BIOTIME INC
S-3/A, 1999-02-12
BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS, (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES)
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    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 1999
                                                     Registration No. 333-69179
================================================================================
    

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549
                               ----------------

   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 2
                                      TO
    

                                   FORM S-3
                         REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                               ----------------
                                 BIOTIME, INC.
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)
                               ----------------
           California                                         94-3127919
 (State or other jurisdiction of                           (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                          Identification Number)

                               935 Pardee Street
                          Berkeley, California 94710
                                (510) 845-9535
                         (Address, including zip code,
                  and telephone number, including area code,
                  of Registrant's principal executive offices)

                    Paul E. Segall, Chief Executive Officer
                                 BioTime, Inc.
                               935 Pardee Street
                          Berkeley, California 94710
                                 (510) 845-9535
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
                               ----------------
          Copies of all communications, including all communications
               sent to the agent for service, should be sent to:

                            RICHARD S. SOROKO, ESQ.
              Lippenberger, Thompson, Welch, Soroko & Gilbert LLP
                       250 Montgomery Street, Suite 500
                        San Francisco, California 94104
                              Tel. (415) 421-5300
                               ----------------
     Approximate  date  of  commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon
as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

     If the only  securities  being  registered  on this Form are being  offered
pursuant to dividend or interest  reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]

     If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on
a delayed or  continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 of the  Securities  Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

     If this Form is filed to  register  additional  securities  for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number  of the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

     If this Form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the  Securities  Act,  check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration  statement number of the earlier effective  registration  statement
for the same offering. [ ]

     If delivery of the  prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]

       
     The  Registrant  hereby  amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates  as  may  be  necessary  to  delay its Effective Date until the Registrant
shall  file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration
Statement  shall  thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the  Securities  Act  of  1933, or until the Registration Statement shall become
effective  on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.

================================================================================
<PAGE>


PROSPECTUS

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]


                                 BIOTIME, INC.
                             501,654 COMMON SHARES


               Issuable Upon the Exercise of Subscription Rights


   
     BioTime,  Inc. is issuing new securities  called  "rights."  Holders of the
rights will be entitled to purchase up to an aggregate of 501,654 BioTime common
shares.  You will receive  rights from BioTime if you owned BioTime shares as of
the close of business on January 5, 1999, which has been set as the record date.
You will  receive one right for each  common  share that you owned on the record
date.  The rights will entitle you to subscribe  for and purchase one new common
share for every 20 rights you hold. The subscription price is $_____________ per
share.

   The rights will expire at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on March __, 1999.

     By  exercising  your rights, you will be able to purchase BioTime shares at
a   price   below   market,   without   incurring   broker's   commissions.   By
over-subscribing,  you  may be able to purchase any shares that are left over by
shareholders  who  fail  to  exercise their rights. BioTime may also issue up to
250,000 additional shares to fill over-subscriptions.

     The common shares are authorized for trading on the Nasdaq  National Market
under the symbol BTIM.  The rights will be  transferable  and have been approved
for trading on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market under the symbol BTIMR.
    

                               ----------------

These  securities  involve a high degree of risk and should be purchased only by
persons  who  can afford the loss of their entire investment. See "Risk Factors"
                                  on page 7.

                               ----------------

Neither  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  nor  any  state  securities
commission  has  approved  or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the
accuracy  or  adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is
                              a criminal offense.

   
<TABLE>
================================================================================
<CAPTION>
                                                   Price to    Proceeds to the
                                                  the Public     Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                <C>             <C>
Per Share ...................................      $               $
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .......................................      $               $
================================================================================
</TABLE>


     Expenses of the rights offer are estimated to be $115,000.  No underwriting
discounts or commissions will be paid.


              The date of this prospectus is February ______, 1999
    




<PAGE>

                      [This Page Intentionally Left Blank]


<PAGE>


   
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     The  following  summary  explains  only  some  of the  information  in this
prospectus.  More detailed  information  about BioTime and the rights offer, and
financial  statements  appear  elsewhere in this  prospectus or in the documents
incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

     This  prospectus  is part of a  registration  statement on Form S-3 that we
have filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  The SEC allows us to
"incorporate by reference"  information  that we file with them. This means that
we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents
that we have  filed  with the  SEC.  The  information  that is  incorporated  by
reference is considered part of this  prospectus,  and information  that we file
later will automatically update and may supersede this information.  For further
information about BioTime and the securities being offered,  you should refer to
the registration statement and the documents that are incorporated by reference.
See  "Incorporation  of Certain  Information  by  Reference"  elsewhere  in this
prospectus.

     Statements  contained in this prospectus that are not historical  facts may
constitute   forward-looking   statements   that  are   subject   to  risks  and
uncertainties  that could cause actual results to differ  materially  from those
discussed.  Words such as "expects,"  "may," "will,"  "anticipates,"  "intends,"
"plans,"  "believes,"  "seeks,"  "estimates," and similar  expressions  identify
forward-looking statements. See "Risk Factors."


                                   The Company

     BioTime is developing  synthetic solutions that can be used as blood plasma
volume  expanders,   blood  replacement   solutions  during   "hypothermic"  low
temperature surgery, and organ preservation  solutions.  Plasma volume expanders
are used to treat decreased  blood volume  resulting from blood loss in surgical
or  trauma  patients.  We are  developing  products  that  may be used in  large
volumes, even when blood loss becomes so severe that a transfusion of packed red
blood  cells or other blood  products  is  required.  We are also  developing  a
specially  formulated  hypothermic blood replacement solution that would be used
for the  replacement  of a patient's  circulating  blood volume  during  cardiac
surgery,  neurosurgery  and other surgeries that involve  lowering the patient's
body temperature.

     Our  first  three  blood  volume   replacement   products  are  Hextend(R),
PentaLyte(R),  and  HetaCool(TM).  Hextend  and  PentaLyte  are our  proprietary
hydroxyethyl  starch-based  synthetic blood plasma volume expanders  designed to
treat loss of blood  volume in surgery  and trauma  care  patients.  Hextend and
PentaLyte  may be used in similar  surgical  and  trauma  care  procedures,  but
Hextend is designed for use when for medical  reasons a physician  determines to
use a plasma volume  expander that remains in the patient's blood stream longer.
HetaCool is a modified  formulation of Hextend and is specifically  designed for
use at low temperatures.
    

     We have  completed the  submission of a new drug  application to the United
States Food and Drug  Administration,  seeking approval to market Hextend in the
United States.  The FDA has completed its review of our application,  and during
November  1998 we  received  an  action  letter  from  them  requesting  several
clarifications.  We have  responded  to the FDA's  request and we are  presently
awaiting their approval.
   
     BioTime and Abbott Laboratories have entered into a license agreement under
which we granted to Abbott an exclusive  license to manufacture and sell Hextend
in the  United  States  and  Canada  for all  therapeutic  uses other than those
involving  hypothermic  surgery,  or the replacement of  substantially  all of a
patient's  circulating  blood volume. We still retain all rights to manufacture,
sell or license Hextend and other products in all other countries.
    

     BioTime  was  incorporated  under  the laws of the State of  California  on
November 30, 1990.  BioTime's  principal office is located at 935 Pardee Street,
Berkeley, California 94710. Its telephone number is (510) 845-9535.

                                        3

<PAGE>


   
     Hextend(R) and PentaLyte(R) are registered trademarks,  and HetaCool(TM) is
a trademark, of BioTime, Inc.


                           Purpose of the Rights Offer
    

     The  Board  of Directors of BioTime has determined that it is necessary for
BioTime  to  raise  additional  capital  at this time to finance its operations,
including:

     *   Costs of conducting additional clinical trials of BioTime products;

     *   Costs of seeking foreign regulatory approval of Hextend;

     *   Continued research and product development; and

     *   General and administrative expenses.

   
     We are issuing the rights to raise additional  capital without diluting the
ownership  interests of existing  shareholders  who exercise  their rights,  and
without paying underwriting commissions and expenses.  Shareholders who exercise
their rights will be able to purchase  shares at a price below  market,  without
incurring broker's commissions.

     Generally,  shareholders  who exercise their rights in full will be able to
maintain their prorata share of BioTime's outstanding common shares. However, if
the rights offer is over-subscribed  and BioTime issues additional common shares
to fill  over-subscriptions,  shareholders  who do not  purchase  their  prorata
portion  of those  additional  shares by  over-subscribing  would  experience  a
reduction in their percentage  interests in BioTime's  outstanding  shares.  The
distribution of the rights to shareholders  will also afford those  shareholders
who choose not to  exercise  their  rights the  potential  of  receiving  a cash
payment  upon the sale of their  rights.  Therefore,  the  receipt  of rights by
shareholders  who  choose  not  to  exercise  their  rights  may  be  viewed  as
compensation for the possible dilution.
    


                           Terms of The Rights Offer

   
Securities Offered ..........  The rights will entitle you to subscribe  for and
                               purchase one new common share for every 20 rights
                               you hold.

Subscription Price ..........  The subscription price per common share is $____.

Over-Subscription
 Privilege ..................  Shareholders   who  fully   exercise  the  rights
                               initially  issued to them will be entitled to the
                               additional   privilege  of  subscribing  for  and
                               purchasing  any  common  shares not  acquired  by
                               other   holders  of  rights.   See  "The   Rights
                               Offer--Over-Subscription Privilege."


                                        4

<PAGE>


How to Exercise Rights ......  The  rights  will be  evidenced  by  subscription
                               certificates,   which  will  be   distributed  to
                               shareholders.  You may  exercise  your  rights by
                               completing  the   subscription   certificate  and
                               delivering  it,  together  with  payment  of  the
                               subscription  price, to the  subscription  agent,
                               American Stock Transfer & Trust Company,  40 Wall
                               Street,  46th  Floor,  New York,  New York 10005.
                               Payment  may be made  either by check  drawn on a
                               United  States bank,  or by notice of  guaranteed
                               delivery,   as   explained   under  "The   Rights
                               Offer--Payment   for  Shares."   Rights  must  be
                               exercised no later than the expiration  date. You
                               may not rescind a purchase after  exercising your
                               rights.

Sale of Rights ..............  The  rights  are  transferable   until  the  last
                               business  day  prior to the  expiration  date.  A
                               business day is a day on which Nasdaq trades. The
                               rights  have  been   authorized  for  trading  on
                               Nasdaq.  Trading of the rights will be  conducted
                               on a  regular-way  basis  from  February  ,  1999
                               through  the  last  business  day  prior  to  the
                               expiration  date.  Any  commissions in connection
                               with  the  sale  of  rights  will  be paid by the
                               selling   rights   holder.    BioTime   and   the
                               subscription  agent  cannot  assure that a market
                               for the  rights  will  develop,  or the prices at
                               which  rights  may  be  sold  if  a  market  does
                               develop.

Participation by Officers,
 Directors and Certain
 Financial Consultants ......  Officers,   directors,   and  certain   financial
                               consultants of BioTime who own, in the aggregate,
                               2,341,989  common shares,  have informed  BioTime
                               that they intend to purchase up to 117,099 common
                               shares through the exercise of rights distributed
                               to  them,   provided  that   suitable   financial
                               arrangements  can  be  made,  but  they  are  not
                               legally bound to do so.

Foreign Restrictions ........  Subscription  certificates  will not be mailed to
                               shareholders   whose   addresses  of  record  are
                               outside  the United  States.  The rights  will be
                               held  by  the  subscription   agent  for  foreign
                               shareholders'  accounts  until  instructions  are
                               received  to  exercise,   sell  or  transfer  the
                               rights.  If no instructions are received by 12:00
                               noon,  New York  time on  March , 1999,  which is
                               three business days prior to the expiration date,
                               the subscription  agent will use its best efforts
                               to sell the rights of foreign  shareholders.  The
                               net  proceeds,  if any,  from such a sale will be
                               paid to the  foreign  shareholders  on a  prorata
                               basis.    See    "The    Rights    Offer--Foreign
                               Shareholders."

Important Dates to
 Remember ...................  Record Date: January 5, 1999
                               Expiration Date: March __, 1999
                               Last Date of Guaranteed Delivery: March __, 1999

                                        5

<PAGE>


Amendment, Extension
 or Termination of
 the Rights Offer ...........  BioTime   may,  in  its  sole   discretion:   (a)
                               terminate  the rights  offer prior to delivery of
                               the common  shares for which rights  holders have
                               subscribed;  (b) extend the expiration  date to a
                               later  date;  (c) change the record date prior to
                               the  distribution of the rights to  shareholders;
                               or (d)  amend or modify  the terms of the  rights
                               offer.
    

                                        6

<PAGE>


                                  RISK FACTORS

   
     An  investment  in the common  shares  involves a high degree of risk.  You
should  purchase  the common  shares  only if you can afford to lose your entire
investment. Before deciding to purchase any of the common shares offered by this
prospectus,  you should  consider the following  factors which could  materially
adversely affect the proposed  operations and prospects of BioTime and the value
of an investment  in BioTime.  There may be other factors that are not mentioned
here or of which we are not  presently  aware that could also  affect  BioTime's
operations.

If We Do Not Receive FDA And Other Regulatory Approvals We Will Not Be Permitted
To Sell Our Products

     The products that we develop cannot be sold until the FDA and corresponding
foreign regulatory  authorities approve the products for medical use. This means
that:
    

     *   We will have to conduct expensive and time consuming clinical trials of
         new products;

     *   We will incur the expense and delay inherent in seeking FDA approval of
         new products;

     *   A product that is approved may be subject to restrictions on use;

     *   The FDA can recall or withdraw approval of a product if problems arise;
         and

     *   We will face similar regulatory issues in foreign countries.

   
Because Our  Products  Are Not Yet On The  Market,  We Cannot Be Sure If We Will
Receive Revenues From Product Sales
    

     *   Our products are not yet on the market;

     *   Our products  cannot be sold until the products are approved by the FDA
         and foreign regulatory authorities;

     *   We have not yet received FDA approval to sell any of our products; and

     *   It can take several months for a pharmaceutical  company to introduce a
         new product to the market.


   
We May  Not  Succeed  In  Marketing  Our  Products  Due To The  Availability  Of
Competing Products
    

     Our  ability to  generate  operating  revenue  depends  upon our success in
developing and marketing our products. There can be no assurance that any of our
products  will be  successfully  marketed  or that  we will  receive  sufficient
revenues from product sales to meet our operating expenses or to earn a profit.

     *   Physicians  and  hospitals may be reluctant to try a new product due to
         the  high  degree  of  risk  associated  with  the  application  of new
         technologies and products in the field of human medicine.

     *   Our  plasma  expander   products  will  compete  with  other  products,
         including  albumin  and  other  colloid   solutions,   and  crystalloid
         solutions. Some of these products, in particular crystalloid solutions,
         are commonly used in surgery and trauma care and sell at low prices.

     *   In order to compete with other products,  particularly  those that sell
         at  lower  prices,  BioTime  products  will  have to be  recognized  as
         providing medically significant advantages.

     *   Competing  products are being  manufactured and marketed by established
         pharmaceutical companies with more resources than BioTime. For example,
         DuPont  Pharmaceuticals  presently markets Hespan, an artificial plasma
         volume expander, and Viaspan, a solution for use in the preservation of
         kidneys,   livers  and  pancreases  for  surgical  transplant.   Abbott
         manufactures and sells a generic equivalent of Hespan.

     *   There  also  is a  risk  that  BioTime's  competitors  may  succeed  in
         developing  safer or more  effective  products  that  could  render our
         products and technologies obsolete or noncompetitive.


                                        7

<PAGE>


   
We Will Spend A  Substantial  Amount Of Our Capital On Research And  Development
But We Might Not Succeed in Developing Products and Technologies That Are Useful
In Medicine
    

     *   We are attempting to develop new medical products and technologies.

   
     *   Many of BioTime's  experimental products and technologies have not been
         applied in human medicine and have only been used in laboratory studies
         on animals,  and there can be no  assurance  that those  products  will
         prove to be useful in  human medicine.
    

     *   The  experimentation  we  are  doing  is  costly,  time  consuming  and
         uncertain as to its results.

   
     *   If we  are  successful  in  developing  a new  technology  or  product,
         refinement  of the new  technology  or product  and  definition  of the
         practical applications and limitations of the technology or product may
         take years and require the expenditure of large sums of money.

We Might Not Be Able To Raise  Additional  Capital  Needed To Pay Our  Operating
Expenses

     We may need to raise additional  capital after the rights offer.  There can
be no  assurance  that we will be able to raise  additional  funds on  favorable
terms or at all, or that any funds raised will be sufficient  to permit  BioTime
to  develop  and  market  its  products.  Unless  BioTime  is able  to  generate
sufficient  revenue or raise additional funds when needed,  it is likely that it
will be unable to continue its planned activities, even if it is making progress
with its research  and  development  projects.  We believe that our cash on hand
before the rights  offer will be  sufficient  to permit  BioTime to  continue in
operation  for at least 12 months.  We expect to continue  to incur  substantial
research, product development, and regulatory expenses.

If  We  Are  Unable  To  Enter  Into  Additional   Licensing  Or   Manufacturing
Arrangements, We May Have To Incur Significant Expenses To Acquire Manufacturing
Facilities And A Marketing Organization

     BioTime  presently  does not  have  adequate  facilities  or  resources  to
manufacture its products or the hydroxyethyl  starches used in its products.  We
have granted Abbott an exclusive  license to  manufacture  and market Hextend in
the  United  States and  Canada,  and we plan to enter  into  arrangements  with
pharmaceutical companies for the production and marketing of BioTime products in
other  countries.  Although  a number  of other  pharmaceutical  companies  have
expressed their interest in obtaining licenses to manufacture and market BioTime
products  in  other  countries,  there  can be no  assurance  that  we  will  be
successful  making other  licensing  arrangements.  If  additional  licensing or
manufacturing  arrangements  cannot be made on acceptable  terms, we may have to
construct or acquire our own  manufacturing  facilities and to establish our own
marketing organization,  which would entail significant expenditures of time and
money.

Our Patents May Not Protect Our Products From Competition

     BioTime has patents in the United States, Israel, and South Africa, and has
filed patent  applications  in other foreign  countries,  for certain  products,
including Hextend,  HetaCool, and PentaLyte.  No assurance can be given that any
additional patents will be issued to us, or that, if issued,  those patents will
provide  BioTime  with  meaningful  patent  protection,  or that others will not
successfully  challenge the validity or  enforceability  of any patent issued to
BioTime.  The costs required to uphold the validity and prevent  infringement of
any patent  issued to BioTime  could be  substantial,  and we might not have the
resources available to defend our patent rights.

The Price And Sales Of Our Products May Be Limited By Health Insurance  Coverage
And Government Regulation
    

     Success in selling  BioTime's  products may depend in part on the extent to
which health insurance  companies,  HMOs, and government  health  administration
authorities  such as Medicare and Medicaid will pay for the cost of the products
and related treatment. There can be no assurance that adequate health insurance,
HMO, and government coverage will be available to permit our products to be sold
at prices high enough for us to generate a profit.  In some  foreign  countries,
pricing or profitability of

                                        8

<PAGE>


health care products is subject to  government  control.  In the United  States,
there have been a number of federal and state  proposals  to  implement  similar
government controls, and new proposals are likely to be made in the future.

   
Our  Business  Could Be  Adversely  Affected If We Lose The  Services Of The Key
Personnel Upon Whom We Depend
    

     BioTime depends to a considerable  degree on the continued  services of its
executive  officers.  Although  BioTime  maintains key man life insurance in the
amount of $1,000,000 on the life of Dr. Paul Segall, the loss of the services of
any of the executive  officers could have a material  adverse effect on BioTime.
In addition,  our success  will depend,  among other  factors,  upon  successful
recruitment   and  retention  of  additional   highly  skilled  and  experienced
management and technical personnel.

   
Sales Of Our  Products  Could Be  Impaired  If Year  2000  Problems  Impede  Our
Manufacturers And Suppliers
    

     Because we do not have our own  pharmaceutical  production  facilities,  we
will rely upon Abbott and others to manufacture and distribute our products. Our
future sales could be adversely  affected if year 2000  problems  were to impede
the ability of those  companies to manufacture and distribute our products or to
provide raw materials used in the manufacture of our products.  We do not have a
contingency plan to address those problems if they were to arise, and we may not
be able to  replace  Abbott or any other  company  that may  obtain a license to
manufacture and distribute our products. Abbott has announced the implementation
of a program to assess and  remedy  any year 2000  problems  that may affect its
operations,  and has asked its key  suppliers to certify that their  systems are
year  2000  compliant.   The  results  of  the  year  2000  compliance  programs
implemented by Abbott and its suppliers are not presently known.

   
Because We Do Not Pay Dividends,  Our Stock May Not Be A Suitable Investment For
Anyone Who Needs To Earn Dividend Income
    

     BioTime  does  not  pay  cash  dividends  on its  common  shares.  For  the
foreseeable  future we  anticipate  that any earnings  generated in our business
will be used to  finance  the  growth  of  BioTime  and  will not be paid out as
dividends to our  shareholders.  This means that our stock may not be a suitable
investment for anyone who needs to earn income from their investments.

   
Because We Are A Drug Development  Company,  The Price Of Our Stock May Rise And
Fall Rapidly
    

     The common  shares are  traded on  Nasdaq.  The market  price of the common
shares, like that of the common stock of many biotechnology  companies, has been
highly  volatile.  The price of BioTime  shares may rise  rapidly in response to
certain events,  such as the  commencement of clinical trials of an experimental
new drug, even though the outcome of those trials and the likelihood of ultimate
FDA approval  remains  uncertain.  Similarly,  prices of BioTime shares may fall
rapidly in response to certain  events such as  unfavorable  results of clinical
trials or a delay or failure to obtain FDA  approval.  In the event that BioTime
achieves  earnings  from the sale of  products,  securities  analysts  may begin
predicting  quarterly  earnings.  The  failure  of  BioTime's  earnings  to meet
analysts' expectations could result in a significant rapid decline in the market
price of BioTime's common shares. In addition,  the stock market has experienced
and continues to experience  extreme  price and volume  fluctuations  which have
affected  the  market  price  of the  equity  securities  of many  biotechnology
companies and which have often been  unrelated to the operating  performance  of
these  companies.  Broad market  fluctuations,  as well as general  economic and
political  conditions,  may  adversely  affect  the  market  price of the common
shares.

   
The  Market  Price Of Our  Common  Shares  Could  Decline  If We Do Not Meet The
Requirements For Continued Listing On Nasdaq

     BioTime's common shares are traded on the Nasdaq National Market, which has
adopted  rules that  establish  criteria  for initial and  continued  listing of
securities. Under the rules for continued

                                        9

<PAGE>


listing  on the  Nasdaq  National  Market,  a  company  must  maintain  at least
$4,000,000  of net  tangible  assets,  or a  market  capitalization  of at least
$50,000,000,  or total assets and total revenue of at least  $50,000,000 for the
most recently  completed fiscal year or two of the three most recently completed
fiscal  years.  Although  BioTime  had a  market  capitalization  in  excess  of
$50,000,000 on the date of this prospectus, and will have net tangible assets in
excess of  $4,000,000  if a sufficient  number of common  shares are sold in the
Rights offer,  future losses from operations  could cause BioTime's net tangible
assets or market  capitalization to decline below the Nasdaq listing criteria in
the future.  If the common shares are delisted from the Nasdaq National  Market,
trading in the common shares could be conducted on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market or
on an electronic  bulletin board established for securities that do not meet the
Nasdaq listing requirements.  If the common shares were delisted from the Nasdaq
National Market and were not listed on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, they would be
subject to the  so-called  penny  stock  rules  that  impose  restrictive  sales
practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell those securities. Consequently,
delisting,  if it  occurred,  could affect the ability of  shareholders  to sell
their common shares in the secondary market.


                                   THE COMPANY

     BioTime is developing  synthetic solutions that can be used as blood plasma
volume  expanders,  blood  replacement  solutions  during  "hypothermic"  or low
temperature surgery, and organ preservation  solutions.  Plasma volume expanders
are used to treat decreased  blood volume  resulting from blood loss in surgical
or  trauma  patients.  We are  developing  products  that  may be used in  large
volumes, even when blood loss becomes so severe that a transfusion of packed red
blood  cells or other blood  products  is  required.  We are also  developing  a
specially  formulated  hypothermic blood replacement solution that would be used
for the  replacement  of a patient's  circulating  blood volume  during  cardiac
surgery,  neurosurgery  and other surgeries that involve  lowering the patient's
body temperature.

     Our first three blood volume replacement  products are Hextend,  PentaLyte,
and  HetaCool.   Hextend  and  PentaLyte   are  our   proprietary   hydroxyethyl
starch-based  synthetic blood plasma volume expanders  designed to treat loss of
blood volume in surgery and trauma care  patients.  Hextend and PentaLyte may be
used in similar surgical and trauma care procedures, but Hextend is designed for
use when for  medical reasons  a  physician  determines  to use a plasma  volume
expander  that  remains in the  patient's  blood  stream  longer.  HetaCool is a
modified  formulation  of Hextend and is  specifically  designed  for use at low
temperatures.

     Hextend,  PentaLyte  and  HetaCool  have been  formulated  to maintain  the
patient's tissue and organ function by sustaining the patient's fluid volume and
physiological  balance.  Other  products,   known  as  colloid  and  crystalloid
solutions,  are being marketed by other companies for use in maintaining patient
fluid  volume in surgery and trauma  care,  but the use of those  solutions  can
contribute  to patient  morbidity,  including  conditions  such as  hypovolemia,
edema,  impaired blood clotting,  acidosis,  and other  biochemical  imbalances.
Hextend,  PentaLyte, and HetaCool contain ingredients that may prevent or reduce
the physiological  imbalances that can cause those problems. Our products do not
contain albumin.  Albumin produced from human plasma is expensive and subject to
supply  shortages,  and a recent FDA warning has cautioned  physicians about the
risk of administering albumin to seriously ill patients.

     We have submitted a new drug  application to the FDA,  seeking  approval to
market  Hextend in the United  States.  The FDA has  completed its review of our
application,  and during  November  1998 we received an action  letter from them
requesting several clarifications. We have responded to the FDA's request and we
are presently awaiting their approval.
    

     The new drug application  includes data from our Phase III clinical trials,
in which the primary  endpoints were successfully met when Hextend was used as a
plasma volume expander in surgery.  An important goal of the Hextend development
program  was to  produce a product  that can be used in  multi-liter  volumes to
treat  patients who have lost a large volume of blood.  An average of 1.6 liters
of Hextend was used in the clinical trials, and volumes ranging from two to five
liters  were used in some

                                       10

<PAGE>


of the higher blood loss cases. The safety related secondary  endpoints targeted
in the study  included  those  involving  coagulation.  We believe  that the low
incidence of adverse events  related to blood  clotting in the Hextend  patients
demonstrates that Hextend may be safely used in large amounts.  However, the FDA
will  make  its own  evaluation  of the  clinical  trial  data  and  there is no
assurance that the FDA will approve BioTime's new drug application.

   
     On April 23, 1997, BioTime and Abbott  Laboratories  entered into a license
agreement  under which we granted to Abbott an exclusive  license to manufacture
and sell Hextend in the United States and Canada for all therapeutic  uses other
than those involving hypothermic surgery or the replacement of substantially all
of a  patient's  circulating  blood  volume.  We  still  retain  all  rights  to
manufacture, sell or license Hextend and other products in all other countries.

     Under the license agreement, Abbott agreed to pay BioTime up to $40,000,000
in  license  fees  based  upon  product  sales and the  achievement  of  certain
milestones.  So far,  we have  received  $1,650,000  of  license  fee  milestone
payments.  In  addition  to the  license  fees,  Abbott will pay us a royalty on
annual net sales of Hextend. The royalty rate will be 5% plus an additional .22%
for each  $1,000,000 of total annual net sales,  up to a maximum  annual royalty
rate of 36%. The royalty rate for each year will be applied on a total net sales
basis so that once the highest royalty rate for a year is determined,  that rate
will be paid with respect to all sales for that year. Abbott's obligation to pay
royalties  on sales of Hextend  will expire in the United  States or Canada when
all patents  protecting  Hextend in the applicable  country expire and any third
party  obtains  certain  regulatory  approvals  to market a  generic  equivalent
product in that country.  Abbott also agreed to manufacture  Hextend for sale by
BioTime in the event that  Abbott's  exclusive  license is  terminated  prior to
expiration.

     In order to  preserve  its  rights  to  obtain  an  exclusive  license  for
PentaLyte  under the  license  agreement,  Abbott  notified  us that Abbott will
supply  BioTime  with  batches  of  PentaLyte,  characterization  and  stability
studies,   and  other   regulatory   support  needed  for  BioTime  to  file  an
investigational new drug application and to conduct clinical studies.
    

     We plan to enter global markets through licensing agreements with over-seas
pharmaceutical  companies.  We are in various stages of  negotiations to license
our products to pharmaceutical  companies in countries outside the United States
and Canada.  By licensing our products  abroad,  we will avoid the capital costs
and  delays  inherent  in  acquiring  or  establishing  our  own  pharmaceutical
manufacturing   facilities   and   establishing   an   international   marketing
organization.

     A number of  pharmaceutical  companies  in Europe,  Asia and other  markets
around  the world  have  expressed  their  interest  in  obtaining  licenses  to
manufacture and market BioTime products.  We met with  representatives  of Nihon
Pharmaceutical  Company,  Ltd.  in Japan to discuss the  development  of BioTime
products  for the  Japanese  market,  and the  development  of a clinical  trial
program to obtain Japanese regulatory approval. Nihon previously signed a letter
of intent to  negotiate  a licensing  agreement  to  manufacture  and market our
products in Japan. Nihon is a subsidiary of Takeda Chemical Industries,  Japan's
largest pharmaceutical manufacturer.

     We are also pursuing a global clinical trial strategy, the goal of which is
to permit BioTime to obtain regulatory  approval for its products as quickly and
economically as practicable.  For example,  the United States Phase III clinical
trials of Hextend  involved  120  patients  and were  completed  in less than 12
months. Although regulatory requirements vary from country to country, we may be
able to file applications for foreign regulatory  approval of our products based
upon the results of the United States clinical  trials.  Based upon  discussions
with the  Canadian  Bureau  of  Pharmaceutical  Assessment,  we plan to file for
Canadian  market  approval based upon the results of our United States  clinical
trials.  Regulatory  approvals  for  countries  that are members of the European
Union  may be  obtained  through  a  mutual  recognition  procedure.  We plan to
determine  whether one or more member nations will accept an  application  based
upon the United States clinical trials. If approvals based upon those trials can
be  obtained  in the  requisite  number  of  member  nations,  then we  would be
permitted to market Hextend in all 16 member nations.

     We are conducting a pilot study of the use of Hextend to treat  hypovolemia
in geriatric  patients  undergoing  high blood loss  surgery.  This new clinical
trial is a double blind study designed to compare

                                       11

<PAGE>


Hextend  with a  hetastarch  in saline  solution  and is intended to confirm and
expand upon the results of the United States Phase III trials.  This pilot study
may be used  to  design  larger  scale  trials  that  may be  needed  to  obtain
regulatory approval in Western Europe. Approximately 62 patients 65 years of age
or older will be studied.  The  geriatric  population  generally  experiences  a
higher degree of inter-operative and post-operative mortality and morbidity than
younger patients  undergoing  similar major surgery.  We believe that in a study
involving  geriatric  patients the  advantages  of Hextend will most clearly and
consistently  be seen.  The trial is being  conducted at the Middlesex and Royal
Free Hospitals of the University College London Hospitals in London, England.

                                       12

<PAGE>


                                THE RIGHTS OFFER

   
Issuance of Rights

     BioTime is issuing "Rights" to subscribe for common shares. The Rights will
be issued to  shareholders  who owned BioTime shares as of the close of business
on January 5, 1999, which has been set as the record date.  Beneficial owners of
shares  held in the  name of Cede & Co.  as  nominee  for The  Depository  Trust
Company,  or in the name of any other depository or nominee,  on the record date
will also receive  Rights.  Each  shareholder  will be issued one Right for each
common share owned on the record date. No fractional Rights will be issued.  The
Rights  entitle the holders to acquire one common  share for each 20 Rights held
by paying the  subscription  price.  Any shareholder who is issued fewer than 20
Rights may subscribe for one full common share at the  subscription  price.  The
Rights will be evidenced by  subscription  certificates  (see  Appendix A) which
will be mailed to  shareholders  other than  foreign  shareholders  whose record
addresses are outside the United  States.  The United States  includes the fifty
states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and possessions.

     The Rights issued to foreign  shareholders will be held by the subscription
agent for their accounts until  instructions are received to exercise,  sell, or
transfer those Rights. Foreign shareholders may exercise their Rights only if it
is  permissible  to  do so  under  applicable  foreign  securities  laws.  If no
instructions  have  been  received  by 12:00  noon,  New York City  time,  three
business days prior to the expiration date, the subscription  agent will use its
best efforts to sell the Rights of those foreign shareholders on Nasdaq. The net
proceeds from the sale of those Rights will be paid to the foreign shareholders.
See "Sale of Rights".
    

     Officers,  directors, and certain financial consultants of BioTime who own,
in the  aggregate,  2,341,989  common  shares,  have informed  BioTime that they
intend to  purchase up to 117,099  common  shares  through  the  exercise of the
Rights distributed to them, provided that suitable financial arrangements can be
made,  but they are not legally  bound to do so. Any common  shares  acquired by
officers,  directors and other persons who are "affiliates" of BioTime,  as that
term is defined under the Securities Act of 1933, may only be sold in accordance
with Rule 144 under the Securities Act or pursuant to an effective  registration
statement under the Securities Act. In general,  under Rule 144, as currently in
effect,  an "affiliate" of BioTime is entitled to sell,  within any  three-month
period,  a number  of shares  that  does not  exceed  the  greater  of 1% of the
then-outstanding  common shares or the average weekly reported trading volume of
the common shares during the four calendar weeks preceding the sale. Sales under
Rule 144 are also  subject to  certain  restrictions  on the manner of sale,  to
notice  requirements and to the availability of current public information about
BioTime.

   
Purpose of the Rights Offer

     The Board of Directors of BioTime has  determined  that it is necessary for
BioTime to raise  additional  capital at this time to  finance  its  operations,
including:
    

       * Costs of conducting additional clinical trials of BioTime products;

       * Costs of seeking foreign regulatory approval of Hextend;

       * Continued research and product development; and

   
       * General and administrative expenses.
    

     BioTime is waiting for FDA approval to market Hextend in the United States.
Abbott  Laboratories  has the  exclusive  right to market  Hextend in the United
States  following  FDA  approval,  but several  months  will elapse  between the
commencement of marketing and the payment of royalties and licensing fees on the
sale of  Hextend.  Until  BioTime  begins to receive  sufficient  revenues  from
product sales and licensing fees from Abbott or other  companies that may obtain
a license to sell BioTime products,  it will have to finance its operations with
its cash on hand,  the funds  received  from  shareholders  who  exercise  their
Rights,  and any  additional  capital  raised  through  other  sales  of  equity
securities.

                                       13

<PAGE>


   
     The Rights offer  provides an opportunity  for BioTime to raise  additional
capital without  diluting the ownership  interests of existing  shareholders who
exercise their Rights, and without paying underwriting commissions and expenses.
Shareholders  who exercise their Rights will be able to purchase  BioTime shares
at a price below market,  without  incurring  broker's  commissions.  Generally,
shareholders  who exercise  their Rights in full will be able to maintain  their
prorata share of BioTime's  outstanding  common shares.  However,  if the Rights
offer is  over-subscribed  and BioTime issues  additional  common shares to fill
over-subscriptions,  shareholders  who do not purchase their prorata  portion of
those additional shares through the over-subscription privilege would experience
a reduction in their percentage  interests in BioTime's  outstanding shares. The
distribution of the Rights to shareholders  will also afford those  shareholders
who choose not to  exercise  their  Rights the  potential  of  receiving  a cash
payment  upon the sale of their  Rights.  Therefore,  the  receipt  of Rights by
shareholders  who  choose  not  to  exercise  their  Rights  may  be  viewed  as
compensation for the possible dilution of their interest in BioTime.
    

     We considered other financing  alternatives,  including a private placement
or underwritten public offering of newly issued shares. Those alternatives would
have entailed the payment of commissions and fees to  broker-dealers,  and would
also have been  dilutive to BioTime  shareholders  because the shares would have
been sold to new investors.  In the case of a private placement,  the sale would
probably have been made at a discount to market. In contrast, the sale of shares
through the Rights offer will permit BioTime to incur lower  transaction fees in
raising  capital and will permit the  shareholders  who exercise their Rights to
enjoy the  price  discount  that  might  otherwise  have  been  realized  by new
investors.  During  January  and  February  1997,  BioTime  conducted  a similar
subscription rights offer that was over-subscribed,  leading BioTime to conclude
that the Rights  offer  might be a better  alternative  to the other  sources of
financing.

   
The Subscription Price

     The  subscription  price for the common shares to be issued pursuant to the
Rights offer is $________________. We announced the Rights offer on December 18,
1998.  The last  reported  sale price of the common shares on Nasdaq on December
18, 1998 and February __, 1999,  was  $________________  and  $________________,
respectively.

Expiration of the Rights Offer

     The Rights offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March __,
1999, the expiration date. Rights will expire on the expiration date and may not
be exercised after that date.

Exercise of Rights

     In order to exercise your Rights you must do all of the following:
    

     *   Fill in and sign the reverse side of the subscription certificate which
         accompanies this prospectus;

     *   Deliver  the  completed  and  signed  subscription  certificate  to the
         subscription  agent with your payment in full for the common shares you
         wish  to  purchase.  You  may use the  enclosed  envelope  to mail  the
         subscription  certificate and payment to the subscription  agent or you
         may arrange for one of the  alternative  methods of delivery  described
         below.

     *   The method of making  payment for your shares is described  below under
         "Payment for Shares."

     *   Properly  completed  and  executed  subscription  certificates  must be
         received by the  subscription  agent at the offices of the subscription
         agent at the address set forth below prior to 5:00 p.m.,  New York City
         time, on the expiration date,  unless payment is effected by means of a
         notice of  guaranteed  delivery as described  below under  "Payment for
         Shares."

   
     *   Rights  may also be  exercised  through a broker,  who may charge you a
         servicing fee.

                                      14

<PAGE>


     You should  send your  signed  subscription  certificates,  accompanied  by
payment of the  subscription  price, to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
the subscription agent, by one of the methods described below:

(1) By mail or by hand:

     American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
     40 Wall Street, 46th Floor
     New York, New York 10005

(2) By express mail or overnight courier:

     American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
     Exchanges and Tenders
     40 Wall Street, 46th Floor
     New York, New York 10005

(3) By facsimile (telecopier):

     (718) 236-4588 or (718) 234-5001
    

     You should  confirm that your facsimile has been received by contacting the
subscription  agent  by  telephone  at  (718)  921-8200.  If  you  deliver  your
subscription certificate by telecopier,  you must send the original subscription
certificate to the subscription agent by mail or hand delivery.


   
                Do not send subscription certificates to BioTime.

     A  subscription  will be deemed  accepted  by the  subscription  agent when
payment,   together  with  a  properly   completed  and  executed   subscription
certificate,  is received by the subscription agent at its Exchanges and Tenders
Department.
    

     If you are  issued  fewer than 20 Rights,  you may  subscribe  for one full
common share. Fractional shares will not be issued, and if after exercising your
Rights you are left with fewer than 20 Rights,  you will not be able to exercise
your remaining Rights.

     If you do not indicate the number of Rights you are  exercising,  or if you
do not deliver full payment of the  subscription  price for the number of shares
that you  indicate  you are  subscribing  for,  then you will be  deemed to have
exercised  Rights to purchase the maximum number of common shares  determined by
dividing the total  subscription  price you paid by the  subscription  price per
share.

     If you submit  payment for more shares  than may be  purchased  through the
regular  exercise of your  Rights,  your excess  payment  will be deemed to be a
subscription  payment  for  additional  shares  through  the   over-subscription
privilege.  The  number  of  additional  shares  that you will be deemed to have
subscribed for in the over-subscription privilege will be determined by dividing
the amount of the excess payment by the subscription price per share.

     All questions concerning the timeliness,  validity, form and eligibility of
any  exercise  of  Rights or  subscriptions  pursuant  to the  over-subscription
privilege will be determined by BioTime.  BioTime's  determination will be final
and  binding.   BioTime  in  its  sole   discretion  may  waive  any  defect  or
irregularity,  or may permit any defect or irregularity to be corrected,  within
such time as BioTime may determine. BioTime may reject, in whole or in part, the
purported   exercise  of  any  Right  or  any   subscription   pursuant  to  the
over-subscription  privilege. Neither BioTime nor the subscription agent will be
under any duty or obligation to give any  notification  or to permit the cure of
any defect or irregularity in connection with the submission of any subscription
certificate,   the   exercise   or  attempt  to   exercise   any  Right  or  the
over-subscription   privilege,   or  the  payment  of  the  subscription  price.
Subscriptions through the exercise of Rights or the over-subscription  privilege
will not be  deemed to have been  received  or  accepted  by  BioTime  until all
irregularities  or  defects  have  been  waived  by  BioTime  or  cured  to  the
satisfaction  of,  and  within  the  time  allotted  by,  BioTime  in  its  sole
discretion.

                                       15

<PAGE>


   
Over-Subscription Privilege
    
     The over-subscription privilege may allow you to acquire more common shares
than the number  issuable  upon the exercise of the Rights  initially  issued to
you. By exercising the over-subscription  privilege, you may purchase any shares
that are left over by shareholders who fail to exercise their Rights.

     The over-subscription privilege may only be exercised by Rights holders who
were  shareholders  on the record date and who  exercise  all of the Rights they
received  from  BioTime.  Any  person  who  purchases  Rights  and who was not a
shareholder on the record date may not exercise the over-subscription privilege.
Shareholders   such   as   broker-dealers,   banks,   and   other   professional
intermediaries  who hold shares on behalf of  clients,  may  participate  in the
over-subscription  privilege  for the client if the client fully  exercises  all
Rights attributable to him.

     If you are eligible to exercise  the  over-subscription  privilege  and you
wish to do so, you should  indicate on your  subscription  certificate  how many
common  shares  you  are  willing  to  acquire  through  the   over-subscription
privilege.  If sufficient  common shares remain unsold,  all  over-subscriptions
will be honored in full.

     If you were a  shareholder  on the record date and you wish to exercise the
over-subscription  privilege through The Depository Trust Corporation,  you must
properly  execute  and  deliver  to the  subscription  agent  a DTC  Participant
Over-Subscription  Form, together with payment of the subscription price for the
number of common shares that you wish to purchase through the  over-subscription
privilege. Copies of the DTC Participant  Over-Subscription Form may be obtained
from  the   subscription   agent.   Your  properly   executed  DTC   Participant
Over-Subscription Form and payment must be received by the subscription agent at
or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the expiration date.

     If you are eligible to exercise the over-subscription  privilege but you do
not deliver full payment of the subscription price for the number of shares that
you indicate you are  subscribing for through the  over-subscription  privilege,
then you will be deemed to have  exercised  the  over-subscription  privilege to
purchase the maximum  number of common  shares  determined by dividing the total
subscription  price paid (in excess of the subscription  price for the number of
common  shares you  purchased  through the full  exercise of your Rights) by the
subscription price per share.

     If subscriptions for common shares through the over-subscription  privilege
exceed the initial  501,654  common shares being offered by BioTime  through the
exercise of the Rights, BioTime may issue up to 250,000 additional common shares
to fill all or a portion of the  over-subscriptions.  The issuance of additional
common shares to fill  over-subscriptions  may dilute the  percentage  ownership
interests of other shareholders.

     BioTime  will  not  be  obligated  to  issue  any  common  shares  to  fill
over-subscriptions,  but  it  may do so in its  sole  and  absolute  discretion.
BioTime  reserves the right to limit the number of common  shares issued to fill
an  over-subscription  from any single shareholder or from shareholders that are
known or believed by BioTime to be under common control or acting as a group for
the purpose of acquiring common shares.

     Subject  to the  right of  BioTime  to limit the  number  of common  shares
issuable to any  shareholder,  if the Rights  offer is  over-subscribed  so that
over-subscriptions cannot be filled in full, the available common shares will be
allocated  among  those  who  over-subscribe  based  on  the  number  of  Rights
originally  issued  to them,  so that the  number  of  common  shares  issued to
shareholders  who subscribe  pursuant to the  over-subscription  privilege  will
generally be in  proportion  to the number of common shares owned by them on the
record date.  The  percentage of available  common shares each  over-subscribing
shareholder may acquire may be rounded up or down to result in delivery of whole
shares.  The allocation  process may involve a series of allocations in order to
assure  that the total  number of shares  available  for  over-subscriptions  is
distributed  on a prorata  basis.  If you are not  allocated  the full amount of
shares that you subscribe for pursuant to the over-subscription  privilege,  you
will receive a refund of the subscription price you paid for shares that are not
allocated to and  purchased by you. The refund will be made by a check mailed by
the subscription agent.

                                       16

<PAGE>


   
Payment for Shares
    

     If you wish to exercise your Rights or to acquire common shares pursuant to
the over-subscription privilege, you may choose between the following methods of
payment:

   
         1. You may send to the  subscription  agent full payment for all of the
     common shares you wish to acquire.  Include full payment for any additional
     common  shares  that you desire to acquire  through  the  over-subscription
     privilege, if you are entitled to exercise the over-subscription privilege.
     Make sure that your payment is  accompanied  by your  completed  and signed
     subscription  certificate.  The payment and properly completed and executed
     subscription  certificate  must be  received by the  subscription  agent no
     later  than 5:00 p.m.,  New York City time,  on the  expiration  date.  The
     subscription  agent will deposit all checks received by it for the purchase
     of common  shares  into a  segregated  interest-bearing  account of BioTime
     pending proration and distribution of common shares. The interest earned on
     the account will belong to BioTime.

         To be accepted, a payment pursuant to this method must be made
                            in the following manner:
    

     *   The payment must be in U.S. dollars;

     *   The payment  must be by money order or check drawn on a bank located in
         the United States;

     *   The payment must be payable to BioTime, Inc.; and

     *   The  payment  must   accompany  a  properly   completed   and  executed
         subscription certificate.

   
         2.  Alternatively,  a subscription will be accepted by the subscription
     agent  if the  subscription  agent  has  received  a notice  of  guaranteed
     delivery by facsimile  telecopy or otherwise  from a bank, a trust company,
     or a New York Stock Exchange member guaranteeing delivery of (1) payment of
     the full subscription price for the common shares subscribed for, including
     any   additional   common   shares   subscribed   for   pursuant   to   the
     over-subscription  privilege,  and (2) a properly  completed  and  executed
     subscription  certificate.  The  notice  of  guaranteed  delivery  must  be
     received by the subscription agent before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
     the  expiration  date.  The  subscription  agent will not honor a notice of
     guaranteed  delivery unless a properly completed and executed  subscription
     certificate  and full  payment  for the common  shares is  received  by the
     subscription agent by the close of business on the third business day after
     the expiration date.
    

     You will not be allowed to rescind  your  purchase  after the  subscription
agent has received payment either by means of a notice of guaranteed delivery or
a check or money order.

     Nominees who hold common shares for the account of others, such as brokers,
trustees or depositories for securities, should notify the respective beneficial
owners of the common  shares as soon as possible  to  ascertain  the  beneficial
owners' intentions and to obtain instructions with respect to the Rights. If the
beneficial  owner so instructs,  the nominee  should  complete the  subscription
certificate and submit it to the subscription agent with the proper payment.  In
addition,  beneficial  owners of common  shares or Rights held through a nominee
should  contact the nominee  and request the nominee to effect  transactions  in
accordance with the beneficial owner's instructions.

   
Sale of Rights

     The  Rights  are  transferable  until  the last  business  day prior to the
expiration  date and will be listed for trading on the Nasdaq  SmallCap  Market.
Assuming a market for the Rights develops,  the Rights may be purchased and sold
through  usual  brokerage  channels.  Although no assurance  can be given that a
market for the Rights will develop, trading in the Rights may be conducted until
and  including  the  close of  trading  on the last  business  day  prior to the
expiration date.
    

     You may  transfer  some or all the Rights  evidenced  by your  subscription
certificate by following these  instructions and the instructions on the back of
your subscription  certificate.  If you wish to transfer all of your Rights, you
need only sign your subscription  certificate and deliver it to the subscription
agent.  If you wish to transfer  some but not all of your Rights,  you must also
deliver to

                                       17

<PAGE>


the subscription agent a subscription certificate properly endorsed for transfer
with  instructions  to  register  the  portion  of the Rights  evidenced  by the
subscription  certificate  in the  name  of the  transferee  and to  issue a new
subscription  certificate  to the  transferee  evidencing  the  number of Rights
transferred.  In that  event,  a new  subscription  certificate  evidencing  the
balance  of the  Rights  will be  issued to you or,  if you so  instruct,  to an
additional transferee.

   
     If you wish to transfer all or a portion of your  Rights,  you should allow
sufficient time prior to the expiration  date for (1) the transfer  instructions
to be received and processed by the  subscription  agent; (2) a new subscription
certificate to be issued and  transmitted to the transferee or transferees  with
respect to transferred  Rights,  and to you with respect to retained Rights,  if
any; and (3) the Rights  evidenced  by the new  subscription  certificate  to be
exercised or sold by the recipients.  BioTime and the  subscription  agent shall
have no  liability  to a  transferee  or  transferor  of Rights if  subscription
certificates  are not  received  in time  for  exercise  or  sale  prior  to the
expiration date.
    

     BioTime  anticipates  that the Rights will be eligible for transfer through
the facilities of The Depository Trust Company.

     Except for the fees charged by the  subscription  agent (which will be paid
by BioTime),  all  commissions,  fees and other  expenses,  including  brokerage
commissions and transfer taxes,  incurred in connection with the purchase,  sale
or exercise of Rights will be for the account of the  transferor  of the Rights,
and none of those  commissions,  fees or expenses will be paid by BioTime or the
subscription agent.

   
Amendment, Extension or Termination of the Rights Offer
    

     BioTime reserves the right, in its sole  discretion,  to: (a) terminate the
Rights  offer prior to delivery of the common  shares for which  Rights  holders
have subscribed;  (b) extend the expiration date to a later date; (c) change the
record date prior to distribution of the Rights to shareholders; or (d) amend or
modify the terms of the Rights offer.  If BioTime amends the terms of the Rights
offer,  an amended  prospectus will be distributed to you if you are a holder of
record of Rights  or if you  previously  exercised  any of your  Rights.  If you
exercised  your Rights prior to the amendment or within four business days after
the  mailing of the amended  prospectus,  you will be given the  opportunity  to
confirm the exercise of your Rights by executing and  delivering a consent form.

     If you  exercise  Rights  before or within  four days  after  mailing of an
amended prospectus  relating to an amendment of the Rights offer and you fail to
deliver,  in a proper and timely manner,  a properly  executed consent form, you
will be deemed to have  rejected  the amended  terms of the Rights offer and you
will be deemed to have elected to revoke in full the exercise of your Rights and
the over-subscription  privilege.  If your exercise of Rights is so revoked, the
full amount of the subscription price you paid will be returned to you.

     If your executed  subscription  certificate is received by the subscription
agent more than four days after the mailing of an amended  prospectus,  you will
be deemed to have  accepted the amended  terms of the Rights offer in connection
with the exercise of your Rights and the over-subscription privilege.

     If BioTime  elects to  terminate  the Rights offer  before  delivering  the
common shares for which you subscribed,  the subscription price you paid will be
returned to you by mail.  Except for the  obligation to return the  subscription
price you paid when you attempted to exercise your Rights,  neither  BioTime nor
the subscription agent will have any obligation or liability to you in the event
of an amendment or termination of the Rights offer.

   
Delivery of Share Certificates
    

     Certificates  representing  the common  shares you  purchased by exercising
your Rights will be  delivered to you as soon as  practicable  after your Rights
have been  validly  exercised  and full  payment for the common  shares has been
received  and  cleared.  Certificates  representing  common  shares you purchase
pursuant to the over-subscription  privilege will be delivered to you as soon as
practicable  after  the  expiration  date and after  all  allocations  have been
effected.  It is expected that the  certificates  will be available for delivery
three business days following the expiration date.

                                       18

<PAGE>


   
Subscription Agent

     The  subscription  agent is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company,  which
will receive for its administrative, processing, invoicing and other services as
subscription  agent, a fee estimated to be $25,000,  and  reimbursement  for all
out-of-pocket  expenses related to the Rights offer.  The subscription  agent is
also  BioTime's   transfer  agent  and   registrar.   Questions   regarding  the
subscription  certificates should be directed to American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company,  40 Wall Street,  New York, New York, 10005;  telephone (718) 921-8200.
Shareholders may also consult their brokers or nominees.

Federal Income Tax Consequences
    

     The U.S.  Federal income tax  consequences to holders of common shares with
respect to the Rights offer will be as follows:

         1. The  distribution  of Rights  will not result in taxable  income nor
     will the  holder  realize  taxable  income as a result of the  exercise  of
     Rights.

   
         2. The basis of a Right  will be:  (a) to a holder of common  shares to
     whom it is issued,  and who  exercises or sells the Right (1) zero,  if the
     market value of the Right  immediately  after  issuance is less than 15% of
     the  market  value of the common  share with  regard to which it is issued,
     unless the  holder  elects,  by filing a  statement  with his timely  filed
     federal income tax return for the year in which the Rights are received, to
     allocate  the basis of the common  share  between  the Right and the common
     share based on their respective  market values  immediately after the Right
     is issued,  and (2) a portion of the basis in the common  share  based upon
     the respective  values of the common share and the Right  immediately after
     the Right is issued,  if the market  value of the Right  immediately  after
     issuance  is 15% or more of the  market  value  of the  common  share  with
     respect to which it is issued;  (b) zero,  to a holder of common  shares to
     whom it is issued and who  allows the Right to expire;  and (c) the cost to
     acquire the Right, to anyone who purchases a Right in the market.
    

         3. The holding period of a Right received by a holder of a common share
     includes the holding period of the common share.

         4. Any gain or loss on the sale of a Right will be treated as a capital
     gain or loss if the Right is a capital asset in the hands of the seller.  A
     capital gain or loss will be long-term or short-term, depending on how long
     the Right has been held,  in  accordance  with  paragraph 3 above.  A Right
     issued with regard to a common  share will be a capital  asset in the hands
     of the person to whom it is issued if the common share was a capital  asset
     in the hands of that person. If a Right is allowed to expire, there will be
     no loss realized  unless the Right had been acquired by purchase,  in which
     case there will be a loss equal to the basis of the Right.

         5. If a Right is exercised by the holder of common shares, the basis of
     the common share received will include the basis allocated to the Right and
     the amount paid upon exercise of the Right.

         6. If a Right is  exercised,  the  holding  period of the common  share
     acquired begins on the date the Right is exercised.

   
         7. Gain  recognized  by a non-U.S.  shareholder  on the sale of a Right
     will be taxed in the same manner as gain  recognized  on the sale of common
     shares.

     Proceeds  from the sale of a Right may be  subject to  withholding  of U.S.
taxes  at  the  rate  of  31%  unless  the  seller's   certified  U.S.  taxpayer
identification  number or certificate  regarding  foreign status is on file with
the  subscription  agent and the seller is not otherwise  subject to U.S. backup
withholding.  The 31%  withholding  tax is not an  additional  tax.  Any  amount
withheld may be credited against the seller's U.S. federal income tax liability.
    

     The foregoing is only a summary of the  applicable  federal  income tax law
and does not include any state or local tax  consequences  of this  transaction.
Shareholders  and  other  Rights  holders  should  consult  their  tax  advisers
concerning the tax consequences of the Rights offer.

                                       19

<PAGE>


   
Special Considerations

     As a result of the terms of the Rights offer, shareholders who do not fully
exercise  their Rights should  expect that they will,  at the  completion of the
Rights  offer,  own a  smaller  proportional  interest  in  BioTime  than  would
otherwise be the case.


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS
    

     The net proceeds  received by BioTime  from the sale of the 501,654  common
shares in the Rights offer are estimated to be $ , after  deducting the expenses
of the Rights offer of approximately  $115,000,  but without taking into account
any common  shares that may be sold to fill excess  over-subscriptions.  BioTime
intends to use the net proceeds of the Rights offer as follows:


   
           Application                Estimated Amount     Percent of Total
           -----------                ----------------     ----------------
         Research and Development     $                            50%
         Working Capital                                           50
                                      ----------------            ---
         Total                        $                           100%
                                      ================            ===
    

     Research and  Development.  Proceeds  allocated to research and development
will be used to finance  clinical testing of Hextend,  HetaCool,  and PentaLyte,
and  laboratory  testing of other  products  being  developed  by BioTime.  When
laboratory  testing of a product has been  completed,  a portion of the proceeds
allocated  to research  and  development  may also be used to commence  clinical
trials of that product.

     Working  Capital.  BioTime  intends to apply the balance of the proceeds of
the Rights offer to working capital and general  corporate  purposes.  BioTime's
management  will have  broad  discretion  with  respect  to the use of  proceeds
retained  as  working  capital.  The  proceeds  may be used to  defray  overhead
expenses and for future  opportunities and contingencies that may arise. BioTime
expects  that its  general  and  administrative  expenses  will  increase  as it
achieves  progress in  developing  products  and  bringing  them to market.  For
example,  a portion of the proceeds  allocated to working capital may be used to
pay the salaries,  benefits and fees to employees and  consultants who assist in
the preparation of applications to the FDA and foreign  regulatory  agencies and
patent  applications,  and to expand  BioTime's  research  facilities.  Proceeds
allocated to working capital also may be reallocated to research and development
and may be used to pay the  costs  of  clinical  trials  of  Hextend  and  other
products.

   
     We recently  entered into an  extension of the lease of our present  office
and research  facility that  includes some  additional  space for  expansion.  A
portion of the proceeds may be used to pay rent and to construct improvements to
the expansion space.
    

     The foregoing  table  represents  only an estimate of the allocation of the
net  proceeds  of the Rights  offer based upon the  current  state of  BioTime's
product  development  program.  The  development  of new  medical  products  and
technologies  often  involves  complications,  delays and costs  that  cannot be
predicted,  and may cause BioTime to make a  reallocation  of proceeds among the
categories  shown above or to other uses.  BioTime may need to raise  additional
capital after the Rights offer to pay operating  expenses  until such time as it
is able to generate  sufficient  revenues  from product  sales,  royalties,  and
license fees.

     Although BioTime is not presently a party to any agreement,  arrangement or
plan to acquire  any assets or  technology  from a third  party,  BioTime  might
determine that it is necessary or advantageous  to make such an acquisition,  or
BioTime  might  determine  to  concentrate  its  efforts  and  resources  on the
development and marketing of one or more specific products.

     Until  used,  the net  proceeds  of the Rights  offer will be  invested  in
certificates  of deposit,  United  States  government  securities  or other high
quality, short-term interest-bearing investments.

                                       20

<PAGE>


                            DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

   
Common Shares
    

     BioTime's Articles of Incorporation  currently authorize the issuance of up
to 40,000,000  common  shares,  no par value,  of which  10,033,079  shares were
outstanding  at January 5, 1999 and held by 6,918  persons  based upon the share
position  listings for the common  shares.  Each holder of record is entitled to
one vote for each outstanding common share owned by him on every matter properly
submitted to the shareholders for their vote.

     Subject to the dividend  rights of holders of any of the  preferred  shares
that may be issued from time to time,  holders of common  shares are entitled to
any dividend  declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally  available
for that purpose.  BioTime has not paid any cash dividends on its common shares,
and it is  unlikely  that any cash  dividends  will be  declared  or paid on any
common shares in the foreseeable  future.  Instead,  BioTime plans to retain its
cash for use in financing its future operations and growth.

     Subject to the prior  payment of the  liquidation  preference to holders of
any preferred  shares that may be issued,  holders of common shares are entitled
to receive on a prorata  basis all  remaining  assets of BioTime  available  for
distribution  to the holders of common  shares in the event of the  liquidation,
dissolution,  or winding up of BioTime. Holders of common shares do not have any
preemptive  rights to become  subscribers or purchasers of additional  shares of
any class of BioTime's capital stock.

   
Preferred Shares
    

     BioTime's Articles of Incorporation  currently authorize the issuance of up
to 1,000,000  preferred shares, no par value.  Preferred shares may be issued by
BioTime  in one or more  series,  at any time,  with such  rights,  preferences,
privileges and restrictions as the Board of Directors may determine, all without
further action of the  shareholders of BioTime.  Any series of preferred  shares
which may be authorized by the Board of Directors in the future may be senior to
and have greater rights and  preferences  than the common  shares.  There are no
preferred  shares  presently  outstanding  and  BioTime  has  no  present  plan,
arrangement or commitment to issue any preferred shares.

   
Transfer Agent and Registrar
    

     The transfer  agent and registrar  for the common shares is American  Stock
Transfer and Trust Company, 40 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005.


   
                                  LEGAL MATTERS
    

     The  validity  of the  Rights  and common  shares  will be passed  upon for
BioTime by Lippenberger,  Thompson,  Welch, Soroko & Gilbert LLP, San Francisco,
California. A member of Lippenberger, Thompson, Welch, Soroko & Gilbert LLP owns
options to purchase 30,000 common shares.


   
                                     EXPERTS
    

     The financial statements of BioTime,  Inc. as of June 30, 1997 and 1998 and
for  each  of the  three  fiscal  years  in  the  period  ended  June  30,  1998
incorporated  by reference in this  prospectus  from BioTime's  Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year  ended  June 30,  1998 have been  audited  by  Deloitte &
Touche LLP, independent  auditors, as stated in their report (which expresses an
unqualified  opinion  and  includes  an  explanatory  paragraph  related  to the
development stage of BioTime's operations) incorporated herein by reference, and
have been so  incorporated  in reliance  upon the report of such firm given upon
their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                       21

<PAGE>


   
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
    

     BioTime's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998,  Form 10-Q for
the three  months  ended  September  30, 1998,  and all other  reports  filed by
BioTime  pursuant to Section  13(a) or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, since the end of the fiscal year covered by such Form 10-K are
incorporated  into this prospectus by reference.  BioTime has announced a change
of its fiscal  year end from June 30 to  December  31. The change took effect on
December 31, 1998. BioTime will provide without charge to each person, including
any beneficial  owner,  to whom a prospectus is delivered,  upon written or oral
request,  a copy of any and all of the information that has been incorporated by
reference but not delivered with this prospectus. Such requests may be addressed
to the Secretary of BioTime at 935 Pardee Street,  Berkeley,  California  94710;
Telephone: (510) 845-9535.

     BioTime is  subject to the  informational  requirements  of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and in accordance  therewith files quarterly,
annual,  and current reports and proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission.  The public may read and copy any materials
BioTime files with Securities and Exchange Commission at the Commission's Public
Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may
obtain  information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the
Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330.

     The Commission maintains an Internet site that contains reports,  proxy and
information  statements,  and  other  information  regarding  issuers  that file
electronically   with   the   Commission.   The   address   of   such   site  is
http://www.sec.gov.


   
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
    

     BioTime has filed with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission,  450 Fifth
Street, N.W.,  Washington,  D.C. a registration  statement on Form S-3 under the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended,  for the  registration  of the  securities
offered by this prospectus.  This prospectus,  which is part of the registration
statement, does not contain all of the information contained in the registration
statement.  For further  information  with respect to BioTime and the securities
offered by this  prospectus,  reference is made to the  registration  statement,
including the exhibits, which may be inspected, without charge, at the Office of
the Securities and Exchange Commission,  or copies of which may be obtained from
the  Commission  in  Washington,  D.C.  upon  payment  of  the  requisite  fees.
Statements  contained  in this  prospectus  as to the content of any contract or
other  document  referred  to are not  necessarily  complete.  In each  instance
reference  is made to the copy of the  contract  or other  document  filed as an
exhibit to the registration  statement,  and each such statement is qualified in
all respects by reference to the exhibit.

                                       22

<PAGE>


CONTROL NUMBER                   BIOTIME, INC.      SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATE FOR


   
                   SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATE FOR COMMON SHARES
                  VOID IF NOT EXERCISED AT OR BEFORE 5:00 P.M.
            (NEW YORK TIME) ON MARCH ___, 1999, THE EXPIRATION DATE.      RIGHTS
                 THIS SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERRABLE
                         AND MAY BE COMBINED OR DIVIDED
Expiration Date            (BUT ONLY INTO SUBSCRIPTION        SUBSCRIPTION PRICE
March___, 1999  CERTIFICATES EVIDENCING A WHOLE NUMBER OF RIGHTS)    U.S. $_____
                    AT THE OFFICE OF THE SUBSCRIPTION AGENT            PER SHARE
    

                                                               CUSIP 09066L 12 1


THIS SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATE MAY BE USED TO SUBSCRIBE FOR
COMMON SHARES OR MAY BE ASSIGNED OR SOLD. FULL INSTRUCTIONS
APPEAR ON THE BACK OF THIS SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATE.


REGISTERED OWNER:




   
The registered owner of this Subscription Certificate, named above, or assignee,
is  entitled  to the number of Rights to  subscribe  for Common  Shares,  no par
value,  of BioTime,  Inc. shown above, in the ratio of one Common Share for each
20 Rights  held,  and upon the terms  and  conditions  and at the price for each
Common Share specified in the Prospectus dated February ___, 1999.


If you  exercise  fewer than all the  Rights  represented  by this  Subscription
Certificate,  the subscription  agent will issue a new Subscription  Certificate
representing  the  balance  of  the  unexercised   Rights,   provided  that  the
subscription   agent  has  received   your   properly   completed  and  executed
Subscription Certificate and payment prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on March
______, 1999. No new Subscription Certificate will be issued after that date.
    


IMPORTANT: Complete appropriate form on reverse

   
DATE: February ___, 1999
    


                                  BIOTIME, INC.

________________________________________________________________________________
                                    SECRETARY


________________________________________________________________________________
                            CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER



Countersigned: American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
         (New York, N.Y.) Subscription Agent

         By: ___________________________________________
             Authorized Signature


                                   APPENDIX A

                                      A-1

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   
                                                                                   Expiration Date: March ___, 1999
    


                                     PLEASE COMPLETE ALL APPLICABLE INFORMATION
<S>                                       <C>                                        <C>

     By Mail:                                 By Hand:                                   By Overnight Courier:
 To: America Stock                        To: America Stock                          To: American Stock
     Transfer & Trust Company                 Transfer & Trust Company                   Transfer & Trust Company
     40 Wall Street, 46th Floor               40 Wall Street, 46th Floor                 Exchanges and Tenders
     New York, New York 10005                 New York, New York 10005                   40 Wall Street, 46th Floor
                                                                                         New York, New York 10005


SECTION  1: TO SUBSCRIBE:  I hereby irrevocably  subscribe for the dollar amount
         of Common Shares indicated as the total of A and B below upon the terms
         and conditions  specified in the Prospectus related hereto,  receipt of
         which is acknowledged.


         TO SELL: If I have checked  either the box on line C or the box on line
         D, I authorize the sale of Rights by the  subscription  agent according
         to the  procedures  described  in the  Prospectus.  The  check  for the
         proceeds of sale will be mailed to the address of record.


Please check [X] below:

[ ] A. Subscription                    divided by 20 =              .000 x $                   = $
                    ------------------                 ------------------  --------------------  ----------------
                    (Rights Exercised)                 (Shares Requested)  (Subscription Price)  (Amount Required)

[ ] B. Over-Subscription Privilege                                  .000 x $                   = $              (*)
                                                       ------------------  --------------------  -------------------
                                                       (Shares Requested)  (Subscription Price)  (Amount Required)

       Amount of Check Enclosed or Amount in Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (total of A + B)    = $
                                                                                                --------------------

       Make check payable to the order of "BioTime, Inc."


       (*) The Over-Subscription Privilege can be exercised by certain shareholders only, as described in the
           Prospectus.


[ ] C. Sell any remaining unexercised Rights

[ ] D. Sell all of my Rights.

_______________________________________ Please provide your telephone number    Day (___)___________________________
Signature of Subscriber(s)/Seller(s)                                        Evening (___)___________________________

Social Security Number or Tax ID Number: _______________________________________________

SECTION II: TO TRANSFER RIGHTS: (except pursuant to C and D above)

For  value  received, __________________________ of the Rights represented by this Subscription Certificate are assigned to

- ----------------------------------------------------------       ----------------------------------------------------------
Social  Security  Number  or Tax ID Number of Assignee           (Print Full Name of Assignee

- ----------------------------------------------------------       ----------------------------------------------------------
Signature(s)  of Assignor(s)                                     (Print Full Address including postal Zip Code)

The  signature(s)  must  correspond  with the name(s) as written upon the face of this  Subscription  Certificate,  in every
particular, without alteration.


IMPORTANT:  For transfer, a signature guarantee must be provided by an eligible financial institution which is a participant
in a recognized signature guarantee program.


SIGNATURE GUARANTEED BY:

- ------------------------------------

PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF RIGHTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO  WITHHOLDING OF U.S.  TAXES UNLESS THE SELLER'S  CERTIFIED U.S.  TAXPAYER
IDENTIFICATION  NUMBER (OR CERTIFICATION  REGARDING FOREIGN STATUS) IS ON FILE WITH THE SUBSCRIPTION AGENT AND THE SELLER IS
NOT OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO U.S. BACKUP WITHHOLDING.


[ ]  CHECK HERE IF RIGHTS ARE BEING  EXERCISED  PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED  DELIVERY  DELIVERED TO THE  SUBSCRIPTION
     AGENT PRIOR TO THE DATE HEREOF AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

     NAME(S) OF REGISTERED OWNER(S):
     WINDOW TICKET NUMBER (IF ANY):
     DATE OF EXECUTION OF NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY:
     NAME OF INSTITUTION WHICH GUARANTEED DELIVERY:
</TABLE>

                                      A-2


<PAGE>

                                   APPENDIX B

                     [Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery]


            NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS AND
                   THE SUBSCRIPTION PRICE FOR COMMON SHARES OF
                BIOTIME, INC. SUBSCRIBED FOR IN THE RIGHTS OFFER

     As  set  forth  in  the  Prospectus  under  "The  Rights Offer--Payment for
Shares,"  this  form  or  one substantially equivalent may be used as a means of
effecting  subscription  and  payment  for  all  Common  Shares of BioTime, Inc.
subscribed  for  in the Rights offer. Such form may be delivered by hand or sent
by  facsimile transmission, overnight courier or mail to the Subscription Agent.



                          The Subscription Agent is:
                    American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

   
              By Mail:                                By Facsimile:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company              (718) 234-5001
      40 Wall Street, 46th Floor                   Confirm by Telephone
    New York, New York 10005                         (718) 234-2700


              By Hand:                            By Overnight Courier:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company  American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
         40 Wall Street, 46th Floor               Exchanges and Tenders
         New York, New York 10005              40 Wall Street, 46th Floor
                                                 New York, New York 10005
    


         DELIVERY OF THIS INSTRUMENT TO AN ADDRESS, OR TRANSMISSION OF
        INSTRUCTIONS VIA A TELECOPY OR FACSIMILE NUMBER, OTHER THAN AS
             SET FORTH ABOVE, DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY


   
     The New York Stock  Exchange  member  firm or bank or trust  company  which
completes  this form must  communicate  the  guarantee  and the number of shares
subscribed  for to the  Subscription  Agent  and must  deliver  this  Notice  of
Guaranteed  Delivery  guaranteeing  delivery  of (i)  payment  in  full  for all
subscribed   shares   (including   any  shares   subscribed   for   through  the
over-subscription   privilege)  and  (ii)  a  properly  completed  and  executed
Subscription  Certificate  (which  certificate  and full  payment  must  then be
delivered  by the  close  of  business  on the  third  business  day  after  the
expiration date, as defined in the Prospectus) to the  Subscription  Agent prior
to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the expiration  date (March ____ , 1999,  unless
extended). Failure to do so will result in a forfeiture of the Rights.
    

                                      B-1

<PAGE>


                                   GUARANTEE

   
     The undersigned,  a member firm of the New York Stock Exchange or a bank or
trust company,  guarantees  delivery to the  Subscription  Agent by the close of
business  (5:00  p.m.,  New York  time) on the  third  business  day  after  the
expiration  date  (March  ______  , 1999,  unless  extended)  of (A) a  properly
completed  and  executed  Subscription  Certificate  and (B) payment of the full
subscription  price of shares  subscribed for in the Rights offer (including the
over-subscription  privilege,  if  applicable) as  subscription  for such Common
Shares as indicated herein or in the Subscription Certificate.
    


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                             <C>

___________________________________________     _______________________________________________
Number of Common Shares subscribed for          Number of Common Shares subscribed for
(excluding the over-subscription privilege)     pursuant to the over-subscription privilege for
for which you are guaranteeing delivery         which you are guaranteeing delivery of
of Rights and payment                           Rights and payment


Number of Rights to be delivered:               _______________________________________________


Total subscription price payment
to be delivered:                                $ ______________________________________________

Method of delivery [circle one]                 A. Through DTC
                                                B. Direct to Corporation

     Please  note that if you are guaranteeing for over-subscription shares, and
are  a  DTC  participant,  you  must  also execute and forward to American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company a Nominee Holder Over-Subscription Exercise Form.


___________________________________________     _______________________________________________
Name of Firm                                    Authorized Signature

___________________________________________     _______________________________________________
Address                                         Title

___________________________________________     _______________________________________________
Zip Code                                        (Type or Print)

___________________________________________     _______________________________________________
Name of Registered Holder (If Applicable)

___________________________________________     _______________________________________________
Telephone Number                                Date
</TABLE>

* IF THE  RIGHTS  ARE TO BE  DELIVERED  THROUGH  DTC,  A  REPRESENTATIVE  OF THE
SUBSCRIPTION AGENT WILL PHONE YOU WITH A PROTECT  IDENTIFICATION  NUMBER,  WHICH
NEEDS TO BE COMMUNICATED BY YOU TO DTC.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE GUARANTEEING FOR OVER-SUBSCRIPTION  SHARES AND ARE A
DTC PARTICIPANT,  YOU MUST ALSO EXECUTE AND FORWARD TO THE SUBSCRIPTION  AGENT A
NOMINEE HOLDER OVER-SUBSCRIPTION EXERCISE FORM.

                                      B-2

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
                                                       APPENDIX C
                                [Form of Nominee Holder Over-Subscription Exercise Form]


                                                      BIOTIME, INC.
                                                      RIGHTS OFFER
                                     NOMINEE HOLDER OVER-SUBSCRIPTION EXERCISE FORM
                                       PLEASE COMPLETE ALL APPLICABLE INFORMATION
<CAPTION>
<S>                                      <C>                                        <C>
   
    By Mail:                                 By Hand:                                   By Overnight Courier:
To: American Stock                       To: American Stock                         To: American Stock
    Transfer & Trust Company                 Transfer & Trust Company                   Transfer & Trust Company
    40 Wall Street, 46th Floor               40 Wall Street, 46th Floor                 Exchanges and Tenders
    New York, New York 10005                 New York, New York 10005                   40 Wall Street, 46th Floor
                                                                                        New York, New York 10005

     THIS FORM IS TO BE USED ONLY BY NOMINEE  HOLDERS TO EXERCISE THE  OVER-SUBSCRIPTION  PRIVILEGE IN RESPECT OF RIGHTS
THAT  WERE  EXERCISED  AND  DELIVERED  THROUGH  THE  FACILITIES  OF  A  COMMON   DEPOSITORY.   ALL  OTHER  EXERCISES  OF
OVER-SUBSCRIPTION PRIVILEGES MUST BE EFFECTED BY THE DELIVERY OF THE SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATES.

                                                  --------------------

     THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE RIGHTS OFFER ARE SET FORTH IN BIOTIME'S  PROSPECTUS  DATED FEBRUARY  _______,  1999
(THE  "PROSPECTUS") AND ARE INCORPORATED  HEREIN BY REFERENCE.  COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM
BIOTIME.
    

                                                  --------------------

   
     VOID UNLESS RECEIVED BY THE SUBSCRIPTION AGENT WITH PAYMENT IN FULL BY 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK TIME, ON MARCH ________,
1999, UNLESS EXTENDED BY BIOTIME (THE "EXPIRATION DATE").


1.   The undersigned  hereby  certifies to the  Subscription  Agent that it is a participant in  _____________  [Name of
     Depository] (the  "Depository") and that it has either (i) exercised all of the Rights and delivered such exercised
     Rights to the Subscription Agent by means of transfer to the Depository Account of BioTime, Inc., or (ii) delivered
     to the Subscription Agent a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery in respect of the exercise of the Rights and will deliver
     the Rights called for in such Notice of Guaranteed  Delivery to the Subscription Agent by means of transfer to such
     Depository Account of BioTime, Inc.
    


2.   The undersigned  hereby exercises the  over-subscription  privilege to purchase,  to the extent  available,  Common
     Shares and certifies to the  Subscription  Agent that such  over-subscription  privilege is being exercised for the
     account  or  accounts  of  persons  (which may  include  the  undersigned)  on whose  behalf  all Rights  have been
     exercised.(*)


3.   The  undersigned  understands  that  payment of the  subscription  price of $______ per share for each Common Share
     subscribed for pursuant to the over-subscription  privilege must be received by the Subscription Agent at or before
     5:00 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration  Date, and  represents  that such payment,  in the aggregate  amount of
     $______ either (check appropriate box):


     [ ] has been or is being delivered to the Subscription Agent pursuant to the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery referred
         to above or;

     [ ] is being delivered to the Subscription Agent herewith or;

     [ ] has been delivered  separately to the Subscription Agent; and, in the case of funds not delivered pursuant to a
         Notice of Guaranteed  Delivery,  is or was delivered in the manner set forth below (check  appropriate  box and
         complete information relating thereto):

     [ ] uncertified check

     [ ] certified check

     [ ] bank draft

     [ ] money order

     ______________________________________________________           __________________________________________________
     Depository Subscription Confirmation Number                      Name of Nominee Holder


     ______________________________________________________           __________________________________________________
     Depository Participant Number                                    Address

                                                                      __________________________________________________
     Contact Name _________________________________________           City                State            Zip Code

                                                                      By: ______________________________________________
     Phone Number _________________________________________

                                                                      Name: ____________________________________________



     Dated: ______, 1999                                              Title: ___________________________________________


     *   PLEASE COMPLETE THE BENEFICIAL OWNER  CERTIFICATION  ON THE BACK HEREOF  CONTAINING THE RECORD DATE POSITION OF
         RIGHTS  OWNED,  THE  NUMBER  OF  SHARES  SUBSCRIBED  FOR  (OTHER  THAN  OVER-SUBSCRIPTIONS)  AND THE  NUMBER OF
         OVER-SUBSCRIPTION SHARES, IF APPLICABLE, REQUESTED BY EACH SUCH OWNER.
</TABLE>

                                                           C-1

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
                                                      BIOTIME, INC.
                                             BENEFICIAL OWNER CERTIFICATION


   
     The  undersigned,  a bank,  broker or other nominee holder of Rights  ("Rights") to purchase Common Shares,  no par
value  ("Common  Shares"),  of BioTime,  Inc.  ("BioTime")  pursuant to the Rights offer  described  and provided for in
BioTime's  Prospectus dated February _______,  1999 (the "Prospectus") hereby certifies to BioTime and to American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company,  as Subscription  Agent for such Rights offer, that for each numbered line filled in below the
undersigned  has exercised,  on behalf of the beneficial  owner thereof  (which may be the  undersigned),  the number of
Rights  specified on such line,  and such  beneficial  owner wishes to subscribe for the purchase of  additional  Common
Shares pursuant to the over-subscription  privilege (as defined in the Prospectus), in the amount set forth in the third
column of such line:
    


<CAPTION>

                                                                              Number of Shares Requested Pursuant to the
       Record Date Shares             Number of Rights Exercised                     Over-Subscription Privilege
       ------------------             --------------------------                     ---------------------------
<S>                         <C>                            <C>
1)   ______________________       __________________________________       _____________________________________________
2)   ______________________       __________________________________       _____________________________________________
3)   ______________________       __________________________________       _____________________________________________
4)   ______________________       __________________________________       _____________________________________________
5)   ______________________       __________________________________       _____________________________________________
6)   ______________________       __________________________________       _____________________________________________
7)   ______________________       __________________________________       _____________________________________________
8)   ______________________       __________________________________       _____________________________________________
9)   ______________________       __________________________________       _____________________________________________
10)  ______________________       __________________________________       _____________________________________________


___________________________________________________            _________________________________________________________
Name of Nominee Holder                                         Depository Participant Number


___________________________________________________            _________________________________________________________
Name:                                                          Depository Primary Subscription
Title:                                                         Confirmation Number(s)


Dated: ______, 1999
</TABLE>


                                      C-2


<PAGE>

================================================================================


No  dealer,  salesperson  or other person has been authorized in connection with
this  offering to give any information or to make any representations other than
those  contained  in  this  Prospectus.  This  Prospectus does not constitute an
offer  or  a  solicitation  in  any  jurisdiction  to  any  person to whom it is
unlawful  to  make  such  an offer or solicitation. Neither the delivery of this
Prospectus  nor  any  sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create
an  implication that there has been no change in the circumstances of BioTime or
the facts herein set forth since the date hereof.


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


   
Prospectus Summary .........................................................   3
Risk Factors ...............................................................   7
The Company ................................................................  10
The Rights Offer ...........................................................  13
Use of Proceeds ............................................................  20
Description of Securities ..................................................  21
Legal Matters ..............................................................  21
Experts ....................................................................  21
Incorporation of Certain Information by
   Reference ...............................................................  22
Additional Information .....................................................  22
Form of Subscription Certificate ...................................  Appendix A
Form of Notice of Guaranteed
   Delivery ........................................................  Appendix B
Form of Nominee Holder
   Over-Subscription Exercise
   Form ............................................................  Appendix C
    


================================================================================

================================================================================



                                 BIOTIME, INC.


                               [Graphic Omitted]



                             501,654 Common Shares
                         Issuable Upon the Exercise of
                              Subscription Rights




                               ----------------
                                  PROSPECTUS
                               ----------------






   
                                February __, 1999
    



================================================================================

<PAGE>


                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

     The estimated  expenses of the  Registrant in connection  with the issuance
and distribution of the securities being registered hereby are as follows:


       Registration Fee--Securities and Exchange Commission   ...... $  2,736.28
       NASDAQ Listing Fee .......................................... $ 25,032.58
       Printing and Engraving Expenses   ........................... $ 10,000.00
       Accounting Fees ............................................. $ 25,000.00
       Legal Fees   ................................................ $ 25,000.00
       Subscription Agent    ....................................... $ 25,000.00
       Miscellaneous Expenses   .................................... $  2,231.14
                                                                     -----------
          Total  ....................................................$115,000.00
                                                                     ===========


     ------------



Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     Section 317 of the California  Corporations Code permits indemnification of
directors,  officers,  employees and other agents of corporations  under certain
conditions and subject to certain limitations.  In addition,  Section 204(a)(10)
of the California  Corporations  Code permits a corporation  to provide,  in its
articles  of  incorporation,  that  directors  shall not have  liability  to the
corporation  or its  shareholders  for monetary  damages for breach of fiduciary
duty, subject to certain prescribed exceptions.  Article Four of the Articles of
Incorporation of the Registrant  contains  provisions for the indemnification of
directors, officers, employees and other agents within the limitations permitted
by Section 317 and for the  limitation  on the  personal  liability of directors
permitted by Section 204(b)(10), subject to the exceptions required thereby.


Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.



   
  Exhibit
  Numbers                     Description
  -------                     -----------
    4.1   Specimen of Common Share Certificate.+
    4.4   Form of Subscription Certificate.++
    5     Opinion of Counsel*
    23.1  Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.++
    23.2  Consent of Counsel (included in opinion of counsel filed as Exhibit 5)
    


 + Incorporated  by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-1, File Number
   33-44549  filed  with  the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 18,
   1991,  and  Amendment  No.  1  and  Amendment  No.  2  thereto filed with the
   Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on February 6, 1992 and March 7, 1992,
   respectively.

++ Filed herewith.

   
*  Previously filed.
    

                                      II-1

<PAGE>

Item 17. Undertakings.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers, and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
such  indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities  (other than payment by the Registrant of expenses  incurred or
paid by a  director,  officer or  controlling  person of the  Registrant  in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as  expressed  in the Act and will be governed by final  adjudication  of
such issue.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:


       (1)  To  file  during  any  period  in  which offers or sales are made, a
   post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

          (i)  To  include  any  prospectus  required by section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933;

          (ii)  To  reflect  in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
       the  effective  date  of  the  registration statement (or the most recent
       post-effective   amendment   thereof)   which,  individually  or  in  the
       aggregate  represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in
       the registration statement;

          (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan of
       distribution  not  previously  disclosed in the registration statement or
       any material change to such information in the registration statement.

       (2)  That  for  the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under  the
   Securities  Act  of 1933, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
   a  new  registration  statement  relating  to the securities offered therein,
   and  the  offering  of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
   initial bona fide offering thereof.

       (3)  To  remove  from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
   any   of   the  securities  being  registered  which  remain  unsold  at  the
   termination of the offering.

     The undersigned undertakes that:

       (1)  For  the  purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
   Act  of  1933,  the  information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as
   part   of  this  registration  statement  in  reliance  upon  Rule  430A  and
   contained  in  a  form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule
   424(b)(1)  or  (4)  or  497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be
   part  of  this  registration  statement  as  of  the  time  it  was  declared
   effective.

       (2)  For  the  purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
   Act of 1933, each post-effective   amendment   that   contains   a   form  of
   prospectus  shall  be  deemed  to be a new registration statement relating to
   the  securities  offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
   time shall be deemed to be the bona fide offering thereof.

                                      II-2

<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

   
     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized,  in the City of Berkeley,
State of California on February 11, 1999.
    



                                 BIOTIME, INC.




                                 By:      /s/ Paul Segall
                                   ------------------------------------
                                   Paul Segall, Chief Executive Officer



     Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
to  the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated:




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         Signature                             Title                           Date
         ---------                             -----                           ----
<S>                             <C>                                      <C>

   
         /s/ Paul Segall        Chief Executive Officer and Director     February 11, 1999
- ---------------------------     (Principal Executive Officer)
            PAUL SEGALL

      /s/ Ronald S. Barkin      President and Director                   February 11, 1999
- ---------------------------
        RONALD S. BARKIN

        /s/ Harold Waitz        Vice President and Director              February 11, 1999
- ---------------------------
           HAROLD WAITZ

        /s/ Hal Sternberg       Vice President and Director              February 11, 1999
- ---------------------------
          HAL STERNBERG

      /s/ Victoria Bellport     Chief Financial Officer and Director     February 11, 1999
- ---------------------------     (Principal Financial and Accounting
        VICTORIA BELLPORT       Officer)

        /s/ Judith Segall       Secretary and Director                   February 11, 1999
- ---------------------------
          JUDITH SEGALL

                                Director                                 February  , 1999
- ---------------------------
        JEFFREY B. NICKEL

                                Director                                 February  , 1999
- ---------------------------
        MILTON H. DRESNER
    

</TABLE>

                                           II-3


<PAGE>


                                EXHIBIT INDEX

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Numbers     Description
- ---------   ----------------------------------------
<S>       <C>
4.1       Specimen of Common Share Certificate.+
4.4       Form of Subscription Certificate.++
5         Opinion of Counsel.*
23.1      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.++
23.2      Consent of Counsel (included in opinion of counsel filed as Exhibit 5)
<FN>
- ------------
 + Incorporated  by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-1, File Number
   33-44549  filed  with  the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 18,
   1991,  and  Amendment  No.  1  and  Amendment  No.  2  thereto filed with the
   Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on February 6, 1992 and March 7, 1992,
   respectively.
++ Filed herewith.
*  Previously filed.

</FN>
</TABLE>
    




CONTROL NUMBER                   BIOTIME, INC.     SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATE FOR


   
                   SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATE FOR COMMON SHARES
                  VOID IF NOT EXERCISED AT OR BEFORE 5:00 P.M.
           (NEW YORK TIME) ON MARCH ___, 1999, THE EXPIRATION DATE.       RIGHTS
                 THIS SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERRABLE
                         AND MAY BE COMBINED OR DIVIDED
Expiration Date               (BUT ONLY INTO SUBSCRIPTION     SUBSCRIPTION PRICE
March __, 1999 CERTIFICATES EVIDENCING A WHOLE NUMBER OF RIGHTS)    U.S. $______
                    AT THE OFFICE OF THE SUBSCRIPTION AGENT            PER SHARE
    

                                                               CUSIP
                                                         09066L 12 1


THIS SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATE MAY BE USED TO SUBSCRIBE FOR
COMMON SHARES OR MAY BE ASSIGNED OR SOLD. FULL INSTRUCTIONS
APPEAR ON THE BACK OF THIS SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATE.

REGISTERED OWNER:


   
The registered owner of this Subscription Certificate, named above, or assignee,
is  entitled  to the number of Rights to  subscribe  for Common  Shares,  no par
value,  of BioTime,  Inc. shown above, in the ratio of one Common Share for each
20 Rights  held,  and upon the terms  and  conditions  and at the price for each
Common Share specified in the Prospectus dated February ___, 1999.


If you  exercise  fewer than all the  Rights  represented  by this  Subscription
Certificate,  the subscription  agent will issue a new Subscription  Certificate
representing  the  balance  of  the  unexercised   Rights,   provided  that  the
subscription   agent  has  received   your   properly   completed  and  executed
Subscription  Certificate  and  payment  prior to 5:00 p.m.,  New York time,  on
March __, 1999. No new Subscription Certificate will be issued after that date.
    


IMPORTANT: Complete appropriate form on reverse

   
DATE: February ___, 1999
                                  BIOTIME, INC.
    


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    SECRETARY




- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER



Countersigned: American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (New York, N.Y.)
                Subscription Agent

         By: ___________________________________________
             Authorized Signature


                                   EXHIBIT 4.4






<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   
                                                                                    Expiration Date: March __, 1999
    


                   PLEASE COMPLETE ALL APPLICABLE INFORMATION
<S>                                       <C>                                        <C>

   
    By Mail:                                 By Hand:                                   By Overnight Courier:
To: American Stock                       To: American Stock                         To: American Stock
    Transfer & Trust Company                 Transfer & Trust Company                   Transfer & Trust Company
    40 Wall Street, 46th Floor               40 Wall Street, 46th Floor                 Exchanges and Tenders
    New York, New York 10005                 New York, New York 10005                   40 Wall Street, 46th Floor
                                                                                        New York, New York 10005     
    

SECTION  1: TO SUBSCRIBE:  I hereby irrevocably  subscribe for the dollar amount
         of common shares indicated as the total of A and B below upon the terms
         and conditions  specified in the Prospectus related hereto,  receipt of
         which is acknowledged.


         TO SELL: If I have checked  either the box on line C or the box on line
         D, I authorize the sale of Rights by the  subscription  agent according
         to the  procedures  described  in the  Prospectus.  The  check  for the
         proceeds of sale will be mailed to the address of record.


Please check [X] below:

[ ] A. Subscription                    divided by 20 =              .000 x $                   = $
                    ------------------                 ------------------  --------------------  ----------------
                    (Rights Exercised)                 (Shares Requested)  (Subscription Price)  (Amount Required)

[ ] B. Over-Subscription Privilege                                  .000 x $                   = $              (*)
                                                       ------------------  --------------------  -------------------
                                                       (Shares Requested)  (Subscription Price)  (Amount Required)

       Amount of Check Enclosed or Amount in Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (total of A + B)    = $
                                                                                                --------------------

       Make check payable to the order of "BioTime, Inc."


       (*) The over-subscription privilege can be exercised by certain shareholders only, as described in the
           Prospectus.


[ ] C. Sell any remaining unexercised Rights

[ ] D. Sell all of my Rights.

_______________________________________ Please provide your telephone number    Day (___)___________________________
Signature of Subscriber(s)/Seller(s)                                        Evening (___)___________________________

Social Security Number or Tax ID Number: _______________________________________________

SECTION II: TO TRANSFER RIGHTS: (except pursuant to C and D above)

For  value  received, __________________________ of the Rights represented by this Subscription Certificate are assigned to

- ----------------------------------------------------------       ----------------------------------------------------------
Social  Security  Number  or Tax ID Number of Assignee           (Print Full Name of Assignee

- ----------------------------------------------------------       ----------------------------------------------------------
Signature(s)  of Assignor(s)                                     (Print Full Address including postal Zip Code)

The  signature(s)  must  correspond  with the name(s) as written upon the face of this  Subscription  Certificate,  in every
particular, without alteration.


IMPORTANT:  For transfer, a signature guarantee must be provided by an eligible financial institution which is a participant
in a recognized signature guarantee program.


SIGNATURE GUARANTEED BY:

- ------------------------------------

PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF RIGHTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO  WITHHOLDING OF U.S.  TAXES UNLESS THE SELLER'S  CERTIFIED U.S.  TAXPAYER
IDENTIFICATION  NUMBER (OR CERTIFICATION  REGARDING FOREIGN STATUS) IS ON FILE WITH THE SUBSCRIPTION AGENT AND THE SELLER IS
NOT OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO U.S. BACKUP WITHHOLDING.


[ ]  CHECK HERE IF RIGHTS ARE BEING  EXERCISED  PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED  DELIVERY  DELIVERED TO THE  SUBSCRIPTION
     AGENT PRIOR TO THE DATE HEREOF AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

     NAME(S) OF REGISTERED OWNER(S):
     WINDOW TICKET NUMBER (IF ANY):
     DATE OF EXECUTION OF NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY:
     NAME OF INSTITUTION WHICH GUARANTEED DELIVERY:
</TABLE>


                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S CONSENT


     We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this  amendment  No. 2 to
Registration  Statement No. 333-69179 of BioTime, Inc. on From S-3 of our report
dated August 18, 1998 (which  expresses an  unqualified  opinion and includes an
explanatory  paragraph  related  to  the  development  stage  of  the  Company's
operations),  appearing in Annual  Report on Form 10-K of BioTime,  Inc. for the
year ended June 30, 1998 and to the reference to us under the heading  "Experts"
in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.


DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP


San Francisco, California
February 11, 1999




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