8-K

                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                         Washington, D.C. 20549

                                FORM 8-K

                            CURRENT REPORT


                Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                   Securities Exchange Act of 1934


  Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 7, 2000
                                                   ------------

                      VISKASE COMPANIES INC.
     ----------------------------------------------------
    (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                 0-5485      95-2677354
- -------------------------------  ------------  ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of  (Commission    (I.R.S.
incorporation or organization)    File No.)     Employer
                                             Identification
                                                  No.)


6855 West 65th Street, Chicago, Illinois        60638
- ----------------------------------------     -----------
(Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (708) 496-4200
                                                    ---------------





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                         Page 1 of 4 Pages



Item 5. - Other Events
          ------------
On July 7, 2000, Viskase Companies, Inc. announced that it has
signed a definitive agreement to sell its plastic barrier and non-
barrier shrink film business to Bemis Company, Inc. for a purchase
price of $245 million which includes $228 million in cash upon
consummation of the transaction and $17 million in accounts
receivable excluded from the transaction. The sale is subject to
customary conditions, including the receipt of governmental and
third party consents, and is expected to close in August 2000. A
copy of a press release relating to the announcement is attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.


Item 7. -     Financial Statements and Exhibits
              ---------------------------------
  (c)         Exhibits

  EX-99       Press release dated July 7, 2000.


                             SIGNATURES
                             ----------

Pursuant to the requirements 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.


                                      VISKASE COMPANIES, INC.
                                      ------------------------
                                             Registrant


                                      By:  /s/ Gordon S. Donovan
                                         ------------------------
                                         Gordon S. Donovan
                                         Vice President, Chief
                                           Financial Officer and
                                           Treasurer

July 10, 2000






                                        2


Exhibit No.     Description of Exhibits              Page
- -----------     ----------------------------------   ----
 EX-99          Press release dated July 7, 2000.     4







































                                         3

EX-99

                                       EXHIBIT 99




            VISKASE COMPANIES, INC. ANNOUNCES INTENTION
               TO SELL PLASTIC SHRINK FILM BUSINESS


Nasdaq OTCBB ! VCIC          For additional information contact:
                             G.S. Donovan (708) 496-4200
                             K.K. Duttlinger (708) 496-4200

                  VISKASE COMPANIES, INC. ANNOUNCES SALE
                      OF PLASTIC SHRINK FILM BUSINESS

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, July 7, 2000 - Viskase Companies, Inc. (Nasdaq
OTCBB: VCIC) announced today that it has signed a definitive
agreement to sell its plastic barrier and non-barrier shrink film
business to Bemis Company, Inc., for a purchase price of $245
million which includes $228 million in cash upon the consummation
of the transaction and $17 million in accounts receivable
excluded from the transaction. The business being sold includes
production facilities in the United States, United Kingdom and
Brazil.  Proceeds from the sale will be used principally to
retire debt and for general corporate purposes.  The sale is
subject to customary conditions, including the receipt of
governmental and third party consents, and is expected to close
in August 2000.

The sale excludes any patent litigation proceedings between
Viskase and American National Can Company. This litigation
continues to reside in the Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit, which should render a decision later this year or early
in 2001.

Mr. F. Edward Gustafson, Chairman and CEO of Viskase Companies,
Inc., stated that "while the business we are selling has
experienced impressive growth over the past several years and has
significant potential in the future, Viskase will have a greater
opportunity for success by concentrating on its worldwide casings
business. After the sale of our films business, the 'New Viskase'
will focus its efforts on aggressively competing in the worldwide
cellulose casings market and will fully commercialize our NUCELR
casings technology. This new technology, along with a streamlined
organization, will place Viskase in a much stronger position to
grow profitably in the future."

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