Proceedings in Europe are ongoing with regard to Biopure’s European patent. Biopure was granted a patent on April 1, 1992 by the European Patent Office. Within the nine-month period from the grant date for the filing of oppositions, six parties filed oppositions requesting that all of the claims of this patent be revoked. Of these, two opposing parties remain: Baxter International and Northfield Laboratories, Inc. Following oral proceedings conducted by the Opposition Division at the European Patent Office in November 1995, the Opposition Division revoked the patent. Biopure has appealed this decision of the Opposition Division and is currently awaiting a decision on its appeal. The appeal has the technical result of reinstating the patent during the appeal process. Prior to filing its appeal papers, Biopure narrowed its claims further to increase the probability of winning at the appeal level. Biopure further believes that a narrowed patent should be sustained. Future claims against Biopure may arise and, if they do, there can be no assurance that they will be successfully defended.