UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                     FORM 15

CERTIFICATION AND NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 12(g) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 OR SUSPENSION OF DUTY TO FILE REPORTS UNDER
SECTIONS 13 AND 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

                        Commission File Number 000-20711

                         Virus Research Institute, Inc.
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                61 Moulton Street
                         Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
                                 (617) 864-6232

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               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                      including area code, of registrant's
                          principal executive offices)

                    Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

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            (Title of each class of securities covered by this Form)

                                       N/A

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   (Titles of all other classes of securities for which a duty to file reports
                      under section 13(a) or 15(d) remains)

         Please place an X in the box(es) to designate the appropriate rule
provision(s) relied upon to terminate or suspend the duty to file reports:



                                                                    
   Rule 12g-4(a)(1)(i)             |X|        Rule 12h-3(b)(1)(i)            |X|
   Rule 12g-4(a)(1)(ii)            |_|        Rule 12h-3(b)(1)(ii)           |_|
   Rule 12g-4(a)(2)(i)             |_|        Rule 12h-3(b)(2)(i)            |_|
   Rule 12g-4(a)(2)(ii)            |_|        Rule 12h-3(b)(2)(ii)           |_|
                                              Rule 15d-6                     |_|


     Approximate number of holders of record as of the certification or notice
date: One

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Virus
Research Institute, Inc. has caused this certification/notice to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized person.


DATE:    8/21/98                                         BY: /s/ Una S. Ryan
      -------------                                          -------------------
                                                         Title: President