BIOWHITTAKER INC
10-K, 1997-01-27
IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    Form 10-K
(Mark One)
|X|  Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
     Act of 1934.
     (Fee Required)
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996
|_|  Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)of the Securities Exchange
     Act of 1934.
     (No Fee Required)
For the transition period from                   to
Commission file number      1-10870
                           --------

                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.
                              ------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                                           95-3917176
           --------                                           ----------
(State or other Jurisdiction of                            (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)                            Identification No.)

8830 Biggs Ford Road, Walkersville, Maryland                  21793-0127
- --------------------------------------------                  ----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                      (zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (301) 898-7025
                                                   --------------

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                              Name of Each Exchange
       Title of Each Class                           on Which Registered
       -------------------                           -------------------
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share            New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights                   New York Stock Exchange

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                                      None
    Indicate by check whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. |X| Yes |_| No
    Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive proxy or information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. |_|
    The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
Registrant at December 31, 1996 was $63,629,672.  The aggregate market value was
computed by reference  to the closing  price as of that date.  (For  purposes of
calculating this amount only, all directors, executive officers and greater than
10% shareholders of the Registrant are treated as affiliates.)
    The number of shares  outstanding of the  Registrant's  only class of common
stock as of December 31, 1996 was 10,759,199.

                       Documents Incorporated by Reference
    Portions  of the  Registrant's  definitive  Proxy  Statement  for its annual
meeting to be held on March 14, 1997 are incorporated by reference in Part III.
================================================================================


<PAGE>

                                     PART I

Item 1.     BUSINESS.

The Registrant

       BioWhittaker,  Inc.  (the  "Company"  or the  "Registrant"  herein)  is a
successor to a Florida  corporation founded in 1947. The Company was acquired by
Whittaker  Corporation  ("Whittaker") in 1969 and was reincorporated in Delaware
in 1991. Also in 1991, Whittaker distributed all of its interest in the Company,
which  then  represented  80.1%  of the  Common  Stock of the  Company,  to it's
stockholders (the "Distribution"). The Company's principal executive offices are
located at 8830 Biggs Ford Road, Walkersville,  Maryland 21793 and its telephone
number is (301) 898-7025.

       The Company is primarily  engaged in the  development,  manufacture,  and
marketing of cell culture and  endotoxin  detection  products.  The Company also
manufactures and sells a proprietary line of products used to diagnose allergies
and certain other clinical diagnostic testing products.

       In October 1991, the Company sold, and Anasco GmbH ("Anasco")  purchased,
for $23,000,000,  19.9% of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock.
Anasco is a subsidiary of Boehringer  Ingelheim  International  GmbH, which is a
member of the Boehringer Ingelheim Group of companies (the "Boehringer Ingelheim
Group").

       In October  1991,  the Company and a member of the  Boehringer  Ingelheim
Group formed a joint venture (the "BI Joint Venture  Affiliate")  to manufacture
cell  culture  products in a facility  which was  constructed  in Belgium and to
distribute those products  throughout Europe, the former Soviet Union, and parts
of North Africa and the Middle East (the "Joint  Venture  Territory").  On April
30, 1995,  the Company sold its interest in the joint venture to a member of the
Boehringer Ingelheim Group and 100% of its stock in BioWhittaker France S.A.R.L.
to the BI Joint Venture Affiliate, subject to a right to reacquire such interest
under  certain  conditions,  and  agreed to enter  into a  revised  distribution
agreement so that the BI Joint Venture  Affiliate  would  continue to distribute
the Company's products in the Joint Venture Territory.

       The following  discussion  describes the Company's  various  products and
services.

CELL CULTURE PRODUCTS

       The Company supplies a complete line of cell culture products,  including
living cell  cultures,  cell culture media and cell culture  media  supplements.
Cell  culture  products  accounted  for  approximately  58%,  42% and 40% of the
Company's sales for fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

Cell Cultures

       In the early 1950's, the Company became the first commercial  supplier of
cell cultures and continues to be the leading domestic commercial supplier. Cell
cultures  are living  cells grown in an  artificial  environment.  They are used
principally by commercial clinical  laboratories to identify and isolate viruses
and other disease agents and by university and government laboratories for viral
and other  types of medical  research.  Living  cell  cultures  are also sold to
various other markets,  including  pharmaceutical,  cosmetic,  and food additive
manufacturers for toxicity and mutagenicity testing, as well as other uses. Cell
cultures are used by adding patient sera or other  specimens to the  appropriate
type of cell  culture  and  observing  the cells over  several  days for certain
growth characteristics.

       Because  individual  cell  types are  susceptible  to  different  disease
agents,  the Company's product line includes a broad variety of cell types. Cell
cultures produced by the Company can be used to identify,  among others, viruses
associated  with the common cold,  respiratory  infections,  birth defects,  and
sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and herpes.

                                        1

<PAGE>




       In 1996,  the  Company  added to its line of cell  cultures  a  patented,
genetically  engineered  reporter  cell system known as the Enzyme  Linked Virus
Inducible  System  (ELVIS(TM))  for detection of the herpes simplex  virus.  The
Company  has an  exclusive  sublicense  to develop  with the  sublicensor  other
products  based on the ELVIS(TM)  technology,  which permits more rapid clinical
diagnosis  than is  available  through  existing  cell culture  techniques  (see
"Management's  Discussion  and Analysis of Results of  Operations  and Financial
Condition;   Results  of   Operations   --Significant   Fiscal   1996   Business
Transactions").

       Also in 1996, the Company  acquired the ability to produce certain normal
human cell systems for government,  industry and academic uses.  These cells are
unique in that they maintain characteristics of normal human cells often lost in
conventional culture methods. Normal human cells can be especially important for
research and to newly emerging biotechnology applications.

Cell Culture Media

       The Company  offers a variety of products  that are  necessary to sustain
cells grown in culture.  Such products,  known as cell culture  media,  simulate
under laboratory conditions (in vitro) the environment that surrounds such cells
naturally  (in  vivo) and  facilitates  their  growth.  These  products  include
nutrient media solutions,  powdered nutrient media,  antibiotics,  balanced salt
solutions, buffers, and stock reagent concentrates.  The market for cell culture
media is somewhat broader than the market for cell cultures,  because users that
grow their own cell  cultures  typically  still  require a commercial  source of
media and supplements.

Cell Culture Media Supplements

       The Company  supplies  animal and human sera which are used to supplement
nutrient media  formulations  for the growth of cell cultures.  These sera are a
source  of trace  elements,  proteins,  hormones,  and  other  factors  that are
required for cell growth and viability. The most widely used media supplement is
fetal bovine serum,  which accounts for approximately 90% of the Company's sales
of media  supplements.  The cost to the Company of raw fetal bovine serum, which
is used to produce the Company's  fetal bovine serum  products,  does not always
move in tandem  with the price for the  finished  product,  and is  affected  by
seasonal  variations and weather  conditions.  The cost and  availability of raw
fetal bovine serum can  fluctuate  significantly  over the course of a year with
subsequent material effects on Company profits and inventory.

ENDOTOXIN DETECTION PRODUCTS

       The Company is a leading supplier of products used by the  pharmaceutical
industry to test injectable  pharmaceuticals and by medical device manufacturers
to test implantable medical devices for contamination by endotoxin. Endotoxin is
a  fever-inducing  substance  of  bacterial  origin.  While  most  sterilization
procedures may destroy bacteria, they do not necessarily destroy the endotoxins.
Endotoxin  detection  products  accounted  for 27%, 24% and 24% of the Company's
sales for fiscal 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively.

       Patients  exposed  to  endotoxins  from  implanted   medical  devices  or
pharmaceutical  or diagnostic drugs or reagents may suffer from fever or illness
which could result in death.  Accordingly,  government  regulations  require all
such  devices,  drugs,  and  reagents to be tested for the presence of endotoxin
using a method approved by the FDA. The Company's  endotoxin  detection products
have been licensed by the FDA.

       Historically,   samples  of  injectable  pharmaceuticals  or  implantable
medical devices were tested by injecting a sample into a laboratory  animal. The
animal was then monitored for an increase in  temperature,  which would indicate
contamination by endotoxin.

       The Company's endotoxin detection products are based on Limulus Amebocyte
Lysate  ("LAL"),  a substance  derived  from the blood of  horseshoe  crabs that
reacts to the  presence  of  endotoxins.  Instead of  injecting a sample into an
animal, the sample is added to an LAL-based product,  which is then examined for
a reaction  indicating  the  presence of  endotoxins.  The  Company's  LAL-based
products are faster,  more  accurate,  and less  expensive  than the  historical
testing method.



                                        2

<PAGE>



       Within the last few years, the European and Japanese  Pharmacopoeias have
joined the U.S.  Pharmacopoeia in accepting  LAL-based tests as approved methods
for the detection of endotoxins.

       Horseshoe  crab blood is the source of LAL.  The  Company  has a licensed
bleeding facility in Chincoteague,  Virginia;  a local fisherman  collects crabs
under a long-term contract. After processing, the crabs are returned unharmed to
the ocean.  The Company  believes  that it has an adequate  supply of  horseshoe
crabs.

CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTING PRODUCTS

       The  Company's  clinical  diagnostic  testing  products  consist  of both
diagnostic test kits for allergens and viral reagents (i.e.,  substances  useful
in detecting or measuring the presence of viruses).  Clinical diagnostic testing
products accounted for approximately 15%, 34% and 36% of the Company's sales for
fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994,  respectively.  As discussed  below,  sales for this
product line are declining as a percentage of the Company's  total revenues as a
result of the sale of a large  part of this  product  line in  December  1995 to
Carter-Wallace, Inc.

Diagnostic Test Kits for Allergens

       The  Company  offers a line of  proprietary  diagnostic  test  kits  used
principally by commercial clinical laboratories,  hospitals, physicians' offices
and other  testing  laboratories  to test for more than 200  allergens  (such as
foods,  grasses,  weeds, trees, molds and venoms).  Each diagnostic kit contains
all of the reagents and other materials  necessary to allow a trained technician
to perform a test for a specific  allergen.  This patented  system was the first
fluorescence-based  allergy  testing  system  cleared  by the FDA  for in  vitro
diagnostic use and  represents a significant  improvement  over the  traditional
"skin test" and certain other serological methods.

Viral Reagents

       The Company  offers a variety of antigens  (i.e.,  substances  capable of
stimulating antibodies resulting in an immune response),  antisera (i.e., serum,
which is the liquid portion of blood remaining after the removal of blood cells,
that  contains  antibodies),  blood  products  and  other  reagents  for  use in
immunodiagnostic procedures and viral research. The market served by the Company
includes  serology and virology  departments  in  hospitals,  private  reference
laboratories,   government   health   department   laboratories   and   research
laboratories located in teaching hospitals and private institutions.

Diagnostic Test Kits for Detection of Infectious and Autoimmune Diseases

       In December 1995, the Company sold to Carter-Wallace,  Inc. all rights to
manufacture its line of products in the Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) and Flourescent
Immunoassay  (FIAX)  formats.  Under the  terms of its  agreement,  the  Company
manufactured the EIA products for  Carter-Wallace  through December 18, 1996 and
will continue to manufacture the FIAX products for up to five years. (see Note 6
to "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" and "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition; Results of Operations
- --Significant  Fiscal  1996  Business  Transactions").  Sales of these  products
accounted for  approximately  5%, 22% and 25%of the  Company's  sales for fiscal
1996, 1995 and 1994 respectively.

Sales and Marketing

       The  Company  markets  and  sells  its  products  in the  United  States,
principally through its own direct sales force, and internationally, principally
through an  extensive  network of  independent  distributors  and through the BI
Joint  Venture  Affiliate.  The  Company  directly  serves the British and Irish
markets through a wholly owned subsidiary,  BioWhittaker UK LTD, located outside
London.  Approximately  28% of the Company's sales are to customers  outside the
United States, principally in Europe.






                                        3

<PAGE>




Research and Development

       The  Company's   research  and   development   activities   are  directed
principally at  development  of new products for its existing  product lines and
the improvement of existing products.  The Company's  investment in research and
development was $6.6 million,  including $4.0 milion acquired in the purchase of
Clonetics  Corporation,  in fiscal  1996,  $2.8  million in fiscal 1995 and $2.5
million  in  fiscal  1994.  The  Company  conducts  most  of  its  research  and
development activities at its own facilities using its own personnel.

       The Company  supplements its internal  research and development  with the
purchase  or  license of  technology  from other  companies,  universities,  and
independent researchers.

Competition

       No  company  is known to  compete  with the  Company  in all of its major
product  groups,  but in each  group  competition  is  offered  by a  number  of
companies, including, in some cases, firms substantially larger and with greater
financial resources than the Company.

       The markets in which the Company competes are generally  concentrated and
are highly competitive,  with competition  centering on product  specifications,
quality,  depth of  product  line,  price,  technical  support,  timely  product
development and speed of delivery.

Suppliers

       The Company buys  materials for its products  from many  suppliers and is
generally not dependent on any one supplier or group of suppliers.  Nonetheless,
although  there is a  well-established  market for raw fetal bovine  serum,  its
price is  unstable  and its  supply,  at  times,  could  be  limited  since  the
availability  of this raw material  tends to be cyclical.  The normal human cell
products and certain other cell products depend on a somewhat sporadic supply of
human tissue.  The Company's supply of these raw materials is generally adequate
to meet current demand.

Backlog and Inventory

       The Company functions as an off-the-shelf supplier and therefore does not
normally  have a  material  backlog.  Because  of  the  importance  of  on-time,
on-demand delivery, the Company is required to maintain significant inventories.

Government Regulation

       Substantially  all of the  Company's  products are subject to  regulation
under the Federal Food,  Drug and Cosmetic Act with respect to testing,  safety,
efficacy,  marketing,  labeling,  and other matters. In addition,  the Company's
manufacturing  facilities are subject to periodic  inspections  primarily by the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as other federal agencies and various
state and local  authorities.  The Company  believes  that such  facilities  are
currently in  substantial  compliance  with the  requirements  of the FDA's Good
Manufacturing Practices and other federal regulations.

       In addition to the foregoing, the Company is subject to other federal and
state laws  applicable to its business,  including the  Occupational  Safety and
Health  Act,  the Clean Air Act,  the Clean  Water  Restoration  Act,  the Toxic
Substance  Control Act, and various  statutes and regulations  applicable to the
use  of  radioactive  materials.   The  Company  believes  it  is  currently  in
substantial compliance with such laws and regulations.

       Some of the Company's products cannot be commercially  distributed by the
Company,  other than for research  use,  without prior review and release by the
FDA.  Obtaining  FDA  release  to market a product  involves  a number of steps,
including  clinical  testing and the submission of a pre-market  notification to
the FDA for review. This review process can take several years, and there can be
no assurance that the FDA will ultimately grant a release to market a product.

                                        4

<PAGE>




Patents and Licenses

       The Company owns patents covering  certain of its products.  In addition,
the Company has been granted both exclusive and non-exclusive  licenses by third
parties that own patents  relating to certain of the Company's  other  products.
Patent and other  proprietary  rights are  material to the  Company's  endotoxin
detection  products,  allergy test kits and the ELVIS(TM) cell culture products.
Patents and other  proprietary  rights have not been  material to the  Company's
other cell culture products.

       The  Company's  most  significant  patent is a patent  registered  in the
United  States and most of Western  Europe  covering the  Company's  process for
manufacturing LAL, the principal  component of the Company's endotoxin detection
product line. The patent has a remaining life of approximately three years.

       The Company's most significant patents related to its clinical diagnostic
testing  products  are for  the  use of  enzyme  immunosorbent  assays,  using a
fluorescent  substrate,  for the detection of various  allergens.  These patents
have a remaining life of  approximately  10 years and are registered in a number
of countries around the world,  including the United States,  Canada,  Australia
and Japan.  In September  1996,  the Company  learned  that the Japanese  Patent
Office  upheld  the  Company's  Japanese  patent  for  detection  of  allergens,
dismissing   opposition  from  Pharmacia  AB.  The  Company  believes  that  the
diagnostic  allergy testing system  manufactured  and sold by Pharmacia in Japan
infringes the Company's patent and the Company intends to vigorously  defend its
rights in Japan.

       The Company believes that it protects its proprietary  information to the
fullest  extent  practicable;  however,  there can be no assurance  that (i) any
additional  patent  will be  issued  to the  Company  in any or all  appropriate
jurisdictions  or that the  Company  will be able to obtain  licenses to use all
required  technology  at a  commercially  reasonable  cost,  (ii)  litigation or
administrative  proceedings  will not be  commenced  seeking  to  challenge  the
Company's  patent  protection or that such  challenges  will not be  successful,
(iii)  processes or products of the Company do not or will not infringe upon the
patents of third parties or (iv) the scope of patents  issued to or owned by the
Company will  successfully  prevent  third parties from  developing  similar and
competitive products.

       The Company has also obtained rights to products or technologies  under a
number of license  agreements  with  universities  and others,  none of which it
believes is material to the Company's business as a whole.

Environmental Matters

        The Company does not anticipate that compliance with federal, state, and
local  environmental  protection  laws  presently in effect will have a material
adverse effect upon the Company or require significant capital expenditures.

Employees

       As of October 31, 1996, the Company had approximately 410 employees. None
of the Company's employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. The
Company believes that its relationship with its employees is good.

Item 2. PROPERTIES.

       The  Company's  principal  administrative,   sales,  manufacturing,   and
research  facility is located in  approximately  280,000 square feet of building
space located on a 116-acre site owned by the Company in Walkersville, Maryland.
The Company also leases a 4,000 square foot facility in  Chincoteague,  Virginia
for  bleeding   horseshoe  crabs,  under  a  lease  with  a  remaining  term  of
approximately  11  years  and an  11,000  square  foot  facility  in San  Diego,
California  for  sales  solicitation  and  warehousing,  under  a  lease  with a
remaining term of approximately 2 years. In addition,  through  BioWhittaker UK,
LTD, the Company  leases an 8,000  square foot  facility in  Wokingham,  England
under a lease with a remaining term of approximately 12 years.

                                        5

<PAGE>




       The Company  believes  that,  in  general,  its plant and  equipment  are
adequately  maintained,  in  good  operating  condition  and  adequate  for  the
Company's  present  needs.  The Company  regularly  upgrades and  modernizes its
facilities  and  equipment  and  expands its  facilities  as  necessary  to meet
customer requirements.

Item 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

       There are no material legal  proceedings  pending  against the Company or
its subsidiaries.

Item 4.   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

       The Company did not submit any matter to a vote of its  security  holders
during the fourth quarter of fiscal 1996.

Item 4A. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

       The  following  table sets forth the names,  ages,  and  positions of the
current executive officers of the Registrant as of January 31, 1997.

           Name                       Age         Positions

Noel L. Buterbaugh ..................  64  President and Chief Executive Officer

Thomas R. Winkler ...................  54  Executive  Vice  President  and Chief
                                           Operating Officer

Philip  L. Rohrer, Jr ...............  40  Vice  President and  Chief  Financial
                                           Officer

Leif E. Olsen .......................  47  Vice President,  Regulatory  Affairs

F.Dudley Staples, Jr ...............   49  General Counsel & Corporate Secretary



      Mr.  Buterbaugh,  who has been with the Company since 1952,  has served as
Chief  Executive  Officer since  September  1992 and as President of the Company
since 1979.  From October 1991 until  September 1992 he was the Chief  Operating
Officer of the Company.

      Mr.  Winkler  joined the Company in 1981 and served as Vice  President and
General Manager  responsible for cell culture and endotoxin  detection  products
prior to 1991  until his  appointment  as  Executive  Vice  President  and Chief
Operating Officer in September 1993.

      Mr. Rohrer, who joined the Company in 1978, has held a number of positions
with the Company including Chief Financial Officer from 1988 until December 1992
and from September 1993 to the present.  Mr. Rohrer was elected a Vice President
of the  Company in  September  1991.  He served as Vice  President  and  General
Manager responsible for clinical diagnostic testing products from September 1992
to September  1993 and also as Secretary of the Company from  September  1993 to
September 1995.

     Mr. Olsen,  who joined the Company in 1983,  has held a number of positions
with the  Company  including  Director  of  Regulatory  Affairs  from 1985 until
December 1994.  Mr. Olsen was elected Vice  President for Regulatory  Affairs in
January, 1995.

     Mr. Staples joined the Company as General  Counsel and Corporate  Secretary
in September 1995.  Prior to joining the Company and since 1985, Mr. Staples was
a partner in the Business Division of the law firm Venable,  Baetjer and Howard,
L.L.P., of Baltimore, Maryland.

     The term of office of each executive officer will expire at the next annual
meeting of the Board of Directors, which is scheduled to be held March 14, 1997.

                                       6
<PAGE>


                                     PART II

Item 5.   MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED SECURITY
          HOLDER MATTERS.

Common Stock Prices

       The  Company  Common  Stock  is  listed  on the New York  Stock  Exchange
("NYSE").  The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices on the
NYSE of the Common Stock for the two most recent fiscal years.





                                                         High            Low
                                                         ----            ---
    First fiscal quarter 1995 ...................        $71/4          $61/4
    Second fiscal quarter 1995 ..................         83/8           63/4
    Third fiscal quarter 1995 ...................         81/4              7
    Fourth fiscal quarter 1995 ..................         77/8           71/4

    First fiscal quarter 1996 ...................            8           61/2
    Second fiscal quarter 1996 ..................         83/4           73/8
    Third fiscal quarter 1996 ...................         87/8           71/2
    Fourth fiscal quarter 1996 ..................         81/4           61/4

Common Stockholders

      As of December  31, 1996 there were 6,773  holders of record of the Common
Stock.

Dividends

      Since the distribution in 1991, the Company has not paid a dividend on its
capital stock.

      No cash  dividends  are  expected  to be paid on the Common  Stock for the
foreseeable future.

The Stockholder Rights Plan

      The Company has a  Stockholder  Rights  Plan (the  "Plan").  Each share of
Company  Common  Stock is  accompanied  by one Right.  Each Right  entitles  the
registered  holder to  purchase  from the Company a unit  consisting  of one-one
hundredth of a share (a "Unit") of Series A Participating  Cumulative  Preferred
Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Series A Preferred Stock"),  at a purchase
price of $24.00 per Unit (the  "Purchase  Price"),  subject to  adjustment.  The
terms of the Rights are set forth in the Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement
between  the  Company  and  Bank  of  Boston,   as  Rights  Agent  (the  "Rights
Agreement").  The  summary  of the  terms of the  Rights  set  forth  herein  is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement. (See Exhibit 4.2
in the Exhibit Index to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.)

      Prior to the Rights Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined), the Rights
will not be exercisable and will be evidenced by the certificates for, and trade
with, the Company's  Common Stock.  As soon as practicable  after the earlier of
(i) the tenth day (or such later day as may be  designated  by a majority of the
Continuing  Directors  (as  hereinafter  defined))  after the date  (the  "Stock
Acquisition  Date") of the first public  announcement  that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired beneficial
ownership (as defined in the Rights  Agreement) of the Specified  Percentage (as
hereinafter  defined) or more of the outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock
and (ii) the tenth  business  day (or such later day as may be  designated  by a
majority of the Continuing  Directors)  after the date of the  commencement of a
tender or  exchange  offer by any person  (other  than the  Company,  any of its
subsidiaries,  or  any  employee  benefit  plan  of  the  Company  or any of its
subsidiaries) if, upon consummation thereof, such person would be the beneficial
owner of the Specified  Percentage or more of the outstanding  shares of Company
Common  Stock (the  earlier  of such  dates  being  referred  to as the  "Rights
Distribution Date"), the Company will issue separate certificates evidencing the


                                        7

<PAGE>



Rights and the Rights will begin to trade  separately  from the  Company  Common
Stock.  The Specified  Percentage  means 30%. The Rights will not be exercisable
until the Rights  Distribution  Date and will expire at the close of business on
January 30, 2002 (the "Rights Expiration Date"),  unless previously  redeemed or
exchanged by the Company as described below.

      If a person  becomes the beneficial  owner of the Specified  Percentage or
more of the outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock,  each holder of a Right
(other than Rights that are, or, under  certain  circumstances  specified in the
Rights Agreement were,  beneficially  owned by an Acquiring  Person,  which will
thereafter  be void) will  thereafter  have the right to receive  upon  exercise
thereof at the then current Purchase Price, Company Common Stock having a market
value equal to two times the  Purchase  Price.  At any time after any person has
become an Acquiring  Person (but before such person becomes the beneficial owner
of 50% or more of the outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock), the Board of
Directors of the Company may, at its option,  exchange all or part of the Rights
(other  than the  Rights  owned by an  Acquiring  Person)  for shares of Company
Common  Stock at an  exchange  ratio of one share of  Company  Common  Stock per
Right.

      If at any time  following  the Stock  Acquisition  Date (i) the Company is
acquired  in a merger or other  business  combination  transaction  in which the
Company  is not  the  surviving  corporation  or the  Company  Common  Stock  is
exchanged  for other  securities  or assets or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's
assets or earning power is sold, each holder of a Right will thereafter have the
right to receive,  upon  exercise  thereof at the then current  Purchase  Price,
common stock of the acquiring  company  having a market value equal to two times
the Purchase Price.

      The Rights  may, at the option of the Board of  Directors,  be redeemed in
whole,  but not in part,  at a price of $0.01 per Right at any time prior to the
earlier of the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or such later date as
a majority of the Continuing  Directors may designate) and the Rights Expiration
Date.  Under  certain  circumstances  set  forth in the  Rights  Agreement,  the
decision to redeem shall require the concurrence of a majority of the Continuing
Directors.  Immediately  upon the  requisite  action of the  Board of  Directors
ordering  exchange or redemption of the Rights,  the Rights will terminate,  and
thereafter  the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive shares of
Company Common Stock or the redemption price, as the case may be.

      "Continuing Director" means any member of the Board of Directors who was a
member of the Board prior to the time an Acquiring  Person  becomes such, or any
person who is subsequently elected to the Board if such person is recommended or
approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors. Continuing Director does not
include an  Acquiring  Person,  or an  affiliate  or  associate  of an Acquiring
Person, or any representative of any of the foregoing entities.

      The Purchase Price payable,  and the number of Units of Series A Preferred
Stock or other  securities or property  issuable upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent  dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision,  combination or reclassification  of, the
Series A Preferred  Stock,  (ii) if holders of the Series A Preferred  Stock are
granted  certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Series A Preferred Stock or
convertible  securities at less than the then current market price of the Series
A Preferred  Stock,  or (iii) upon the  distribution  to holders of the Series A
Preferred  Stock of  evidences  of  indebtedness  or assets  (excluding  regular
quarterly  cash  dividends) or of  subscription  rights or warrants  (other than
those referred to above). With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase
Price will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the
Purchase  Price.  No  fractional  Units are  required  to be issued and, in lieu
thereof,  an  adjustment  in cash will be made based on the market  price of the
Series A Preferred Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.

      Until a Right is exercised,  the holder will, as a result thereof, have no
rights  as a  stockholder  of the  Company,  including  the  right to vote or to
receive dividends.

      Stockholders  may,  depending upon the  circumstances,  recognize  taxable
income in the event that the Rights  become  exercisable  for Series A Preferred
Stock or other consideration as set forth above.

                                        8

<PAGE>

      Prior to the Rights  Distribution  Date, the Rights Agreement will, if the
Company so directs, be amended by the Company and the Rights Agent in any manner
that the Company may deem  necessary  or  desirable  without the approval of any
holders of Company Common Stock. After the Rights  Distribution Date, the Rights
Agreement  may be amended in any respect that does not  adversely  affect Rights
holders;  provided  that,  after a  person  becomes  an  Acquiring  Person,  any
amendment requires the concurrence of a majority of the Continuing Directors.

      The  Rights  have  certain   anti-takeover   effects   which  may  prevent
stockholders  from  receiving a premium for their  Company  Common Stock and may
also have a depressive  effect on the market price of the Company  Common Stock.
The Rights may cause substantial  dilution to a person or group that attempts to
acquire the  Company  without a  condition  to such an offer that a  substantial
number of the Rights be  acquired  or the Rights are  rendered  inapplicable  by
Board action or otherwise.  The Company's  ability to amend the Rights Agreement
may,  depending upon the  circumstances,  increase or decrease the anti-takeover
effects of the Rights.  The Rights do not prevent the Board of  Directors of the
Company from  approving  any merger or other  business  combination  (under some
circumstances,  with the  concurrence  of the  Continuing  Directors)  since the
Rights  may be  redeemed  by the Board of  Directors  as  described  above.  The
presence of the Rights may also  discourage  attempts  to obtain  control of the
Company  by  means  of a  hostile  tender  offer,  even if such  offer  would be
beneficial to  stockholders  generally,  and thereby  protect the  continuity of
management.

Transfer Agent & Registrar For Common Stock:

      Bank of Boston
      Transfer Processing
      P.O. Box 644
      Boston, Massachusetts 02102-0644


Rights Agent for Series A Preferred Stock:

      Bank of Boston
      Transfer Processing
      P.O. Box 644
      Boston, Massachusetts 02102-0644



                                        9

<PAGE>



Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

      The selected  financial  data  presented  below for each of the  Company's
fiscal years in the  five-year  period ended  October 31, 1996 and as of October
31, 1996,  1995,  1994,  1993,  and 1992 are derived from the audited  financial
statements of the Company.

                                          For the Years Ended October 31,
                                          -------------------------------
                                      1996     1995      1994     1993    1992
                                      ----     ----      ----     ----    ----
                                    (Dollars in thousands,except per share data)
Summary of Operations:
Sales ........................      $51,459  $55,797  $54,651  $51,108 $51, 559
Cost of sales ................       26,616   30,162   31,039   30,492   25,325
                                    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
Gross margin .................       24,843   25,635   23,612   20,616   26,234
Selling, general and administrative  14,106   14,298   13,318   13,600   15,143
Income Before Income Taxes ...        3,034   11,258    5,836    3,080    7,848
Net Income ...................          833    6,986    3,534    1,862    4,663
Net Income Per Share .........         0.08     0.64     0.32     0.17     0.42
Other Data: (as of end of period)
Working capital ..............      $22,225  $28,881  $17,946  $13,571  $16,861
Total assets .................       61,155   59,801   60,248   58,899   52,994
Long-term debt ...............        1,443    2,936    7,369    7,087    5,759
Stockholders' equity .........       46,791   45,958   39,121   35,648   33,775
Current ratio ................       2.98:1   3.84:1   2.42:1   1.89:1   2.34:1

   The Company  paid no dividend on its capital  stock during any of the periods
reported above.


                                       10

<PAGE>



Item 7.   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
          FINANCIAL CONDITION.

Results of Operations

Significant Fiscal 1996 Business Transactions

    On  November  16,  1995,  the  Company  formed  a  strategic  alliance  with
Diagnostic  Hybrids,  Inc.  ("DHI"),  including a sublicense  agreement  for the
distribution of certain DHI cell culture products and a research and development
agreement for future cell culture  products.  Under the agreement,  BioWhittaker
paid DHI, at signing, $1.1 million as a non-refundable advance against royalties
and subsequently paid an additional $0.3 million for products under development.

    On December 18, 1995, the Company sold to Carter-Wallace,  Inc.  ("Carter"),
its diagnostic  test kit business in the EIA format and on February 2, 1996 sold
its related FIAX line of diagnostic test kits, also to Carter the ("EIA and FIAX
Product  Lines").  During the first quarter of fiscal 1996, the Company recorded
an after-tax gain of approximately  $1.1 million,  or $0.10 per share due to the
sale  of  these  product  lines.  The  sale  agreement   included  an  extensive
manufacturing  transition  period  during  which time the Company  continued  to
supply products to Carter.  As a result of actual sales  exceeding  expectations
and other effects of the transition, the Company recorded, in the fourth quarter
of fiscal 1996, an additional  after-tax gain of  approximately  $0.6 million or
$0.05 per share,  resulting  in a total  after-tax  gain in fiscal  1996 of $1.7
million or $0.16 per share.  Proceeds of $12.4  million from this sale were used
to fund  acquisitions,  to retire debt and for working  capital  purposes.  This
transaction  could  result in  additional  gain or loss in future  periods  as a
result of continuing  transition  operations,  including  the Company's  ongoing
service  obligations  for certain  diagnostic  testing  instrumentation  sold to
Carter.  Estimates for such  obligations  have been accrued at October 31, 1996;
management does not believe that future obligations beyond those already accrued
will be material. The Company's service obligations terminate December 17, 1997.
BioWhittaker  has agreed to  manufacture  FIAX products for Carter thru February
2001 and will  continue  to include the  results of such  activities  in ongoing
operations.

    On  January  17,   1996,   the  Company   acquired   Clonetics   Corporation
("Clonetics"),  a privately owned company located in San Diego, California,  for
approximately  $8.7  million in cash and the  assumption  of an  estimated  $3.5
million in liabilities.  Clonetics is a leading  supplier of normal human cells.
The  acquisition  was  largely  funded  from  the  proceeds  of the  sale of the
Company's EIA and FIAX Product Lines. The acquisition  resulted in the recording
of $7.1 million in intangibles  that are being  amortized  over periods  ranging
from 7 to 15 years. The Company wrote off $4.0 million in purchased research and
development  in fiscal 1996.  During  fiscal  1996,  the Company  relocated  the
manufacturing operations of Clonetics from San Diego to Walkersville, Maryland.

Comparison of Fiscal Years 1996, 1995 and 1994

    Sales in fiscal  1996 of $51.5  million  were less than fiscal 1995 sales of
$55.8 million by $4.3 million, or 7.7%. Fiscal 1996 revenues reflect lower sales
volume due to the December  1995 sale of the EIA and FIAX  Product  Lines and to
the April 1995 sale of BioWhittaker  France to Boehringer  Ingelheim GmbH. These
declines were partially  offset by increased  sales  associated with the January
1996  acquisition of Clonetics.  Sales in fiscal 1995 of $55.8 million  exceeded
fiscal 1994 sales by $1.1 million,  or 2.1% and also reflect lower  revenues due
to the April 1995 sale of BioWhittaker France.

    Cell culture  product sales for fiscal 1996  increased by $6.2  million,  or
26.5%,  over  sales  for  fiscal  1995 to $29.6  million,  due  primarily  to an
additional $5.2 million in sales as a result of the January 1996  acquisition of
Clonetics  and to higher  sales  volume for the  Company's  cell  culture  media
product  line.  Cell  culture  product  sales for fiscal 1995  increased by $1.3
million, or 5.7%, over sales for fiscal 1994 to $23.4 million,  due primarily to
increased sales volume for cell culture media and fetal bovine serum.

    Endotoxin detection product sales for fiscal 1996 increased by $0.3 million,
or 2.2%, over sales for fiscal 1995 to $13.9 million due to higher sales volume.
Excluding the effects of the April 1995 sale of BioWhittaker  France,  sales for
endotoxin detection products increased $1.1 million or 8.9%. Endotoxin detection
product sales for fiscal 1995 increased by $0.6 million, or 4.6%, over sales for
fiscal 1994 to $13.6  million,  primarily due to increased  sales volume for the
Company's Kinetic QCL test and associated instrumentation. Excluding the effects
of the April 1995 sale of BioWhittaker  France,  sales for fiscal 1995 increased
$1.0 million or 8.8%.
                                       11
<PAGE>

    Clinical  diagnostic  testing  product sales for fiscal 1996 decreased $10.8
million,  or 57.5%,  when  compared  with fiscal 1995  sales,  to $8.0  million,
primarily  due to the sale of the EIA and FIAX Product Lines and to decreases in
sales volume for the Company's line of allergy detection  products.  Fiscal 1996
sales for clinical diagnostic testing products reflect the Company's strategy of
focusing on its core cell culture and  endotoxin  detection  product  lines.  In
addition, future revenues will be lower because of the completion in fiscal 1996
of a  subcontract  to  manufacture  botulinum  antitoxin  which in  fiscal  1996
generated $1.3 million in revenues and net income of approximately $0.6 million.
Clinical  diagnostic  testing  product  sales for fiscal 1995  decreased by $0.7
million, or 3.7%, from fiscal 1994 sales to $18.8 million. This decrease was due
to lower sales volume for the Company's diagnostic test kit business,  including
lower sales as a result of  fluctuations in periodic orders to a single customer
under a private  label  manufacturing  arrangement,  partially  offset by a $0.6
million increase in sales for the Company's  Helicobacter pylori and Clostridium
difficile test kits.

    Gross  margins were 48.3% of sales for fiscal 1996  compared  with 45.9% for
fiscal  1995 and 43.2% for fiscal  1994.  1996  margins  reflect  proportionally
higher  margins  for  Clonetics  products  and  the  absence  of  lower  margins
associated with the EIA and FIAX Product Lines.  1995 margins  reflect  improved
manufacturing   efficiencies,   lower   diagnostic   reagent  rental   equipment
amortization  expenses and lower net royalty  expenses  compared to fiscal 1994.
Improved  fiscal 1995  margins  were offset  somewhat by lower  average  margins
associated  with  product mix as a result of higher fetal bovine serum sales and
lower cell culture product sales to a large customer.

    Selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  as a  percentage  of sales
increased  to 27.4% for fiscal 1996 from 25.6% for fiscal  1995,  largely due to
proportionally   higher   expenses   for   Clonetics.   Selling,   general   and
administrative  expenses as a percentage of sales  increased to 25.6% for fiscal
1995 from 24.4% in fiscal 1994, largely due to higher occupancy costs associated
with additions to the Company's Walkersville,  Maryland facilities as well as to
increased compensation expenses.

      For fiscal 1996,  "Purchased  research  and  development"  represents  the
expensing  of  in-process  research  and  development  as part of the  Clonetics
acquisition. "Litigation expenses" includes a one-time pretax charge to earnings
of $3.5 million for costs  associated  with the Company's  unsuccessful  lawsuit
against Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, Inc. ("3M"). Included in this charge
are amounts accrued for certain legal expenses not yet paid. Future  adjustments
to the amounts  accrued could be necessary as the Company settles final invoices
related to the  litigation.  "Gain on the sale of product lines"  represents the
gain,  before  the  effect of taxes,  from the sale of the EIA and FIAX  Product
Lines.   "Other  income"  is  comprised  primarily  of  payments  received  from
Boehringer Ingelheim for technology  assistance under the terms of its agreement
with the Company.

    For  fiscal  1995,  "Gain  on sale  of  joint  venture"  reflects  the  gain
recognized on the April 30, 1995 sale of the Company's 50% interest in its joint
venture with Boehringer Ingelheim. The Company retains a right to reacquire such
interest when the BI Joint Venture  Affiliate becomes  profitable.  In addition,
the  Company  sold  100% of its  interest  in  BioWhittaker  France in a related
transaction  in which there was no  material  gain or loss.  "Gain on  Pharmacia
settlement"  reflects the gain recognized on the December 1994 settlement of the
Pharmacia patent  infringement  lawsuit  involving patents in the United States,
Canada and Australia.  "Equity in loss of joint venture"  reflects the Company's
$0.7 million  pre-tax  share of operating  losses during the first six months of
fiscal 1995 for its joint  venture  with  Boehringer  Ingelheim.  The  Company's
interest in the joint venture was sold in April 1995 (see above). "Other income"
is comprised  primarily  of payments  received  from  Boehringer  Ingelheim  for
technology assistance under the terms of its agreement with the Company.

    For fiscal 1994,  "Equity in loss of joint  venture"  reflects the Company's
$1.3 million  pre-tax  share of  operating  losses for fiscal 1994 for its joint
venture with Boehringer  Ingelheim.  The Company's interest in the joint venture
was sold in April 1995 (see above).

    "Provision  for income taxes" as a percentage of Income Before Incomes Taxes
was 72.5% for fiscal 1996 compared to 37.9% for fiscal 1995 and 39.4% for fiscal
1994.  Fiscal 1996 taxes reflect the lack of income tax benefit  associated with
the expensing of purchased  research and development and favorable  treatment of
the gain  associated  with the sale of the Company's EIA and FIAX Product Lines.
Before the effect of non-recurring items, the "Provision for income taxes" as

                                       12

<PAGE>


a percentage of Income Before Income Taxes was 37.2% for fiscal 1996 compared to
37.2% for fiscal 1995 and 39.4% for fiscal 1994.

Liquidity and Financial Condition

    During  fiscal  1996,   BioWhittaker   financed  its   operations,   capital
expenditures, product development activities and acquisitions with cash provided
by operations and proceeds from the sale of its EIA and FIAX Product Lines.  For
fiscal year 1996,  the Company  generated  $4.1  million in cash from  operating
activities  compared to $5.2 million for fiscal year 1995.  Cash  generated from
operating  activities  for fiscal 1995 includes the receipt of $4.0 million as a
result of the settlement of the Pharmacia lawsuit and the use of $5.6 million in
cash related to increases  in  inventory,  primarily  fetal bovine  serum.  Cash
generated  from operating  activities in fiscal 1994 of $9.7 million  represents
proportionally lower investments in working capital,  including  inventories and
receivables.

        At October 31, 1996, total current assets were $33.5 million compared to
$39.1  million at October 31, 1995.  As a result of the then pending sale of the
EIA and FIAX Product Lines, current assets at October 31, 1995 include both $4.1
million of assets  previously  classified  as  non-current  and $6.2  million of
inventory,  for a  total  of  $10.3  million  classified  as  "Assets  held  for
disposal".  Current assets at October 31, 1996 include $0.9 million still due as
a result of the sale of the EIA and FIAX  Product  Lines and $3.5  million  as a
result of the acquisition of Clonetics. Total current liabilities at October 31,
1996 were $11.3 million  compared to $10.2  million at October 31, 1995,  mainly
due to liabilities recorded as a result of on-going obligations arising from the
sale of the Company's EIA and FIAX Product Lines.

    The Company's  investing  activities provided cash of $0.2 million in fiscal
1996,  primarily as a result of the use of proceeds from the sale of the EIA and
FIAX Product  Lines to acquire  Clonetics  and certain  other,  smaller  product
lines.  The Company's  investing  activities  generated  cash of $1.8 million in
fiscal 1995,  primarily  due to the receipt of $4.7 million in proceeds from the
sale of its interest in the joint venture with Boehringer  Ingelheim.  Investing
activities consumed cash of $6.3 million in fiscal 1994.  Purchases of property,
plant and  equipment  totaled  $3.0  million  for fiscal  1996  compared to $2.9
million for fiscal 1995 and $5.4  million  for fiscal year 1994.  Higher  fiscal
1994  expenditures  were  primarily  caused by additions and  renovations to the
Company's Walkersville, Maryland facility.

    Financing activities consumed cash of $3.9, $7.3 and $3.1 million for fiscal
years 1996,  1995 and 1994  respectively,  reflecting  the  repayment of amounts
outstanding under the Company's various debt facilities.

    The Company  maintains an unsecured  revolving credit facility which expires
in February of 1998 and provides for maximum  borrowings of $9.0 million.  Funds
are available  subject to meeting loan covenants.  The facility is available for
working  capital and capital  expenditures,  as well as  acquisitions  and other
valid corporate  purposes and bears  interest,  at the Company's  option,  at 1%
above the bank's LIBOR rate or at the bank's prime rate.

          At  October  31,  1996,  the  Company's   principal   short-term  cash
requirements were to fund the Company's normal working capital needs, consisting
primarily of inventories and  receivables,  to fund capital  expenditures and to
fund potential  acquisitions.  At October 31, 1996, the Company had  outstanding
capital commitments of approximately $0.3 million and $8.7 million was available
under the terms of the Company's  revolving  credit facility.  In addition,  the
Company expects to receive additional amounts due related to the sale of its EIA
and FIAX Product Lines.

Changing Prices

      While the inflation  rate in the last few years has been  relatively  low,
inflation and changes in costs have had an impact on the Company's operations in
the form of higher wages and costs of goods and services.  These  increases have
generally  been  offset  by  correspondingly  higher  prices  received  for  the
Company's products.


                                       13

<PAGE>

      Plant and equipment  costs are generally taken into  consideration  in the
Company's  pricing  decisions.  These charges to operations for depreciation are
based on historical  costs for plant and equipment  and are  significantly  less
than they would be if they were based upon  current  replacement  costs.  Assets
acquired in early years will be replaced gradually over a period of time at what
are likely to be higher costs resulting in higher future  depreciation  charges,
which may,  at least  partially,  be offset by  technological  improvements  and
enhanced efficiency.

New Accounting Standards

      In October 1995, the Financial  Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based  Compensation",  which encourages
companies to recognize  expense for stock-based  awards based on their estimated
value on the date of the grant.  Statement  No. 123,  effective for fiscal 1997,
does not require  companies to change their existing  accounting for stock based
awards,  but if the new fair value method is not  adopted,  pro forma income and
earnings  per share data should be provided in the  footnotes  to the  financial
statements.   The  Company  intends  to  continue  to  account  for  stock-based
compensation  plans using the  intrinsic  value  method and will  supplementally
disclose  in its  fiscal  1997  financial  statements  the  required  pro  forma
information as if the fair value method had been adopted.

Factors Affecting Future Operating Results

      BioWhittaker  provides  products to a technology  driven  industry  sector
which is highly  regulated.  Therefore,  BioWhittaker's  success is dependent in
part on factors  beyond its  control.  This  report  contains  certain  forward-
looking statements relating to the prospective operating results of the Company.
The  following are factors which could affect  BioWhittaker's  future  operating
results.  These  factors are intended to serve as a cautionary  statement;  this
information  is not  intended  to include  all risk  factors  or to limit  other
cautionary statements that may be made, either verbally or in writing, including
those in any other  forward-looking  statements  made by, or on behalf  of,  the
Company:

1.    Difficulties  in  obtaining  critical raw  materials  and supplies for the
      manufacture of the Company's  products.  In particular,  raw materials for
      its normal human cell and certain other cell products are highly regulated
      and available from only a limited number of qualified sources.

2.    Increased  cost,  delays or failure of  BioWhittaker  or its  customers in
      obtaining or maintaining regulatory approval for the Company's products or
      facilities and in responding to new regulatory challenges.

3.    Risks and costs of  competitive  suppliers  introducing  new technology or
      offering lower prices or other incentives  resulting in lost sales. As the
      Company  develops  more high  volume  customers  in the  biopharmaceutical
      industry,  the subsequent loss of one or more of such customers may have a
      significant impact on revenues.

4.    Increased  pressure  to reduce  selling  prices  as a result of  increased
      competition  by   manufacturers  of  products  similar  to  the  Company's
      products.

5.    Risks and cost  associated  with  developing or obtaining  new  technology
      needed to remain competitive,  including for instance, alternative methods
      for  delivering  large  volumes  of media  to high  volume  users  such as
      biopharmaceutical companies.

6.    Potential  Increases  in  compensation  costs  necessitated  by  competing
      employers,   including  an  increase  in  the  number  of  biotech-related
      companies in the Company's geographic region.

7.    The  challenges of  establishing and maintaining effective foreign distri-
      bution channels.



                                       14

<PAGE>



Item 8.      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                         For the Years Ended October 31,
                                                -------------------------------
                                                  1996        1995        1994
                                                  ----        ----        ----

Sales ......................................... $ 51,459   $ 55,797    $ 54,651

Costs and expenses
   Cost of sales ..............................   26,616     30,162      31,039
   Research and development ...................    2,608      2,789       2,458
   Selling, general and administrative ........   14,106     14,298      13,318
                                                 -------    --------    -------
                                                  43,330     47,249      46,815
                                                 -------    --------    -------

Income From Operations ........................    8,129      8,548       7,836
Other (income)/expenses
   Purchased research and development .........    4,000        --          --
   Litigation expenses ........................    3,500        --          --
   Gain on sale of product line ...............   (2,261)       --          --
   Gain on sale of joint venture ..............     --       (2,015)        --
   Gain on Pharmacia settlement ...............     --       (1,710)        --
   Other income ...............................     (362)      (326)        --
   Equity in loss of joint venture ............     --          749       1,277
   Interest ...................................      262        547         843
   (Gain)/loss on foreign currency transactions      (44)        45        (120)
                                                  -------   --------    --------
                                                   5,095     (2,710)     2 ,000
                                                  -------   --------    --------
Income Before Income Taxes ....................    3,034     11,258       5,836
Provision for income taxes ....................    2,201      4,272       2,302
                                                  -------   --------    --------
Net Income ....................................   $  833   $  6,986    $  3,534
                                                  =======   ========    ========

Net Income Per Share ..........................   $ 0.08    $  0.64     $  0.32
                                                  =======   ========    ========


Average common and common equivalent
    shares outstanding (in thousands) .........   10,895     10,971      11,042
                                                  =======   ========    ========


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


                                       15

<PAGE>
                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                               At October 31,
                                                              ---------------
                                                             1996         1995
                                                            ------       ------
                                                          (Dollars in thousands)
                                     ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents..............................  $    701      $    359
Accounts receivable, less allowance for dubtful
  accounts of $65 in 1996 and $129 in 1995.............     8,623         8,624
Other receivables......................................     1,233           --
Inventories............................................    21,114        19,138
Assets held for disposal ..............................      --          10,379
Prepaid expenses.......................................     1,687           556
Deferred income taxes..................................       119           --
                                                         ---------     --------
    Total Current Assets...............................    33,477        39,056
                                                         ---------     --------
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Land and land improvements.............................       167           167
Buildings and improvements.............................    17,579        16,993
Equipment..............................................    15,849        13,346
                                                         ---------     --------
                                                           33,595        30,506
Less accumulated depreciation .........................    16,808        14,631
                                                         ---------     --------
                                                           16,787        15,875
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Patents   .............................................     4,018         4,675
Goodwill...............................................     3,663           678
Purchased technology...................................     3,350           --
Other..................................................     1,480           --
                                                          --------     --------
                                                           12,511         5,353
Less accumulated amortization..........................     1,698           671
                                                          --------     --------
                                                           10,813         4,682
OTHER ASSETS...........................................        78           188
                                                         ---------     --------
                                                         $ 61,155      $ 59,801
                                                         =========     ========

                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Notes payable .........................................  $    300      $    900
Current portion of long-term debt .....................       291         1,101
Accounts payable ......................................     3,857         3,183
Accrued salaries and related expenses .................     4,109         3,578
Accrued expenses related to sale of product line ......     1,249          --
Other accrued liabilities .............................     1,125         1,003
Deferred income taxes .................................       --            410
Income taxes payable ..................................       321          --
                                                          --------     --------
           Total Current Liabilities ..................    11,252        10,175
                                                          --------     --------
LONG-TERM DEBT ........................................     1,443         2,936
                                                          --------     --------
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES .................................     1,669           732
                                                          --------     --------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock
   Par value $.01, authorized 40 million shares,
   outstanding 10,759,199 shares in 1996 and 1995 .....       108           108
Additional paid-in capital ............................    26,389        26,389
Retained earnings .....................................    20,313        19,480
Translation adjustment ................................       (19)          (19)
                                                          --------     --------
    Total Stockholders' Equity ........................    46,791        45,958
                                                          --------     --------
                                                         $ 61,155      $ 59,801
                                                         =========     ========
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                       16

<PAGE>


                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

                                   For the Three Years Ended October 31, 1996
                               -------------------------------------------------
                                               Additional        Translation
                                 Common Stock   Paid-in  Retained  Adjust
                               Shares    Amount Capital  Earning   -ment  Total
                               ------    ------ -------  -------  ------ -------
                                          (Dollars in thousands)
                                          ----------------------

BALANCE AT OCT. 31, 1993 .... 10,581,214  $ 106  $26,633  $8,960  $(51) $35,648
Net Income ..................     --        --      --     3,534    --    3,534
Translation adjustment
 and other ..................     --        --       (57)   --      (4)     (61)
                              -----------  -----  ------- -------  ----  ------

BALANCE AT OCT. 31, 1994 .... 10,581,214   106    26,576  12,494   (55)  39,121
Net Income ..................     --        --       --    6,986    --    6,986
Stock options exercised
 net of stock tendered in
 payment ....................    177,985      2     (917)   --      --     (915)
Tax benefit from exercise
 of stock options ...........      --       --       730    --      --      730
Translation adjustment
 and other ..................      --       --       --     --      36       36
                              ----------   -----  -------  ------  ----   -----

BALANCE AT OCT. 31, 1995 .... 10,759,199    108   26,389  19,480   (19)  45,958
Net Income ..................      --       --      --       833    --      833
                              ----------   ------ ------  -------  ----  ------

BALANCE AT OCT. 31, 1996 .... 10,759,199  $ 108  $26,313 $20,313  $(19) $46,791
                              ==========  ====== ======= =======  ===== =======


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

<PAGE>
                 
                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                               For The Years Ended
                                   October 31,
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                    1996       1995       1994
                                                    ----       ----       ----
                             (Dollars in thousands)
Operating Activities
Net income ....................................    $  833    $ 6,986    $ 3,534
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
  cash provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization .............     3,518      4,429      5,052
    Purchased research and development ........     4,000       --         --
    Gain on sale of product line ..............    (2,261)
    Gain on sale of joint venture .............      --       (2,015)      --
    Equity in loss of joint venture ...........      --          749      1,277
    Deferred income taxes .....................    (1,332)       (12)       218
    Loss on disposal of property, plant and
     equipment                                         63        232        233
    Write-down of property, plant and equipment      --          824       --
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
       Accounts receivable ....................       871     (1,047)        26
       Inventories ............................      (638)    (5,606)      (892)
       Prepaid expenses and other assets ......       732        849       (532)
       Prepaid royalty ........................    (1,360)      --         --
       Accounts payable and accrued liabilities      (342)      (163)       736
                                                   -------    -------    -------

    Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities .     4,084      5,226      9,652
                                                   -------    -------    -------

Investing Activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment ....    (2,953)    (2,861)    (5,425)
Proceeds from sale of product line ............    12,387       --         --
Purchase of Clonetics, net of cash received ...    (8,226)      --         --
Purchase of assets of other businesses ........    (1,044)      --         --
Investment in joint venture ...................      --         --         (838)
Proceeds from sale of joint venture ...........      --        4,674       --
                                                   -------    -------    -------

   Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Investing
     Activities ...............................       164      1,813     (6,263)
                                                   --------   -------    -------

Financing Activities
Net repayments of notes payable ...............      (600)    (2,600)    (3,550)
Issuance of long-term debt ....................      --         --        1,800
Payment of long-term debt .....................    (3,428)    (4,737)    (1,304)
Other .........................................       122         19        (61)
                                                   -------    -------    -------
   Net Cash Used In Financing Activities ......    (3,906)    (7,318)    (3,115)
                                                   -------    -------    -------
   Net Change In Cash .........................       342       (279)       274
   Cash At Beginning Of Year ..................       359        638        364
                                                  --------   --------   --------
   Cash At End Of Year ........................   $   701    $   359    $   638
                                                  ========   ========   ========

Supplemental  disclosure of cash flow  information:  Cash paid during the period
for:
   Interest ...................................   $   312    $   707    $   793
                                                  ========   ========   ========
   Income taxes ...............................   $ 2,912    $ 3,431    $ 1,486
                                                  ========   ========   ========

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


                                       18

<PAGE>




                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                October 31, 1996
                  (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

Note 1.   Description of the Company

     BioWhittaker,   Inc.   ("BioWhittaker")  is  engaged  in  the  development,
manufacture and marketing of cell culture,  endotoxin  detection and to a lesser
degree, clinical diagnostic testing products.

     During 1996, 1995 and 1994, approximately 28%, 27% and 27% respectively, of
BioWhittaker's  sales were to customers outside of the United States,  primarily
Western Europe.  Substantially  all of these sales were attributable to domestic
operations.

     The  preparation of the financial  statements in conformity  with generally
accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and
assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Note 2.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

     Principles of Consolidation:  The consolidated financial statements include
the  accounts  of  BioWhittaker  and  its  wholly  owned   subsidiaries,   after
elimination of significant intercompany balances and transactions.

     Reclassifications:  Certain  prior  years'  amounts  in  the  consolidated
financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 1996 presentation.

     Cash Equivalents.  The Company considers all highly liquid investments with
an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

     Inventories:  Inventories  are stated at the lower of cost or market.  Cost
has been determined principally using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

     Property and  Depreciation:  Property,  plant and  equipment is recorded at
cost.  Depreciation  is  computed  generally  using  the  straight-line  method.
Depreciation  expense  was  $2,521 in 1996,  $3,742 in 1995 and  $4,364 in 1994.
Included in property,  plant and equipment is  construction  in progress of $675
and $1,052 for 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  Of this  amount,  $287 and $282 is
classified  as buildings  and  improvements,  and $388 and $770 is classified as
equipment for 1996 and 1995 respectively.

     Intangible Assets: Goodwill consists of the cost in excess of fair value of
the net assets of entities acquired in purchase transactions and is amortized on
a straight-line basis over the expected periods of benefit,  which range from 10
to 40 years. Patents,  purchased technology and other intangibles consist of the
allocated cost of acquiring  certain  technology and proprietary  information in
business  combinations  accounted  for  as  purchases.   These  intangibles  are
amortized on a straight line basis over 7 to 14 years.

     Accounting for Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to
be Disposed Of: In fiscal 1996, the Company  adopted the provisions of Financial
Accounting Standards Board ("FASB)" Statement No. 121, Accounting for Impairment
of Long-Lived  Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of. The Statement
prescribes  the  accounting  for the  impairment of long-lived  assets,  such as
property and equipment and  intangible  assets,  as well as the  accounting  for
long-lived  assets  that are held for  disposal.  The  initial  adoption of this
Statement in fiscal 1996 did not have a material impact on the reported  results
of operations of the Company.


                                       19

<PAGE>



                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                October 31, 1996
                  (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)


Note 2.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - (Continued)

     Advertising:  The Company  expenses the production  costs of advertising as
they are incurred.  Advertising expenses were $705, $627 and $743 in 1996, 1995,
and 1994, respectively.

     Foreign Currency Translation:  The local currency for the Company's foreign
subsidiary  is its  functional  currency.  Assets  and  liabilities  of  foreign
operations are translated  into U.S.  dollars at the market rates of exchange as
of the  balance  sheet  dates  and the  resultant  translation  adjustments  are
included as a component  of  stockholders'  equity.  Revenues  and  expenses are
translated into U.S. dollars using weighted average exchange rates.

     Foreign currency  transaction gains and losses are the result of the effect
of exchange rate changes on  transactions  denominated in currencies  other than
the functional currency and are included in the Company's Consolidated Statement
of Income.

     The major foreign  currency in which the Company has risk  associated  with
foreign  exchange rate movements is the pound  sterling.  This risk is evaluated
regularly,  and  from  time  to  time,  the  Company  reduces  its  exposure  to
fluctuations  in  foreign  currency  exchange  rates  on  firm  commitments  and
transactions  denominated in currencies  other than the  functional  currency by
hedging such  exposures.  Such  exposures  are  generally  hedged using  foreign
currency forward contracts.  There were no such contracts outstanding at October
31, 1996 and 1995.

     Generally,  the gains and  losses on  commitment  hedges are  deferred  and
included in the basis of the transaction  underlying the  commitment.  Gains and
losses on  transaction  hedges are  recognized  in income and offset the foreign
exchange gains and losses on the related transaction.

     Net Income Per Share:  Net income per share is  computed  by  dividing  net
income by the weighted  average  number of common and common  equivalent  shares
outstanding. Common equivalent shares include the dilutive effect of outstanding
stock  purchase  options  and Anasco  GmbH's  right to  maintain  its  aggregate
percentage  voting interest in BioWhittaker (see Note 10),  calculated,  in each
case,  using the treasury  stock  method.  Net income per share  determined on a
fully diluted basis is not materially  different from the primary net income per
share presented.

     Stock  Options  Granted to  Employees:  The  Company  records  compensation
expense for all stock-based  compensation plans using the intrinsic value method
prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25, " Accounting  for Stock Issued to  Employees".
In October 1995, the FASB issued Statement No. 123,  "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation",  which encourages  companies to recognize expense for stock-based
awards based on their estimated  value on the date of grant.  Statement No. 123,
effective for fiscal 1997,  does not require  companies to change their existing
accounting  for  stock-based  awards,  but if the new fair  value  method is not
adopted,  pro forma income and earnings per share data should be provided in the
footnotes  to the  financial  statements.  The  Company  intends to  continue to
account for stock-based  compensation plans using the intrinsic value method and
will  supplementally  disclose  in its  fiscal  1997  financial  statements  the
required pro forma information as if the fair value method had been adopted.


                                       20

<PAGE>



                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                October 31, 1996
                  (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

Note 3.    Inventories

     Inventories consisted of the following:
                                                              October 31,
                                                              -----------
                                                         1996            1995
                                                       --------        --------
     Raw material................................     $   4,050       $   2,156
     Work in process.............................         7,323           5,251
     Finished goods..............................         9,741          11,731
                                                      ---------       ---------
                                                      $  21,114       $  19,138
                                                      =========       =========

Note 4.    Joint Venture

    Prior to April 30, 1995,  BioWhittaker  had a joint venture and  partnership
agreement with a member of the Boehringer  Ingelheim  Group to manufacture  cell
culture  products  in Belgium.  For a 50%  interest  in the joint  venture,  the
Company  contributed  approximately  $4,700  and  granted  the  joint  venture a
royalty-free  exclusive  license to use  certain  BioWhittaker  technology.  The
investment was accounted for using the equity method.

    On April 30, 1995,  the Company sold to Boehringer  Ingelheim  International
GmbH  ("Boehringer")  100% of the stock of BioWhittaker  International,  Inc., a
subsidiary  which held the  Company's  50%  interest in the joint  venture  (the
"Partnership"),  for a cash payment of $4,674. The Company also sold 100% of the
stock of  BioWhittaker  France  S.A.R.L.  to  Boehringer  for $724, a price that
approximated  BioWhittaker  France  S.A.R.L.'s  book value at April 30, 1995. In
addition,  the Company  entered into a five year  agreement  with  Boehringer to
provide  technical  assistance  and  support for those  products  covered by the
agreement.  Boehringer  will pay the Company $363 annually for the length of the
agreement for such assistance.

    The  impact  of the  sale,  net of the  book  value of  BioWhittaker  France
S.A.R.L.,  the  Company's  investment  in  the  Partnership  and  certain  costs
associated with the transaction, is reflected as "Gain on sale of joint venture"
of $2,015 in the Company's  Consolidated  Statement of Income for the year ended
October 31, 1995.

    At October  31,  1996 and 1995 there was $881 and $1,179  respectively,  due
from parties related to the Boehringer Ingelheim Group.

Note 5.    Litigation

    Gain on Pharmacia settlement.  On December 23, 1994, BioWhittaker reached an
agreement  with  Pharmacia  AB  and  certain  affiliated   companies  (together,
"Pharmacia")  to settle a lawsuit in which  BioWhittaker  claimed that Pharmacia
infringed  BioWhittaker's patents covering its diagnostic allergy testing system
in the United States, Canada and Australia.

    As a result of the settlement agreement,  BioWhittaker has granted Pharmacia
a license to use its patents in the United States,  Canada and Australia.  Under
the terms of this license,  Pharmacia  agreed to pay 3% of all revenues from the
sale of those products  using the patents,  subject to an agreed payment of $500
for 1995, for which payment was received in December 1994, and a minimum of $300
for each of the years  1996  through  1999.  In  addition,  Pharmacia  also paid
BioWhittaker  $3,500 in December 1994, for past  infringement,  for a total cash
payment upon  settlement  of $4,000.  The proceeds from the  settlement,  net of
legal  fees  and  certain  other   expenses,   is  reflected  in  the  Company's
Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended October 31,1995.



                                       21

<PAGE>


                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

                  (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

Note 5.    Litigation (Continued)

    Litigation  expenses.  The 1996  Consolidated  Statement of Income  includes
litigation  expenses of $3,500  which is the pre-tax  cost  associated  with the
Company's lawsuit against Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, Inc.

Note 6.    Acquisitions and Divestitures

    Clonetics Corporation. On January 17, 1996, the Company acquired 100% of the
stock of Clonetics Corporation ("Clonetics"), a leading supplier of normal human
cells,  for  $8,733  in cash  and the  assumption  of  approximately  $3,500  in
liabilities.  The  operations  of  Clonetics  are  included in the  Consolidated
Statement of Income from the date of acquisition.  The acquisition was accounted
for as a purchase  transaction  and resulted in the  recording of  approximately
$2,260  of  goodwill,  $3,350  of  purchased  technology  and  $1,480  of  other
intangibles  that will be  amortized  over  periods  ranging from 7 to 15 years.
$4,000 of the purchase price was allocated to purchased research and development
and expensed on the Company's  Consolidated Statement of Income for fiscal 1996.
The expense for purchased  research and development is not deductible for income
tax purposes.

    Sale  of  product  line.   On  December  18,  1995,   the  Company  sold  to
Carter-Wallace,  Inc.  ("Carter")  its  diagnostic  test kit business in the EIA
format for $9,000 and on February 2, 1996 sold its related FIAX line for $1,000.
Carter also  purchased EIA and FIAX finished goods  inventory for  approximately
$1,400. BioWhittaker agreed to continue to manufacture EIA and FIAX products for
Carter for up to one and five years,  respectively.  Under a separate  agreement
with one of Carter's contract manufacturers, BioWhittaker agreed to sell certain
raw material and work in process inventory over a two year period.

    BioWhittaker also agreed to provide to Carter's customers certain diagnostic
testing  instrumentation  associated  with the EIA and FIAX product lines and to
service the equipment for up to two years.  The  equipment  surcharge  typically
paid on each kit purchased by customers will be collected by Carter and remitted
to the  Company in the amount of  approximately  $1,585,  the book value of such
diagnostic equipment owned by the Company at closing.

    As a result of this  transaction,  BioWhittaker  recorded a pre-tax  gain of
$2,261 on its  Consolidated  Statement of Income for fiscal 1996, which includes
the  write-off  of  approximately  $2,200 of  unamortized  cost of  patents  and
goodwill.  Additional  gain or loss in  future  periods  could  result  from the
continuing  transition  operations,  including  the Company's  on-going  service
obligations for the diagnostic testing instrumentation sold to Carter.



                                       22

<PAGE>



                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

                  (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)


Note 6.    Acquisitions and Divestitures (Continued)

    The following table presents proforma consolidated results of operations for
the years  ended  October  31,  1995 and 1996,  assuming  that the  purchase  of
Clonetics  Corporation  and the  sale of the  diagnostic  test kit  business  to
Carter-Wallace,  Inc.  had occurred at the  beginning of each of the  respective
fiscal periods.

                                                         For the Year Ended
                                                         ------------------
                                                             October 31,
                                                             -----------
                                                       1996              1995
                                                       ----              ----
     Sales...................................      $   51,288       $   50,979
     Net Income..............................      $    3,497       $    7,222
     Net Income Per Share....................      $     0.32       $     0.66


     The  above  proforma  information  has been  derived  from  the  historical
financial  statements  as adjusted for the  proforma  results of  operations  of
Clonetics  Corporation  prior to its purchase by BioWhittaker,  the reduction in
revenue and  expenses  as a result of the sale to  Carter-Wallace,  Inc.  and an
estimated income tax provision  related to the historical  results and foregoing
adjustments. The gain on the sale to Carter-Wallace,  Inc. and the write-down of
purchased  research and development have been excluded from the proforma results
of operations as they are non-recurring events.

     The above proforma information is presented for illustrative  purposes only
and is not  necessarily  indicative  of  the  operating  results  had  both  the
acquisition of Clonetics Corporation and the sale to Carter-Wallace, Inc.
occurred as of November 1, 1994 and November 1, 1995.

     BioWhittaker paid DHI $1,125 as a non-refundable  advance against royalties
on future sales.  The research and development  agreement grants the Company the
right to  commercialize  additional  products under  development by DHI or being
contemplated  by DHI and  BioWhittaker,  in exchange for future  payments.  Such
payments totaled $260 for fiscal 1996.

Note 7.    Debt

    BioWhittaker   maintains  a  $9,000  unsecured   revolving  credit  facility
(including  a letter  of  credit  subfacility)  with a bank,  which  expires  in
February 1998.  Borrowings under the facility ($300 and $900 at October 31, 1996
and 1995,  respectively),  bear interest at 1% above the bank's LIBOR rate or at
the bank's prime rate, at BioWhittaker's  option.  The weighted average interest
rates for these  borrowings  were 8.57% in 1996 and 7.91% in 1995. The agreement
relating to the facility  requires  the  maintenance  of specific  levels of net
worth and interest  coverage and limits the payment of dividends and  repurchase
of outstanding  stock.  The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants at
October 31, 1996 and  expects to continue to meet such  covenants  over the next
twelve months.


                                       23

<PAGE>



                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

                  (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)


Note 7.   Debt (Continued)

    Long-term debt consisted of the following:
                                                                October 31,
                                                                -----------
                                                             1996         1995
                                                             ----         ----
Notes payable with interest at LIBOR plus 1.35%..........  $   --      $  2,250
Notes due through 2001, net of a present value
 discount of $414 in 1996 and $552 in 1995 using
 a discount rate of 8%...................................    1,586        1,787
Capital leases due through 2000..........................      148          --
                                                           --------    ---------
                                                             1,734        4,037
Less current maturities..................................      291        1,101
                                                           --------    ---------
                                                           $ 1,443     $  2,936
                                                           ========    =========
Maturities of long-term debt are as follows:

      Year ending
      October 31,
      -----------
       1997 ........................................      $    291
       1998 ........................................           295
       1999 ........................................           286
       2000 ........................................           286
       2001.........................................           301
     Subsequent to October 2001.....................           275


Note 8.    Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentration of Credit Risk

     The fair  value  of the  Company's  financial  instruments,  which  consist
primarily of cash and cash equivalents,  accounts  receivable,  accounts payable
and short and long-term debt, approximate their carrying amounts reported in the
Consolidated Balance Sheets.

     The Company maintains an allowance for losses on trade receivables based on
the  collectibility  of all amounts owed. The Company generally does not require
collateral for trade receivables. At October 31, 1996, the Company does not have
any significant concentrations of credit risk.

Note 9.    Income Taxes

     At October  31,  1996,  a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of the Company had net
operating  loss carry  forwards of $386 for income tax  purposes  that expire in
2000  through  2008.  The company  also has general  business  tax credit  carry
forwards of $180 that expire in 1997  through  2000.  The  operation  of certain
provisions  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code will  limit the  amount of the carry
forwards available to offset taxable income in any one year.


                                       24

<PAGE>



                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

                  (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)


Note 9.    Income Taxes (Continued)

    Income before income taxes includes the following components:

                             Years Ended October 31,
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                    1996       1995       1994
                                                    ----       ----       ----

     Domestic..............................       $ 3,088    $ 10,996   $ 5,326
     Foreign...............................           (54)        262       510
                                                  --------    -------   --------
                                                  $ 3,034    $ 11,258   $ 5,836
                                                  ========   ========   ========

     The provision for income taxes is comprised of the following:

                                                    1996       1995       1994
                                                    ----       ----       ----
Current
     Federal...............................       $ 2,578     $ 3,664   $ 1,373
     States................................           (11)        693       591
     Foreign...............................            (4)         90       120
                                                  --------    --------  --------
                                                    2,563       4,447     2,084
Deferred
     Federal...............................          (300)       (145)      179
     States................................           (62)        (30)       39
                                                  --------    --------  --------
                                                     (362)       (175)      218
                                                  --------    --------- --------
                                                  $ 2,201     $ 4,272   $ 2,302
                                                  ========    ========  ========

     The  significant  components  of the deferred  income tax  liabilities  and
assets are as follows:

                                                                   October 31,
                                                                ----------------
                                                               1996       1995
                                                               ----       ----
Deferred tax assets:
     Net operating loss carry forward.............            $  131    $  --
     General business tax credit carry forwards...               180       --
     Inventory reserves...........................               195       127
     Accrued expenses.............................               741       511
     State taxes..................................               120       --
     Legal fees...................................               211       193
     Other........................................                91       --
                                                              -------   -------
Total deferred tax assets.........................             1,669       831

Deferred tax liabilities:
     Inventory....................................               479       477
     Legal fees...................................                76       329
     Prepaid expenses.............................               236       242
     Depreciation and amortization................             2,058       769
     Other........................................                33       156
                                                              -------   -------
Total deferred tax liabilities....................             2,882     1,973
Net future income tax liability...................             1,213     1,142
Valuation allowance...............................               337       --
                                                              -------   -------
Net deferred tax liability........................           $ 1,550   $ 1,142
                                                             ========  ========

     During 1996, a valuation allowance of $337 was established.

                                       25

<PAGE>



                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

                  (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

Note 9.   Income Taxes - (Continued)

     A  reconciliation  of income taxes computed at the U.S.  federal  statutory
rate to the Company's income tax expense is as follows:
                                                        Years Ended October 31,
                                                        -----------------------
                                                        1996     1995     1994
                                                        ----     ----     ----
 Income taxes at federal statutory rate............   $ 1,032  $ 3,828  $ 1,984
 State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit....       132      490      254
 Purchased research and development................     1,534      --       --
 Tax effect of foreign income......................      (112)     --       --
 Benefit from sale of product line.................      (320)     --       --
 Other, net .......................................       (65)    (46)       64
                                                      -------- -------- --------
                                                      $ 2,201  $ 4,272  $ 3,302
                                                      ======== ======== ========

     Unremitted  earnings of  subsidiaries  outside  the United  States were not
material.

Note 10.   Capital Stock

     Prior to October 31, 1991,  BioWhittaker  was a wholly owned  subsidiary of
Whittaker  Corporation   ("Whittaker").   In  connection  with  the  spinoff  of
BioWhittaker in October 1991, certain employees of BioWhittaker received options
to  purchase  shares  of  BioWhittaker  common  stock  ("Substitute   Options").
Substitute Options to purchase 692,742 of BioWhittaker common shares at exercise
prices  ranging from $2.09 to $5.50 per share were  granted.  Subsequently,  the
Company adopted the  BioWhittaker  1991 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan ("Company
Stock  Plan").  The maximum  number of shares of  BioWhittaker  common  stock in
respect of which stock-based  awards may be granted under the Company Stock Plan
is 1,500,000  shares plus 127,288 shares subject to the Substitute  Options.  At
October 31, 1996, no stock-based  awards,  other than stock  options,  have been
granted.  Transactions for the fiscal years ending October 31, 1996 and 1995 are
summarized as follows:

                                                                        Stock
                                                         Options     Price Range
                                                         -------     -----------
 Outstanding October 31, 1994........................    1,457,244   $2.09-$8.88
 Options granted during year ended October 31, 1995..       17,000   $6.50-$7.75
 Options exercised during year ended October 31, 1995.    (459,623)  $2.09-$5.50
 Options canceled or expired during year ended October 31, 1995.
 Outstanding October 31, 1995........................    1,011,288   $3.57-$8.88
 Options granted during year ended October 31, 1996..       27,000   $6.75-$7.63
 Options canceled or expired during year ended
    October 31, 1996.................................      (37,500)  $5.38-$8.75
                                                         ----------  -----------
 Outstanding October 31, 1996......................      1,000,788   $3.57-$8.88
                                                         ==========  ===========

    Options for 774,962 shares were exerciseable as of October 31, 1996.

     In 1991,  the Company sold for $23,000 in cash, to Anasco GmbH, a member of
the Boehringer  Ingelheim Group,  common stock equal to 19.9% of its outstanding
common stock after such sale. The agreement relating to the sale of these shares
included, among other matters, certain limitations on the purchase by Anasco and
its affiliates of additional shares of BioWhittaker stock. In addition, upon the
exercise of any Substitute  Options,  BioWhittaker  must pay Anasco an amount in
cash, voting  securities or combination  thereof (at  BioWhittaker's  option) as
determined in  accordance  with the  provisions  of the related  stock  purchase
agreement.

                                       26

<PAGE>


                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

                  (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)


Note 11.   Post-retirement Benefits

     BioWhittaker   has   established   a   contributory   401(k)   plan  and  a
noncontributory defined contribution target plan for its eligible employees.

     Under  BioWhittaker's  401(k) plan, all domestic employees over 21 years of
age who have  completed  one year of service  with the Company  are  eligible to
participate.  Participating  employees may  voluntarily  contribute 1% to 15% of
their  pay  each  year.  The  Company   matches  a  portion  of  the  employee's
contribution up to 6% of the employee's pay.

     Under  BioWhittaker's  target plan, all domestic employees over 21 years of
age who have  completed  one year of service with the Company  participate.  The
target plan is 100%  Company-funded,  with annual  contributions  by the Company
based on the employee's  targeted benefit,  determined by such factors as salary
and expected years of service to age 65.

     Total  401(k)  and  target  plan  expenses  recorded  in  the  accompanying
financial statements were as follows:

                                                       Years Ended October 31,
                                                       -----------------------
                                                     1996       1995      1994
                                                     ----       ----      ----
  401(k) plan expense..........................    $   389     $  384    $  357
  Target plan expense..........................        486        412       448
                                                   --------    -------   -------
                                                   $   875     $  796    $  805
                                                   ========    =======   =======

     Effective August 15, 1995, the Company adopted a nonqualified  Supplemental
Executive  Retirement Program ("SERP") covering certain key employees.  The SERP
provides for  supplemental  defined pension  benefits based on compensation  and
years of service.  The SERP also includes a defined contribution  component.  No
contributions  were made during  fiscal 1995 and $107 in matching  contributions
were made by the Company in fiscal 1996.

     Net periodic pension cost included the following components:
                                                                  Years Ended
                                                                   October 31,
                                                                   -----------
                                                                 1996      1995
                                                                 ----      ----
Service cost-benefits earned during the period ............     $  59     $  11
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation .............       109        21
Net amortization and deferral .............................        91        19
                                                                -----     ------
Net periodic pension cost .................................     $ 259     $  51
                                                                ======    ======
Assumptions used in the accounting were:
    Discount rate .........................................       8.0%      7.5%
      Rate of increase in compensation level ..............       5.0%      5.0%



                                       27

<PAGE>



                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

                  (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)


     The  following  table  sets  forth the SERP's  funded  status  and  amounts
recognized in the Company's consolidated balance sheets:
                                                                 At October 31,
                                                              ------------------
                                                                1996       1995
                                                                ----       ----
Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
  Accumulated benefit obligation, (100% vested) ...........   $1,252     $1,000
                                                              =======    =======
  Projected benefit obligation for service rendered to date.   1,575      1,247
Plan assets at fair value ..................................     --         --
                                                              --------   -------
Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets ......    1,575     1,247
Unrecognized net obligation at August 15, 1995
 being recognized over 14 years ..........................     (1,265)   (1,196)
                                                              --------   -------
Accrued pension cost included in accrued expenses ..........  $   310    $   51
                                                              ========   =======

BioWhittaker offers no other post-retirement benefits to its employees.


Note 12.   Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

                                               1st       2nd      3rd     4th
                                               QTR       QTR      QTR     QTR
                                               ---       ---      ---     ---
1996
 Sales...................................  $ 11,912  $ 13,559  $ 12,253 $ 13,735
 Cost of sales...........................     6,478     7,187     6,169    6,782
 (Loss)/Income Before Income Tax.........    (1,168)    2,025    (1,457)   3,634
 Net (Loss)/Income.......................    (1,959)    1,367      (910)   2,335
 Net (Loss)/Income Per Share.............     (0.18)     0.13      (.08)    0.21

                                               1st       2nd       3rd      4th
                                               QTR       QTR       QTR      QTR
                                               ---       ---       ---      ---
1995
 Sales...................................  $ 14,530  $ 14,147  $ 13,571 $ 13,549
 Cost of sales...........................     7,686     7,540     7,554    7,382
 Income Before Income Tax................     3,365     3,619     1,999    2,275
 Net Income..............................     2,079     2,241     1,287    1,379
 Net Income Per Share....................      0.19      0.20      0.12     0.13


     In the fourth quarter of fiscal 1996, the Company recorded an adjustment to
increase  the gain on sale of product  line  (originally  recorded  in the first
quarter) by $939,000.


                                       28

<PAGE>



                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
BioWhittaker, Inc.

We have audited the  accompanying  consolidated  balance sheets of BioWhittaker,
Inc.,  as of October 31, 1996 and 1995,  and the related  statements  of income,
stockholders'  equity and cash  flows for each of the three  years in the period
ended  October  31,  1996.  Our audits also  included  the  financial  statement
schedule  listed in the Index at Item  14(a).  These  financial  statements  and
schedule are the responsibility to the Company's management.  Our responsibility
is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated  financial statements referred to above present
fairly,  in all  material  respects,  the  consolidated  financial  position  of
BioWhittaker, Inc. at October 31, 1996 and 1995, and the consolidated results of
its  operations  and its cash  flows for each of the three  years in the  period
ended  October 31,  1996,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when
considered  in  relation  to the basic  financial  statements  taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.


                                ERNST & YOUNG LLP





Baltimore, Maryland
December 6, 1996



                                       29

<PAGE>



Item 9.    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

     None.


                                    PART III

Item 10.   DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

     The  information  called for by Item 10 is incorporated by reference to the
information under the caption "Election of Directors" in the Proxy Statement.

     The information called for by Item 10 with respect to executive officers of
the Registrant appears as Item 4A in Part I of this Report.

Item 11.   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

     The  information  called for by Item 11 is incorporated by reference to the
information under the caption "Executive  Compensation and Other Information" in
the Proxy Statement.

Item 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.

     The  information  called for by Item 12 is incorporated by reference to the
information  under the captions "Equity  Securities and Certain Holders Thereof"
and "Election of Directors" in the Proxy Statement.

Item 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.

     The  information  called for by Item 13 is incorporated by reference to the
information under the captions  "Election of Directors",  "Other  Relationships"
and "Relationship between the Company and the Boehringer Ingelheim Group" in the
Proxy Statement.



                                       30

<PAGE>



                                     PART IV

Item 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.

          The following documents are filed as part of this report:
                                                                         Page
                                                                       Reference
                                                                       ---------
               Form 10-K
(a-1) Financial Statements:
      Consolidated Statements of Income for the three years ended
        October 31,1996................................................     15
      Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 31, 1996 and 1995......     16
      Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the three
        years ended October 31, 1996...................................     17
      Consolidated Statements of  Cash  Flows for the three years ended
        October 31, 1996...............................................     18
      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.......................     19
        Report of Independent Auditors.................................     29
(a-2) Financial Statement Schedules:
        Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts..................     F-1

           All supplemental  schedules other than as set forth above are omitted
as  inapplicable  or  because  the  required  information  is  included  in  the
Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.

(a-3) Exhibits:*

     3.1  Certificate of Incorporation  of the Registrant.  (Exhibit 3.1 to Form
          10 General  Form for  Registration  of  Securities  (the "Form 10") as
          originally  filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on
          September 25, 1991.)

     3.2  Bylaws of the Registrant. (Exhibit 3.2 to the Form 10).

     4.1  Form of Certificate of Designation relating to the Registrant's Series
          A  Participating  Cumulative  Preferred Stock. (Exhibit  4.1  to  the
          Form 10).

     4.2  Form of Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement between the Registrant
          and Bank of Boston, as Rights Agent.  (Exhibit 4.2 to Annual Report on
          Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  October 31, 199 5 (the "1995 Form
          10-K").

  **10.1  BioWhittaker, Inc. 1991 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (attached as
          Annex I to the Form 10).

  **10.2  Form of  Employment  Agreement  between the  Registrant  and Joseph F.
          Alibrandi (not renewed for periods after  December 31, 1996;  (Exhibit
          10.2 to the Form 10)).

    10.3  Stock  Purchase  Agreement  between  the  Registrant  and Anasco  GmbH
          (Exhibit 10.3 to the Form 10).

    10.4  Form of Joint Venture and Partnership Agreement between Boehringer
          Ingelheim Bioproducts, Inc. and BioWhittaker International, Inc.
          (Exhibit 10.4 to the Form 10).

    10.4a Amendment  dated  October  29,  1992 to the Form of Joint  Venture and
          Partnership Agreement between Boehringer Ingelheim  Bioproducts,  Inc.
          and BioWhittaker  International,  Inc. (Exhibit 10.4a to Annual Report
          on Form 10-K for the Fiscal  Year Ended  October  31,  1992 (the "1992
          Form 10- K")).

    10.5  Form of Technology License Agreement between the Registrant and
          BioWhittaker International, Inc. (Exhibit 10.5 to the Form 10).


                                       31

<PAGE>




     10.7 Loan  Agreement  dated October 13, 1994 by and between the  Registrant
          and NationsBank of North Carolina.  (Exhibit 10.7 to the Annual Report
          on Form 10-K for the fiscal  year ended  October  31,  1994 (the "1994
          Form 10-K")).

     10.8 Distribution  Agreement between  Whittaker  Corporation and Registrant
          (Exhibit 2.1 to the Form 10).

     10.9 Tax Agreement between Whittaker Corporation and Registrant Exhibit 2.2
          to the Form 10).

  **10.13 BioWhittaker, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors
          (Exhibit A to BioWhittaker, Inc.'s 1994 Proxy Statement).

    10.14 Stock Purchase  Agreement  between  BioWhittaker  Inc., and Boehringer
          Ingelheim International,  GmbH, dated April 30, 1995 (Exhibit 10.14 to
          Form 8-K, dated April 30, 1995).

    10.15 Asset Purchase Agreement between BioWhittaker, Inc. and Carter-Wallace
          Inc. dated  December 18, 1995 (Exhibit 10.15  to  Form  8-K,  dated
          December 18, 1995).

    10.16 Agreement  and Plan of Merger dated as of December  20,  1995,  by and
          among Clonetics Corporation,  BioWhittaker, Inc., and Peter Maniatis a
          representative for the Company's Stockholders and Option Holders.
          (Exhibit 10.16 to the 1995 Form 10-K).

  **10.17 BioWhittaker, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.

    10.18 Distributor Agreement between the Registrant and Boehringer Ingelheim
          BioProducts Partnership.

     11.  Statement Re: Calculation of Net Income Per Share.

     22.  List of Subsidiaries (Exhibit 22 to the Form 10).

     24.  Consent of Independent Auditors.

     27.  Financial Data Schedule.

     28.1 Stockholder Agreement among the stockholder signatory thereto, Anasco,
          and the Registrant (Exhibit 28.1 to the Form 10).

          *Exhibits  followed by a parenthetical  reference are  incorporated by
          reference to the document described  therein.  Upon written request to
          the  Secretary of the  Registrant,  a copy of any exhibit  referred to
          above will be  furnished  without  charge.  **Management  contract  or
          compensatory  plan required to be filed pursuant to Item 14(c) of this
          Report.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:

          During the quarter ended October 31, 1996, the Registrant did not file
any reports on Form 8-K.



                                                     32

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant  to the  requirements  of  Section  13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                                            BIOWHITTAKER, INC.



                                            By:  /S/ PHILIP L. ROHRER, JR.
                                                ----------------------------
                              Philip L. Rohrer, Jr.
                                 Vice President

                                            Date:    January 24, 1997
                                                 ---------------------


       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
Report has been signed below by the  following  persons on behalf of  Registrant
and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


  Signature                                 Title                    Date
  ---------                                 -----                    ----


  /S/  NOEL L. BUTERBAUGH       Director, President and Chief   January 24, 1997
- ---------------------------     Executive Officer
    (Noel L. Buterbaugh)        (Principal Executive Officer)


 /S/   JOSEPH F. ALIBRANDI      Director                        January 24, 1997
- ----------------------------
    (Joseph F. Alibrandi)


/S/    RUDIGER ERCKEL           Director                        January 24, 1997
- ----------------------------
      (Rudiger Erckel)


/S/    JOHN L. SEVER            Director                        January 24, 1997
- ----------------------------
      (John L. Sever)


/S/    STANLEY M. LEMON         Director                        January 24, 1997
- ----------------------------
    (Stanley M. Lemon)


/S/    THOMAS R. WINKLER        Director                        January 24, 1997
- -----------------------------
      (Thomas R. Winkler)


/S/    PHILIP L. ROHRER, JR.    Vice President and              January 24, 1997
- -----------------------------   Chief Financial Officer
      (Philip L. Rohrer, Jr.)   (Principal Accounting Officer)

                                       33

<PAGE>



                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

                  SCHEDULE II-VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

                             (Dollars in thousands)



                                   Balance   Charged to                  Balance
                                  Beginning  Costs and   Other     Deduc  End of
                                  of Period  Expenses  Additions  -tions  Period
                                  ---------  --------  ---------  ------  ------
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:
Year Ended October 31, 1996......  $ 129      $  1     $ 14(2)   $ 79(1)   $  65
Year Ended October 31, 1995......    104        73        --       48(1)     129
Year Ended October 31, 1994......     59        60        --       15(1)     104

- ----------
(1) Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries
(2) Reserve acquired from Clonetics Corporation

























                                       F-1

<PAGE>



                                                                 Exhibit 11


                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

                       CALCULATION OF NET INCOME PER SHARE

                  (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)


                               For the Years Ended
                                                        -------------------
                                                             October 31,
                                                             -----------
                                                      1996      1995       1994
                                                      ----      ----       ----
Earnings:

Net income.....................................      $  833   $ 6,986    $ 3,534
                                                     =======  ========   =======

Average Common and Common Equivalent
     Shares (in 000):

 Weighted average number of common shares
     outstanding.................................    10,759    10,704     10,581

 Dilutive effect of options and warrants:

    Stock options included under treasury stock
     method......................................       114       212        355
    Proportional interest rights of Anasco GmbH..        22        55        106
                                                    --------  --------   -------
Total............................................    10,895    10,971     11,042
                                                    ========  ========   =======
Net Income Per Share.............................   $  0.08   $  0.64    $  0.32
                                                    ========  ========   =======



Note: Net income per share determined on a fully diluted basis is not materially
      different from primary net income per share shown above.






<PAGE>







                                                                 Exhibit 24


               Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors


     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
(Form S-8 No. 33-44426)  pertaining to the  BioWhittaker,  Inc. Saving and Stock
Investment  Plan,  in  the  Registration   Statement  (Form  S-8  No.  33-46139)
pertaining to the BioWhittaker, Inc. 1991 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, and in
the  Registration   Statement  (Form  S-8  No.   33-83128)   pertaining  to  the
BioWhittaker,  Inc.  1994 Stock  Option Plan for  Non-Employee  Directors of our
report  dated  December  6, 1996,  with  respect to the  consolidated  financial
statements  and schedule of  BioWhittaker,  Inc.  included in the Annual  Report
(Form 10-K) for the year ended October 31, 1996.



Baltimore, Maryland
January 21, 1997




<PAGE>





                                                            Exhibit 10.17


                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.                     

                     SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN







                            Effective August 18, 1995



















                                       

<PAGE>





                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.
                     SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

Table of Contents


Preamble   ii

ARTICLE I                 -    General

ARTICLE II                -    Definitions and Usage

ARTICLE III               -    Eligibility and Participation

ARTICLE IV                -    Retirement Benefit

ARTICLE V                 -    Benefit Account

ARTICLE VI                -    Payment of Benefits

ARTICLE VII               -    Payment of Benefits on or after Death

ARTICLE VIII              -    Administration

ARTICLE IX                -    Claims Procedure

ARTICLE X                 -    Miscellaneous Provisions


                                        2

<PAGE>



                               BIOWHITTAKER, INC.

                     SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

                                    PREAMBLE

WHEREAS, BioWhittaker, Inc. (the "Company") has established (or may establish in
the future) one or more qualified retirement plans that place limitations on the
compensation used for purposes of determining the amount of retirement  benefits
available to certain key management or highly compensated employees; and

WHEREAS, the Company recognizes the unique  qualifications of such employees and
the valuable  services they provide and desires to establish an unfunded plan to
provide  retirement  benefits to  eligible  key  employees  in excess of what is
available under such qualified plans; and

WHEREAS,  the  Company has  determined  that the  implementation  of an unfunded
supplemental executive retirement plan will best serve its interest in retaining
key employees.

NOW,   THEREFORE,   the  Company  hereby  establishes  the  BioWhittaker,   Inc.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("the Plan") as hereinafter provided:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                     GENERAL

Section 1.1 Effective  Date. This Plan shall be effective as of August 18, 1995.
The rights,  if any, of any person  whose  status as an employee of the Employer
has terminated shall be determined pursuant to the Plan as in effect on the date
such employee terminated, unless a subsequently adopted provision of the Plan is
made specifically applicable to such person.

Section 1.2 Intent.  The Plan is intended to be an unfunded  plan  primarily for
the purpose of providing  deferred  compensation to a select group of management
or highly  compensated  employees,  as such group is  described  under  Sections
201(2),  301(a)(3),  and 401(a)(1) of ERISA.  The Plan is not intended to be (i)
subject to Parts 2, 3, or 4 of Title I, Subtitle B of ERISA,  or (ii)  qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Code.

                                   ARTICLE II
                              DEFINITIONS AND USAGE

Section 2.1  Definitions.  Wherever used in the Plan,  the  following  words and
phrases  shall have the  meaning  set forth  below  unless the  context  plainly
requires a different meaning:

                  "Account" means the bookkeeping reserve account established on
                  behalf of a Participant as described in Section 5.l.

                  "Account  Benefit"  means the benefit  payable under this Plan
                  attributable  to  the  balance  of  the  Participant's  vested
                  Account.

                  "Actuarial   Equivalent",   for  purposes  of   calculating  a
                  Participant's  Retirement  Benefit  pursuant to Article IV and
                  for purposes of calculating  the actuarial  equivalent of such
                  Retirement Benefit pursuant to Section 6.2, means a benefit of
                  equivalent  dollar value on a specified  date,  computed using
                  the 1983 Group Annuity Mortality table (male and female) at 8%
                  interest.  "Actuarial Equivalent", for purposes of calculating
                  the actuarial  equivalent of a  Participant's  Account Benefit
                  pursuant to Section 6.2, means a benefit of equivalent  dollar
                  value on a  specified  date,  computed  based on the amount of
                  benefit  that the  Company  could  secure  through  reasonable
                  efforts by applying an amount  equal to the vested  balance of
                  the  Participant's  Account  toward the purchase of an annuity
                  contract   issued  by  a  licensed   insurance   company  with
                  claims-paying  ratings  of at  least AA by  Standard  & Poor's
                  Corp. and at least AA2 by Moody's Investor Service.


                                        3

<PAGE>





                  "Administrator" means  the person or persons described in
                  Article VIII.

                  "Average Annual  Compensation" means the average (on an annual
                  basis) of a Participant's  aggregate  annual  Compensation for
                  the five (5) complete  calendar years of full-time  employment
                  with the  Employer  out of the most recent  seven (7) complete
                  calendar years of full-time employment with the Employer which
                  produce  the  highest  average.  If the  Participant  has been
                  employed  by the  Employer  for fewer  than five (5)  complete
                  calendar  years,  his  Average  Annual  Compensation  shall be
                  determined by averaging (on an annual basis) the  Compensation
                  received  by the  Participant  during  the  entire  period  of
                  full-time employment with the Employer.

                  "Beneficiary"  means the  person(s)  or  entity(ies)  that the
                  Participant,  in his/her most recent written designation filed
                  with  the  Administrator  before  his/her  death,  shall  have
                  designated;  provided,  however, that if the Participant fails
                  to make a designation  or if no person so designated is alive,
                  and no successor Beneficiary who has been designated is alive,
                  the term "Beneficiary" shall mean in order of priority (a) the
                  surviving  spouse of the  deceased  Participant,  or (b) if no
                  spouse  is  alive,  the  surviving  children  of the  deceased
                  Participant,  or (c) if no children are alive,  the  surviving
                  parent or parents of the  deceased  Participant,  or (d) if no
                  parent is alive, the deceased Participant's estate.

                  "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

                  "Bonus  Deferrals"  means  part  or all  of the  Participant's
                  annual  bonus,  the  receipt  of  which  is  deferred  by  the
                  Participant pursuant to Section 5.2(b).

                  "Code"  means the Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended
                  from time to time. Any reference to a particular  Code section
                  shall  include any  provision  which  modifies,  replaces,  or
                  supersedes it.

                  "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

                  "Company" means  BioWhittaker,  Inc., a corporation  organized
                  under the laws of the  state of  Delaware,  and any  successor
                  thereto.

                  "Compensation"  means the base  salary and  bonuses  paid to a
                  Participant  by the Employer  for the period in question,  but
                  excluding other occasional non-salary payments, reimbursements
                  or  other  expense  allowances,   fringe  benefits  (cash  and
                  noncash),  moving expenses,  deferred compensation and welfare
                  benefits,  but including  Employee  Deferral  Contributions as
                  defined   in  Section   2.1  under  this  Plan  and   elective
                  contributions   made  by  the   Employer   on  behalf  of  the
                  Participant  with  respect  to such  period  and which are not
                  includable  in the  Participant's  income  under  Section 125,
                  Section 401(k), Section 402(h) or Section 403(b) of the Code.

                  "Deferral  Agreement" means the written agreement entered into
                  between  the  Employer  and  the  Participant,  on  which  the
                  Participant specifies from time to time his desires regarding,
                  among other things,  Employee Deferral  Contributions,  manner
                  and  timing  of   Retirement   Benefit  and  Account   Benefit
                  distributions,    investment   allocation    elections,    and
                  Beneficiary designations.

                  "Disability"   means  the  termination  of  the  Participant's
                  employment  with the  Employer  due to the  Participant  being
                  disabled,  as a result of  sickness  or injury,  to the extent
                  that he is prevented from engaging in any substantial  gainful
                  activity,  and is  eligible  for  and  receives  a  disability
                  benefit under Title II of the Federal Social Security Act.



                                        4

<PAGE>



                  "Early  Retirement  Date" means the date the  Participant  has
                  both  terminated   full-time  employment  with  all  Employers
                  without  Termination for Cause and completed at least five (5)
                  Years of Service.

                  "Employee" means any common law employee of the Employer.

                  "Employee  Deferral  Contribution"  means the  amount of Bonus
                  Deferrals and Salary  Deferrals  that a Participant  elects to
                  contribute  to the Plan  from his  Compensation  on a  pre-tax
                  basis  pursuant  to his  Deferral  Agreement.  These  amounts,
                  including any Value  Adjustments  credited or debited pursuant
                  to Section 5.6 with respect to these amounts,  shall always be
                  one hundred percent (100%) fully vested under this Plan.

                  "Employer"  means  the  Company  and any of its  wholly  owned
                  subsidiaries  that adopt the Plan with the  Company's  consent
                  and any successor through merger, consolidation or purchase of
                  substantially all of the Employer's assets or business,  which
                  within  ninety  (90) days  after  such  succession,  agrees to
                  continue this Plan.

                  "Employer  Discretionary  Contribution"  means  the  amount of
                  Employer  matching  contributions  credited to a Participant's
                  Account pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.3.

                  "Employer Pension Plan" means the BioWhittaker, Inc. Employees
                  Pension Plan, as amended from time to time.

                  "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of
                  1974,  as  amended  from  time to  time.  Any  reference  to a
                  particular  ERISA section  shall  include any provision  which
                  modifies, replaces, or supersedes it.

                  "Normal  Retirement  Date"  means  the  first day of the month
                  coincident with or next following the Participant's attainment
                  of Normal Retirement Age. Normal Retirement Age shall mean the
                  later of the  Participant's  sixty-fifth  (65th)  birthday  or
                  termination of the Participant's full-time employment with all
                  Employers.

                  "Participant" means an eligible Employee of an Employer who is
                  participating in the Plan in accordance with Section 3.2.

                  "Plan" means the BioWhittaker, Inc. Supplemental Executive
                  Retirement Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

                  "Plan  Year" means the Plan's  accounting  year of twelve (12)
                  months commencing January 1st of each calendar year and ending
                  the following  December 31st,  except that the first Plan Year
                  shall be a short Plan Year that commences  August 18, 1995 and
                  ends December 31, 1995.

                  "Retirement   Benefit"  means  the  benefit  determined  under
                  Article IV of this Plan.

                  "Salary  Deferrals" means part or all of a Participant's  base
                  salary,  the receipt of which is  deferred by the  Participant
                  pursuant to Section 5.2(a).

                  "Social  Security  Benefit"  means the maximum  annual benefit
                  payable under the Social Security Act, relating to Old-Age and
                  Disability benefits, as of the Participant's Normal Retirement
                  Date. In the event the Participant retires prior to the Normal
                  Retirement  Date, the Primary  Insurance  Amount (PIA) will be
                  projected to the Normal Retirement Date.

                  "Termination  for Cause" means the  termination  of a Partici-
                  Pant's employment as a result of any of the following events:

                  (i) serious, willful misconduct in respect of his duties for
                  the Employer,

                                        5

<PAGE>



                  (ii) conviction of a felony or perpetration of a common law
                  fraud,

                  (iii) willful failure to comply with applicable laws with
                  respect to the execution of the Employer's business
                  operations,

                  (iv) theft, fraud,  embezzlement,  dishonesty or other conduct
                  which has resulted or is likely to result in material economic
                  damage  to  the  Company,  any  Employer,   or  any  of  their
                  affiliates or subsidiaries, or

                  (v) failure to comply with requirements of the Employer's drug
                  and alcohol abuse policies, if any.

                  "Trustee" means such  independent  third party as the Employer
                  shall  select  pursuant  to the "Trust  Agreement."  The Trust
                  Agreement  refers to a rabbi trust  established by and between
                  the Company and the Trustee, as amended from time to time.

                  "Value  Adjustments"  means amounts credited or debited to the
                  Participant's Account pursuant to Section 5.6.

                  "Year  of  Service"  means  the  full and  partial  years  (in
                  increments of one-twelfth  (1/12th) years) of active full-time
                  employment with the Employer during which substantial services
                  were  rendered  as an  employee,  commencing  on the  date the
                  Participant  was first employed  full-time by the Employer and
                  ending on the date he ceases to perform full-time services for
                  the Employer. At the discretion of the Committee, Participants
                  may be granted  additional  Years of Service  for  purposes of
                  determining  benefits under this Plan. A Year of Service shall
                  also include any and all past service  rendered as an employee
                  with  the   Whittaker   Corporation   and  its   subsidiaries.
                  Notwithstanding  anything herein to the contrary,  in no event
                  shall a  Participant  accrue  more than  twenty  (20) Years of
                  Service under this Plan.

Section  2.2  Usage.  Except  where  otherwise  indicated  by the  context,  any
masculine  terminology  used herein  shall also  include the  feminine  and vice
versa,  and the definition of any term herein in the singular shall also include
the plural and vice versa.

                                   ARTICLE III
                          ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

Section  3.1  Eligibility.  An  Employee  of an  Employer  shall be  eligible to
participate  in the Plan only to the extent,  and for the  period,  that he is a
member of a select group of management or highly  compensated  employees as such
group is described under Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1) of ERISA.

Section 3.2  Participation.  An Employee who is eligible to  participate  in the
Plan  pursuant  to  Section  3.1 shall  commence  participation  at such time as
designated by the Committee  and,  subject to the terms of this Plan,  including
without  limitation  Section 10.1,  shall remain a Participant  so long as he is
eligible to be a Participant under Section 3.1.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                               RETIREMENT BENEFIT

Section 4.1 Retirement Benefit. The provisions of Article IV herein shall relate
to the defined  benefit portion of this Plan as defined in this Section 4.1. The
Retirement  Benefit  for a  Participant  who  retires  on or  after  his  Normal
Retirement  Date  shall  be an  annual  benefit  payable  for  the  life  of the
Participant  equal to the  following:  fifty-five  percent  (55%) of his Average
Annual Compensation reduced by (i) two and three-fourths percent (2 3/4%) of his

                                        6

<PAGE>



Average Annual  Compensation for each Year of Service less than twenty (20) that
a Participant has earned up to his Normal Retirement Date and further reduced on
a  dollar-for-dollar  basis by (ii) his Social Security Benefit and his benefits
earned under the Employer Pension Plan.

For  purposes of  calculating  the offset  provided  in this  Section  4.1,  the
Participant's  accrued benefit under the Employer Pension Plan will be converted
to its Actuarial  Equivalent based on the same form and commencement date as the
Retirement Benefit.  The Employer shall make an irrevocable  contribution to the
Trust each Plan Year of cash,  stock, or other  property,  equal in value to the
value of the  Retirement  Benefit  accrued on an  actuarial  basis for such Plan
Year.

Section 4.2 Early Retirement  Benefit.  The Retirement Benefit for a Participant
who  retires  on or after his  Early  Retirement  Date but  prior to his  Normal
Retirement Date shall be the Actuarial Equivalent of the annual benefit computed
under Section 4.1,  reflecting Years of Service and Average Annual  Compensation
as of the Participant's Early Retirement Date.

Section 4.3  Vesting.

           (a)   Except as provided in Section 4.3(b) below, a Participant shall
                 become fully vested in his Retirement Benefit upon the earliest
                 to occur of the following events, provided that the Participant
                 is in the  active  employ  of an  Employer  at the  time of the
                 occurrence of such event:

                 (i)   death,
                 (ii)  termination  of  employment  due  to  Disability,   (iii)
                 attainment of age 65, or (iv)  attainment of the  Participant's
                 Early Retirement Date.

           (b)    Notwithstanding  the provisions of Section  4.3(a) above,  and
                  except as provided in Article  VII, a  Participant's  benefits
                  hereunder shall be forfeited, and no benefits shall be payable
                  hereunder  with  respect to him or his  Beneficiaries,  in the
                  event of:

                  (i)  the Participant's Termination for Cause prior to
                  receiving all or a portion of his benefits hereunder; or

                  (ii) the  Participant's  termination  of  employment  with all
                       Employers  prior  to  satisfying  the   requirements  for
                       vesting set forth in Section 4.3(a) above.

Section  4.4 Change of  Control.  Upon a Change of Control as defined in Section
8.3 of the Trust Agreement,  the Employer shall, as soon as possible,  but in no
event  longer  than thirty (30) days  following  the Change of Control,  make an
irrevocable  contribution to the Trust in an amount that makes the assets of the
Trust  sufficient to enable payment of the benefits to each Plan  Participant or
Beneficiary  that Plan  Participants  have accrued  pursuant to the terms of the
Plan as of the date on which the  Change of  Control  occurred,  including  that
year's annual actuarial  contribution  based on Compensation  earned to date for
that Plan Year.

                                    ARTICLE V
                                 BENEFIT ACCOUNT

Section 5.1  Establishment of Participant  Account.  The provisions of Article V
herein  shall  refer  to  the  defined   contribution   (the  Employee  Deferral
Contributions and the Employer Discretionary Contributions as defined in Section
2.1) portion of the Plan contained herein. The Administrator shall establish and
maintain an Account as a bookkeeping  entry in the name of each  Participant  to
which  the  Administrator  shall  credit  all  amounts  allocated  to each  such
Participant  as set  forth  herein.  Each such  Account  shall  consist  of such
subaccounts  as  are  necessary  or  desirable  to  the  Administrator  for  the
convenient administration of the Plan.


                                        7

<PAGE>



Section 5.2 Employee  Deferral  Contributions.  Each Plan Year, each Participant
may authorize the Employer to reduce his  Compensation by any specific amount or
percentage  as specified  in the Deferral  Agreement in effect for that year (in
lieu of receiving cash  compensation),  and to have such amount  credited to the
Participant's Account as an Employee Deferral  Contribution,  in accordance with
the procedures set forth below. A Participant  shall at all times be one hundred
percent (100%) fully vested in all Employee Deferral  Contributions  credited to
his Account,  including any Value  Adjustments  credited or debited  pursuant to
Section 5.6 with respect to the Employee Deferral  Contributions  portion of his
Account.  The Employer  shall make an  irrevocable  contribution  of cash to the
Trust in an  amount  equal to the  Employee  Deferral  Contributions  as soon as
practicable  after each such Employee  Deferral  Contribution is credited to the
Participant's Account, but in no event later than the earlier of (i) thirty (30)
days  following the close of the Plan Year during which such amount was credited
to the Participant's  Account, or (ii) thirty (30) days following the occurrence
of a Change of Control as defined in Section 8.3 of the Trust Agreement.


         (a)      Salary Deferrals.

                  (i) On and  after  February  17,  1996,  in order to  become a
         Participant  in the  Plan  for  purposes  of  having  Salary  Deferrals
         credited to such Participant's Account, each individual who is eligible
         pursuant to Section 3.2 must deliver an executed Deferral  Agreement to
         the Administrator  prior to the first day of the calendar year to which
         such deferral election is to apply, or, in the case of Salary Deferrals
         to commence with the payroll period commencing February 17, 1996, on or
         before February 16, 1996. Any such Salary  Deferrals  election shall be
         effective prospectively as of the first day of the first payroll period
         of the  calendar  year  commencing  after the  delivery of the executed
         Deferral  Agreement to the  Administrator  (or as of such later payroll
         period as may be specified in the Deferral Agreement), and shall remain
         effective  until  revoked or  modified  in writing by the  Participant.
         Notwithstanding  the  immediately  preceding  sentence,   any  Deferral
         Agreement received by the Administrator on or before February 16, 1996,
         shall be effective  as of the payroll  period  commencing  February 17,
         1996 (or as of such later  payroll  period as may be  specified  in the
         Deferral  Agreement).  Any such Salary Deferral election shall apply to
         any  and  all  increases  and   reductions  in  base  salary  that  the
         Participant  may receive  while the  Deferral  Agreement  on which such
         Salary Deferral election is specified is in effect.

                  (ii) Any Employee who first becomes eligible to participate in
         this Plan after  February 17, 1996,  must deliver an executed  Deferral
         Agreement  to the  Administrator  within  thirty  (30)  days  of  first
         becoming  eligible  in order to have Salary  Deferrals  credited to his
         Account with respect to base salary  earned  during the first  calendar
         year that such Employee is eligible.  Any such Deferral Agreement shall
         be  effective  prospectively  as of the first day of the first  payroll
         period commencing after the delivery of the executed Deferral Agreement
         to the  Administrator  (or as of such  later  payroll  period as may be
         specified in the Deferral  Agreement) and shall remain  effective until
         revoked or  modified in writing by the  Participant.  In the event that
         such a newly  eligible  Employee does not deliver an executed  Deferral
         Agreement to the Administrator within such thirty (30) -day period, the
         provisions of Section 5.2(a)(i) shall apply as to when the Employee may
         commence Salary Deferrals under the Plan.

                  (iii) Except as otherwise provided by the  Administrator,  the
         amount of Salary Deferrals elected on a Deferral Agreement with respect
         to a  calendar  year may not be  changed  during  such  calendar  year.
         Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  Salary  Deferrals may be terminated at
         any time during the calendar year by  delivering  an executed  Deferral
         Agreement to the  Administrator on which the Participant  specifies his
         or her election to have Salary Deferrals cease. The Administrator shall
         cease crediting Salary Deferrals to the  Participant's  Account as soon
         as practicable after receiving the executed Deferral Agreement.  Except
         as otherwise  provided by the  Administrator,  in the event that Salary
         Deferrals are terminated  during a calendar year,  Salary Deferrals may
         not be recommenced with respect to such Participant until the first day
         of the first payroll period commencing in the following  calendar year.
         A Participant  may modify the amount of Salary  Deferrals or recommence
         Salary  Deferrals by delivering an executed  Deferral  Agreement to the
         Administrator prior to the first day of the calendar year for which

                                        8

<PAGE>



         such  Deferral  Agreement is to be  effective.  The  Administrator  may
         modify these  deferral  election  procedures  from time to time, in its
         sole  discretion,  without  requiring  an  amendment  to  the  Plan  to
         effectuate such modifications.

                  (iv)  Salary  Deferrals  pursuant  to this  Section  5.2  with
         respect to a  calendar  year shall  reduce  the  Participant's  regular
         salary  payments on a ratable basis over such calendar year (or on such
         other  basis  as  may  be  specified  in  the  Participant's   Deferral
         Agreement) and shall be credited to the Participant's Account as of the
         dates of such reductions.

         (b)      Bonus Deferrals.

                  (i) In order to become a Participant  in the Plan for purposes
         of having Bonus Deferrals credited to such Participant's  Account, each
         Employee  who is  eligible  pursuant  to  Section  3.2 must  deliver an
         executed Deferral Agreement to the Administrator prior to the first day
         of the fiscal  year  during  which the  services  to which the bonus is
         attributable  will be performed.  The first Bonus Deferrals that may be
         made  pursuant to this Plan shall be with  respect to bonuses  that are
         attributable to the services to be performed for the Employer's  fiscal
         year commencing  October 28, 1996.  Bonus Deferral  elections made with
         respect to bonuses payable for services to be performed during a fiscal
         year  shall  be  irrevocable   once  such  fiscal  year  commences.   A
         Participant  may  modify his Bonus  Deferral  election  for  subsequent
         fiscal  years  by  delivering  a  modified  Deferral  Agreement  to the
         Administrator  prior to the first day of the fiscal year  during  which
         the services to which the bonus is attributable will be performed.  The
         Administrator may modify these deferral  election  procedures from time
         to time, in its sole discretion,  without requiring an amendment to the
         Plan to effectuate such modifications.

                  (ii) The amount of any annual bonus  deferred shall reduce the
         amount of such bonus  otherwise  payable to the  Participant  as of the
         date such  payment  otherwise  would have been made,  and the amount of
         such  reduction  shall be credited to the  Participant's  Account as of
         such date.

Section 5.3 Employer Discretionary  Contributions.  Each Plan Year, the Employer
shall   credit  to  the   Account  of  all   Participants   an   amount,   on  a
dollar-for-dollar matching basis, based upon the amount of the Employee Deferral
Contributions  credited  to each  Participant's  Account for such Plan Year as a
percentage of  Compensation,  provided that the matching  amount does not exceed
fifteen (15%) percent of such Participant's Compensation for such Plan Year. The
Employer  Discretionary  Contribution  shall be  credited  to the  Participant's
Account at the same time that the  related  Salary  Deferral  or Bonus  Deferral
would have been paid to the  Participant if not deferred  pursuant to this Plan.
The Employer shall make an irrevocable  contribution  of cash to the Trust in an
amount equal to the Employer  Discretionary  Contribution as soon as practicable
after  the  related  Employer  Discretionary  Contribution  is  credited  to the
Participant's Account, but in no event later than the earlier of (i) thirty (30)
days  following the close of the Plan Year during which such amount was credited
to the Participant's  Account, or (ii) thirty (30) days following the occurrence
of a Change of Control as defined in Section 8.3 of the Trust Agreement.

Section  5.4  Vesting of  Employer  Match.  A  Participant  shall be one hundred
percent (100%) fully vested in the Employer Discretionary Contributions credited
to his Account,  including any Value Adjustments credited or debited pursuant to
Section 5.6 with respect to the Employer Discretionary  Contributions portion of
his Account,  after the  Participant has completed five (5) Years of Service or,
if earlier, upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 4.3(a)
while the  Participant  is in the active employ of an Employer.  Unless  vesting
occurs as a result of the  occurrence of any of the events  specified in Section
4.3(a)  while  the  Participant  is in the  active  employ of an  Employer,  the
Participant shall forfeit the Employer  Discretionary  Contributions credited to
his Account,  including any Value  Adjustments  credited or debited  pursuant to
Section 5.6 with respect to the Employer Discretionary  Contributions portion of
his Account,  in the event that the Participant  terminates  employment with all
Employers prior to being fully vested in such portion of his Account.



                                        9

<PAGE>

Section 5.5 Distributions in the Case of Unforeseeable Emergency. A distribution
may be made to a Participant  in the event of an  unforeseeable  emergency.  The
Participant's Account shall be debited to reflect any such distribution made. An
unforeseeable  emergency  is  defined  as a  severe  financial  hardship  to the
Participant  resulting from (i) a sudden and  unexpected  illness or accident of
the Participant or of a dependent,  (ii) loss of the Participant's  property due
to  casualty,   or  (iii)  other   similar   extraordinary   and   unforeseeable
circumstances  arising  as  a  result  of  events  beyond  the  control  of  the
Participant.   This   determination   shall   be  made  by  the   Administrator.
Distributions  shall be limited to the amount necessary to satisfy the emergency
and shall be further limited to the aggregate  Employee  Deferral  Contributions
credited to the Participant's Account,  including any Value Adjustments credited
or  debited  pursuant  to Section  5.6 with  respect  to the  Employee  Deferral
Contributions  portion of his Account. The circumstances that will constitute an
unforeseeable  emergency  will depend  upon the facts of each case,  but, in any
case,  payment  may not be made to the extent  that such  hardship  is or may be
relieved:

       (i)   Through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise; or

       (ii)  By liquidation  of the  Participant's  assets,  other than hardship
             withdrawals in the Company's  Savings and Stock Investment Plan, to
             the extent the  liquidation  of such assets  would not itself cause
             severe financial hardship; or

       (iii) By cessation of deferrals under the Plan.

Section 5.6  Value Adjustments to Account.

                  (a) As of the last  business day of each  calendar  month (and
         such  other  dates  as the  Administrator,  in its  sole  and  absolute
         discretion,  may determine),  the Account of each Participant  shall be
         credited or debited with Value Adjustments to reflect the net amount of
         realized and unrealized appreciation and depreciation (on a fair market
         value  basis),  income and losses that would have been  experienced  or
         recognized  since the last  business day of the  immediately  preceding
         calendar  month if an amount equal to the balance of the  Participant's
         Account had been invested in certain  investment  funds,  designated by
         the  Administrator  from time to time,  in the  manner  elected  by the
         Participant  in  writing  to the  Administrator.  The  amount  of Value
         Adjustments  to be so  credited  or  debited  with  respect to the last
         business  day of a calendar  month shall be  determined  based upon the
         balance of the Participant's Account as of the last business day of the
         immediately preceding calendar month, with appropriate  adjustments for
         credits   of  Salary   Deferrals,   Bonus   Deferrals,   and   Employer
         Discretionary  Contributions,  distributions of Retirement Benefits and
         Account  Benefits,  and  distributions  on account of an  unforeseeable
         emergency,  since the last  business day of the  immediately  preceding
         calendar month.

                  (b) A  Participant  may  change the  Participant's  investment
         allocation  twice per Plan Year (or more  frequently as so permitted by
         the Administrator in its sole  discretion),  among the investment funds
         designated by the Administrator, by submitting an investment allocation
         election  in writing to the  Administrator.  An  investment  allocation
         election shall become effective on the next following January 1 or July
         1 or, in the event that such date is not a business  day,  on the first
         business day thereafter (or on such other date as the Administrator, in
         its sole  discretion,  may provide)  after such  investment  allocation
         election is received in writing by the Administrator, or as of February
         17, 1996, with respect to any investment  allocation election submitted
         on or before  February 16, 1996.  With respect to any  Participant  who
         first becomes  eligible to  participate  in the Plan after February 17,
         1996, his initial investment allocation election shall become effective
         as of the first  business  day after  such  election  is  submitted  in
         writing to the Administrator,  or as soon as practicable thereafter.  A
         Participant's  investment  allocation  election  shall remain in effect
         until  subsequently  modified  by  the  delivery  of a  new  investment
         allocation election in writing to the Administrator.  In the event that
         a  Participant  fails  to  provide  the  Administrator  with a  written
         investment allocation election,  Value Adjustments shall be credited or
         debited to such  Participant's  Account,  in  accordance  with  Section
         5.6(a),   to  reflect  the  net  amount  of  realized  and   unrealized
         appreciation and  depreciation  (on a fair market value basis),  income
         and losses that would have been realized if an amount equal to the


                                       10

<PAGE>


         balance of the Participant's  Account,  as adjusted pursuant to Section
         5.6(a),  had  been  invested  in such  investment  fund or funds as the
         Administrator may determine in its sole and absolute discretion.

                  (c) Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, the
         Administrator  may,  but  is  not  required  to,  implement  investment
         allocation  elections  submitted by the Participants.  Anything in this
         Plan to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the Administrator,  in its sole
         and absolute discretion,  may determine at any time to modify the rules
         and  procedures  set forth in this  Section 5.6,  without  requiring an
         amendment to the Plan to effectuate such modifications.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                               PAYMENT OF BENEFITS

Section 6.1  Payment of Benefits.

                  (a) A Participant  who retires under this Plan on or after his
         Normal  Retirement Date or Early  Retirement Date shall be entitled to,
         and shall receive: (i) a Retirement Benefit payable at such time and in
         such form as is  specified  in his Deferral  Agreement,  determined  in
         accordance with Section 4.1 or 4.2, as applicable,  and (ii) an Account
         Benefit,  based  upon the  amount of his  vested  Account  pursuant  to
         Section  5.1,  payable at such time and in such form as is specified in
         his Deferral Agreement.  The time of benefit  commencement and the form
         of benefit elected by a Participant in his Deferral  Agreement need not
         be the same for his Retirement Benefit and his Account Benefit.  Unless
         the   Participant   has  specified  in  his  Deferral   Agreement  that
         distribution  of his Retirement  Benefit  and/or Account  Benefit is to
         commence  prior to his Normal  Retirement  Date,  then,  subject to the
         Administrator's  discretion to delay  distribution  pursuant to Section
         6.3,  distribution  of  the  Participant's  Retirement  Benefit  and/or
         Account Benefit, as applicable,  shall commence on the first day of the
         first month immediately  following the Participant's  Normal Retirement
         Date or as soon thereafter as practicable.

                  (b)  Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the  contrary or any
         election  to  the  contrary  specified  in the  Participant's  Deferral
         Agreement,  a Participant who terminates  employment prior to his Early
         Retirement  Date shall be entitled to receive  only an amount  equal to
         his vested Account and vested Retirement  Benefit,  if any. Such amount
         shall be payable in a single lump sum within ninety (90) days following
         the Participant's termination of employment.

Section 6.2 Form of Benefit.  To the extent a Retirement  Benefit and/or Account
Benefit is payable to a Participant  pursuant to Section 6.1(a), such Retirement
Benefit and/or Account Benefit shall be paid in the normal form of a single life
annuity.  Notwithstanding the immediately  preceding sentence, at the discretion
of the Participant as designated at the commencement of his participation in the
Plan,  and in accordance  with such written  procedures as may be adopted by the
Administrator, such Retirement Benefit and/or Account Benefit may be paid in the
form of: (a) a single  lump sum,  (b) annual  installments  over a period not to
exceed ten (10) years, (c) a joint and fifty percent (50%) survivor annuity, (d)
a different  form of joint and  survivor  annuity as  provided  in the  Employer
Pension  Plan, or (e) any other form of benefit that the  Administrator,  in its
sole  discretion,  may make available to  Participants;  provided that each such
alternative  form of benefit is the  Actuarial  Equivalent of the normal form of
benefit. In the event that a Participant elects that his Account Benefit be paid
in a form other than an annuity, the Participant's  Account shall be credited or
debited with Value  Adjustments in accordance with Section 5.6 until the Account
has been  distributed  in full.  In the event  that in the future the IRS ruling
position is modified to permit  Participants  to make benefit form  elections or
benefit  commencement  timing elections in closer  proximity to retirement,  the
Administrator,  in its sole  discretion,  may  permit  such later  elections  in
accordance with such position.

Section  6.3  Payment  Procedure.  The  Employer  shall  direct  the  Trustee to
distribute,  in cash,  from the Trust to the  Participant  (or  Beneficiary,  as
applicable) an amount equal to the Retirement Benefit and Account Benefit due to
or on behalf of the  Participant  in accordance  with the provisions of Sections
6.1 and 6.2, or as otherwise provided in Article VII. The Company shall have the
sole and absolute  discretion to delay the  commencement  of distribution of the
Retirement Benefit and/or Account Benefit from the Trust for a period of up to


                                       11

<PAGE>


ninety (90) days following the time that the  Retirement  Benefit and/or Account
Benefit is otherwise scheduled to commence.  Except as otherwise provided in the
Trust Agreement,  neither the Participant, his Beneficiary, nor any person other
than the Company  shall have any interest or right in any assets of the Trust as
a result  of having a right to  receive  a  Retirement  Benefit  and/or  Account
Benefit or otherwise.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                      PAYMENT OF BENEFITS ON OR AFTER DEATH


Section  7.1 Death After  Commencement  of Benefit  Payments.  In the event of a
Participant's  death  after the  commencement  of payment  of the  Participant's
Retirement Benefit and/or Account Benefit hereunder in accordance with a form of
benefit  described  in Section 6.2, the death  benefit,  if any,  payable to his
Beneficiary  with  respect to such  Retirement  Benefit or Account  Benefit,  as
applicable,  that had commenced  being paid shall be  distributed  in accordance
with the form of benefit  already in effect.  In the event that at the time of a
Participant's  death  either  the  Participant's  Retirement  Benefit or Account
Benefit  had not  commenced  being  paid,  such  Retirement  Benefit  or Account
Benefit,  as  applicable,  that had not  commenced  being  paid shall be paid in
accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2.

Section 7.2 Death Prior to  Commencement of Benefit  Payments.  If a Participant
dies while actively employed or while otherwise vested in his Retirement Benefit
pursuant to Section 4.3 or in his Account  pursuant to Sections 5.2 and 5.4, but
prior to the  commencement of payment of such Retirement  Benefit and/or Account
Benefit, such Retirement Benefit and/or Account Benefit, as applicable, that had
not  commenced  being  paid  shall  be  paid  or  commence  being  paid  to  the
Participant's Beneficiary,  as soon as practicable after the Participant's death
(subject  to  the  Administrator's  discretion  to  delay  the  commencement  of
distribution of the Retirement Benefit and/or Account Benefit from the Trust for
a  period  of  up to  ninety  (90)  days),  in  accordance  with  the  following
procedures:

                  (a) in the  event  that  the  Participant,  at the time of his
         death, either (i) does not have in effect a valid Deferral Agreement on
         which a form of benefit was elected or (ii) the form of benefit elected
         on the  Deferral  Agreement  in effect is a single  life  annuity  with
         respect to such  Retirement  Benefit or  Account  Benefit  that had not
         commenced being paid, then the Participant's  Beneficiary shall receive
         the same  survivor  benefit  that would be payable with respect to such
         Retirement  Benefit or Account  Benefit,  as  applicable,  that had not
         commenced  being paid if the  Participant had retired with an immediate
         joint and fifty  percent (50%)  survivor  annuity on the day before the
         Participant's death; or

                  (b) in the  event  that  the  Participant,  at the time of his
         death,  has in effect a valid Deferral  Agreement on which he elected a
         form of benefit  other than a single life  annuity with respect to such
         Retirement  Benefit or Account  Benefit,  as  applicable,  that had not
         commenced being paid, then the Participant's  Beneficiary shall receive
         such  Retirement  Benefit or  Account  Benefit  of the  Participant  in
         accordance with the form of benefit elected on such Deferral Agreement.
         If the form of benefit elected on such Deferral Agreement is an annuity
         in a form  other than a single  life  annuity,  then the  Participant's
         Beneficiary  shall  receive  the same  survivor  benefit  that would be
         payable  to the  survivor  under  the terms of such  annuity  as if the
         Participant had retired and commenced receiving annuity payments on the
         day before the Participant's death.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                 ADMINISTRATION

Section 8.1  General.  The  Administrator  shall be the  Compensation  Committee
selected by the Board of Directors  and  comprised of at least three (3) persons
who are  "disinterested"  as that  term is or may be  defined  for  purposes  of
Section  16 of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Act  of  1934.  Unless  otherwise
determined  by the  Administrator  pursuant to Section  8.2,  all actions of the
Administrator  shall be authorized  and  undertaken  based upon  majority  rule,
except that in the event of a vacancy on the  Compensation  Committee  such that
the  Compensation   Committee  is  comprised  of  only  two  (2)  persons,   the
Administrator's  actions  shall be deemed  valid if such  action is  unanimously
agreed upon by the then-existing members of the Compensation Committee. Except


                                       12

<PAGE>


as  otherwise  specifically  provided in the Plan,  the  Administrator  shall be
responsible  for  administration  of the Plan.  The  Administrator  shall be the
"named fiduciary" within the meaning of Section 402(c)(2) of ERISA.

Section 8.2  Administrative  Rules.  The  Administrator  may adopt such rules of
procedure as it deems  desirable  for the conduct of its affairs,  except to the
extent that such rules conflict with the provisions of the Plan.

Section 8.3  Duties.  The Administrator shall have the following rights, powers
and duties:

         (a)      The  decision  of the  Administrator  in  matters  within  its
                  jurisdiction  shall be final,  binding and conclusive upon the
                  Employer and upon any other person  affected by such decision,
                  subject to the claims procedure hereinafter set forth.

          (b)     The  Administrator shall  have, in its  sole and  absolute
                  discretion, the duty and  authority to interpret and construe
                  the provisions of the Plan, to determine  eligibility  for
                  benefits and the  appropriate  amount of any benefits,  to
                  decide any question which may arise regarding  the  rights of
                  Employees,  Participants, and Beneficiaries, and the amounts
                  of their respective interests, to  remedy  any  ambiguities,
                  inconsistencies or omissions in the Plan, to adopt such rules
                  and to exercise  such powers as the  Administrator  may deem
                  necessary for the  administration of the Plan, and to exercise
                  any other rights, powers or privileges granted to the Adminis-
                  trator by the terms of the Plan.

         (c)      The Administrator  shall maintain full and complete records of
                  its  decisions.  Its records  shall  contain all relevant data
                  pertaining to the  Participant and his rights and duties under
                  the Plan.  The  Administrator  shall have the duty to maintain
                  Account records of all Participants.

         (d)      The Administrator shall cause the principal  provisions of the
                  Plan to be communicated to the Participants, and a copy of the
                  Plan and other  documents  shall be available at the principal
                  office of the Employer for inspection by the  Participants  at
                  reasonable times determined by the Administrator.

         (e)      The Administrator shall periodically report to the Board with
                  respect  to  the  status of the Plan.

Section 8.4 Agents.  The  Administrator  may employ  agents and provide for such
clerical, legal, actuarial,  accounting,  medical, advisory or other services as
it deems  necessary  or  desirable  to perform its duties  under this Plan.  The
Administrator may delegate any of its duties or powers to other employees of the
Employer,  to the  Trustee  with its  consent,  or to any other  person or firm,
provided that the  Administrator  shall prudently choose such agents and rely in
good faith on their actions.

Section 8.5 Compensation and Expenses of Administrator. No individual serving as
Administrator  who is  receiving  compensation  from the Employer as a full-time
employee  or who is a member of the  Committee  shall be entitled to receive any
compensation or fee for his services hereunder.  Any other individual serving as
Administrator shall be entitled to receive such reasonable  compensation for his
services as an  Administrator  hereunder as may be mutually  agreed upon between
the Employer and such individual. Each individual serving as Administrator shall
be entitled  to require  the  Employer to pay  directly,  or to  reimburse  such
individual,  for any  reasonable  and  necessary  expenditures  incurred  in the
discharge of his duties.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                CLAIMS PROCEDURE

Section 9.1 General. Any claim for benefits under the Plan shall be filed by the
Participant or Beneficiary  ("claimant") on the form prescribed for such purpose
with the Administrator.



                                       13

<PAGE>



Section  9.2  Denials.  If a claim  for  benefits  under  the Plan is  wholly or
partially  denied,  notice of the decision shall be furnished to the claimant by
the Administrator  within a reasonable period of time after receipt of the claim
by the Administrator.

Section 9.3  Notice.  Any claimant who is denied a claim for benefits shall be
             furnished written notice setting forth:
             ------

         (a)     the specific reason or reasons for the denial;

         (b)     specific reference to the pertinent provisions of the Plan upon
                 which the denial is based;

         (c)     a description of any additional material or information
                 necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim; and

         (d)     an explanation of the claim review procedure under the Plan.

Section 9.4 Appeals Procedure. In order that a claimant may appeal a denial of a
claim, the claimant or the claimant's duly authorized representative may:

         (a)      request a review by written  application to the Administrator,
                  or its designate,  no later than sixty (60) days after receipt
                  by the claimant of written notification of denial of a claim;

         (b)      review pertinent documents; and

         (c)      submit issues and comments in writing.

Section  9.5 Review.  A decision  on review of a denied  claim shall be made not
later than sixty (60) days after receipt of a request for review, unless special
circumstances  require  an  extension  of time for  processing,  in which case a
decision  shall be rendered  within a reasonable  period of time,  but not later
than one  hundred and twenty  (120) days after  receipt of a request for review.
The  decision  on review  shall be in writing  and shall  include  the  specific
reason(s)  for the  decision  and the  specific  reference(s)  to the  pertinent
provisions of the Plan on which the decision is based.

                                    ARTICLE X
                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 10.1 Amendment and Termination.  The Company reserves the right to amend
or terminate the Plan in any manner that it deems advisable,  by a resolution of
the Company's Board.  Notwithstanding  the immediately  preceding  sentence,  no
amendment or termination of the Plan shall reduce the vested Retirement  Benefit
and Account  Benefit of any  Participant  determined  as of the day  immediately
preceding the effective date of such amendment or  termination.  Notice of every
such amendment or termination shall be given in writing to each Participant.  In
the case of termination of the Plan, the Participants' vested Retirement Benefit
and/or Account  Benefit may, in the sole discretion of the Board, be distributed
in full, in the form of a single lump sum payment to each such  Participant,  as
soon as reasonably  practicable  following such  termination of the Plan. In the
alternative,  the Board  may,  in its sole  discretion,  determine  to  commence
distribution  of the  Participants'  vested  Retirement  Benefit  and/or Account
Benefit as soon as reasonably practicable following such termination of the Plan
in any other form contemplated by the Plan; provided,  however,  that such other
form does not result in the  complete  distribution  of a  Participant's  vested
Retirement Benefit and/or Account Benefit at a time later than the time that the
Participant's  Retirement Benefit and/or Account Benefit,  as applicable,  would
otherwise have been completely distributed had the Plan not been terminated.

Section 10.2 No Assignment.  Neither the Participant  nor any Beneficiary  shall
have the power to pledge, transfer,  assign,  anticipate,  mortgage or otherwise
encumber or dispose of in advance any interest in amounts  payable  hereunder or
any of the  payments  provided  for  herein,  nor shall any  interest in amounts
payable  hereunder  or in any payments be subject to seizure for payments of any
debts, judgments,  alimony or separate maintenance, or be reached or transferred
by  operation  of  law in  the  event  of  the  Participant's  or  Beneficiary's
bankruptcy, insolvency or otherwise.

                                       14

<PAGE>


Section 10.3  Interpretation.  If any  provision or provisions of the Plan shall
for any reason be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the Plan
shall be carried into effect  unless the effect  thereof  would be to materially
alter or  defeat  the  purpose  of the  Plan.  All  terms  of the Plan  shall be
uniformly  and  consistently  applied to all the  Employees,  Participants,  and
Beneficiaries.

Section 10.4 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of the Plan are binding upon
and inure to the benefit of each Employer,  its successors and assigns,  and the
Participant, his beneficiaries, heirs, legal representatives and assigns.

Section  10.5  Governing  Law.  The Plan shall be subject  to and  construed  in
accordance with the laws of the state of Maryland,  except the conflicts of laws
provisions thereof and except as preempted by the provisions of ERISA.

Section 10.6 No Guarantee of Employment.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall be
construed  as a contract of  employment  or deemed to give any  Participant  the
right to be  retained  in the  employ  of an  Employer  or any  equity  or other
interest  in the  assets,  business or affairs of an  Employer.  No  Participant
hereunder  shall have a security  interest in assets of an Employer used to make
contributions or pay benefits.

Section 10.7 Severability. If any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or
invalid for any  reason,  such  illegality  or  invalidity  shall not affect the
remaining  provisions of the Plan,  but the Plan shall be construed and enforced
as if such illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein.

Section 10.8  Notification of Addresses.  Each  Participant and each Beneficiary
shall  file with the  Administrator,  from time to time,  in  writing,  the post
office address of the Participant,  the post office address of each Beneficiary,
and each change of post office address.  Any communication,  statement or notice
addressed to the last post office address filed with the Administrator (or if no
address was filed,  then to the last post office  address of the  Participant or
Beneficiary  as  shown  on the  Employer's  records)  shall  be  binding  on the
Participant  and each  Beneficiary  for all purposes of the Plan and neither the
Administrator nor any Employer shall be obligated to search for or ascertain the
whereabouts of any Participant or Beneficiary.

Section 10.9 Bonding.  The Administrator and all agents and advisors employed by
it shall not be required to be bonded, except as otherwise required by ERISA.

Section 10.10 No Funding. The Plan constitutes a mere promise by the Employer to
make payments in accordance  with the terms of the Plan,  and  Participants  and
Beneficiaries  shall  have the  status of  general  unsecured  creditors  of the
Employer.  Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to give any  Employee,  or any
other  person,  rights to any  specific  assets of the  Employer or of any other
person. In all events, it is the intent of the Employer that the Plan be treated
as unfunded for tax  purposes  and for purposes of Title I of ERISA.  Any assets
set aside, including any assets transferred to a rabbi trust or purchased by the
Employer with respect to amounts payable under the Plan, shall be subject to the
claims  of the  Employer's  general  creditors,  and no  person  other  than the
Employer  shall,  by virtue of the provisions of the Plan,  have any interest in
such assets.

Section 10.11 Incapacity of Recipient.  If any person entitled to a distribution
under this Plan is deemed by the  Administrator  to be incapable  of  personally
receiving and giving a valid receipt for such  payment,  then,  unless and until
claim therefor shall have been made by a duly appointed  guardian or other legal
representative of such person, the Administrator may provide for such payment or
any part thereof to be made to any other person or institution then contributing
toward  or  providing  for the care and  maintenance  of such  person.  Any such
payment  shall be a  payment  for the  account  of such  person  and a  complete
discharge of any liability of the Company, the Employer and the Plan therefor.


                                       15

<PAGE>



                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Company  has caused this Plan to be
executed  on its behalf,  by its duly  authorized  officer,  on this ____ day of
______________, 1996.


ATTEST:                                      BIOWHITTAKER, INC.



- ---------------------------                  -----------------------------
                                                  President











































                                       16

<PAGE>




                                                              Exhibit 10.18


                              DISTRIBUTOR AGREEMENT

         This  Distributor  Agreement  is made and  entered as of the 1st day of
November, 1995 by and between BioWhittaker,  Inc., a Delaware corporation,  8830
Biggs Ford Road, Walkersville, Maryland 21793-0127, U.S.A., ("BioWhittaker") and
Boehringer Ingelheim  Bioproducts,  Partnership,  a Delaware general partnership
("Distributor").

RECITALS:

A.  BioWhittaker is engaged in the  development,  manufacture,  and marketing of
    various Cell Culture,  LAL, and Diagnostic  products marketed under the name
    "BioWhittaker"  including those products listed in Exhibit A hereto, as such
    exhibit  may  be  amended  from  time  to  time  by  mutual  agreement  (the
    "Products").

B.  Distributor has represented  that  it  has  the requisite  knowledge  and
    experience to act  as  BioWhittaker's distributor and  to  promote,  market,
    sell, and service the Products.

C.  Under the terms of the Stock Purchase  Agreement (the "SPA") dated April 30,
    1995 between BioWhittaker, Inc. and Boehringer Ingelheim International, GmbH
    ("BII"),  BioWhittaker  agreed to  establish a  distribution  system for the
    Products  in the  geographical  areas  designated  in Exhibit B hereto  (the
    "Territory")  and  to  appoint   Distributor  as  BioWhittaker's   exclusive
    distributor for the Products in the Territory.

AGREEMENT:

    NOW,  THEREFORE,  by reason of the foregoing,  and in  consideration  of the
mutual promises and covenants  contained  herein,  BioWhittaker  and Distributor
hereby agree as follows:

    1.    Appointment of Distributor.

          (a)  BioWhittaker   hereby  appoints   Distributor  as  its  exclusive
    distributor  to promote,  market,  sell,  and  service  the  Products in the
    Territory. Distributor is entitled to perform its distribution rights either
    directly or by using its  affiliates or recognized  agents.  As used herein,
    "affiliates"  means any entity owned by, owning or under common control with
    a party to this agreement.

          (b)  During  the term of the  Agreement,  BioWhittaker  agrees  not to
    appoint any other person,  firm, or  corporation  to act as a distributor of
    the Products within the Territory.  Although  Distributor is responsible for
    resolving customer complaints in the Territory,  if BioWhittaker  determines
    it is appropriate under the circumstances, BioWhittaker retains the right to
    call upon customers within the Territory to investigate and resolve customer
    complaints  and to perform or cause to be performed  additional  services in
    the  Territory.  Prior to calling  on any such  customer  in the  Territory,
    BioWhittaker will advise Distributor and, unless otherwise  requested by the
    customer,  allow  Distributor's  representative to accompany  BioWhittaker's
    representative on such call if Distributor so elects.

    2. Acceptance by Distributor. Distributor hereby accepts this appointment as
an exclusive distributor of the Products in the Territory, and agrees to use its
reasonable  best efforts to promote,  market,  sell, and service the Products in
the Territory  and to enhance the goodwill of  BioWhittaker,  the Products,  and
their trademarks and trade names.

    3.    Terms of Sale.

          (a)  Prices  and  Discounts.  Distributor's  purchase  price  for  the
    Products shall be from BioWhittaker's distributor price list as set forth in
    Exhibit C. Unless  otherwise  specified  by  BioWhittaker,  prices  shall be
    F.O.B. BioWhittaker's facilities, Walkersville, Maryland.


                                        1

<PAGE>



          (b) Price  Changes.  BioWhittaker  reserves  the  right to make  price
    changes,  immediately  and  without  notice,  in  response  to raw  material
    shortages  and  other   circumstances   beyond  its  control.  In  addition,
    BioWhittaker  reserves  the right to  change  its  prices in its  discretion
    annually upon ninety (90) days prior written notice to Distributor.

          (c) Orders.  All orders shall be in writing,  or, if initially  placed
    orally,  shall be  confirmed  in  writing  within  twenty-four  (24)  hours.
    BioWhittaker  reserves the right to reject any order in its sole discretion,
    and  BioWhittaker  shall not be liable to Distributor  for expenses,  costs,
    losses, or other damages arising from BioWhittaker's  rejection of any order
    for any reason.  All orders accepted by BioWhittaker  shall be in accordance
    with  BioWhittaker's  standard export terms and conditions of sale. Any term
    or  condition  set  forth  on any  order  or  other  document  submitted  by
    Distributor  which  is  inconsistent  with  or in  addition  to any  term or
    condition  of  this  Agreement  shall  be of no  force  and  effect,  unless
    specifically  accepted in writing by an authorized  officer of BioWhittaker,
    Inc.

          (d)   Delivery.   Delivery   shall   be  made  and   accepted   F.O.B.
    BioWhittaker's facility,  Walkersville,  Maryland. Title to and ownership of
    the Products  shall pass from  BioWhittaker  to  Distributor  upon  delivery
    thereof to a carrier or  carriers  designated  by  Distributor  (or,  in the
    absence  of such  designation  by  Distributor,  to a  carrier  or  carriers
    designated  by  BioWhittaker)  at  BioWhittaker's   plant  in  Walkersville,
    Maryland.  BioWhittaker  shall pay for overseas  packing of the BioWhittaker
    Products.  Distributor  shall pay for all  freight  and  insurance  charges,
    customs duties,  and ownership,  property taxes and any other charges levied
    or accruing  with respect to the Products  after  delivery to the carrier or
    carriers.

          (e)  Payment.   Full  payment  for  the  Products  shall  be  made  to
    BioWhittaker  in lawful  currency of the United  States.  At  BioWhittaker's
    request,  such payment shall be made in cash,  by letter of credit,  in form
    and substance acceptable to BioWhittaker, or by wire transfer to NationsBank
    of North  Carolina,  N.A.,  Charlotte,  North  Carolina 28255 for deposit to
    BioWhittaker's  account  no.  001863265.  The ABA  no.  for  NationsBank  is
    053000196.   Letters  of  credit  shall  be  payable  against   delivery  by
    BioWhittaker of bills of lading or other  documentation  evidencing delivery
    to the carrier or other agent of Distributor.  All payments shall be due and
    owing from  Distributor to  BioWhittaker  within 47 days from  Distributor's
    receipt of BioWhittaker's  invoice and evidence that the Products covered by
    the invoice have been  delivered to the first common  carrier.  Any payments
    not made within the time above  specified  shall bear interest at the lesser
    of 18% per year,  or the highest  lawful rate of interest  from the due date
    until such payment is actually received by BioWhittaker.  In addition to any
    rights  BioWhittaker  may have under this  Agreement or under law,  upon any
    failure,  threatened  failure,  or reasonable  belief by  BioWhittaker  that
    Distributor  may be  unable  or  unwilling  to pay for any  order  when due,
    BioWhittaker  shall have the right to insist that an order be prepaid  prior
    to shipment;  to cancel any order placed  hereunder;  and to refuse or delay
    the shipment thereof until satisfactory assurances of payment have been made
    by Distributor.

    4. Force  Majeure.  BioWhittaker  shall have no liability for any failure to
perform hereunder as a result of any contingency  beyond its control  including,
without  limitation,  any strike,  labor  controversy,  accident,  fire,  flood,
weather, riot, explosion, act of God or the elements, civil commotion,  declared
or  undeclared  war  or  warlike  operations,  failure  of  a  contractor  or  a
subcontractor  to perform,  inability to obtain required  materials,  equipment,
labor or  transportation,  or the failure for any other reason to supply or make
delivery or timely  delivery of the Products,  including  any failure  resulting
from any  restrictions  imposed  by any  regulation,  order of any  governmental
authority,  or failure to obtain any governmental consent,  permit, or approval.
On the  occurrence of any event causing  delay,  BioWhittaker  shall give prompt
notice thereof to Distributor.

    5. Duties of Distributor. In accordance with Distributor's obligation to use
its reasonable best efforts to promote,  market,  sell, and service the Products
in the Territory,  Distributor  agrees,  at all times during the term hereof, to
operate in accordance with the following provisions:

        (a)   Adequate Business Facilities.  Distributor shall maintain adequate
     sales, service, and storage facilities to service the Territory.  Distri-
     butor's current primary sales, service and storage facilities are located
     in the companies listed on Exhibit D.  In addition, Distributor shall
                 


<PAGE>
                                       3

     maintain an adequate  inventory of products  sufficient and  appropriate to
     meet  the   reasonable   requirements   of  customers  in  the   Territory.
     BioWhittaker  reserves the right to inspect  Distributor's  facilities  and
     inventory  during  Distributor's  regular  business  hours  and to  have an
     independent  certified public accountant (or European  equivalent) audit or
     review  any books and  records  upon  which  Distributor  bases any  claims
     against BioWhittaker for refunds, credits, or other payments and report its
     findings to BioWhittaker.

          (b) non-competition.  Distributor shall not, without the prior Consent
     of biowhittaker,  act as distributor for any person or enterprise  offering
     or selling any products in  competition  with the products.  However,  this
     provision  shall  not apply to the sales by  distributor  or  distributor's
     currently existing affiliates of competitive  products currently being made
     or distributed by such affiliates, which products are listed on Exhibit E.

          (c) Payment of Expenses.  Distributor will pay all expenses associated
     with the conduct of its business,  including,  without limitation, all such
     costs for employee compensation and benefits,  maintenance,  and insurance.
     In addition,  Distributor  shall pay all sales and use taxes,  value-added,
     and all other taxes  assessed with respect to the sale or possession of the
     Products.

          (d) Sales  Responsibilities/Advertising.  Distributor  shall employ an
     adequate sales organization  capable of (i) actively soliciting the sale of
     the  Products,   and  (ii)  responding  to  inquiries  from  the  Territory
     concerning  the Products,  and (iii)  promptly and  efficiently  processing
     orders  for  the  Products.  Distributor  shall  use  and  distribute  such
     advertising  materials for the Products as are necessary and appropriate to
     effectively  market the Products.  Distributor  shall provide  BioWhittaker
     with copies of all such advertising material, along with, where applicable,
     accurate translations into the English language.

     (e) Service Responsibilities. Distributor shall render prompt and competent
     service  and  support  to all  users  of  the  Products  in the  Territory,
     regardless of when, where, or by whom the Products were sold.

          (f)  Permits,  Licenses,  Compliance.  Distributor  shall  obtain  and
     maintain   all  required   permits,   licenses,   and  other   governmental
     authorizations,   and  shall  comply  with  any  Product  certification  or
     qualification  requirements necessary to import Products into the Territory
     and with other laws, rules, and regulations of the appropriate governmental
     authorities  applicable to the  performance of its  obligations  under this
     Agreement.  Distributor shall conduct its business in a manner that will at
     all times reflect  favorably upon  BioWhittaker and the Products,  and will
     avoid any deceptive, misleading,  unethical, or other practices that may be
     detrimental to BioWhittaker, the Products, or other authorized distributors
     of the Products.

          (g) Unauthorized Representations.  Distributor shall make no represen-
     tation or guarantee to customers  regarding the Products or their  delivery
     beyond those contemplated herein or as stated by BioWhittaker in writing.

          (h) Instruction Regarding Products.  Distributor shall instruct users
     as to the warranty, operation, use, maintenance, and care of the Products
     in accordance with instructions provided by BioWhittaker.

          (i)  Business  and  Financial  Records.   Distributor  shall  maintain
     detailed records of sales of Products in the Territory, including the names
     of customers to whom Products are sold. To facilitate  the change or recall
     of any Product  resulting from any  improvement  or failure,  in compliance
     with  requirements  of the U.S. Food and Drug  Administration,  Distributor
     shall   maintain   records  of  lot  numbers  of  Products   received,   in
     chronological order, for a minimum of two years after receipt and the names
     and addresses of purchases of such products.

          (j) Status Reports.  To assist  BioWhittaker in planning to supply and
     assist  Distributor,  not  later  than the  thirtieth  day  following  each
     calendar  quarter,  Distributor  shall provide  BioWhittaker with a written
     report  setting  forth in full  Distributor's  sales  during such  calendar
     quarter, non-binding forecasts for purchase of Products by Distributor from
     BioWhittaker  for the next 2 quarters and such other  information  as maybe
     mutually  agreed,  all in such format and detail as may be mutually agreed.
     Such  reports  shall also  include a commentary  regarding  general  market
     conditions within Distributor's territory, matters pertaining to changes in
     the commercial and competitive environment in the Territory with respect to
     the Products.  and any other information  pertinent to Distributor's  sales
     effort and support from BioWhittaker.

                                        3

<PAGE>



    6. Technical  Assistance.  BioWhittaker shall provide  Distributor with such
technical  advice  and  assistance  as  Distributor  may  reasonably  request in
connection  with the  distribution  and sale of the Products.  At  Distributor's
request,  BioWhittaker  shall train Distributor  personnel in the proper use and
servicing of the Products.  The training will be  conducted,  at  BioWhittaker's
election,  either by  correspondence  or at a location  within the United States
designated by BioWhittaker.  BioWhittaker shall bear the cost of conducting such
training;  provided,  however,  that  transportation,   and  other  expenses  of
Distributor's personnel shall be borne by Distributor. In addition, BioWhittaker
shall also  provide to  Distributor  a  reasonable  quantity  (not to exceed 500
copies) of samples of all  advertising  and  technical  material it develops for
general distribution to customers in the United States free of charge except for
reimbursement for shipping costs.

    7. Product Changes. BioWhittaker reserves the right, at any time, to revise,
modify,  discontinue,  alter,  or change the Products,  and to  discontinue  the
supply of any or all of the  Products,  without  notice,  in response to loss of
necessary   technology   rights,   determination   of   possible   infringement,
unavailability  of raw  materials at  reasonable  prices or other  circumstances
beyond  its  control.  Subject  to the  foregoing,  BioWhittaker  shall  use its
reasonable best efforts to notify  Distributor at least ninety days prior to any
such changes.

    8. Relationship of Parties: No Agency,  Partnership,  et Cetera. Distributor
is an independent  contractor and nothing  contained in this Agreement  shall be
construed to create the  relationship of partnership,  joint venture,  principal
and agent, or of any other association or relationship between the parties other
than that of buyer and seller.  Distributor shall not make any representation to
any third party either directly or indirectly  indicating  that  Distributor has
authority to act for or on behalf of BioWhittaker or to obligate BioWhittaker in
any way whatsoever.

    9.    Confidential and Proprietary Information/License.

          (a) Trade  Names,  Trademarks.  Distributor  hereby  acknowledges  the
    exclusive  right,  title,  and interest of  BioWhittaker  to all trademarks,
    trade names, and patents which BioWhittaker now owns or hereafter  acquires.
    Distributor  shall promote and sell the Products  only under  BioWhittaker's
    trademarks  and/or  trade names and shall not use such  trademarks  or trade
    names  for  any  other  purpose,  including  in  Distributor's  business  or
    corporate  name.  Distributor  shall not  remove  from,  alter or add to any
    tradename,  label, logo, decal,  trademark,  patent number, or serial number
    affixed  by  BioWhittaker  to  any  of  the  Products.  Notwithstanding  the
    foregoing,  Distributor  may affix  labels to the  Products  it  distributes
    identifying  Distributor  and its  subdistributors  as  distributors  of the
    Products,  to the extent Distributor deems it to be desirable or required by
    law.  Distributor  shall not  directly  or  indirectly  obtain or attempt to
    obtain  at any time  any  right,  title,  or  interest  by  registration  or
    otherwise  in or to the trade names,  trademark,  symbols,  or  designations
    owned or used by BioWhittaker.  Whenever  Distributor is permitted to employ
    any  trademark  or  service  mark of  BioWhittaker  in any  form of  printed
    material, Distributor shall place an asterisk immediately after and slightly
    above  the  first  use of the  trademark  referring  to a  footnote  reading
    "trademark of BioWhittaker,  Inc." Distributor shall notify  BioWhittaker of
    any  infringement  of,  or  unfair  competition   affecting   BioWhittaker's
    trademarks or trade names or other intellectual  property which comes to its
    attention and shall cooperate, at BioWhittaker's expense, in any prosecution
    of such  infringement or unfair  competition.  Distributor shall discontinue
    the use of all  trademarks,  trade names,  names,  or styles of BioWhittaker
    when requested to do so by BioWhittaker.

          (b)   Confidential  and  Proprietary   Information.   The  information
    disclosed  to  Distributor  pursuant  to this  Agreement,  other  than  such
    information  as is  generally  available  to  the  public,  is and  will  be
    disclosed by BioWhittaker to Distributor in confidence solely for its use as
    a distributor of the Products.  Distributor shall, at all times, protect and
    preserve the confidentiality of any and all trade secrets or confidential or
    proprietary  information  belonging to BioWhittaker to which Distributor may
    receive  access.  This  obligation  shall  survive  the  termination  of the
    Agreement.

          (c)  Patent  Infringement.   BioWhittaker   represents  that,  to  its
     knowledge,  none of the Products  supplied by  BioWhittaker  to Distributor
     infringe  the  patent or other  intellectual  property  rights of any third
     party in effect in the Territory.  BioWhittaker shall indemnify Distributor
     against any actual loss, cost, damage or expense (other than Distributor's


                                        4

<PAGE>



     consequential  and  incidental  damages,  such as for lost future  sales or
     profits) which  Distributor  may suffer or incur with respect to any breach
     of such representation, provided that Distributor shall notify BioWhittaker
     promptly after it learns of any alleged infringement and BioWhittaker shall
     not be liable for any loss or damage to the extent that such loss or damage
     might have been avoided had Distributor notified  BioWhittaker promptly and
     provided  that   BioWhittaker   may  require   Distributor  to  discontinue
     distribution of any Product upon learning of any such infringement claim.

    10.   Limited Warranty and Limitation of Liability.

          (a) BioWhittaker  warrants, for a period of time from the sale thereof
    and ending with the expiration date (or if there is no expiration  date, one
    year from the date of  shipment),  the  Products to be free from  defects in
    materials and workmanship  under normal,  proper use and proper storage,  in
    accordance with BioWhittaker's  instructions  applicable  thereto,  provided
    that the retail  purchaser  reports any defect in the Product to Distributor
    or BioWhittaker within fifteen (15) days of the discovery of such defect and
    Distributor  notifies  BioWhittaker  in  writing of the nature of the defect
    within fifteen (15) days after such defect is first reported to Distributor.
    Except for the  limited  warranty  stated in this  subsection,  BioWhittaker
    makes no other  warranties  with respect to the Products,  either express or
    implied, including,  without limitation, any warranties of "merchantability"
    or "fitness for use." The stated express warranties are in lieu of all other
    warranties.

          BioWhittaker's  liability  for breach of warranty  shall be limited to
    the repair,  replacement or refund of the purchase price, at  BioWhittaker's
    election,  of  any  Product  shown  to  BioWhittaker's  satisfaction  to  be
    defective in materials or workmanship.  Except for the express  remedies for
    breach of warranty set forth in this subsection,  BioWhittaker  shall not be
    liable for any damages or other  remedy,  including  but not limited to lost
    profits,  lost business or  incidental,  consequential,  special,  actual or
    other  damages,  relating  to or  arising  out  of the  distribution,  sale,
    possession or use of the Products.  Any other  representations or warranties
    made by any person,  including employees or representatives of BioWhittaker,
    which are  inconsistent  herewith shall be  disregarded  by Distributor  and
    shall not be binding upon BioWhittaker.

          (b)  Notwithstanding  the  limitations in subsection (a) above, to the
    extent  that local law in the  jurisdiction  in which the product is sold or
    used would  impose  liability  on the  Distributor  or  BioWhittaker  as the
    manufacturer of any Product for actual damages for injury to or death of any
    individual  or  damage  to  any  tangible   property   notwithstanding   the
    limitations  of warranty  and  liability  contained  in  subsection  (a) and
    provided that no action or omission of  Distributor  or its  subdistributors
    has resulted in a waiver of any  limitation  of warranty or  liability  that
    would  have  protected  manufacturer's  or  Distributor's  liability,   then
    BioWhittaker shall indemnify Distributor for any such damages and reasonable
    costs for defending or settling any such claim,  provided that  BioWhittaker
    is given prompt notice of any such claim and the  opportunity  to assume the
    defense of such claim or approve any settlement of any such claim.  However,
    this  subsection  shall  not  apply  to  lost  profits,   lost  business  or
    incidental,  consequential,  special  or other  damages  other  than  actual
    damages.

          (c)  Distributor  agrees that it will provide no further or additional
    warranties  with respect to the Products and that it will indemnify and hold
    BioWhittaker  harmless  with  respect to any claim  arising  out of any such
    further or  additional  warranty  provided  by, or  allegedly  provided  by,
    Distributor.

    11. Term of Agreement.  This agreement  shall commence as of the date hereof
and,  unless  terminated  sooner  pursuant to Section 12 or as  permitted by the
terms of the SPA, shall terminate  automatically on the second  anniversary date
of the Option  Termination  Date as  defined  in the SPA  unless  renewed by the
parties in writing.  If renewed at the end of the  initial or any renewal  term,
unless  otherwise  expressly  provided by agreement of the parties,  any renewal
term shall end on the first anniversary of such renewal term.




                                        5

<PAGE>



    12.   Events of Default.

               (a)  General.  The  following  acts  on the  part  of  either
          party  shall constitute Events of Default:

                  (1)  The  party  shall  fail  to  comply  with  any   material
            requirement imposed on that party under this Agreement, which is not
            remedied  within thirty (30) days after written  notice  thereof has
            been sent to it by the other party; or

                  (2) The party shall enter into or acquiesce in any  proceeding
            contemplating liquidation,  bankruptcy, or insolvency, or shall make
            a composition  or arrangement  with its  creditors,  or shall have a
            receiver,  trustee,  or other outside agent  appointed to manage its
            property or business; or

                  (3) The party shall fail to comply with any  applicable law or
            regulation relative to the performance of its obligations under this
            Agreement,  which is not remedied within ten (10) days after written
            notice  thereof  has been sent to it by the  other  party or a third
            party.

               (b)   Distributor   Defaults.   Unless   waived  in   writing  by
          BioWhittaker,  the following shall constitute Events of Default on the
          part of the Distributor:

                  (1) Distributor shall fail to purchase and pay for the minimum
            quantities shown on Exhibit F hereto; or

                  (2) The sale or other  disposition  by  Distributor  of such a
            portion of its assets as would  significantly  impair its ability to
            perform its obligations under this Agreement.

                  (3)  Distributor  ceases to be owned as set forth on Exhibit G
            except  for  any  acquisition  of  an  interest  in  Distributor  by
            BioWhittaker.
               (c)  Effect  of  Default.  Upon the  occurrence  of any  Event of
          Default as defined in  paragraphs  (a) or (b) of this  Section 12, the
          party not in default may terminate this  Agreement by sending  written
          notice of termination to the defaulting  party. The termination  shall
          be  effective  on the date set  forth in the  notice  and  shall be in
          addition  to and shall not  prejudice  any  other  rights or  remedies
          terminating  party may have against the defaulting party. In addition,
          although not a default,  each party shall have the rights to terminate
          the agreement upon the terms set forth in the SPA.

    13.   Obligations, Rights, and Liabilities Upon Termination.

          (a) Shipment of Confirmed  Orders.  Upon termination of this Agreement
    for any reason, BioWhittaker shall deliver to Distributor in accordance with
    the terms of this  Agreement,  those  Products  ordered by  Distributor  and
    confirmed  by  BioWhittaker   prior  to  the  termination  date  subject  to
    BioWhittaker's  right to require  assurances of payment  pursuant to Section
    3(e).

          (b)  Acceleration.  Upon  termination for any reason  whatsoever,  all
    amounts accrued or payable under this Agreement shall become immediately due
    and  payable,  and each party shall  promptly pay the other all such amounts
    then due.

          (c) No  Termination  Compensation,  Indemnity,  or Loss  Claims.  Upon
    expiration  or  termination  of this  Agreement,  Distributor  shall have no
    further  right in or to its position as  BioWhittaker's  distributor  of the
    Products  in the  Territory,  and shall  not have any right to  compensation
    reparations,  liquidated damages, or indemnity of any kind from BioWhittaker
    arising  out of or by  reason  of this  Agreement  or any such  termination,
    whether based on good will established,  clientele created,  or expenditures
    or  investments  incurred or made in  performance  of this  Agreement or any
    right to require  BioWhittaker  to  repurchase  any  inventory.  Distributor
    represents that it may legally waive, and hereby  irrevocably so waives, any
    right or claim  which  Distributor  would  have or might  acquire  under any
    provision  of law which  conflicts  with or is contrary to the terms of this
    paragraph. Notwithstanding the above, upon termination or expiration of this
    agreement,

                                        6

<PAGE>



    Distributor  shall  have the  right  for up to 12  months  after the date of
    termination or expiration to sell its remaining inventory of Products.

    14.  Insurance.  Distributor  agrees  to  obtain  and  maintain,  at its own
expense,  adequate general  liability  insurance  (including  product  liability
insurance for the Products sold by Distributor) and property  insurance coverage
in such reasonable  amounts as shall  sufficiently cover such customary risks as
are  normally  covered  in the  Territory  with  respect to  businesses  selling
products similar to the Products.

    15.   Miscellaneous Provisions.

          (a) This Agreement  constitutes the entire  understanding  between the
    parties hereto and supersedes  any previous  agreements  with respect to the
    subject matter hereof and the transactions  contemplated  herein;  provided,
    however,  this Agreement  shall not be deemed to cancel any unfilled  orders
    for Products  placed  pursuant to any previous  distributorship  arrangement
    with BioWhittaker.

          (b) Distributor's rights hereunder shall not be assigned,  in whole or
    in part,  directly or indirectly,  by operation of law or otherwise,  to any
    person,   firm,  or  corporation   without  the  prior  written  consent  of
    BioWhittaker.

          (c) No  waiver or breach  by  either  party of any term  hereof  shall
    constitute  a waiver  of any such  term or of any such  breach  in any other
    case, whether prior or subsequent.

          (d) Except as expressly set forth herein,  this Agreement shall not be
    modified,  altered, or amended except by agreement in writing signed by duly
    authorized representatives of each of the parties.

          (e) All notices,  requests,  demands,  and other  communications given
    pursuant to this  Agreement  shall be in writing  and shall be  conclusively
    presumed to have been given and received fifteen (15) days after having been
    sent by Federal  Express or other air courier,  registered  mail with return
    receipt  requested,  postage  prepaid,  and  addressed to the parties at the
    following addresses:


To Distributor:
                  Boehringer Ingelheim Bioproducts, Partnership
                  69115 Heidelberg, Germany
                  Carl-Benz-Str. 7
                  Attn: Mr. Jaime Codina
                  Principal Manager

To BioWhittaker:
                  BioWhittaker, Inc.
                  8830 Biggs Ford Road
                  Walkersville, MD, U.S.A. 21793-0127
                  Attn: Pricing/Contracts Department


          (f) This  Agreement  shall be construed  and enforced  pursuant to the
    substantive  laws of the State of Delaware.  Any dispute  arising  hereunder
    that cannot be settled by  negotiation  between the parties shall be settled
    by  binding   arbitration  at  the  offices  of  the  American   Arbitration
    Association in Washington, D.C. in accordance with its rules.

                                        7

<PAGE>


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.


                  BIOWHITTAKER, INC.




                  By:    /S/ THOMAS R. WINKLER
                      -----------------------------------
                        Thomas R. Winkler
                        Executive Vice President
                        and Chief Operating Officer

                  Date:   August 15, 1995
                         ---------------------


                  BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM BIOPRODUCTS, PARTNERSHIP


                  By:    /S/ JAIME CODINA
                      ------------------------------
                        Jaime Codina
                        Principal Manager

                  Date:  August 15, 1995
                        --------------------

                  and


                  By:   /S/ DR. HANS PETER FATSCHER
                       -------------------------------
                         Dr. Hans Peter Fatscher
                         Marketing Manager

                  Date:   August 15, 1995
                        ---------------------















                                        8

<PAGE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from
BioWhittaker's  consolidated  statement of income for the year ended October 31,
1996 and it's consoidated balance sheet as of Octoberf 31, 1996 and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000

       
<S>                                       <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                             12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         OCT-31-1996

<PERIOD-END>                              Oct-31-1996

<CASH>                                            701
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   8,688
<ALLOWANCES>                                       65
<INVENTORY>                                    21,114
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               33,477
<PP&E>                                         33,595
<DEPRECIATION>                                 16,808
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 61,155
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          11,252
<BONDS>                                             0
                               0
                                         0
<COMMON>                                          108
<OTHER-SE>                                     46,683
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   61,155
<SALES>                                        51,459
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               51,459
<CGS>                                          26,616
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  43,330
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                4,833
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                262
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 3,034
<INCOME-TAX>                                    2,201
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               833
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                      833
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     .08
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     .08
        






</TABLE>


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