Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (the “Company”) for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I William Collier, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly represents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of the operations of the Company.

Date: August 5, 2019

/s/ William Collier

Name: William Collier

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer