

<!-- Compliance Xpressware Instance Document http://www.compliancexpressware.com/  -->
<!-- Version: 1.0.0 --><!-- Creation date:12:19:53 GMT-0800 -->
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<link:linkbase xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd" xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xbrldt="http://xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt">
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  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.arbutusbio.com/taxonomy/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="abus-20150930.xsd#role_DocumentAndEntityInformation"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://www.arbutusbio.com/taxonomy/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable" xlink:label="StatementTable" xlink:title="StatementTable"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems" xlink:label="StatementLineItems" xlink:title="StatementLineItems"/>
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    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="StatementTable" xlink:to="LegalEntityAxis" use="optional" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityDomain" xlink:label="EntityDomain" xlink:title="EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="LegalEntityAxis" xlink:to="EntityDomain" use="optional" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityDomain" xlink:label="EntityDomain_2" xlink:title="EntityDomain_2"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="LegalEntityAxis" xlink:to="EntityDomain_2" use="optional" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentType" xlink:label="DocumentType" xlink:title="DocumentType"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="DocumentType" use="optional" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag" xlink:label="AmendmentFlag" xlink:title="AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="AmendmentFlag" use="optional" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentDescription" xlink:label="AmendmentDescription" xlink:title="AmendmentDescription"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="AmendmentDescription" use="optional" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate" xlink:label="DocumentPeriodEndDate" xlink:title="DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="DocumentPeriodEndDate" use="optional" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol" xlink:label="TradingSymbol" xlink:title="TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="TradingSymbol" use="optional" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName" xlink:label="EntityRegistrantName" xlink:title="EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="EntityRegistrantName" use="optional" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey" xlink:label="EntityCentralIndexKey" xlink:title="EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="EntityCentralIndexKey" use="optional" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate" xlink:label="CurrentFiscalYearEndDate" xlink:title="CurrentFiscalYearEndDate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="CurrentFiscalYearEndDate" use="optional" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFilerCategory" xlink:label="EntityFilerCategory" xlink:title="EntityFilerCategory"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="EntityFilerCategory" use="optional" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding" xlink:label="EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding" xlink:title="EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding" use="optional" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCurrentReportingStatus" xlink:label="EntityCurrentReportingStatus" xlink:title="EntityCurrentReportingStatus"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="EntityCurrentReportingStatus" use="optional" order="16"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityVoluntaryFilers" xlink:label="EntityVoluntaryFilers" xlink:title="EntityVoluntaryFilers"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="EntityVoluntaryFilers" use="optional" order="17"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer" xlink:label="EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer" xlink:title="EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer" use="optional" order="18"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityPublicFloat" xlink:label="EntityPublicFloat" xlink:title="EntityPublicFloat"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="EntityPublicFloat" use="optional" order="19"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentFiscalYearFocus" xlink:label="DocumentFiscalYearFocus" xlink:title="DocumentFiscalYearFocus"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="DocumentFiscalYearFocus" use="optional" order="20"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus" xlink:label="DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus" xlink:title="DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus" use="optional" order="21"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.arbutusbio.com/taxonomy/role/BalanceSheet" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="abus-20150930.xsd#role_BalanceSheet"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://www.arbutusbio.com/taxonomy/role/BalanceSheet">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable" xlink:label="StatementTable" xlink:title="StatementTable"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems" xlink:label="StatementLineItems" xlink:title="StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="StatementTable" use="optional" order="102.2" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis" xlink:label="LegalEntityAxis" xlink:title="LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="StatementTable" xlink:to="LegalEntityAxis" use="optional" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2014/dei-2014-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityDomain" xlink:label="EntityDomain" xlink:title="EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="LegalEntityAxis" xlink:to="EntityDomain" use="optional" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsAbstract" xlink:label="AssetsAbstract" xlink:title="AssetsAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="AssetsAbstract" use="optional" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsCurrentAbstract" xlink:label="AssetsCurrentAbstract" xlink:title="AssetsCurrentAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="AssetsAbstract" xlink:to="AssetsCurrentAbstract" use="optional" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue" xlink:label="CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue" xlink:title="CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="AssetsCurrentAbstract" xlink:to="CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue" use="optional" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShortTermInvestments" xlink:label="ShortTermInvestments" xlink:title="ShortTermInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="AssetsCurrentAbstract" xlink:to="ShortTermInvestments" use="optional" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent" xlink:label="AccountsReceivableNetCurrent" xlink:title="AccountsReceivableNetCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="AssetsCurrentAbstract" xlink:to="AccountsReceivableNetCurrent" use="optional" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_UnbilledReceivablesCurrent" xlink:label="UnbilledReceivablesCurrent" xlink:title="UnbilledReceivablesCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="AssetsCurrentAbstract" xlink:to="UnbilledReceivablesCurrent" use="optional" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherDeferredCostsNet" xlink:label="OtherDeferredCostsNet" xlink:title="OtherDeferredCostsNet"/>
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivable" xlink:label="IncomeTaxesReceivable" xlink:title="IncomeTaxesReceivable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="AssetsCurrentAbstract" xlink:to="IncomeTaxesReceivable" use="optional" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent" xlink:label="PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent" xlink:title="PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent"/>
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsCurrent" xlink:label="AssetsCurrent" xlink:title="AssetsCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="AssetsAbstract" xlink:to="AssetsCurrent" use="optional" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermInvestments" xlink:label="LongTermInvestments" xlink:title="LongTermInvestments"/>
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross" xlink:label="PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross" xlink:title="PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="AssetsAbstract" xlink:to="PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross" use="optional" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment" xlink:label="AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment" xlink:title="AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="AssetsAbstract" xlink:to="AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment" use="optional" order="13"/>
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill" xlink:label="IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill" xlink:title="IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="AssetsAbstract" xlink:to="IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill" use="optional" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_Goodwill" xlink:label="Goodwill" xlink:title="Goodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="AssetsAbstract" xlink:to="Goodwill" use="optional" order="16"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_Assets" xlink:label="Assets" xlink:title="Assets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="StatementLineItems" xlink:to="Assets" use="optional" order="17"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract" xlink:label="LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract" xlink:title="LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract"/>
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrentAbstract" xlink:label="LiabilitiesCurrentAbstract" xlink:title="LiabilitiesCurrentAbstract"/>
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    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2015/elts/us-gaap-2015-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent" xlink:label="AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent" xlink:title="AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent"/>
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