EXHIBIT 21 (a)
                                        
                    SUBSIDIARIES OF OXIS INTERNATIONAL, INC.


As of December 31, 1997, the Company's subsidiaries were as follows:

       Name                       Jurisdiction of incorporation
       ----                       -----------------------------

  OXIS International S.A.                    France
  OXIS Acquisition Corporation               Delaware
  OXIS Isle of Man Limited                   Isle of Man
  Innovative Medical Systems Corp.           Pennsylvania