MELVILLE, N.Y., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ --  V. I. Technologies, Inc. (VITEX)
(Nasdaq: VITX) announced today that it has extended its exclusive agreement
with the American National Red Cross (ANRC) through September 30, 2000.  As
part of this extension, ANRC has guaranteed to purchase in excess of
$50 million of PLAS+(R)SD from VITEX during the two year period of the
contract extension.
    In addition, both parties have agreed to double their previous commitments
of sales and marketing resources to PLAS+(R)SD.  Part of VITEX's commitment
includes adding its own force of ten sales specialists to work with the ANRC
sales representatives currently in the field.  Concurrently, ANRC will
initiate a campaign to highlight the benefits of PLAS+(R)SD to the general
public.  A number of these initiatives are already underway.

    The highlights of this agreement include:

    -- The marketing investment by the ANRC will more than double during the
       launch phase.  As previously announced, VITEX will be adding a sales
       force of ten people to help convert the major teaching hospitals where
       the bulk of the transfusion plasma is purchased and transfused.  That
       sales force will be largely in place by year-end 1998.

    -- The ANRC will initiate a campaign to increase the public's awareness of
       this important advance in blood safety.

    -- VITEX will cost effectively manufacture PLAS+(R)SD at the guaranteed
       minimum levels.

    John Barr, VITEX President and CEO stated, "VITEX is extremely pleased to
reaffirm and expand our relationship with the ANRC.  Our collaboration with
ANRC strengthens our presence in the marketplace and demonstrates both
parties' commitment to make PLAS+(R)SD broadly available to the American
public as soon as possible."
    Christopher Lamb, Vice President Plasma Operations at ANRC also commented,
"The ANRC is committed to making the blood supply even safer with the
introduction of the first virally inactivated blood product for transfusion in
the United States.  Our collaboration with VITEX is very important in meeting
this objective.  The ANRC has already significantly increased our sales and
marketing investment in distributing PLAS+(R)SD while also making the product
more affordable to our hospital customers.  We are excited about PLAS+(R)SD
and convinced it will become the transfusion plasma of choice by hospitals,
physicians and patients."

    PLAS+(R)SD is a transfusion plasma product that utilizes the company's
solvent detergent process to remove lipid enveloped viruses including HIV,
Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B, from the blood plasma.
    VITEX is a leading developer and manufacturer of a broad portfolio of
blood products that utilize its patented virus inactivation technologies
designed to ensure safe 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.  The first of
VITEX's virally-inactivated products, PLAS+(R)SD is the only FDA approved
method for viral inactivation of plasma.
    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+(R)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.

    The American National Red Cross is a volunteer-led humanitarian service
organization that annually provides almost half the nation's blood supply,
certifies more than 8.5 million people in vital life saving skills, mobilizes
relief to victims in more than 68,000 disasters nationwide, provides direct
health services to 2.8 million people, assists international disaster and
conflict victims in more than 40 countries, and transmits more than 14 million
emergency messages to members of the Armed Forces and their families.

    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.

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