<ARTICLE>                 5
<LEGEND>
     This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from
BioWhittaker's  interim  consolidated  statement  of income for the nine  months
ended July 31, 1997 and it's consolidated  balance sheet as of July 31, 1997 and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                         1,000

       
                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                        9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    OCT-31-1997

<PERIOD-END>                         JUL-31-1997
<CASH>                               3,441
<SECURITIES>                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                        7,723
<ALLOWANCES>                            60
<INVENTORY>                         23,093
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    37,098
<PP&E>                              34,851
<DEPRECIATION>                      18,088
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                      65,207
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>               10,799
<BONDS>                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    0
<PREFERRED>                              0
<COMMON>                               108
<OTHER-SE>                          51,577
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>        65,207
<SALES>                             42,254
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    42,254
<CGS>                               21,289
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       35,146
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                      (585)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      35
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      7,658
<INCOME-TAX>                         2,772
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  4,886
<DISCONTINUED>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                          0
<CHANGES>                                0
<NET-INCOME>                         4,886
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          .45
<EPS-DILUTED>                          .45