MELVILLE, N.Y., June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- V.I. Technologies, Inc.
(Nasdaq: VITX) today announced that it had received regulatory approval to
market PLAS+SD in Canada.  PLAS+SD will be made available by Canadian Plasma
Products, acting as the exclusive Canadian importer.  PLAS+SD is a transfusion
plasma product that utilizes the Company's solvent detergent process to remove
lipid-enveloped viruses such as HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and hepatitis
C.  PLAS+SD was approved by the FDA in May 1998 and has been distributed in
the United States since June 1998 by the American Red Cross.  VITEX and the
American Red Cross are working together to ensure the availability of PLAS+SD
in Canada and the United States.
    John Barr, President and CEO of VITEX commented, "We are extremely pleased
to receive Canadian regulatory approval for PLAS+SD.  This approval represents
another step towards the achievement of the Company's objective of providing
safe blood products throughout the world."
    VITEX is a leading developer and manufacturer of a broad portfolio of
blood products that utilize its patented viral inactivation technologies
designed to ensure the safety of blood products.  The technologies are
tailored for all blood component applications and other blood-derived
products, including plasma, plasma derivatives, red blood cells and platelets.
    Central to VITEX's strategy are collaborations to accelerate the
commercialization of its products.  These include agreements with Bayer
Corporation to supply plasma fractions, the American National Red Cross to
distribute PLAS+SD, United States Surgical Corporation for the development and
distribution of fibrin sealant and Pall Corporation for the development and
distribution of systems for the viral inactivation of red blood cells and
platelets.
    Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters
discussed are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These
statements involve risks and uncertainties, such as quarterly fluctuations in
operating results, the timely availability of new products, market acceptance
of the company's products, the impacts of competitive products and pricing,
government regulation of the company's products and other risks and
uncertainties set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.  These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results
to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made herein.
    To receive additional information on V.I. Technologies, Inc., via fax, at
no charge, dial 800-PRO-INFO and enter code VITX.

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