August 31, 2012

VIA EDGAR

Securities and Exchange Commission

Division of Corporation Finance

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549-4628

Re: Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”)

Acceleration Request for Registration Statement on Form S-3

File No. 333-183153

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Pursuant to Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, on behalf of the registrant, hereby requests that the effective date of the above-referenced registration statement be accelerated so that it will be declared effective at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern) on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, or as soon thereafter as practicable.

In making this acceleration request, the Company acknowledges that:

• should the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the filing effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing;

• the action of the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the filing effective, does not relieve the Company from its full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing; and

• the Company may not assert this action as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.

Sincerely,

/s/ Christine G. Ocampo

Christine G. Ocampo

Vice President, Finance

cc: Ryan Murr, Esq. (Ropes & Gray LLP)