Treatment with Hyperbaric Oxygen Increases Survival after Blood Loss Causes Breathing to Stop; BioTime to Present Results at Experimental Biology 2003.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

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Experimental Biology 2003

BERKELEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2003

BioTime, Inc. (AMEX:BTX) announced today the results of their studies in which rats survived the loss of about half their blood, a loss so severe that it caused them to stop breathing. After 12 minutes of respiratory arrest, the animals were resuscitated by the intravenous infusion of 6% hetastarch in lactated electrolyte injection -- BioTime's proprietary blood plasma volume expander. They were then placed in a pressurized atmosphere of 100% oxygen in BioTime's proprietary small animal hyperbaric chamber. These studies will be presented at the Experimental Biology 2003(R) conference which starts today in San Diego, CA.

In the experiments, six of nine rats which were resuscitated with the plasma expander and treated with 100% oxygen at two atmospheres above normal atmospheric pressure survived long term. These rats had lost about half their blood volume and had stopped breathing for 12 minutes prior to resuscitation. Only 1 of 11 rats treated similarly, but ventilated instead with 100% oxygen at atmospheric pressure, survived.

The results were statistically significant and confirmed previous experiments in which hyperbaric oxygen had been shown to be advantageous in reviving rats following hemorrhagic shock causing a near-death condition. While hemorrhaging, and in the following period of respiratory arrest, all the animals' body temperatures declined. Restoring body temperature to normal by externally warming the animal was also an important feature of the resuscitation process. The study is scheduled for presentation by Dr. Paul Segall, BioTime's chairman and chief executive officer at the meeting to be held at the San Diego Convention Center, April 11-15, 2003.

In the United States, 6% hetastarch in lactated electrolyte injection is sold under the brand name Hextend(R) for the treatment of blood loss during surgery. It is used domestically in hundreds of leading hospitals throughout the United States, and overseas by the United States Armed Forces. Hextend has been selected as the volume expander of choice as the primary fluid for military pre-hospital hypotensive resuscitation by the United States Army Medical Department in its algorithm for combat fluid resuscitation. In an article appearing in the Science Times section of The New York Times on April 8, 2003, p. D1, it was reported that a large civilian clinical trial is being planned in which Hextend would be given in ambulances.

BioTime, headquartered in Berkeley, California develops blood plasma volume expanders, blood replacement solutions for hypothermic (low temperature) surgery, organ preservation solutions and technology for use in surgery, emergency trauma treatment, and other applications. Information about BioTime can be found on the web at www.biotimeinc.com.

The matters discussed in this press release include forward-looking statements which are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the results of clinical trials of BioTime products; BioTime's ability to obtain United States Food and Drug Administration and foreign regulatory approval to market its products; competition from products manufactured and sold or being developed by other companies; the price of and demand for BioTime's products; BioTime's ability to negotiate favorable licensing or other manufacturing and marketing agreements for its products; and the availability of reimbursement for the cost of BioTime products (and related treatment) from government health administration authorities, private health coverage insurers and other organizations. These and other risk factors are discussed in BioTime's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.