Exhibit 99.1


         OXIS INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES APPROVAL OF ADMISSION FOR LISTING
                   ON FRENCH STOCK MARKET, LE NOUVEAU MARCHE
                                        

April 7, 1997 - OXIS International, Inc. announced today that it has received
approval of the admission of its common stock for listing on the French Stock
Market, Le Nouveau Marche.  Upon its admission, OXIS will be the first NASDAQ
listed U.S. company quoted on Le Nouveau Marche, a Paris-based stock exchange
specifically designed to meet the needs of emerging growth companies.  The
listing is to occur in connection with an underwritten public offering of OXIS
common stock in France, anticipated to take place over approximately the next 30
days.  OXIS is headquartered in Portland Oregon, with a French subsidiary, OXIS
International, S.A., located outside of Paris.

"This offering represents a major milestone for the Company," stated Chairman,
Ray R. Rogers.  "The listing and offering give us access to the European capital
markets which have shown increasing interest in growth-oriented high technology
companies, including drug discovery and development companies such as OXIS."

The Company also announced that it has successfully completed a private
placement of debt securities with several of its current investors.  This bridge
financing is intended to support the Company's operations, pending closure of
the secondary offering in France.

OXIS International, Inc. is a drug discovery and diagnostics company focused on
the development of novel therapeutic molecules and supportive technologies to
treat diseases associated with damage from free radicals and reactive oxygen
species (ROS), i.e., diseases of oxidative stress.

All securities mentioned in this press release have not been, and will not be,
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  The foregoing
securities may not be offered and sold in the United States, absent registration
under the Securities Act or an applicable exemption from such registration
requirements.

Certain of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking
statements that are based on current expectations which involve a number of
uncertainties, including the Company's ability to enter the Le Nouveau Marche
stock market and consummate the French public offering.  The events described
herein may not occur in a timely manner, or at all.  Accordingly, the Company's
future activities may differ materially from those projected in the forward-
looking statements.


Contact:  OXIS International, Inc.
          Anna D. Barker, Ph.D. (503) 283-3911