Marina Biotech Presents Advances in Oral Delivery of Nucleic Acids at AsiaTIDES Conference in Tokyo

BOTHELL, WA--(Marketwire - Feb 29, 2012) - Marina Biotech, Inc. (OTCQX: MRNA), a leading nucleic acid-based drug discovery and development company, today reported data demonstrating the continued advancement of the Company's clinical program for CEQ508, the only orally administered RNAi therapeutic in clinical development. Data were also presented on early research in the oral administration of single- and double-stranded nucleic acids. The data were presented by Michael V. Templin, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Marina Biotech, Inc., and entitled "Advances in the Development of Orally Administered Nucleic Acid-based Therapeutics," at AsiaTIDES, Oligonucleotide and Peptide® Research, Technology and Product Development, February 28 - March 1, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan.

"We continue to advance our clinical development program, and we believe that CEQ508 will not only be the first orally delivered nucleic acid in the market but potentially the first RNAi drug to market," stated Richard T. Ho, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Research and Development. "The current drug product can be stored for extended time periods in home freezers or refrigerators allowing us the option of bringing a liquid formulation to market and thus minimizing the clinical development cycle. CEQ508 represents the first generation of tkRNAi™, and we are now focused on the development of second generation technology which is expected to provide us a platform for cell specific targeting throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract to treat both inflammatory and oncology diseases. In addition to the tkRNAi system, we are developing alternative methods to oligonucleotide therapeutic delivery via oral administration which dramatically improve both systemic exposure and bioavailability in a variety of tissue systems. Oral administration of oligonucleotide therapeutics as well as new efforts in harnessing cell-to-cell transfer of nucleic acids will be active areas for our research and development team in the immediate future."

About Marina Biotech, Inc.

Marina Biotech is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics utilizing multiple mechanisms of action including RNA interference (RNAi) and messenger RNA translational blocking. The Marina Biotech pipeline currently includes a clinical program in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (a precancerous syndrome) and two preclinical programs -- in bladder cancer and malignant ascites. Marina Biotech entered into an exclusive agreement with The Debiopharm Group for the development and commercialization of the bladder cancer program. In addition, Marina Biotech has entered into an agreement with Mirna Therapeutics to license Marina Biotech's SMARTICLES^® technology for the delivery of microRNA mimics. Marina Biotech's goal is to improve human health through the development of RNAi- and oligonucleotide-based compounds and drug delivery technologies that together provide superior therapeutic options for patients. Additional information about Marina Biotech is available at http://www.marinabio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this news release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Federal Securities laws that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the ability of Marina Biotech to obtain additional funding; (ii) the ability of Marina Biotech to attract and/or maintain manufacturing, research, development and commercialization partners; (iii) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to successfully complete product research and development, including preclinical and clinical studies and commercialization; (iv) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to obtain required governmental approvals; and (v) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to develop and commercialize products prior to, and that can compete favorably with those of, competitors. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements are contained in Marina Biotech's most recent periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Marina Biotech assumes no obligation to update and supplement forward-looking statements because of subsequent events.