( BW)(BIOTIME)(BTIM) BioTime begins Phase III clinical trials of  Hextend®

   Business Editors and Medical Writers


   BERKELEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 1996--BioTime Inc.

(NASDAQ:BTIM) Thursday announced that Phase III clinical trials of

Hextend® have begun at the Duke University Medical Center.

   According to the company, the first patient undergoing surgery

received Hextend® as a blood plasma volume expander.  The surgery was

completed and no adverse events were reported.

   BioTime, with headquarters in Berkeley, is engaged in the

research and development of synthetic blood plasma volume expanders

and low temperature blood substitute solutions and technology for

use in surgery, emergency trauma treatment, the preservation of

organs awaiting transplant and other applications.


   CONTACT:  BioTime Inc., Berkeley

             Victoria Bellport, 510/845-9535