EXHIBIT 99.1


ADVANCED VIRAL RESEARCH CORP. ANNOUNCES THE RETIREMENT OF DIRECTORS DR. BERNARD
FRIEDLAND, CHAIRMAN, MESSRS. WILLIAM BREGMAN AND LOUIS SILVER

YONKERS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2001--Advanced Viral Research Corp.
(OTCBB:ADVR - NEWS) announced today the retirement of Dr. Bernard Friedland, 75,
as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and member of corporate
management after 17 years of dedicated service to the Company.

Dr. Friedland served as the Company's Chairman of the Board of Directors since
1984 and also was President and CEO of the Company from 1984 to 1996. Dr.
Friedland has also served as President and a Director of the Company's Advance
Viral Research Limited subsidiary since 1984.

Dr. Friedland advised the Company that:

Originally, he began work on the concept of a peptide-nucleic acid solution,
known as Reticulose, in 1965 as the Assistant Medical Director of Key
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was subsequently acquired by Schering Plough. At
Key Pharmaceuticals, he was involved in research and development of
pharmaceuticals in the areas of sustained action medications, cardiac disease
medications, antiasthma drugs, transdermal drug delivery systems, and cancer
antimetabolites for 30 years. Dr. Friedland was a member of the development team
for the first nitroglycerin transdermal patch granted a New Drug Application
(NDA) by the FDA. Dr. Friedland has continued his research and development with
the peptide-nucleic acid drug system since 1965.

Mr. William Bregman P.E., 80 and Dr. Friedland founded Advanced Viral Research
Corp. in 1984. Mr. Bregman, who is also retiring today, served as Secretary and
Treasurer and a Director of the Company since 1984. Also, retiring as a Director
is Mr. Louis Silver, who served to establish the original accounting system for
the Company and served generously on the Board for 16 years. Mr. Bregman and Dr.
Friedland were instrumental in obtaining the rights to Reticulose from the
bankruptcy court of Hong Kong, securing for the Company related intellectual
know-how. During the past 17 years, Dr. Friedland, with Mr. Bregman's
assistance, caused the Company to acquire its manufacturing plant in Freeport
and renovate it to an upgraded facility.

"Now that the Company has reached the threshold of scientific achievement of
characterizing the peptide-nucleic acid product and has an FDA Investigational
New Drug Application (IND) in Phase I, it is time to pass the baton of
leadership to a new and progressive Board of Directors who can bring Advanced
Viral Research Corp. into its position as a growing biotechnology company of the
21st century,." concluded Dr. Friedland.

Dr. Shalom Z. Hirschman, CEO and Director of the Company commented, "Bernie
Friedland and Bill Bregman have worked to transform Advanced Viral Research
Corp. from an idea and a hope to its present reality. Advanced Viral Research
offers Bernie and Bill its sincere gratitude for their years of tireless
commitment and countless contributions, and wishes them a healthy retirement."

Under the Agreements entered into with each of the retiring directors, Dr.
Friedland and Mr. Bregman, each received $150,000. To fund a portion of these
payments, the Company borrowed $200,000 from an affiliate at market rates. The
balance of the funds were paid from working capital of the Company.

The Company will close its Florida office during December, 2001 and will
thereafter conduct all business from its Yonkers, New York headquarters.


Advanced Viral Research Corp., based in Yonkers, New York, is an emerging
biopharmaceutical firm dedicated to improving patients' lives by researching,
developing and bringing to market new and effective therapies for viral and
other diseases.

Note: This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
associated with clinical development, regulatory approvals, including
application to the FDA, product commercialization and other risks described from
time to time in the SEC reports filed by the Company. Product R is not approved
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any comparable agencies of any other
countries. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to secure the
financing necessary to complete the clinical trials of Product R. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this
announcement whether as a result of new information, future events or
circumstances or otherwise.

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Contact:

     Advanced Viral Research Corp., Yonkers
     Dr. Shalom Z. Hirschman, 914/376-7383


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