette 0 0 0 0
Securities Corporation
Fidelity American Trust 200,000 200,000 0 0
Fidelity Financial Trust Fidelity 11,800,000 11,800,000 0 0
Convertible Securities Fund
Forest Alternative Strategies Fund 112,000 112,000 0 0
II Series A-5I
Forest Alternative Strategies Fund 1,760,000 1,760,000 0 0
II LP Series A-5
Forest Alternative Strategies Fund 56,000 56,000 0 0
II LP Series A-5M
Forest Alternative Strategies Fund 0 0 0 0
Series B-3
Forest Global Convertible Fund 1,773,000 1,773,000 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
Fox Family Portfolio Partnership 0 0 0 0
</TABLE>
2.
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT PRINCIPAL AMOUNT COMMON STOCK OWNED COMMON STOCK
OF NOTES OWNED OF NOTES OFFERED PRIOR TO OFFERED
NAME PRIOR TO OFFERING(1) HEREBY OFFERING(1)(2) HEREBY
---- -------------------- ------ -------------- ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
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 84,000 84,000 0 0
MainStay Convertible Fund 1,200,000 1,200,000 68,800 0
McMahan Securities Company L.P. 525,000 525,000 0 0
Nalco Chemical Company 160,000 160,000 0 0
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance 0 0 0 0
Company
OCM Convertible Limited Partnership 90,000 90,000 0 0
OCM Convertible Trust 2,725,000 2,725,000 0 0
Pacific Life Insurance Company 3,000,000 3,000,000 0 0
Paloma Securities L.L.C. 2,700,000 2,700,000 0 0
Partner Reinsurance Company, Ltd. 335,000 335,000 0 0
Schroders & Co. Inc. 500,000 500,000 0 0
Silverton International Fund Limited 2,300,000 2,300,000 0 0
Societe Generale Securities Corp. 6,500,000 6,500,000 0 0
State Employees' Retirement Fund of 725,000 725,000 0 0
the State of Delaware
State of Connecticut Combined 2,760,000 2,760,000 0 0
Investment Funds
Thermo Eletron Balanced Investment 0 0 0 0
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
</TABLE>
3.
<PAGE> 4
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT PRINCIPAL AMOUNT COMMON STOCK OWNED COMMON STOCK
OF NOTES OWNED OF NOTES OFFERED PRIOR TO OFFERED
NAME PRIOR TO OFFERING(1) HEREBY OFFERING(1)(2) HEREBY
---- -------------------- ------ -------------- ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
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 1,990,000 1,990,000 0 0
Fund, Inc.
Walker Art Center 220,000 220,000 0 0
Weirton Trust 580,000 580,000 0 0
Zeneca Holdings Trust 310,000 310,000 0 0
----------- ----------- ------- -----
TOTAL $64,710,000 $64,710,000 239,516 0
=========== =========== ======= =====
</TABLE>
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(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.
