10-K405

                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                Washington, D.C. 20549

                                ---------------------

                                      FORM 10-K
(Mark One)

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES 
    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 or

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES   
    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the transition period from            to          
                                   -----------  ----------

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-19732

                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

              DELAWARE                                33-0238812
    (State or other  jurisdiction of        (IRS Employer Identification No.)
      incorporation or organization)

                 3030 SCIENCE PARK ROAD, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121
             (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

                                    (619) 455-9800
                (Registrant's telephone number, including area  code)

          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  Common Stock, $.001
Par Value

    Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act
of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  X       No    

    Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K.      [ X ]

    The approximate aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-
affiliates of the Registrant, based upon the last sale price of the Common Stock
reported on the Nasdaq National Market was $71,032,700 as of March 17, 1997.*

    The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 17, 1997 was
13,827,079. 

                         DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
                           (To the extent indicated herein)

The Registrant's definitive proxy statement to be filed in connection with
solicitation of proxies for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May
15, 1997 is incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.



* Calculated on the basis of 12,090,673 shares held by nonaffiliates (less 
than 10% shareholders on as-converted basis) and assumes, solely for this 
purpose, that the executive officers and directors of the Registrant are 
affiliates as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as 
amended.



                                        PART I

    EXCEPT FOR THE HISTORICAL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, THE FOLLOWING
DISCUSSION CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES.  THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE
DISCUSSED HEREIN.  FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH DIFFERENCES
INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE DISCUSSED IN THIS SECTION, AS WELL AS IN
THE SECTIONS ENTITLED "BUSINESS STRATEGY," "INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS,"
"PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS," "STRATEGIC ALLIANCES," "PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY
RIGHTS," AND "MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS."
    
ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

OVERVIEW

    Corvas International, Inc. ("Corvas" or the "Company") is a
biopharmaceutical firm engaged in the design and development of a new generation
of therapeutic agents in the fields of blood clot formation (thrombosis) and
inflammation, and other diseases.  The Company seeks to develop and
commercialize novel drugs for the improved treatment and prevention of major
cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis,
pulmonary embolism, and acute inflammation associated with trauma, shock and
reperfusion injury in stroke, as well as other diseases.  In contrast to
currently available therapies, the Company's candidate drugs are designed to
intervene more specifically in the disease process.  Corvas intends to develop
both injectable and oral drugs to treat patients who cannot be optimally treated
with current therapeutics.  The Company believes that its chronic antithrombotic
drug discovery and development program is among the most comprehensive in the
industry and that, together with its alliance partner, it is well positioned to
develop and commercialize orally-active antithrombotic agents.
    
    Corvas has discovered its portfolio of drug candidates by integrating the
Company's in-depth knowledge of the biology of thrombosis and, more generally,
vascular biology, with advanced and proprietary drug discovery and design
technology based on a strong medicinal chemistry platform.  The Company believes
that such technology has broad potential application outside the antithrombotic
field and will provide the basis for expanding its product portfolio.

    Corvas' scientists are experienced in a wide range of disciplines which are
integrated in a systematic discovery approach.  Current programs employ
medicinal chemistry, peptide chemistry, computer-aided drug design, structural
biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, and pharmacology
competencies.  The Company's programs are based on four technology platforms:
structure-based drug design, medicinal chemistry, biological discovery, and
molecular pharmacology. The first three technology platforms generate drug
leads, while the fourth platform enables the selection of drug candidates. 
    
    The Company's structure-based drug design and medicinal chemistry programs
are the source of synthetic drug molecules, including those demonstrating oral
activity.  Biological discovery methods, including novel gene discovery,
cloning, expression, and mutagenesis methods are used to identify and improve
novel proteins as drug candidates and as discovery tools.  Molecular
pharmacology techniques, including IN VITRO biochemical analysis and IN VIVO
biological testing, are used to rigorously characterize the many drug leads
derived from the other platforms in order to select specific drug candidates for
preclinical and clinical development.
    
    The Company has introduced several antithrombotic compounds into clinical
and preclinical development, including orally-active thrombin inhibitors, which
are being developed in collaboration with Schering-Plough Corporation
("Schering-Plough").  In 1995, Corvas conducted an initial exploratory human
safety study of CVS-1123, an early generation orally-active thrombin inhibitor. 
In this Phase Ia study, CVS-1123 demonstrated oral activity and excellent
tolerability.  In January 1997, Schering-Plough selected an advanced generation
oral thrombin inhibitor as a clinical development candidate, for which Schering-
Plough expects to begin human studies in late 1997.  See "Business - Strategic
Alliances - Relationship with Schering-Plough."


                                         -2-



    Corvas is also conducting an active discovery program for inhibitors of the
coagulation serine protease Factor Xa.  The primary goal of this program is the
development of another category of safe and effective orally-active drugs to be
used in clinical indications, such as chronic arterial thrombosis, that may not
be readily addressed by the oral thrombin approach. Schering-Plough acquired an
option in 1994 to expand its initial alliance with Corvas to include Factor Xa
inhibitors; this option was exercised in December 1996.  See "Business -
Strategic Alliances - Relationship with Schering-Plough."
    
    Company scientists have discovered and characterized a class of natural
small protein anticoagulants known as the Nematode Anticoagulant Protein ("NAP")
family.  Specific members of this family inhibit either Factor Xa or Factor VIIa
complexed with its non-enzymatic co-factor, Tissue Factor ("Factor VIIa/TF"). 
The Company has completed final preclinical toxicology studies of a Factor
VIIa/TF inhibitor as an injectable agent for the treatment of acute thrombotic
indications, such as treatment of venous thrombosis and prevention of pulmonary
embolism and unstable angina, and expects to begin human testing in the first
part of 1997.
    
    In its anti-inflammatory program, the Company has discovered a promising
novel protein, neutrophil inhibitory factor ("NIF"), which blocks certain white
blood cell functions associated with inflammation.  In 1995, the Company entered
into an option agreement with Pfizer Inc. ("Pfizer") to collaborate on the
development of NIF.  In February 1997, Pfizer elected to exercise its option to
enter into a license and development agreement on the NIF program, which is
intended to be used as a therapy for stroke and head injury.  See "Business -
Strategic Alliances - Relationship with Pfizer."
    
    A Phase Ia clinical trial has been completed for the Company's first drug
candidate, CORSEVIN M, an antibody-based antithrombotic which has been licensed
to, and is being further developed by, Centocor, Inc. ("Centocor").  See
"Business - Strategic Alliances - Relationship with Centocor."
    
    In 1992, Corvas entered into an alliance with Ortho Diagnostic Systems,
Inc. ("Ortho"), a Johnson & Johnson company, to develop and commercialize a
laboratory test for blood clotting function based on Corvas' proprietary
technology.  Corvas supplies a critical raw material, recombinant human tissue
factor, to Ortho and has licensed rights to Ortho.  Ortho currently produces and
markets prothrombin time reagents based on such technology.  See "Business -
Strategic Alliances - Relationship with Ortho Diagnostic Systems."
    
    With regard to the foregoing discussion of the Company's research and
development programs, there can be no assurance that either the underlying
science or the related research and development being conducted will be
successful or will yield approved products.
    
    CORVAS-Registered Trademark- is a registered trademark, and the Corvas
logo, CORTHROMBIN-TM-, CORDECIN AS-TM-, CORSEVIN AS-TM- and CORSEVIN M-TM- are
trademarks of the Company.  This Form 10-K also includes names and marks of
companies other than the Company.
    
BUSINESS STRATEGY

    Corvas was formed to discover and develop novel pharmaceutical products for
the improved treatment and prevention of acute and chronic cardiovascular
diseases, inflammatory diseases, and related vascular disorders, including deep
vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction (heart attack),
unstable angina, atrial fibrillation, and stroke.  The Company believes that it
has established a leadership position in the discovery and development of
antithrombotic agents - drugs which prevent the formation of blood clots in the
vessels of vital organs - and particularly in the design of oral drugs which
have significant clinical and commercial potential.  The Company is also
pursuing the development of new injectable antithrombotic agents with unique
mechanisms of action for the treatment of acute thrombotic disorders.  Using
knowledge derived from its antithrombotic program regarding inhibition of
certain proteases, Corvas is leveraging its technology platforms in biology and
chemistry to include targets in areas such as cancer and specific viral
diseases.


                                         -3-



    Key elements of the Company's strategy include the following:
    
    -    FOCUS ON ANTITHROMBOTIC DRUGS, A HIGH GROWTH SECTOR IN THE LARGE
         CARDIOVASCULAR MARKETPLACE.
         
         Corvas is developing a portfolio of antithrombotic drug candidates,
         directed at three molecular targets, for multiple clinical indications
         and routes of administration.  The Company believes that its program
         to develop inhibitors of blood coagulation enzymes is among the most
         comprehensive in the industry.
         
    -    EXPAND ITS LEADERSHIP POSITION IN INHIBITION OF SPECIFIC PROTEASES AND
         RECEPTORS INVOLVED IN THROMBOSIS AND RELATED DISEASE MECHANISMS.
         
         Corvas has focused on antithrombotic drugs to exploit the potential
         that has been created by advances in understanding the biology of
         thrombosis and new molecular discovery technologies.  The blood
         coagulation enzymes targeted by the Company are members of a
         structurally-related class of serine proteases.  Corvas believes it
         has achieved a leading position in the development of orally-active
         inhibitors of one of the proteases, thrombin (CORTHROMBIN compounds). 
         Advances made in this specific program, and other proprietary
         technologies, are being leveraged by application to other targets in
         the same protease family, including Factor Xa and Factor VIIa/TF.   
         Corvas' drug design efforts are further enhanced over the competition
         by having access to the three-dimensional structures of these three
         coagulation protease targets which, in combination with state-of-the-
         art expertise in molecular modeling and computer-aided drug design,
         has allowed Corvas scientists to optimize and incorporate design
         elements that significantly improve the chances for successful drug
         development.
         
    -    INTEGRATE DRUG DISCOVERY METHODOLOGIES WITH BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION FOR
         RAPID ITERATION OF DEVELOPMENT CANDIDATES.
         
         Company scientists are experienced in a wide range of disciplines
         which are all integrated in a systematic discovery approach.  Active
         programs exploit medicinal chemistry, peptide chemistry, computer-
         aided drug design, structural biology, molecular biology,
         biochemistry, physiology, and pharmacology competencies.  The
         Company's programs are based on four technology platforms: structure-
         based drug design, medicinal chemistry, biological discovery, and
         molecular pharmacology.  Structure-based drug design and medicinal
         chemistry programs are the source of small molecule drugs, including
         those possessing oral activity.  The Company uses biological discovery
         methods, including novel gene discovery, cloning, expression, and
         mutagenesis methods, to identify novel proteins (biologicals) as drug
         candidates and discovery tools.  Molecular pharmacology techniques,
         including IN VITRO biochemical analysis and IN VIVO biological
         testing, are used to rigorously characterize the many drug leads in
         order to select specific drug candidates for preclinical and clinical
         development.
         
    -    ESTABLISH A STRONG PORTFOLIO OF PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY.
         
         Corvas has adopted a proactive policy of filing and prosecuting patent
         applications claiming a range of inventions, including a number of new
         chemical classes of compounds, uses and methods of synthesis of new
         molecules, discovery methods, novel genes and gene products, and novel
         analytical reagents.  Corvas has entered into selected agreements to
         license enabling technology from third parties and intends to seek
         rights to additional external technology on an ongoing basis to
         complement internal discovery efforts. See "Business - Patents and
         Proprietary Rights."
         
    -    ENTER INTO STRATEGIC ALLIANCES WITH ESTABLISHED PHARMACEUTICAL FIRMS
         FOR PRODUCTS TARGETED AT CHRONIC INDICATIONS.
         
         Corvas has established alliances with Schering-Plough for the
         development of anticoagulant products for chronic care based on oral
         thrombin inhibitors (CORTHROMBIN compounds) and Factor Xa inhibitors
         (CORDECIN compounds).  See "Business - Strategic Alliances -
         Relationship with Schering-Plough."  The Company intends to establish
         additional alliances to access resources required to support the
         development and commercialization of other technologies and products
         for chronic clinical indications. 


                                         -4-



    -    ENTER INTO STRATEGIC ALLIANCES WHICH RETAIN U.S. RIGHTS TO SELECTED
         ACUTE CARE PRODUCTS WHEN CONSISTENT WITH THE FIRM'S FINANCIAL
         RESOURCES AND EXPECTED RETURN ON STOCKHOLDER INVESTMENT.
         
         Corvas intends to retain exclusive, joint commercialization, or co-
         promotion rights to selected acute care products for the U.S. market
         when feasible and when expected to provide an appropriate economic
         return, balancing the resources required and risks involved.  Based on
         this strategy, the Company formed a strategic alliance with Pfizer to
         develop and commercialize NIF as a therapy for stroke.  See "Business
         - Strategic Alliances - Relationship with Pfizer."  With regard to
         NAPc2, a member of the NAP family, the Company has completed the
         manufacturing of clinical supplies and preclinical evaluations, and
         plans to begin human trials by early in the second quarter of 1997. 
         Corvas is seeking one or more partners to aid in the development of
         NAPc2 and plans an increasing role in the development and
         commercialization of this product in the U.S.  Additionally, Schering-
         Plough retains certain rights to injectable anticoagulants as part of
         the companies' alliance for Factor Xa inhibitors.  One compound in
         this category is NAP5, another member of the NAP family.  NAP5 is a
         potent small protein inhibitor of Factor Xa.
         
    -    EXPAND PRODUCT PORTFOLIO BY APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY TO DISEASE
         TARGETS OUTSIDE THE ANTITHROMBOTIC DRUG FIELD. 
         
         The Company's technology platforms may be broadly applied to the
         discovery and development of inhibitors of new serine and cysteine
         proteases.  In the course of conducting its antithrombotic program,
         proprietary chemical methods focusing on the synthesis of
         combinatorial libraries specifically targeted to inhibitors of serine
         and cysteine proteases have been discovered.  The Company is currently
         adapting these chemical methods to combinatorial chemistry formats
         which increase the speed and economy of new lead discovery and
         strengthen its ability to expand the number of target proteases in its
         portfolio.  The computational chemistry and drug design technology
         resident at Corvas also permits the expansion and leveraging of the
         firm's existing portfolio.  Expansion areas being targeted include
         inflammation, cancer and virology, in which specific proteases play
         key roles in the pathophysiology of disease. 
         
BACKGROUND

    Thrombosis and inflammation are closely linked physiological processes
employed by the body to protect itself against injury.  When these processes are
excessively or inappropriately activated, the processes themselves can result in
significant tissue injury, which can lead to specific pathologies and ultimately
death.

THROMBOSIS

    The formation of a blood clot, or thrombus, results from a complex cascade
of biochemical events involving the blood coagulation proteases and cellular
fragments called platelets.  Although blood clot formation is a normal vascular
repair mechanism, it can be excessively activated which may lead to local blood
clot formation (thrombosis) that can result in occlusion of a critical blood
vessel in a vital organ, such as the heart, lungs or brain. Vascular diseases
associated with thrombosis afflict more than 3,000,000 individuals annually in
the U.S. and are the causes of significant mortality and morbidity associated
with cardiovascular diseases.


                                         -5-



    Thrombosis causes several significant diseases characterized by the
location of the blood vessel where the clot is lodged.  For example, acute
myocardial infarction ("MI") results from obstruction of blood flow due to the
formation of an occlusive thrombus in a coronary artery which supplies blood to
the heart muscle; stroke or transient ischemic attacks ("TIA") may result from a
thrombus in an artery which supplies blood to a part of the brain.  Similarly, a
clot in the major veins of the legs, called deep vein thrombosis ("DVT"), causes
local inflammation, pain and other complications, including the dislodgment of
part of the thrombus which can travel to the lungs and result in life-
threatening pulmonary embolism ("PE").  Thrombosis can also be generalized, with
microthrombus formation occurring throughout the vascular system.  This
condition, known as disseminated intravascular coagulation ("DIC"), is a
consequence of cancer and various infectious diseases including sepsis, and may
result in depletion of blood coagulation factors, multiple organ failure,
hemorrhage and death.  Activation of thrombotic mechanisms in the body
contributes to unstable angina ("UA") or serious chest pain in patients that
have a significant risk of Ml due to the transient occlusion of a critical
coronary vessel in the heart.  Finally, DVT and PE can be complications of
surgery indirectly involving the vasculature such as major orthopedic and
abdominal surgery.
    
    Two classes of antithrombotic drugs are presently in clinical use:
anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents.  In the U.S., heparins and warfarin are
the only drugs currently approved for use as acute and chronic anticoagulants,
respectively. Although these drugs are widely prescribed, they have significant
limitations.  Heparins, which act by an indirect inhibition of one or more
coagulation proteases, can cause excessive bleeding and decreased platelet count
(thrombocytopenia) and can be administered only by injection. Low molecular
weight heparins have been introduced which may be injected subcutaneously and no
longer require routine monitoring of coagulation function.  Although these
advantages have led to adoption for selected indications, low molecular weight
heparins still suffer from many of the limitations of traditional standard,
unfractionated heparins.  Warfarin lacks specificity of action, may cause
bleeding, must be carefully monitored and, due to its slow onset of action, is
unsuitable for use as an acute antithrombotic drug.  Additionally, there are
many adverse drug and dietary interactions that impact the effectiveness of
warfarin due to the difficulties in maintaining effective blood levels of the
drug.
    
    Aspirin is the most commonly used antiplatelet agent for chronic therapy,
although the first in a new class of antiplatelet agents, GPIIb/IIIa
antagonists, has been recently introduced to the market for acute thrombotic
indications.  Aspirin also has a relatively slow onset of action and its effect
is reversed by the natural production of new blood platelets, a process that
takes seven to eleven days.  In addition, chronic administration of aspirin
carries the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke. 
Currently, GPIIb/IIIa antagonists can be administered acutely by intravenous
routes and must be used with an anticoagulant such as heparin.  These and other
factors limit the use of currently available antithrombotic drugs, especially on
a chronic basis.
    
    The worldwide market for antithrombotic agents is estimated to be greater
than $2,000,000,000.  Approximately half of the sales are in each of the
anticoagulant and antiplatelet categories.  According to market audits, 1995
sales of anticoagulants in the U.S. alone were greater than $550,000,000.  Of
this total, approximately $400,000,000 was contributed by the sales of COUMADIN
- -Registered Trademark-, the DuPont-Merck brand of warfarin. Sales of COUMADIN
have been growing in recent years due to its use by many physicians for new
indications: prophylaxis and treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation
("AF"), and prevention of recurrent MI.
    
    Approximately $100,000,000 of the U.S. anticoagulant sales reported in 1995
are in the injectable category and comprise the traditional heparins and the
newer low molecular weight heparins.  In 1995, sales of LOVENOX-Registered
Trademark-, the first low molecular weight heparin introduced in the U.S. by
Rhone-Poulenc Rorer ("RPR"), approximated $67,000,000.  RPR has reported that
sales of LOVENOX and related brands exceeded $300,000,000 worldwide in 1995. 
LOVENOX is primarily indicated for prophylaxis of venous thrombosis in major
orthopedic surgery, such as hip and knee replacement.  A second low molecular
weight heparin, FRAGMIN-Registered Trademark-, was recently approved in the U.S.
for prophylaxis against deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing major
abdominal surgery.


                                         -6-



    The Company believes the large number of patients affected by thrombotic
and associated vascular diseases, together with the limited efficacy of, and
adverse side effects associated with, existing surgical procedures and drug
therapies, provides significant market opportunities for new drugs.  The growth
in sales in the antithrombotic drug category supports the view that physicians
are adopting new agents in search of better therapeutic outcomes and economics. 
Corvas is building on recent scientific advances in the understanding of the
mechanisms of blood clot formation and is developing new therapeutics designed
to intervene more specifically in the disease process to result in drugs which
the Company believes will offer important economic and therapeutic advantages
over existing therapies.  As there are no selective orally-active thrombin,
Factor Xa or Factor VIIa inhibitors presently available, the compounds under
development at Corvas aim to address unmet needs in antithrombotic therapy.
    
INFLAMMATION

    Inflammation is the body's response to injury and infection by foreign
organisms.  The diverse inflammatory responses are mediated by a series of
molecular events, known as the inflammatory cascades, by which the body attempts
to limit or destroy the injurious agents, heal wounds and maintain health. 
However, inflammatory responses can result in significant tissue injury and
disease.  A primary event in a major class of inflammatory responses is the
attachment, or adhesion, of neutrophils, a specific type of white blood cell, to
endothelial cells which line the blood vessel walls.  Adhesion is caused by the
interaction of specific receptors on the neutrophils with target adhesion
molecules on the endothelial cells.  After adhesion occurs, the neutrophils
migrate across the lining of the blood vessel and into the underlying tissue
where they release toxic substances which contribute to tissue damage.  These
events occur in both acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.  Acute disorders
which are often accompanied by this inflammatory response include stroke,
traumatic shock and many other forms of reperfusion injury which can occur
following certain surgical procedures such as aortic aneurysm repair, artery
bypass grafting and major abdominal surgery.
    
    Current anti-inflammatory drugs generally seek to alleviate symptoms rather
than intervene in the underlying disease processes.  Blocking the activation and
adhesion of white blood cells to endothelial cells, and thereby preventing their
accumulation in tissue, is an alternate approach which could more effectively
intervene early in the inflammatory process.  Using advanced understanding of
the underlying mechanisms of inflammation and tissue injury, Corvas is seeking
to develop new anti-inflammatory agents designed to intervene early in the
disease process and provide improved efficacy and safety.  The Company is
focusing its NIF program on the development of a highly specific protein drug
that will treat the damage occuring after the restoration of blood flow to the
affected area following stroke and head trauma, commonly referred to as
reperfusion injury.  The Company believes that a drug such as NIF that is
specific, potent and reversible could address a large unmet medical need.
    
INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS

    In its drug discovery programs, Corvas applies a highly integrated,
multidisciplinary approach to produce novel molecules as both drug discovery
tools and drug candidates.  In addition, the Company has developed combinatorial
chemistry approaches focused on protease inhibition which have yielded lead
compounds for its antithrombotic program and can be broadly applied to other
important protease targets.  The Company believes that these technologies have
potential application for the discovery of drug candidates in other therapeutic
fields.

STRUCTURE-BASED DRUG DESIGN

    Corvas scientists have extensive knowledge and practical experience in
computer-aided drug design and have developed novel, proprietary software to
expedite the design of synthetic drug candidates.  Using computer-aided
molecular modeling techniques, along with X-ray crystal structures of native
enzymes as well as enzyme inhibitor complexes, Company scientists have gained
valuable insights regarding the unique feature of each of its specific enzyme
targets.  Corvas scientists have used this information to both design novel
inhibitors and to optimize earlier lead compounds.  The X-ray structure
determinations are the result of a collaboration with university-based
scientists, from whom Corvas has obtained crystal structures of candidate drugs
bound to the active site of the target enzymes thrombin and Factor Xa.  Recently
the crystal structure of the Factor VIIa/TF complex has also been solved with a
Corvas proprietary inhibitor bound to the active site.  By systematic iterative
synthesis, biological evaluation and modeling, Company scientists have developed
a comprehensive database correlating biological activity of candidate drugs with
their structures.


                                         -7-



MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY

    Corvas is unique among most biotechnology firms due to its strength in
medicinal chemistry.  The Company's medicinal chemistry expertise is essential
to the development of synthetic pharmaceuticals and is supported and
complemented by capabilities in protein engineering, biochemistry, immunology,
monoclonal antibody technology, analytical chemistry, molecular modeling and IN
VITRO and IN VIVO biological testing.  Corvas has built a team of experienced
medicinal chemists that have a broad range of experience in critical areas of
pharmaceutical chemistry.  Specific areas of expertise within this group include
synthetic, peptide, combinatorial and diversity, analytical, and process
chemistry. The oral thrombin candidate selected for clinical development by
Schering-Plough was identified through the Company's medicinal chemistry
program.  Novel and proprietary technologies developed by the Company, such as
the development of proprietary combinatorial chemistry approaches, may help to
speed the process of drug discovery.

    This combinatorial approach is unique and was developed using several
proprietary chemical strategies for inhibiting serine protease enzymes using a
concept known as "transition state analog inhibition."  In this approach, an
inhibitor is synthesized which mimics the "transition state" structure that is a
stable intermediate between that of the enzyme's substrate and its product.  By
exploiting this principle, Company scientists have produced inhibitors of three
enzymes in the coagulation cascade and several other targets outside of
thrombosis.  The resulting inhibitors bind in a reversible and stable manner to
the target enzyme and have been shown to exhibit excellent pharmacologic
properties, including oral bioavailability. 
    
    Company scientists are currently combining certain Corvas proprietary
transition state inhibitor chemistry with recently developed methods of
combinatorial chemistry to create novel methods of producing large libraries of
candidate protease inhibitors.  It is expected that such methods, if
successfully developed, will improve the speed of lead identification and
optimization efforts and enable the Company to more rapidly expand its portfolio
to new target proteases that are relevant to disease.

BIOLOGICAL DISCOVERY

    Natural products have been a source of new drugs for many years.  Advances
in molecular biology permit the search for, and identification of, new
biological activities in a variety of sources when appropriate analytical assays
exist.  A secondary discovery strategy used by Corvas scientists has been to
examine blood-feeding parasites which infect mammals as a source of
biologically-active agents which can serve as mechanistic probes and potential
drug candidates.  Using specialized assays of coagulation enzymes and cells of
the immune system (white blood cells), Corvas scientists have discovered natural
molecules which inhibit certain blood coagulation enzymes and certain white
blood cell functions.  These molecules, from the NAP and NIF families, are
further described below.  Techniques used to discover these molecules include
classical protein fractionation and purification, as well as gene cloning
techniques including specialized expression cloning methods developed by Corvas
scientists.  The study of the structure and function of molecules evolved by
nature to perform specialized biochemical functions often yields novel insights
into molecular mechanisms.  Such studies have provided competitive advantages to
Company scientists which are being applied in its synthetic molecule drug
discovery programs.  The Company anticipates using its biological discovery
competence to identify molecules that act on new drug discovery targets and to
identify novel targets for future discovery programs as well.
    
MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY

    Using the technology platforms described earlier, Company scientists seek
to generate many lead molecules which must be rigorously evaluated to determine
their suitability as drug candidates for further preclinical and clinical
development.  This evaluation process relies on Corvas' expertise in molecular
pharmacology.  Corvas has evolved a highly specialized capability to evaluate
leads for selection as candidate antithrombotic and related drugs.  Such
expertise depends on a unique blend of IN VITRO biochemical and IN VIVO
biological techniques, with testing in both small and large laboratory animal
models of disease processes.  Selection of candidates from leads depends on the
specific intended use and route of administration of a drug.  Company scientists
are highly experienced in evaluating molecules for bioavailability by various
routes of administration, including the oral, intravenous and subcutaneous
routes.  To complement its internal resources in physiology and pharmacology,
the Company has conducted numerous animal studies in collaboration with outside
investigators, primarily in academic settings, who provide specialized models
and comparative databases which are critical to the drug selection process.


                                         -8-



PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

    The following table describes the Company's primary drug development
programs, their potential therapeutic indications and their development status. 
There can be no assurance that the Company's product development efforts will
progress any further or be successfully completed.  In addition, there can be no
assurance that the Company's potential products will be capable of being
produced in commercial quantities at reasonable costs, that required regulatory
approvals can be obtained or that any potential products, if introduced, will be
successfully marketed or achieve market acceptance.

 




PROGRAM/MOLECULAR TARGET          THERAPEUTIC INDICATIONS(1)         DEVELOPMENT STATUS(2)
- ------------------------          --------------------------         ---------------------

                                                               
ANTITHROMBOTIC
         
ORAL CORTHROMBIN COMPOUNDS (3)    
         
    Thrombin                      DVT, PE, UA, stroke, AF            Exploratory Phase Ia trial completed
                                                                     in 1995; Schering-Plough expected to
                                                                     start Phase I trial on later generation
                                                                     compound in 1997

ORAL CORDECIN AS COMPOUNDS(4)     

    Factor Xa                     Post-MI, UA, stroke, AF, DVT       Lead evaluation/optimization
    
INJECTABLE NAP ANTICOAGULANTS     
         
    NAPc2/Factor VIIa/TF          DVT, PE, UA                        Phase I trial expected to begin in late
                                                                     March or early April 1997

    NAP5/Factor Xa                MI, UA, DVT, PE                    Preclinical development
         
CORSEVIN M(5)/FACTOR VIIa         Antithrombotic                     Phase Ia trial completed in 1993;
                                                                     Centocor to conduct any future trials
         
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY       
         
    NIF(6)                        Stroke, reperfusion injury         Preclinical development with Pfizer
         
OTHER         
         
    Hepatitis C Protease          Chronic Hepatitis C infection      Lead discovery
    Inhibitors

    Anti-Cancer-Urokinase         Solid tumor metastasis and         Lead discovery
    Inhibitors                    growth



 

- ---------------------
(1) The following abbreviations are used in the above table: AF=atrial
    fibrillation; DVT=deep vein thrombosis; MI=myocardial infarction;
    PE=pulmonary embolism; UA=unstable angina.

(2) The following definitions apply to the above table: "Lead
    discovery"=Identification of lead compounds with activity in appropriate IN
    VITRO assay systems.  These lead compounds may require additional chemical
    manipulation and more extensive evaluation prior to selection of
    candidates, if any, for preclinical development.  "Lead
    evaluation/optimization"= Extensive evaluation of lead compounds in
    multiple IN VITRO assay systems and preliminary animal pharmacology
    studies.  "Preclinical development"=Conduct of specific studies to support
    clinical testing.  See "Business - Government Regulation" for a description
    of the clinical trial process.

(3) Oral CORTHROMBIN has been licensed to Schering-Plough.  See "Business -
    Strategic Alliances - Relationship with Schering-Plough."

(4) CORDECIN AS compounds have been licensed to Schering-Plough.  See "Business
    - Strategic Alliances - Relationship with Schering-Plough."

(5) CORSEVIN M has been licensed to Centocor.  See "Business - Strategic
    Alliances - Relationship with Centocor."

(6) NIF has been licensed to Pfizer.  See "Business - Strategic Alliances -
    Relationship with Pfizer."


                                         -9-



ANTITHROMBOTIC PROGRAM

    Currently available antithrombotic agents, despite their limitations, are
used in a diverse range of clinical indications.  In clinical practice, multiple
antithrombotic drugs are often administered concurrently, and it is expected
that drugs under development by Corvas may also be used in multidrug regimens. 
The Company has therefore adopted a broad approach in its antithrombotic
program, targeting intervention at three key biochemical steps, in order to
develop agents for multiple clinical indications.  Corvas is developing
compounds which inhibit thrombin, Factor Xa and Factor VIIa/TF, and believes
that these drugs may have advantages over currently available antithrombotic
drugs and over certain other antithrombotic drugs under development.  As
additional preclinical and clinical data are obtained, the Company expects to
select optimal compounds for further development in specific clinical
indications, either as injectable or oral drugs.  The Company believes that its
program targeting the inhibition of the key coagulation enzymes is among the
most comprehensive in the industry and that it has achieved a leading position
in the design and development of injectable and orally-active antithrombotic
agents.
    
    CORTHROMBIN COMPOUNDS. Corvas has developed highly potent and selective
synthetic molecule inhibitors of thrombin, a key blood coagulation protease that
produces fibrin and initiates platelet aggregation.  Fibrin and platelets are
the two major components of a blood clot.  In December 1994, Corvas entered into
a strategic alliance with Schering-Plough to develop and commercialize oral
thrombin inhibitor drugs for the prevention and treatment of chronic
cardiovascular disorders.  See "Business - Strategic Alliances - Relationship
with Schering-Plough."  Corvas has discovered orally-active and selective
thrombin inhibitors upon which this alliance is based.  In 1995, Corvas
conducted an initial human safety study of CVS-1123, an early generation orally-
active thrombin inhibitor.  In this exploratory Phase Ia study, CVS-1123
demonstrated oral activity, and excellent safety and tolerability.  In January
1997, Schering-Plough selected a more potent and selective compound as a
clinical development candidate.  A $3,000,000 milestone payment was paid by
Schering-Plough upon selection of this compound for development; human trials
are expected to begin later in 1997.  Corvas has filed a series of patent
applications covering novel thrombin inhibitor structures, chemical strategies
for inhibiting thrombin and related enzymes, and methods of treating thrombosis
with such inhibitors.  The Company believes that it has, and will continue to
establish, a strong patent position in the field of thrombin inhibitors.  See
"Business - Patents and Proprietary Rights."
    
    CORDECIN AS COMPOUNDS. Corvas is developing synthetic inhibitors of Factor
Xa.  The Company has made progress in the identification of potent and specific
Factor Xa inhibitors in IN VITRO assay systems and in IN VIVO animal models,
including compounds which exhibit oral activity in rodent models of thrombosis
and oral bioavailability in conscious dogs.  Research activities are focused on
continued refinement of these molecules to identify suitable preclinical
candidates.  As part of the strategic alliance with Schering-Plough to develop
and commercialize oral antithrombotic drugs, Schering-Plough obtained an
exclusive option for CORDECIN compounds, which are Factor Xa inhibitors, and
exercised its option in December 1996.  Patent applications directed towards
novel Factor Xa inhibiting compounds are pending.  Corvas anticipates filing
additional patent applications in this field pursuant to its alliance with
Schering-Plough. The Company believes that it has, and will continue to
establish, a strong patent position in the field of Factor Xa inhibitors.  See
"Business - Strategic Alliances - Relationship with Schering-Plough."
    
    NAP ANTICOAGULANTS. In addition to the chemistry-based approach described
above, Corvas scientists have discovered a unique family of small protein
inhibitors of Factors Xa and VIIa/TF.  These NAP proteins were discovered from
blood-feeding hookworms, parasites which have evolved efficient anticoagulation
mechanisms.  A family of patent applications directed towards NAP proteins and
therapeutic compositions and uses related thereto is pending.  The Company
believes that it has, and will continue to establish, a strong patent position
in the field of NAP anticoagulants. Based on comparative data developed both in
the Company's laboratories and with collaborators, the Company believes that
these agents exhibit unprecedented antithrombotic potency in relevant animal
models.  In addition, animal studies demonstrate that NAP proteins may be
administered by the subcutaneous route and, if similar properties are
demonstrated in humans, this is expected to be an attractive competitive feature
of these agents since the current leading clinical anticoagulant LOVENOX 
is also administered in the same manner.  The Company has
selected NAPc2, a novel Factor VIIa/TF inhibitor, as a development candidate and
has completed the manufacture of clinical supplies and preclinical evaluation,
including pharmacology and safety/toxicology studies.  Initial human testing is
expected to begin in late March or early April of 1997. 


                                         -10-



    Corvas is also beginning preclinical development activities with another
member of the NAP family of anticoagulants known as NAP5.  This anticoagulant
protein is a direct and potent inhibitor of Factor Xa, in contrast to NAPc2
which principally inhibits Factor VIIa/TF.  The Company has recently obtained
permission from Schering-Plough, which holds rights to NAP5, to begin
development activities through Phase I.  Following completion of a Phase I
trial, Schering-Plough will again have an opportunity to evaluate NAP5 as an
additional product or, alternatively, to return all rights to Corvas.  The
Company believes that NAP5 will complement its current activities with NAPc2 in
addressing specific needs in the treatment of acute thrombotic disorders.
    
    CORSEVIN M. Corvas' CORSEVIN M, a potent and specific murine monoclonal
antibody fragment, acts at the initial step of the coagulation cascade by
binding to coagulation Factor Vlla and neutralizing its clot-forming activity. 
In 1993, the Company completed a Phase Ia clinical trial of CORSEVIN M which it
believes is the first specific inhibitor of the initiation of the coagulation
cascade to have been tested in humans.  In the Phase Ia clinical trial, this
compound showed potential as a safe, fast-acting, potent and reversible
anticoagulant.  Because the Company is focusing its resources on non-antibody
based pharmaceuticals, it licensed this product to Centocor.  The Company has
been advised that Centocor intends to continue the development of CORSEVIN M and
that Centocor is currently evaluating its future development strategy for the
agent in the light of the recent clinical trial results with its antiplatelet
agent REOPRO-TM-.  The Company expects that Centocor will conduct all future
trials, if any, of CORSEVIN M.  See "Business - Strategic Alliances -
Relationship with Centocor."
    
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROGRAM

    NIF. Corvas is developing NIF, a highly specific and potent protein which
inhibits neutrophil activation, adhesion and transmigration into tissue.  NIF,
like NAP, was originally discovered from blood-feeding hookworms.  Corvas
scientists have demonstrated that NIF interacts specifically with a key cellular
adhesion receptor (integrin) on the surface of neutrophils known as CD11b/CD18
(Mac-1).  The interaction of NIF with CD11b/CD18 blocks the adhesion of
neutrophils to the endothelial cells which line blood vessels, and thereby
inhibits the first step in the development of an inflammatory response.  Corvas
has produced multiple recombinant forms of NIF, selected one form for
preclinical development, and has demonstrated activity of the molecule in
several animal pharmacology models of acute inflammation.  The Company believes
that NIF is the first identified, naturally-occurring inhibitor of CD11b/CD18,
and that this novel molecule may have application as an acute anti-inflammatory
drug with safety and efficacy advantages over current clinical therapy and other
investigational agents.  Patent applications having claims focused on the family
of NIF proteins and related subject matter were filed and remain pending.  The
Company believes that it has, and will continue to establish, a strong patent
position in this area.
    
    NIF represents a potential injectable acute-care anti-inflammatory product. 
The Company has continued animal pharmacology studies of NIF, focusing on
reperfusion injury in ischemic stroke where earlier studies have shown NIF to be
highly effective.  In October 1995, the Company entered into an option agreement
with Pfizer to collaborate on the development of NIF as a therapy for stroke and
head injury.  In February 1997,  Pfizer elected to exercise its option to enter
into an exclusive license and development agreement.  See "Business - Strategic
Alliances - Relationship with Pfizer."
    
    OTHER PROGRAMS
    
    HEPATITIS C PROTEASE INHIBITORS. Chronic hepatitis C infection is a
substantial public health problem affecting a significant percentage of the
world's population.  It has recently been confirmed that infection with
Hepatitis C may lead to an increased probability of developing more serious
chronic liver disease.  Current treatment, limited to alpha-interferon combined
with other antiviral regimens, has a number of drawbacks, including side effects
and those related to it being a protein and requiring administration by
injection, which limits its use in chronic therapy.  Thus, a chronic therapy to
treat this disease such as an oral drug would meet a large, unmet medical need.


                                         -11-



    It has been shown that the infectivity of the Hepatitis C virus is
dependent on the enzymatic function of a viral protease, NS3, which is analogous
to the function of the protease of the human immunodeficiency virus ("HIV"). 
Inhibition of this protease would be expected to halt reproduction of the virus,
potentially leading to a reduction in viral load and possibly elimination of the
virus from the patient.  The NS3 protease is in the same family of proteases
(serine proteases) as the coagulation enzymes thrombin, Factor Xa and Factor
VIIa.  Building on earlier success producing potent, selective and orally-active
inhibitors in its antithrombotic program, Corvas is applying its transition
state protease inhibitor expertise, both via combinatorial and parallel
synthesis, to identify appropriate orally-bioavailable inhibitors for the
Hepatitis NS3 protease.  This program is still in the lead discovery stage and
will require extensive additional testing prior to selection of candidates, if
any, for preclinical development.  However, it is hoped that this program will
establish Corvas' expertise in the area of novel protease inhibitor development,
which may also be applied to other viral proteases.

         ANTI-CANCER-UROKINASE INHIBITORS. Corvas has recently begun to
leverage its expertise in the area of protease inhibition and vascular biology
into the area of novel therapeutic approaches in the treatment of solid tumor
growth and metastasis.  The Company has targeted the serine protease urokinase
("uPA"), which is similar to the serine proteases involved in the blood
coagulation cascade.  uPA has been shown to be an important mediator of the
metastatic migration of tumor cells from certain solid tumors.  Additionally,
uPA has been shown to be important in the growth of new blood vessels
(angiogenesis) that are required by certain solid tumors to continue their rapid
and uncontrolled growth.  The potential importance of uPA in the pathophysiology
of certain solid tumors suggests that this may be an attractive molecular target
for inhibition.  Corvas has used its proprietary combinatorial protease
inhibitor technology to identify lead compounds with significant potency and
selectivity against related proteases including tissue plasminogen activator
("tPA").  Lead discovery and optimization of this early-stage program are
expected to continue as is the testing of selected inhibitors in relevant animal
models of solid tumor growth and metastasis.

    Corvas has also begun exploring the possibilities of selectively
manipulating the vascular system of solid tumors to induce changes which will
rapidly cut off the blood supply that is required for uncontrolled growth of
these cancers.
    
DRUG DESIGN

    Corvas applies a highly integrated, multidisciplinary approach in its drug
discovery programs.  The Company's medicinal chemistry expertise and
combinatorial chemistry approaches have yielded lead compounds for its
antithrombotic program.  The Company believes these technologies have potential
application for the discovery of drug candidates for other therapeutic
indications.  Corvas scientists also have extensive knowledge and experience in
computer-aided drug design and have developed novel, proprietary software to
expedite the protein-based design of synthetic drugs.  Using computer-aided
molecular modeling techniques, Company scientists have developed models of the
active sites of serine proteases and have gained valuable insights regarding the
unique features of specific targets.  Corvas has also used computer modeling to
study the interaction of candidate drugs with target enzymes.  By systematic
synthesis, biological evaluation and modeling, Company scientists have developed
a comprehensive database correlating biological activity of candidate drugs with
their structures.
    
    Company scientists have extended their proprietary transition state
chemistry to design and build combinatorial libraries of potential protease
inhibitors.  These libraries are specifically directed at protease targets of
interest to the Company and are designed to optimally explore a complementary
fit of the inhibitor to the enzyme active site of interest.  Due to the nature
of the basic molecular templates contained in these libraries, the resultant
"hits" are expected to have significant initial potencies and a high likelihood
of oral bioavailability.  This should substantially shorten the time required to
optimize the pharmacokinetic properties of these leads into viable drug
candidates.
    
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS

    The Company has entered into two agreements with Ortho for manufacturing
and worldwide marketing by Ortho of diagnostic tests containing recombinant
human tissue factor produced by Corvas.  See "Business - Strategic Alliances -
Relationship with Ortho Diagnostic Systems."  Corvas also supplies recombinant
human tissue factor and a group of tissue factor-specific monoclonal antibodies
to a distributor for use in the research market.  Sales of these products have
not been significant to date and are not expected to be significant in the
future. 


                                         -12-



STRATEGIC ALLIANCES

    As part of the Company's strategy for the research, development and
commercialization of its products, the Company may enter into various
arrangements with corporate partners, licensors, licensees and others.  Such
arrangements may include the grant of manufacturing, marketing or other rights. 
There can be no assurance that any additional arrangements beyond those detailed
below will be established, that the Company's existing or future alliances will
continue, or that new products will be successfully developed and commercialized
under existing or future alliances.  If the Company is not able to establish and
maintain such arrangements, it could encounter delays in developing its products
or find that the development, manufacture or sale of its products in such
markets is adversely affected.  While Corvas believes that parties to any such
arrangements will have an economic motivation to succeed in performing their
contractual responsibilities, the amount and timing of resources they devote to
these activities will not be within the Company's control.

RELATIONSHIP WITH SCHERING-PLOUGH

    In December 1994, the Company entered into a strategic alliance agreement
with Schering-Plough to collaborate on the discovery and commercialization of
oral thrombin inhibitor drugs for the prevention and treatment of chronic
cardiovascular disorders.  The initial collaboration covered development of
inhibitors of thrombin, a key blood clotting enzyme.
    
    Under the terms of the initial agreement, Schering-Plough compensated the
Company for the costs of research and preclinical development of thrombin
inhibitors over a two-year period ending December 31, 1996.  Schering-Plough,
which is responsible for certain preclinical development, all future clinical
trials and regulatory activities, received exclusive worldwide manufacturing and
marketing rights for any resulting thrombin inhibitors.  The Company may also
receive milestone payments and royalties on sales of therapeutics resulting from
this alliance.  However, there can be no assurance that products will be
successfully developed and commercialized under this alliance.  In January 1997,
Schering-Plough selected a clinical development candidate in the thrombin
program and paid the Company a $3,000,000 milestone payment. Schering-Plough is
expected to begin human trials on this candidate in 1997.
    
    In conjunction with the December 1994 agreement, Schering-Plough acquired
an exclusive option to expand the alliance to include inhibitors of a second
significant blood coagulation enzyme, Factor Xa.  In December 1996, Schering-
Plough exercised this option and, accordingly, will compensate the Company for
the costs of research and preclinical development of coagulation Factor Xa
inhibitors over two years. Schering-Plough, which is responsible for preclinical
development, all clinical trials and regulatory activities, received exclusive
worldwide marketing rights for any resulting Factor Xa inhibitors.  Corvas
retained certain manufacturing rights.  The Company may also receive milestone
payments and royalties on sales of therapeutics resulting from this alliance. 
However, there can be no assurance that such products will be successfully
developed and commercialized.
    
    Upon execution of the initial agreement in 1994, Schering-Plough paid
certain fees and purchased 1,000,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock of the Company, resulting in net proceeds of $4,864,000.  Revenue of
$4,000,000 was recognized under this agreement in each of 1995 and 1996.  Upon
exercise of the Factor Xa option in 1996, Schering-Plough paid certain fees and
purchased 250,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company,
resulting in net proceeds of $2,000,000.   To date, Corvas has received a total
of $24,000,000 from Schering-Plough under the alliance.  Schering-Plough
beneficially owns approximately 8.3% of the outstanding securities of the
Company on an as-converted basis.


                                         -13-



RELATIONSHIP WITH PFIZER

    In October 1995, the Company entered into a research and option agreement
of up to eighteen months to collaborate on the development of NIF with Pfizer.
The option period concluded in October 1996, but Pfizer extended its option and
began to make monthly payments to retain its option rights.  In February 1997,
Pfizer elected to exercise its option to enter into an exclusive license and
development agreement.  Exercise of the option is subject to the Hart-Scott-
Rodino notification and waiting requirements. Pfizer will receive an exclusive,
worldwide license to further develop, manufacture and market NIF as a
therapeutic agent for stroke and head injury.  Pfizer will also be responsible
for funding all further development of NIF, including costs associated with
clinical trials and limited activities performed by the Company.  The agreement
required Pfizer to pay the Company an additional license fee of $1,000,000 less
$200,000 applied from amounts paid to extend the option period.  Pfizer will
compensate the Company for certain costs of research and preclinical development
of NIF over a two-year period.  If products are successfully commercialized from
this agreement, the Company will also receive milestone payments and royalties
on product sales.  However, there can be no assurance that products will be
successfully developed and commercialized under this alliance.  To date, Pfizer
has paid and committed to pay Corvas $2,459,000 under this alliance.
    
RELATIONSHIP WITH ORTHO DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS

    In June 1992, the Company entered into two agreements with Ortho for
manufacturing and worldwide marketing by Ortho of diagnostic tests containing
recombinant human tissue factor produced by Corvas.  These tests are used to
determine the blood clotting ability of patients.  European sales of this
product commenced in 1992 and sales in the U.S. commenced in 1993.  In order to
maintain its rights pursuant to these agreements, Ortho is required to make
minimum annual purchases of materials and royalty payments.  A milestone payment
of $250,000 was received in 1996.

RELATIONSHIP WITH CENTOCOR

    In November 1991, the Company entered into an agreement with Centocor in
which Corvas granted rights to Centocor to license and commercialize certain
monoclonal antibody products developed by Corvas.  For one such monoclonal
antibody product, CORSEVIN M, Corvas completed a Phase Ia clinical trial in
1993.  Centocor has informed the Company that it intends to continue the
development of CORSEVIN M.  Corvas will depend on Centocor for the continued
development of CORSEVIN M and product sales. In 1994, Centocor terminated its
option rights to future monoclonal antibody products discovered or acquired by
the Company.  The Company may receive a future milestone payment upon receipt of
certain regulatory approvals and royalties on product sales.  

    In connection with this alliance, Centocor purchased preferred stock
(subsequently converted to common stock) of the Company in 1991 for an aggregate
purchase price of $9,250,000.  In connection with a lawsuit brought against
Corvas, several of its current and former directors and Centocor, Centocor
transferred 600,000 of its Corvas shares pursuant to a settlement of such
lawsuit during 1995.  See "Item 3 - Legal Proceedings."

RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS AND LICENSES

    Corvas has also established collaborations with scientists at a number of
leading U.S. and European academic and clinical research centers to further its
technology and product development objectives.  These collaborations are
generally conducted pursuant to agreements which give the Company a license, or
the option to license, certain technology, patent rights or materials which may
be valuable to the Company.  These agreements may require the Company to fund
research or to pay license fees or milestone payments and, upon commercial sale
of certain products, royalties.  The Company also has several contractual
arrangements with scientific advisors and collaborators for which the Company
compensates these individuals or an affiliated entity.


                                         -14-



PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS

    The Company's success will depend in part on its ability to obtain patent
protection for its products, both in the U.S. and other countries.  The patent
position of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies is highly uncertain and
involves complex legal and factual questions.  There is no consistent policy
regarding the breadth of claims allowed in biotechnology patents.  The Company
intends to file applications as appropriate for patents covering both its
products and processes.  At present, Corvas owns or holds exclusive rights in 12
U.S. patents and has been notified of 11 allowed patent applications in the U.S.
Of the issued patents, 10 are owned by the Company and two are licensed by the
Company.  Corvas has filed or holds licenses to 41 additional patent
applications that currently are pending in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Approximately one-third of these pending patent applications are duplicate
applications the Company filed in anticipation of changes to U.S. patent law
that became effective in June 1995 and that may affect the term of U.S. patents.
For the most part, separate and distinct claim groups were elected for initial
prosecution in the duplicate applications, and are currently pending therein. 
Foreign counterparts of certain of the U.S. applications have been filed in many
countries.  In addition, Corvas holds rights in six foreign-issued patents;
Corvas owns three such patents and is the exclusive licensee, in a defined field
of use, of the remaining three foreign patents.  There can be no assurance that
patents will issue from any of the patent applications owned or licensed by the
Company or that claims allowed under any issued patents will be sufficiently
broad to protect the Company's technology.  In addition, there can be no
assurance that any patents issued or licensed to the Company will not be
challenged, invalidated or circumvented, or that the rights granted thereunder
will provide proprietary protection to the Company.
    
    As is typical in the biotechnology industry, the commercial success of the
Company will depend in part on the Company neither being found to infringe
patents issued to competitors nor to breach the technology licenses upon which
the Company's products might be based.  While the Company is aware of third
party patent applications and issued patents in the Company's field, it is not
clear whether these will require the Company to alter products or processes,
obtain licenses or cease certain activities.  If the Company is required to
obtain such licenses, there can be no assurance the Company will be able to
obtain any necessary licenses at a reasonable cost.  Failure by the Company to
obtain a license to any technology that it requires to commercialize its
products, or to obtain approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
("FDA") or any other government authority within an acceptable period of time,
if required to do so, would have a material adverse effect on the Company. 
Litigation, which could result in substantial costs to the Company, may also be
necessary to enforce any patents issued to the Company or to determine the scope
and validity of others' proprietary rights.
    
    In 1993, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the "USPTO") declared an
interference to determine the priority of invention between a patent for which
some rights are licensed to the Company (the "Licensed Patent") and a patent
application for which rights are held by other parties (the "First Patent
Application").  During the third quarter of 1996, the USPTO added a second
patent application to the proceeding (the "Second Patent Application") and
redeclared the interference.  Rights to the Second Patent Application are held
by other parties, at least some of which also hold rights in the First Patent
Application.  The subject matter of the patent and these applications is
recombinant tissue factor, which is used by Ortho to determine the blood
clotting abilities of patients.  The Company is contesting the other parties'
claims of prior invention; however, there can be no assurance that the Licensed
Patent will be upheld.  See "Item 3 - Legal Proceedings."
    
    In addition to patents, the Company relies on trade secrets and proprietary
know-how, which it seeks to protect, in part, through appropriate
confidentiality and proprietary information and inventions agreements with its
current and prospective collaborative partners, employees, scientific advisors
and consultants.  There can be no assurance that these agreements will not be
breached, that the Company will have adequate remedies for any breach, or that
the Company's trade secrets will not otherwise become known or be independently
discovered by competitors.


                                         -15-



    Certain of the Company's research has been funded in part by the Federal
Small Business Innovation Research ("SBIR") program.  As a result of such
funding, the U.S. Government will have certain rights ("Government Rights") in
any technology, including inventions, developed with the funding.  These rights
include the grant of a non-exclusive, paid-up, worldwide license to such
inventions for any governmental purpose.  In addition, the government has the
right to require the Company to grant an exclusive license to any of such
inventions to a third party if the government determines that (i) adequate steps
have not been taken to commercialize such inventions, (ii) such action is
necessary to meet public health or safety needs or (iii) such action is
necessary to meet requirements for public use under federal regulations. 
Federal law requires any licensor of an invention that was partially funded by
federal grants to obtain a covenant from its exclusive licensee to substantially
manufacture products using the invention in the U.S.  In addition, the Company's
licenses may also relate to technology developed with federal funding and,
therefore, may also be subject to Government Rights.
    
GOVERNMENT REGULATION

    The production and marketing of the Company's products and its ongoing
research and development activities are subject to regulation by numerous
governmental authorities in the U.S. and other countries.  Any drug developed by
the Company must undergo rigorous preclinical and clinical testing and an
extensive regulatory approval process mandated by FDA and equivalent foreign
authorities before it can be marketed.  Various federal and, in some cases,
state statutes and regulations also govern or influence the manufacturing,
safety, labeling, storage, recordkeeping and marketing of such products.  These
processes can take a number of years and require the expenditure of substantial
resources.  Any failure by the Company or its collaborators or licensees to
obtain, or any delay in obtaining, regulatory approvals could adversely affect
the marketing of any products developed by the Company and its ability to
receive product or royalty revenue.
    
    The activities required before a pharmaceutical agent may be marketed in
the U.S. begin with preclinical testing.  Preclinical tests include laboratory
evaluation of product chemistry and animal studies to assess the potential
safety and efficacy of the product and its formulations.  The results of these
studies must be submitted to the FDA as part of an Investigational New Drug
Application ("IND"), which must be reviewed and become effective pursuant to FDA
regulations before proposed clinical testing can begin.  Typically, clinical
testing involves a three-phase process.  In Phase I, clinical trials are
conducted with a small number of subjects to determine the early safety profile
and the pattern of drug distribution and metabolism.  At the Company's
discretion, Phase I trials can be further broken down into Phase Ia and Phase Ib
trials.  A Phase Ia study can be considered an exploratory dose-escalating
safety and tolerability study in a limited number of normal healthy volunteer
subjects.  Phase Ib studies are also designed to determine safety and
tolerability in a dose-escalating manner, but may be conducted in certain
relevant patient populations that may yield preliminary efficacy information
(I.E. using surrogate markers), but is not intended to provide medical benefit
to such population.  Phase II clinical trials are conducted with groups of
patients afflicted with a specified disease in order to determine preliminary
efficacy, optimal dosages and expanded evidence of safety.  In Phase III, large
scale, multicenter, comparative clinical trials are conducted with patients
afflicted with a target disease in order to provide enough data for the
statistical proof of efficacy and safety required by the FDA and others.  
    
    Results of the preclinical and clinical testing are then submitted to the
FDA for a pharmaceutical product in the form of a New Drug Application ("NDA"),
or for a biological product in the form of a Product License Application
("PLA"), for approval to commence commercial sales.  In responding to an NDA or
PLA, the FDA may grant marketing approval, request additional information or
deny the application if it determines that the application does not demonstrate
to the satisfaction of the FDA that the product is safe and effective for its
labeled indications.  With respect to biological products, an Establishment
License Application ("ELA") must also be filed, and the FDA must approve the
manufacturing facilities for the products.  There can be no assurance that
approvals will be granted on a timely basis, if at all.
    
    Among the conditions for NDA or PLA approval is the requirement that the
prospective manufacturer's quality control and manufacturing procedures conform
on an ongoing basis with Good Manufacturing Practices (''GMP").  In complying
with GMP, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the
area of production and quality control to ensure full technical compliance. 
Manufacturing facilities are subject to periodic inspections by the FDA, and
noncompliance may result in the withdrawal of previously granted approvals
and/or the imposition of other regulatory enforcement sanctions.


                                         -16-



    The Company is also subject to regulation by the Food and Drug Branch of
the California Department of Health Services ("FDB") and, prior to the
marketing of any of its products manufactured in California, the Company will be
required to secure a drug manufacturing license from the FDB.  Such licenses are
issued after an FDB inspection of manufacturing facilities, and are reissued on
an annual basis after reinspection by the FDB.
    
    The Company is also subject to various federal, state and local laws,
regulations and recommendations relating to safe working conditions, laboratory
and manufacturing practices, the experimental use of animals and the use and
disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances, including radioactive
compounds and infectious disease agents, used in connection with the Company's
research.  The extent of government regulation which might result from any
legislation or administrative action cannot be accurately predicted.
    
COMPETITION

    Due to the high incidence of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, most
of the major pharmaceutical companies have significant research and product
development programs in these areas.  The Company expects to encounter
significant competition as to each of the products it seeks to develop.  Several
existing products have well-established market positions and there are a number
of new antithrombotic products in advanced clinical development.  The Company's
competitors include fully-integrated pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
which have expertise in research and development, manufacturing processes,
testing, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing, and may have financial
and other resources greater than those of the Company.  Smaller companies also
may prove to be significant competitors.  Furthermore, academic institutions,
government agencies and other public and private research organizations conduct
research relating to cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases and may seek
patent protection for, and establish collaborative arrangements for, the
development and marketing of products for the treatment of the same diseases. 
Products developed by these and other entities may compete directly with those
being developed by the Company.  These companies and institutions may also
compete with the Company in recruiting and retaining highly qualified scientific
personnel.
    
    The Company's competition will be determined in part by the potential
indications for which the Company's products are developed and ultimately
approved by regulatory authorities, by the timing of such approvals and market
introduction and by whether any currently available drugs, or drugs under
development by others, are effective in the same indications.  Accordingly, the
relative speed with which the Company can develop products, complete the
clinical trials and approval processes, and supply commercial quantities of the
products to the market are expected to be important competitive factors.  The
Company expects that competition among products approved for sale will be based,
among other things, on product efficacy, safety, reliability, availability,
price and patent position.

HUMAN RESOURCES

    As of March 17, 1997, Corvas employed 72 individuals on a full-time basis,
15 of whom hold Ph.D. degrees.  A significant number of the Company's management
and professional employees have had prior experience with pharmaceutical,
biotechnology or medical product companies.  Corvas believes that it has been
highly successful in attracting skilled and experienced scientific personnel;
however, competition for such personnel is intense.  None of the Company's
employees is covered by a collective bargaining agreement.  All of the Company's
employees are covered by confidentiality and arbitration agreements, and all of
its officers have employment contracts.


                                         -17-



ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

    The Company presently occupies approximately 30,200 square feet of
laboratory and office space in San Diego pursuant to a lease that expires in
September 1997 and has two one-year renewal options remaining.  The Company may
need to expand its laboratory and office facilities over the next several years.
    
    The Company does not have manufacturing facilities for pilot scale or
commercial production of compounds under development as therapeutic products. 
The Company must presently rely on third parties to manufacture its candidate
products for clinical testing.
    
    For its diagnostic product, the Company has established a quality control
and quality assurance program, including a set of standard operating procedures.
The Company relies on outside manufacturers for production of raw materials for
this product.  For therapeutic products, however, the Company will need to
establish further manufacturing, quality control and quality assurance programs.
The Company will continue to be dependent on contract manufacturers and/or
strategic partners.  There can be no assurance that these manufacturers will be
available or will meet the Company's requirements for quality, quantity and
timeliness, or that the Company would be able to find substitute manufacturers,
if necessary.
    
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

    The Company, several of its current and former directors, and Centocor were
parties to a legal proceeding filed February 18, 1993 in the U.S. District Court
for the Southern District of California.  The complaint was filed by a
shareholder of the Company who represented a class of persons who purchased
Corvas stock from January 30, 1992 through April 14, 1992.  The Company
continues to deny all claims of wrongdoing and maintains this denial as part of
the settlement agreement reached in 1995.  All amounts due under the settlement
agreement, including the issuance of 125,000 shares of common stock, have been
distributed or paid.
    
    In 1993, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the "USPTO") declared an
interference to determine the priority of invention between a patent for which
some rights are licensed to the Company (the "Licensed Patent") and a patent
application for which rights are held by other parties (the "First Patent
Application").  During the third quarter of 1996, the USPTO added a second
patent application to the proceeding (the "Second Patent Application") and
redeclared the interference.  Rights to the Second Patent Application are held
by other parties, at least some of which also hold rights in the First Patent
Application.  The subject matter of the patent and these applications is
recombinant tissue factor, which is used by Ortho to determine the blood
clotting abilities of patients.  The Company is contesting the other parties'
claims of prior invention; however, there can be no assurance that the Licensed
Patent will be upheld.
    
ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

    None


                                         -18-



                                       PART II

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

    The Company's Common Stock began trading on the Nasdaq National Market on
January 30, 1992 under the symbol "CVAS."  Prior to January 30, 1992, there was
no public market for the Company's Common Stock.  The following table sets forth
for the periods indicated the high and low sale prices of Common Stock as
reported by the Nasdaq National Market.

                                                       HIGH            LOW
                                                    --------       ---------

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
Fourth Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      $6             $2 3/4
Third Quarter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       5 1/2          2 7/8
Second Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       7              4 3/4
First Quarter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       6 1/8          3 5/8

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
Fourth Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      $7 3/8         $2 1/8
Third Quarter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       4 5/8          2 3/8
Second Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       2 7/8          1 5/8
First Quarter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       2 5/8          1 7/8


    On March 17, 1997, the last reported sale price of the Common Stock was
$5.88 per share.  As of March 17, 1997, there were approximately 824 holders of
record of the Common Stock.

     On February 2, 1996, the Company completed a private placement of equity 
securities consisting of 3,000,000 units to a group of institutional 
investors. Each unit consisted of one share of Common Stock and one callable 
warrant to purchase one additional share of Common Stock. The warrants are 
exercisable at $6.00 per share over a six-year period from the date of 
purchase of the units. The aggregate offering price was $5.00 per unit, 
resulting in net proceeds to the Company of $14,829,000. There were no 
underwriting commissions associated with this transaction. These securities 
were issued in a transaction exempt from registration under Rule 506 of 
Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities 
Act") and were subsequently registered for resale pursuant to a Registration 
Statement on Form S-3, filed February 28, 1996 and declared effective on 
April 26, 1996.

     On December 20, 1996, the Company completed a private placement of 
equity securities consisting of 250,000 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock 
to Schering-Plough in connection with the exercise of an option pursuant to 
the companies' strategic collaboration. The aggregate offering price was 
$8.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds to the Company of $2,000,000. 
There were no underwriting commissions associated with this transaction. 
These securities were issued in a transaction exempt from registration under 
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. Each of these shares of Preferred Stock 
is initially convertible into one share of the Company's Common Stock at any 
time subject to certain adjustments, and will automatically convert if the 
market price of the Company's Common Stock for 10 consecutive trading days 
exceeds $12.00 per share.


                                         -19-



ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

    The selected data presented below under the captions "Statement of
Operations Data" and "Balance Sheet Data" for, and as of the end of, each of the
years in the five-year period ended December 31, 1996, are derived from the
financial statements of Corvas International, Inc., which financial statements
have been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public
accountants.  The financial statements as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and for
each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, and the
report thereon, are included elsewhere in this Report.

 




                                             1996           1995           1994           1993           1992
                                             ----           ----           ----           ----           ----
                                                         (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

                                                                                       
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:

  REVENUES:
 Revenue from collaborative agreements     $   5,480      $   4,354      $       -      $       -      $       -
 License fees & milestones . . . . . .           400            500              -            100            100
 Net product sales . . . . . . . . . .           224            406            280            323            263
 Royalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . .           161            142            183            230             10
 Research grants . . . . . . . . . . .             -              -            667            192            513
                                           ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
    Total revenues . . . . . . . . . .         6,265          5,402          1,130            845            886

  COSTS AND EXPENSES:
 Research and development. . . . . . .        10,901          9,723         11,378         12,115          8,894
 General and administrative. . . . . .         3,181          2,582          3,159          3,067          3,044
 Cost of products sold . . . . . . . .           134            211             83            105            106
 Litigation settlement and related
    expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . .             -              -            535              -              -
 Restructuring charge. . . . . . . . .             -              -          1,575              -              -
                                           ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
    Total costs and expenses . . . . .        14,216         12,516         16,730         15,287         12,044
                                           ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------

 Loss from operations. . . . . . . . .       (7,951)        (7,114)       (15,600)       (14,442)       (11,158)
 Other income, net . . . . . . . . . .         1,242            821            697          1,073          1,691
                                           ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------

 Net loss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     $ (6,709)      $ (6,293)      $(14,903)      $(13,369)       $(9,467)
                                           ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
                                           ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
 Net loss per share (1). . . . . . . .     $  (0.52)      $  (0.67)      $  (1.60)      $  (1.44)       $ (1.08)
                                           ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
                                           ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
 Shares used in calculation of net loss
      per share (1). . . . . . . . . .        12,882          9,374          9,336          9,295          8,747
                                              ------          -----          -----          -----          -----
                                              ------          -----          -----          -----          -----

BALANCE SHEET DATA:

 Cash, cash equivalents and investments    $  28,596      $  12,451      $  19,867      $  23,180      $  36,398
 Working capital . . . . . . . . . . .        24,254          7,372         13,902         22,477         20,987
 Total assets. . . . . . . . . . . . .        30,639         14,462         22,509         26,522         38,925
 Accumulated deficit . . . . . . . . .      (67,297)       (60,588)       (54,295)       (39,392)       (26,023)
 Total stockholders' equity. . . . . .        24,347          8,768         14,647         24,474         37,592



 

(1) See Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.


                                         -20-



ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
         OF OPERATIONS
         
    EXCEPT FOR THE HISTORICAL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, THE FOLLOWING 
DISCUSSION CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND 
UNCERTAINTIES.  THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM 
THOSE PROJECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.  FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE 
OR CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH DIFFERENCES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE 
DISCUSSED IN THIS SECTION, AS WELL AS IN THE SECTIONS ENTITLED "BUSINESS - 
BUSINESS STRATEGY," "BUSINESS - INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS," "BUSINESS - 
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS," "BUSINESS - STRATEGIC ALLIANCES" AND "BUSINESS 
- - PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS."
    
OVERVIEW

    Formed in 1987, Corvas International, Inc. (the "Company") is a
biopharmaceutical firm engaged in the design and development of a new generation
of therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of major cardiovascular,
inflammatory and other diseases.  To date, the Company has not generated
significant revenues from product sales.  The Company has not been profitable
since inception and expects to incur substantial additional operating losses on
an annual basis over the next several years as the Company attempts to sustain,
and possibly expand, its research and development and clinical trial efforts. 
No assurance can be given that the Company will generate sufficient revenues to
become profitable on a sustained basis or at all.  At December 31, 1996, the
Company had an accumulated deficit of $67,297,000.
    
    In December 1994, the Company ceased operation of its Belgian subsidiary
and, accordingly, recorded a one-time restructuring charge for severance and
other expenses.  The Belgian operation accounted for 20% of the consolidated
operating expenses in 1994, including the restructuring charge.
    
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

    Operating revenues increased to $6,265,000 in 1996, from $5,402,000 in 1995
and $1,130,000 in 1994.  Revenue from collaborative agreements for 1996 includes
$4,000,000 attributable to the Company's strategic alliance agreement with
Schering Corporation ("Schering-Plough") to collaborate on the discovery and
commercialization of oral thrombin inhibitor drugs for the prevention and
treatment of chronic cardiovascular disorders, and an additional $1,000,000
received from Schering-Plough to extend its option on inhibitors of Factor Xa, a
second blood clotting enzyme.  The remaining $480,000 of revenue from
collaborative agreements, and an additional $150,000 accounted for as license
fees and milestones, is attributable to the Company's research and option
agreement with Pfizer Inc. ("Pfizer") to collaborate on the development of
neutrophil inhibitory factor ("NIF"), an anti-inflammatory agent with
therapeutic potential for stroke and other indications.  Also included in
license fees and milestones is a $250,000 milestone payment received from Ortho
Diagnostic Systems, Inc. ("Ortho"), a Johnson & Johnson company, pursuant to
agreements whereby Ortho acquired worldwide rights to produce and distribute a
Corvas product for diagnostic use in determining the blood clotting ability of
patients.
    
    Research and development expenditures, which accounted for 77% of the total
costs and expenses in 1996, 78% in 1995 and 68% in 1994, totaled $10,901,000 in
1996, $9,723,000 in 1995 and $11,378,000 in 1994. The increase in 1996 is
primarily due to scale-up, manufacturing and preclinical testing of a
development candidate expected to begin clinical trials in late March or early
April of 1997.  The decrease from 1994 to 1995 is attributable to closure of the
Belgian subsidiary.
    
    General and administrative expenses increased to $3,181,000 in 1996, from
$2,582,000 in 1995 and $3,159,000 in 1994.  Recruiting and relocation charges
associated with the hiring of a new Chief Executive Officer and business
development expenses in 1996 were the major factors contributing to this
increase.
    
    Total other income was $1,242,000 in 1996, $821,000 in 1995 and $697,000 in
1994.  Increased interest income attributable to returns on the proceeds from
two common stock offerings completed in 1996 accounted for this increase.
    
    Subject to the availability of additional capital, the Company expects all
expenses to increase over the next several years as the Company's research and
development programs progress.  However, due to revenue expected to be
recognized pursuant to the Company's collaborative agreements, operating losses
are not expected to increase significantly in 1997, if at all, beyond the 1996
amount.


                                         -21-



LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

    Since inception, the Company's operations have been funded primarily
through public offerings and private placements of equity securities, revenues
from collaborative agreements, research grants and license agreements, and
interest income earned on cash and investment balances.  Subsequent to December
31, 1996, the Company received a $3,000,000 milestone payment from Schering-
Plough upon selection of a clinical development compound.  Also subsequent to
December 31, 1996, Pfizer exercised its option on the NIF program, triggering a
remaining license fee of $800,000 and a commitment for research and development
funding over a two-year period.  The Company's principal sources of liquidity
are its cash and cash equivalents, time deposits and debt securities which, net
of a restricted time deposit, totaled $28,536,000 and $12,391,000 as of December
31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.  Working capital as of December 31, 1996 and
1995 was $24,254,000 and $7,372,000, respectively.  These increases result from
net proceeds of $19,714,000 raised by the Company in 1996 equity offerings. 
Available cash is invested in accordance with an investment policy set by the
Board of Directors, which has the objectives to preserve principal, to maintain
adequate liquidity and to maximize income.  The policy provides guidelines
concerning the quality, term and liquidity of investments.  The Company
presently invests its excess cash in U.S. government securities.
    
    The Company expects to incur substantial additional costs in the
foreseeable future, including costs related to sustaining, and possibly
expanding, research and development activities and preclinical and clinical
testing.  The Company expects such costs to continue to increase.  As a result,
the Company expects to experience substantial additional operating losses,
although these losses are not expected to increase beyond the current level in
1997 due to revenue anticipated under the Company's collaborative agreements
with Schering-Plough and Pfizer.  Including the $3,000,000 milestone payment
received from Schering-Plough in January 1997 and the February 1997 license fee
from Pfizer, the Company believes its existing capital resources and interest
earned thereon will satisfy its funding requirements through 1999.  In addition,
the Company may also receive capital resources through additional milestone
payments and royalties on sales of products in connection with its alliances. 
However, there can be no assurance that the Company will successfully develop
and commercialize such products or that the Company will receive any additional
amounts under these or future alliances.
    
    The Company's future capital requirements will depend on many factors,
including, but not limited to, the following: continued scientific progress in
its drug discovery programs; the magnitude of these programs; progress of
preclinical testing and clinical trials; the time and costs involved in
obtaining regulatory approvals; the costs involved in filing, prosecuting,
maintaining and enforcing patent claims; competing technological and market
developments; changes in its existing research relationships; the ability of the
Company to establish and to maintain collaborative or licensing arrangements;
the cost of manufacturing scale-up; and the effectiveness of activities and
arrangements to commercialize existing and potential products.  In 1996, the
Company invested approximately $437,000 in capital equipment and leasehold
improvements.  The Company leases its laboratory and office facilities and
certain equipment under operating and capital leases.  The Company expects to
acquire additional property and equipment as research and development activities
progress.  In addition, the Company may need to expand its laboratory and office
facilities over the next several years.
    
    The Company's business is subject to significant risks, including but not
limited to the risks associated with its research and development efforts,
obtaining and enforcing patents, the lengthy and expensive regulatory approval
process, product reimbursement levels, competition from other products,
dependence on collaborative partners and other third parties, the possibility of
early termination of corporate collaborations, and the availability of capital. 
Even if the Company's products appear promising at an early stage of
development, they may not reach the market for a number of reasons, including
the possibility that such potential products will be ineffective or found to be
unsafe during clinical trials, will not receive necessary regulatory approvals,
will be difficult to manufacture on a large scale, will be uneconomical to
market or will be precluded from commercialization by proprietary rights of
third parties.
    
    Uncertainties associated with the duration and expense of preclinical and
clinical testing of any of the Company's products make it difficult to predict
the Company's capital requirements, and unexpected developments and/or
regulatory requirements could greatly increase the cost of development of such
products and affect the timing of anticipated revenues from such products. 
Failure by the Company to obtain regulatory approval for any product will
preclude the sale of such product.  In addition, failure by the Company to
obtain patent protection may make certain of its products commercially
unattractive.


                                         -22-



    To continue its product development efforts, the Company must raise
substantial additional funds through public or private sales of securities,
collaborative arrangements or other methods of financing.  The Company's ability
to raise additional funds through such sales of securities depends in part on
investors' perceptions of the biotechnology industry, in general, and of the
Company, in particular.  The market for biotechnology company stocks has
historically been highly volatile and, accordingly, there can be no assurance
that additional funding will be available, or, if available, that it will be
available on acceptable terms.  The Company may enter into additional
collaborative relationships to develop and commercialize certain of its
technologies or products.  There can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to establish such relationships on satisfactory terms, if at all, or that
agreements with collaborators will successfully reduce the Company's funding
requirements.  In addition, the Company has no established bank financing
arrangements, and there can be no assurance that it will be able to establish
such arrangements on satisfactory terms, if at all.  If adequate funds are not
available, the Company may be required to significantly delay, scale back or
eliminate one or more of its drug discovery programs or obtain funds through
arrangements with collaborative partners or others that may require the Company
to relinquish rights to certain of its technologies, product candidates or
products that the Company would not otherwise relinquish.

    At December 31, 1996, the Company had available net operating loss
carryforwards of approximately $58,178,000 for federal income tax reporting
purposes which begin to expire in 2002.  The net operating loss carryforwards
for state purposes, which expire five years after generation, are approximately
$24,557,000.  The Company has unused research and development tax credits for
federal income tax reporting purposes of $2,624,000 at December 31, 1996.  In
accordance with Internal Revenue Code Section 382, the annual utilization of net
operating loss carryforwards and credits existing prior to a change in control
may be limited.
    
    The Company, several of its current and former directors, and Centocor,
Inc. were parties to a legal proceeding filed February 18, 1993 in the U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of California.  The complaint was filed
by a shareholder of the Company who represented a class of persons who purchased
Corvas stock from January 30, 1992 through April 14, 1992.  The Company
continues to deny all claims of wrongdoing and maintains this denial as part of
the settlement agreement reached in 1995.  All amounts due under the settlement
agreement, including the issuance of 125,000 shares of common stock, have been
distributed or paid.  See "Item 3 - Legal Proceedings."
    
    In 1993, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the "USPTO") declared an
interference to determine the priority of invention between a patent for which
some rights are licensed to the Company (the "Licensed Patent") and a patent
application for which rights are held by other parties (the "First Patent
Application").  During the third quarter of 1996, the USPTO added a second
patent application to the proceeding (the "Second Patent Application") and
redeclared the interference.  Rights to the Second Patent Application are held
by other parties, at least some of which also hold rights in the First Patent
Application.  The subject matter of the patent and these applications is
recombinant tissue factor, which is used by Ortho to determine the blood
clotting abilities of patients.  The Company is contesting the other parties'
claims of prior invention; however, there can be no assurance that the Licensed
Patent will be upheld.  See "Item 3 - Legal Proceedings."
    
ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

    INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                                                          Page
                                                                          ----
Independent Auditors' Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   F-1
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996 and 1995  . . . . . . . . . . . .   F-2
Statements of Operations for the three years ended December 31, 1996 . .   F-3
Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the three years ended
 December 31, 1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   F-4
Statements of Cash Flows for the three years ended December 31, 1996 . .   F-5
Notes to Financial Statements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   F-7

ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND 
        FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

    None


                                         -23-



                                       PART III

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

    Information regarding the Directors and Executive Officers of the Company
as of March 17, 1997 is set forth below.  Information regarding the compliance
with Section 16 filing requirements will be set forth under the caption
"Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934" in
the Company's 1997 Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference into this
Report.

DIRECTORS

    THOMAS S. EDGINGTON, M.D.  Dr. Edgington, age 65, a founder of Corvas, has
been a director since May 1987 and served as Chairman of the Board from that
time until February 1991.  He is a Member of The Scripps Research Institute
("Scripps"), with which he has been affiliated since 1965.  Since 1968, Dr.
Edgington has also been adjunct Professor of Pathology at the University of
California, San Diego, and, from 1968 to 1974, he was the head of the Department
of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine which he founded at Scripps.  He has been
Vice President for Research, Chairman of the National Research Committee and a
member of the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association.  He was a
member of the Board of Directors and the Past-President of the Federation of
American Societies for Experimental Biology.
    
    JOHN H. FRIED, PH.D.  Dr. Fried, age 67, was elected as Chairman of the 
Board in February 1997, and has been a director of the Company since May 
1992. Since March 1992, he has been President of Fried & Company, Inc. Dr. 
Fried served in various executive capacities at Syntex Corporation 
("Syntex"), a pharmaceutical company, from April 1964 to March 1992. He 
served as President of Syntex Research from 1976 to March 1992, Senior Vice 
President of Syntex from 1981 to 1985, and Vice Chairman from 1985 to January 
1993. Dr. Fried is also Chairman of the Board of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    THEODOR H. HEINRICHS.  Mr. Heinrichs, age 70, joined the Board of 
Directors in February 1988. He also served as Chief Executive Officer and 
Chairman of the Board from February 1991 through November 1991 and January 
1996 respectively. Mr. Heinrichs is a general partner with Hambrecht & Quist 
Life Science Venture Partners ("H&Q LSV"), a venture capital firm, with whom 
he was been affiliated since 1985.  Mr. Heinrichs served as Chairman of the 
Board of Directors of Telios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Telios"), a 
biotechnology company, from January until June 1994.  Telios filed for 
protection under Chapter 11 in the Federal Bankruptcy Court in January 1995 
and was subsequently acquired by INTEGRA, L.S.  Mr. Heinrichs also served as 
Chief Executive Officer of Canji, Inc. ("Canji"), a biopharmaceutical 
company, from its inception through March 1993, and was Chairman of the Board 
until March 1995.  Canji was acquired by Schering-Plough Corporation in 1996.

    M. BLAKE INGLE, PH.D.  Dr. Ingle, age 54, was elected a director in 
January 1994.  Dr. Ingle was the President and Chief Executive Officer of 
Canji from March 1993 to February 1996, when it was acquired by 
Schering-Plough.  Prior to that, he was employed in a variety of capacities 
with the IMCERA Group, Inc., a healthcare company, consisting of Mallinckrodt 
Medical, Mallinckrodt Specialty Chemicals and Pitman Moore, from 1980 to 
1993, most recently serving as President/Chief Executive Officer.  Dr. Ingle 
was a director of Telios and was its Chief Executive Officer from December 
1994 to January 1995.  He currently serves on the Boards of Directors for 
Synbiotics Corporation and Vical Inc., and as a member of the Board of 
Trustees at La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation.
    
    MICHAEL SORELL, M.D.  Dr. Sorell, age 49, was appointed a director in 
April 1996.  Since March 1996, he has been the Managing Partner of MS 
Capital, an advisement firm based in New York.  From July 1986 to February 
1992, he was associated with Morgan Stanley & Co. ("Morgan Stanley"), an 
investment banking firm, in various capacities, the last being Principal. 
From March 1992 to July 1994, he was a partner in a joint venture with Essex 
Investment Management of Boston, an investment management firm.  In August 
1994, he rejoined Morgan Stanley as the emerging growth strategist and 
principal where he served until February 1996.  Prior to that, he was on 
staff at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and worked in clinical 
development at Schering-Plough Corporation, a pharmaceutical company.  Dr. 
Sorell also serves on the Board of Directors of Dynagen, Inc.
    
    W. LEIGH THOMPSON, JR., M.D., PH.D.  Dr. Thompson, age 58, was appointed 
a director in January 1996.  Dr. Thompson retired in December 1994 as Chief 
Scientific Officer of Eli Lilly and Company ("Eli Lilly"), a pharmaceutical 
company, where he had served in various capacities since 1982.  He has served 
as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Profound Quality Resources, 
Ltd., a consulting company, since January 1995 and serves on the Boards of 
Directors for GeneMedicine, Inc., Chrysalis International Corporation 
(formerly DNX Corporation), Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc., Orphan Medical, 
Inc., Ergo Science Corporation, La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co., Medarex Inc., 
and BAS, Inc.

                                         -24-



    GERARD VAN ACKER.  Mr. Van Acker, age 53, has been a director since March
1991.  Mr. Van Acker has been President and Chief Executive Officer of
Gewestelijke Investeringsmaatschappij voor Vlaanderen, N.V. (The Investment
Company for Flanders) ("GIMV"), based in Antwerp, Belgium, since founding it in
1980.  He was a co-founder and the first President of Plant Genetic Systems,
N.V. ("Plant Genetic Systems"), (who, along with its affiliates, PGS
International, N.V., a Netherlands corporation ("PGS International Netherlands")
and PGS International, N.V., a Belgium corporation ("PGS International Belgium")
are collectively referred to herein as "PGS").  Since May 1989, Mr. Van Acker
has also been a director of BARCO, N.V.
    
    NICOLE VITULLO.  Ms. Vitullo, age 39, was appointed a director in April 
1996.  She has been a Vice President since November 1992, and a Senior Vice 
President since November 1996, with Rothschild Asset Management, Inc., which 
manages two publicly traded funds, International Biotechnology Trust and 
Biotechnology Investments, Limited.  She served as Director of Corporate 
Communications at Cephalon, Inc., a neuropharmaceutical company, from July 
1991 to November 1992.  Prior to that, she was Manager, Healthcare 
Investments at Eastman Kodak Company.  She also serves on the Boards of 
Directors of Cytel Corporation, Anergen, Inc. and Cadus Pharmaceuticals, Corp.
    
    RANDALL E. WOODS.  Mr. Woods, age 44, was appointed President and Chief 
Executive Officer and elected a director of Corvas in May 1996.  Prior to 
joining Corvas, Mr. Woods served as President of the U.S. Operations, 
Boehringer Mannheim Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a pharmaceutical company, 
from March 1994 to March 1996, and was Vice President of Marketing and Sales 
from December 1993 to March 1994.  From 1973 to December 1993, he served in 
various capacities at Eli Lilly, where he was most recently responsible for 
the marketing of hospital products.  Mr. Woods received an M.B.A. from 
Western Michigan University.
    
    Mr. Van Acker was nominated for election as a director in accordance with
an agreement among the Company, GIMV and PGS, entered into in March 1991 under
which the Company issued shares of preferred stock (subsequently converted into
common stock) to GIMV and PGS.  Pursuant to such agreement, the Company has
agreed that, for as long as the holders of such shares of stock hold not less
than 10% of the voting power of the Company, it will nominate for election to
the Board of Directors the number of persons designated by such holders that
they would be entitled to elect under cumulative voting.
    
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS

    JOHN E. CRAWFORD.  Mr. Crawford, age 42, a founder of Corvas, has been
Chief Financial Officer since the Company's organization in May 1987, Executive
Vice President since April 1989 and Secretary since March 1991.  Mr. Crawford
also served as President from May 1987 to April 1989, Chief Operating Officer
from April 1989 to February 1991, Secretary from May 1987 to June 1989 and as a
director from May 1987 to March 1991.  Mr. Crawford received an M.B.A. from the
University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
    
    WILLIAM C. RIPKA, PH.D.  Dr. Ripka, age 57, joined Corvas in May 1990 as
Vice President, Pharmaceutical Research.  In January 1995, Dr. Ripka was
promoted to Senior Vice President, Chemical Research.  Prior to joining Corvas,
he was employed for twenty-four years by E.I. duPont de Nemours & Co. in various
research positions, most recently as Research Fellow and Supervisor of Drug
Design and Molecular Modeling.  Dr. Ripka received his Ph.D. in physical organic
chemistry from the University of Illinois.
    
    GEORGE P. VLASUK, PH.D.  Dr. Vlasuk, age 41, joined Corvas in August 1991
as Director, Molecular Pharmacology.  He served as Executive Director, Molecular
Pharmacology from July 1993 to January 1995, and from January 1995 to September
1996 as Vice President, Biological Research.  In September 1996, Dr. Vlasuk was
promoted to Executive Vice President, Research and Development.  Before joining
Corvas, he was employed for six years at Merck Sharp & Dohme Research
Laboratories, most recently as Associate Director of Hematology Research.  Dr.
Vlasuk received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Kent State University.
    
ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

    The information required by this item is incorporated by reference into
this Report from the information set forth under the caption "Executive
Compensation" in the 1997 Proxy Statement.


                                         -25-



ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

    The information required by this item is incorporated by reference into
this Report from the information set forth under the caption "Stock Ownership of
Management and Certain Beneficial Owners" in the 1997 Proxy Statement.

ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

    The information required by this item is incorporated by reference into
this Report from the information set forth under the caption "Certain
Transactions" in the 1997 Proxy Statement.

                                       PART IV

ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
    
(a) 1.   Financial Statements:

         See Index to Financial Statements under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

    2.   Financial Statement Schedules:
    
         Schedules are omitted because they are not required or are
         inapplicable or because the information called for is included in the
         financial statements or the notes thereto.
    
    3.   Exhibits -- See (c) below
    
(b)      Reports on Form 8-K:

         No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of the
         period covered by this Report.
    
(c)      Exhibits

         The following documents are exhibits to this Form 10-K:

EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                 DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
- ------                                 -----------------------
3.1      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.(8)

3.2      Bylaws.(8)

3.3      Certificate of Designation of the Series A Convertible Preferred
         Stock, dated as of December 14, 1994 (Filed as part of Exhibit 10.35).

3.4      Certificate of Designation of the Series B Convertible Preferred
         Stock, dated as of December 20, 1996.

4.1      Reference is made to Exhibits 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 10.19, 10.24, 10.25,
         10.38 and 10.40.

4.2      Specimen stock certificate.(1)

10.1*    Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Company and each
         director and executive officer.(1)

10.2*    Stock Option Plan of the Company, as amended.(1)

10.3*    Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the Stock Option
         Plan.(1)

10.4*    Form of Non-Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the Stock Option
         Plan.(1)

10.5*    Second Stock Option Plan of the Company.(1)

10.6*    Incentive Stock Option Agreement between the Company and David S.
         Kabakoff, dated as of October 2, 1989.(1)

10.7*    Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement of Theodor H. Heinrichs, dated
         October 17, 1991.(2)

10.8*    Form of Employee Stock Purchase Plan.(1)


                                         -26-



EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                 DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
- ------                                 -----------------------
10.9*    1991 Incentive and Compensation Plan of the Company, as amended.(1)
         (18)

10.10*   Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the 1991 Incentive and
         Compensation Plan of the Company.(2)

10.11*   Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the 1991 Incentive
         and Compensation Plan of the Company.(2)

10.12*   Form of Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and
         certain individuals or entities, and attached schedule.(1)

10.13    Second Amended and Restated Stock Registration Rights Agreement
         between the Company and certain investors and warrantholders named
         therein, dated as of February 14, 1991, as amended on March 19, 1991,
         November 13, 1991 and December 4, 1991, and supplemental letter
         agreement dated December 12, 1991.(1)

10.14*   Employment Agreement between the Company and David S. Kabakoff, dated
         as of March 6, 1989.(1)

10.15*   Employment Agreement between the Company and John E. Crawford, dated
         as of April 17, 1989 (Replaced by Exhibit 10.53).(1)

10.16*   Consulting Agreement between the Company and Thomas S. Edgington,
         dated as of May 21, 1987, with attachments and addenda, as extended
         and assigned pursuant to the Consulting Agreement Extension, dated as
         of May 21, 1991.(1)

10.17*   Consulting Agreement between the Company and John H. Fried, dated as
         of June 3, 1992.(6)

10.18    Antibody Option Agreement between the Company and Centocor, Inc.,
         dated as of November 7, 1991, with exhibit.(1) (4)

10.19    Voting Agreement between Centocor Delaware, Inc. and certain equity
         security holders of the Company dated November 20, 1991.(1)

10.20    Standstill Letter Agreement between the Company and Centocor, Inc.,
         dated November 20, 1991.(1)

10.21    Research and License Agreement for Human Tissue Factor for Diagnostic
         Purposes between the Company and Scripps Clinic and Research
         Foundation, dated May 19, 1988, as amended, including exhibits.(1) (4)

10.22    Agreement for International Business Combination (Series C and D
         Preferred Stock (subsequently converted to Common Stock)) between the
         Company and Plant Genetic Systems, N.V. and Take Off Fonds, N.V.,
         dated as of March 6, 1991.(1)

10.23    Series E, F and G Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement (subsequently
         converted to Common Stock) between the Company and Centocor Delaware,
         Inc., dated as of November 20, 1991.(1)

10.24    Warrant to purchase Series B Preferred Stock of the Company
         (subsequently converted to Common Stock) issued to Comdisco, Inc. on
         June 19, 1990, as amended on January 2, 1992.(1)

10.25    Warrant to purchase Series B Preferred Stock of the Company
         (subsequently converted to Common Stock) issued to Praktikerfinans AB
         on November 30, 1990, as amended on January 15, 1992.(1)

10.26    Lease Agreement for 3030 Science Park Road, San Diego, California 
         between the Company and Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company, dated
         as of March 28, 1989, as amended on March 23, 1990, May 18, 1990 and 
         May 16, 1991.(1)

10.27    Fourth Lease Amendment to Lease Agreement for 3030 Science Park Road,
         San Diego, California between the Company and Hartford Accident and
         Indemnity Company, dated as of January 21, 1992.(1)

10.28    Waiver of Conversion Price Adjustment Agreement between the Company
         and Centocor Delaware, Inc., dated as of January 10, 1992.(1)

10.29    Supply Agreement and License Agreement between the Company and Ortho
         Diagnostic Systems, Inc., dated June 8, 1992, amended as to
         confidential treatment pursuant to a Form 8 filed March 18, 1993.(3)
         (5)


                                         -27-



EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                 DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
- ------                                 -----------------------

10.30    Fifth Lease Amendment to Lease Agreement for 3030 Science Park Road,
         San Diego, California between the Company and Hartford Accident and
         Indemnity Company, dated as of April 15, 1992, Sixth Lease Amendment
         dated as of July 16, 1992, Seventh Lease Amendment dated as of January
         18, 1993.(6)

10.31    Permanent Waiver of Right of Centocor, Inc. to nominate second
         director under Series E, F and G Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement
         filed as Exhibit 10.23 herein.(8)

10.32    Assignment of Lease Agreement for 3030 Science Park Road, San Diego,
         California from Corvas International, Inc., a California corporation,
         to Corvas International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, dated September
         14, 1993.(8)

10.33*   Corvas International, Inc. 401(k) Compensation Deferral Savings Plan
         and Trust Agreement (Amended and Restated as of January 1, 1989)
         (Revised to incorporate amendments to plan).(10)

10.34    Research and License Agreement for Oral Thrombin Inhibitor Drugs
         between the Company and Schering Corporation and Schering-Plough LTD.,
         dated as of December 14, 1994.(10)(11)

10.35    Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and
         Schering Corporation, dated as of December 14, 1994.(10)(11)

10.36    Eighth Lease Amendment to Lease Agreement for 3030 Science Park Road,
         San Diego, California between the Company and Hartford Accident and
         Indemnity Company, dated as of July 7, 1995.(12)

10.37*   Extension of Consulting Agreement between the Company and Thomas S.
         Edgington and Molecular Biology Consultants, dated as of May 21,
         1995.(13)

10.38    Form of Warrant Agreement to purchase Common Stock of the Company
         issued to certain individuals affiliated with Ventana Leasing, Inc. on
         June 16, 1995.(13)

10.39    Collaborative Research and Option Agreement between the Company and
         Pfizer Inc. and Pfizer Limited, dated as of October 14, 1995.(13)(15)

10.40    Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement between the Company and
         certain purchasers, dated as of February 2, 1996, with exhibits.(13)

10.41*   Employment Agreement between the Company and Donald H. Picker, dated
         as of February 2, 1996, with certain exhibits thereto.(13)

10.42*   Loan Agreement between the Company and Donald H. Picker, dated
         February 23, 1996, the Promissory Notes and letter agreement and Deed
         of Trust related thereto.(14) (18)

10.43    Ninth Lease Amendment to Lease Agreement for 3030 Science Park Road,
         San Diego, California between the Company and Hartford Accident and
         Indemnity Company, dated as of March 15, 1996.(14)

10.44    Permanent Waiver of Right of Centocor, Inc. to nominate director under
         Series E, F and G Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement (see Exhibit
         10.23).(14)

10.45*   Consulting Agreement between the Company and David S. Kabakoff, dated
         as of May 1, 1996.(16)

10.46*   Consulting Agreement between the Company and Theodor H. Heinrichs,
         dated as of May 1, 1996.(17)

10.47*   Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Randall E. Woods,
         dated as of May 10, 1996, with certain exhibits thereto (Replaced by
         Exhibit 10.56). (17)

10.48*   Promissory Note between the Company and Randall E. Woods, dated as of
         June 25, 1996, and Deeds of Trust related thereto. (18)

10.49*   Separation Agreement between the Company and Donald H. Picker, dated
         as of July 18, 1996. (18)

10.50*   Extension of Promissory Note between the Company and Randall E. Woods,
         dated as of December 7, 1996 (see Exhibit 10.48).

10.51*   Separation Agreement between the Company and Howard R. Soule, dated as
         of January 28, 1997.


                                         -28-



EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                 DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
- ------                                 -----------------------

10.52*   Extension of Consulting Agreement between the Company and David S.
         Kabakoff, dated as of February 20, 1997.

10.53*   Employment Agreement by and between the Company and John E. Crawford,
         dated as of March 18, 1996.

10.54*   Employment Agreement by and between the Company and William C. Ripka,
         dated as of March 18, 1996.

10.55*   Employment Agreement by and between the Company and George P. Vlasuk,
         dated as of March 18, 1996.

10.56*   Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Randall E. Woods,
         dated as of March 18, 1996.

21.1     Subsidiary of the Company.(1)

23.1     Independent Auditors' Consent.

24.1     Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page 30.

27.1     Financial Data Schedule.

- --------------------
    (1)  Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No.
         33-44555), as amended, filed December 13, 1991.
    (2)  Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No.
         33-45607), as amended, filed February 10, 1992.
    (3)  Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed
         August 14, 1992.
    (4)  Portions of this exhibit have been granted confidential treatment
         pursuant to an order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission
         on January 30, 1992.
    (5)  Portions of this exhibit have been granted confidential treatment
         pursuant to an order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission
         on December 10, 1992.
    (6)  Incorporated by reference to Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March
         30, 1993.
    (7)  Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May
         14, 1993.
    (8)  Incorporated by reference to Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed
         February 23, 1994.
    (9)  Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed
         November 14, 1994.
    (10) Incorporated by reference to Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March
         30, 1995.
    (11) Portions of this exhibit have been granted confidential treatment
         pursuant to an order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission
         on May 11, 1995.
    (12) Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed
         November 13, 1995.
    (13) Incorporated by reference to Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed
         February 28, 1996.
    (14) Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No.
         333-2644), filed March 25, 1996.
    (15) Portions of this exhibit have been granted confidential treatment
         pursuant to an order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission
         on April 26, 1996.
    (16) Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May
         13, 1996.
    (17) Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No.
         333-2644), as amended, filed May 31, 1996.
    (18) Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed
         August 12, 1996.


     *   Indicates executive compensation plan or arrangement.


                                         -29-



                                      SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

                                  CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.


Date:  March 27, 1997             By:  /s/ RANDALL E. WOODS     
                                       -------------------------
                                         Randall E. Woods
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer

                                  POWER OF ATTORNEY

    KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Randall E. Woods and John E. Crawford, or
either of them, his attorney-in-fact, with the full power of substitution for
him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Report, and to
file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes,
may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
Report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 




    Signatures                                   Titles                      Date
    ----------                                   ------                      ----

                                                               
/s/ RANDALL E. WOODS                   President, Chief Executive    March  27, 1997
- ------------------------------         Officer and Director
      Randall E. Woods                 (Principal Executive
                                       Officer)

/s/ JOHN E. CRAWFORD                   Executive Vice President      March  27, 1997
- ------------------------------         and Chief Financial Officer
      John E. Crawford                 (Principal Financial and
                                       Accounting Officer)

/s/ JOHN H. FRIED, PH.D.               Chairman of the Board of      March  27, 1997
- ------------------------------         Directors
      John H. Fried, Ph.D.

/s/ THOMAS S. EDGINGTON, M.D.          Director                      March  27, 1997
- ------------------------------
    Thomas S. Edgington, M.D.

/s/ THEODOR H. HEINRICHS               Director                      March  27, 1997
- ------------------------------
      Theodor H. Heinrichs        

/s/ M. BLAKE INGLE, PH.D.              Director                      March  27, 1997
- ------------------------------
      M. Blake Ingle, Ph.D.

                                       Director                      
- ------------------------------
      Michael Sorell, M.D.        

/s/ W. LEIGH THOMPSON, JR., M.D., PH.D. Director                     March  27, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
   W. Leigh Thompson, Jr., M.D., Ph.D.

/s/ GERARD VAN ACKER                   Director                      March  27, 1997
- ------------------------------
      Gerard Van Acker

/s/ NICOLE VITULLO                     Director                      March  27, 1997
- ------------------------------
      Nicole Vitullo


 


                                         -30-



[KPMG LETTERHEAD]



                             INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT



The Board of Directors
Corvas International, Inc.:


We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Corvas International, Inc. as
of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of operations,
stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 1996.   These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Corvas International, Inc. as
of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of its operations and its cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.



                                                           KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

San Diego, California
February  19, 1997


                                      F-1



                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                    BALANCE SHEETS
                   (In thousands, except share and per share data)


                                                                      December 31,  
                                                             ----------------------------
                                                               1996                 1995
                                                               ----                 ----
ASSETS        
                                                                           
Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                                $  2,202            $  1,427
    Short-term debt securities held to maturity and time 
       deposits, partially restricted (notes 2 and 6)          26,394              11,024
    Receivables                                                   438                 338
    Notes receivable from related parties (note 11)               200                 ---
    Other current assets                                          312                 250
                                                             --------            --------

         Total current assets                                  29,546              13,039
                                                             --------            --------

Property and equipment, net (note 3)                            1,093               1,423
                                                             --------            --------

                                                             $ 30,639            $ 14,462
                                                             --------            --------
                                                             --------            --------
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable                                         $    358            $    272
    Accrued expenses                                              713                 461
    Accrued vacation                                              194                 205
    Accrued litigation settlement expenses (note 12)              ---                 313
    Current portion of capital lease obligation (note 6)           27                  77
    Deferred rent (note 6)                                        ---                  34
    Deferred revenue (note 7)                                   4,000               4,305
                                                             --------            --------

         Total current liabilities                              5,292               5,667
                                                             --------            --------

Long-term capital lease obligation (note 6)                       ---                  27
Deferred revenue (note 7)                                       1,000                 ---

Stockholders' equity (note 4):
    Convertible preferred stock, $.001 par value,                                        
     authorized 10,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding:
       Series A: 1,000,000 shares in 1996 and 1,000,000 shares                              
       in 1995 (liquidating preference $5 per share)                1                   1
       Series B: 250,000 shares in 1996 and no shares in 1995                               
       (liquidating preference $8 per share)                      ---                 ---
    Common stock, $.001 par value, authorized 50,000,000                                 
       shares, issued and outstanding 13,717,000 shares
       in 1996 and 9,448,000 shares in 1995                        14                   9
    Additional paid-in capital                                 91,629              69,346
    Accumulated deficit                                       (67,297)            (60,588)
                                                             --------            --------

            Total stockholders' equity                         24,347               8,768

Commitments and contingencies (notes 6, 7 and 12)
Subsequent events (note 13)                                                              
                                                             --------            --------

                                                             $ 30,639            $ 14,462
                                                             --------            --------
                                                             --------            --------


See accompanying notes to financial statements.

                                         F-2



                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                               STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                        (In thousands, except per share data)





    
                                                                Years Ended December 31,      
                                                   ------------------------------------------------
                                                      1996                1995                1994
                                                      ----                ----                ----
                                                                                 
REVENUES: 
  Revenue from collaborative                                                                       
     agreements (note 7)                           $  5,480            $  4,354            $    ---
  License fees & milestones (note 7)                    400                 500                 ---
  Net product sales                                     224                 406                 280
  Royalties (note 7)                                    161                 142                 183
  Research grants (note 10)                             ---                 ---                 667
                                                   --------            --------            --------
         Total revenues                               6,265               5,402               1,130
                                                   --------            --------            --------

COSTS AND EXPENSES:
  Research and development (notes 7 and 10)          10,901               9,723              11,378
  General and administrative                          3,181               2,582               3,159
  Cost of products sold                                 134                 211                  83
  Litigation settlement and related
     expenses (note 12)                                 ---                 ---                 535
  Restructuring charge (note 8)                         ---                 ---               1,575
                                                   --------            --------            --------
         Total costs and expenses                    14,216              12,516              16,730
                                                   --------            --------            --------

         Loss from operations                        (7,951)             (7,114)            (15,600)
                                                   --------            --------            --------


OTHER INCOME:
  Interest income, net                                1,191                 835                 686
  Other income (expense)                                 51                ( 14)                 11
                                                   --------            --------            --------
                                                      1,242                 821                 697
                                                   --------            --------            --------


         Net loss                                  $ (6,709)           $ (6,293)           $(14,903)
                                                   --------            --------            --------
                                                   --------            --------            --------

         Net loss per share                        $  (0.52)           $  (0.67)           $  (1.60)
                                                   --------            --------            --------
                                                   --------            --------            --------

         Shares used in calculation
          of net loss per share                      12,882               9,374               9,336
                                                   --------            --------            --------
                                                   --------            --------            --------



 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.


                                         F-3



                         CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 
                     STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                 For the Three Years Ended December 31, 1996
                                (In thousands)



                                                            Series A                  Series B          
                                                           Convertible               Convertible        
                                                         Preferred Stock           Preferred Stock              Common Stock       
                                                     ------------------------   ------------------------   ------------------------
                                                       Shares        Amount       Shares        Amount       Shares        Amount  
                                                     ----------    ----------   ----------    ----------   ----------    ----------
                                                                                                        
  Balance as of December 31, 1993                         ---         $ ---          ---         $ ---        9,326          $  9

Common stock issued upon exercise of  
  stock options                                           ---           ---          ---           ---           14           ---
Common stock issued pursuant to employee stock    
  purchase plan                                           ---           ---          ---           ---           12           ---
Series A preferred stock issued for cash, net of    
  issuance costs                                        1,000             1          ---           ---          ---           ---
Amortization of deferred compensation                     ---           ---          ---           ---          ---           ---
Foreign currency translation adjustment                   ---           ---          ---           ---          ---           ---
Net loss                                                  ---           ---          ---           ---          ---           ---
                                                     ----------    ----------   ----------    ----------   ----------    ----------
  Balance as of December 31, 1994                       1,000             1          ---           ---        9,352             9

Common stock issued upon exercise of    
  stock options                                           ---           ---          ---           ---           74           ---
Common stock issued pursuant to employee stock     
  purchase plan                                           ---           ---          ---           ---           16           ---
Common stock issued pursuant to employee           
  performance stock award                                 ---           ---          ---           ---            6           ---
Amortization of deferred compensation                     ---           ---          ---           ---          ---           ---
Foreign currency translation adjustment                   ---           ---          ---           ---          ---           ---
Net loss                                                  ---           ---          ---           ---          ---           ---
                                                     ----------    ----------   ----------    ----------   ----------    ----------
  Balance as of December 31, 1995                       1,000             1          ---           ---        9,448             9

Common stock issued for cash, net of issuance costs       ---            ---         ---           ---        4,000             4
Common stock issued upon exercise of                   
  stock options                                           ---            ---         ---           ---          133             1
Common stock issued pursuant to employee stock         
  purchase plan                                           ---            ---         ---           ---           11           ---
Common stock issued pursuant to litigation             
  settlement                                              ---            ---         ---           ---          125           ---
Series B preferred stock issued for cash, net of       
  issuance costs                                          ---            ---         250           ---          ---           ---
Net loss                                                  ---            ---         ---           ---          ---           ---
                                                     ----------    ----------   ----------    ----------   ----------    ----------
  Balance as of December 31, 1996                       1,000         $   1          250         $ ---       13,717          $ 14
                                                     ----------    ----------   ----------    ----------   ----------    ----------
                                                     ----------    ----------   ----------    ----------   ----------    ----------




                                                                                                     Foreign  
                                                    Additional                                       Currency           Total   
                                                      Paid-in      Accumulated      Deferred        Translation     Stockholders'
                                                      Capital        Deficit       Compensation     Adjustment         Equity    
                                                    ----------     -----------     ------------     -----------    -------------
                                                                                                    
  Balance as of December 31, 1993                    $ 64,354       $ (39,392)        $ (379)        $ (118)          $ 24,474

Common stock issued upon exercise of   
  stock options                                            11             ---            ---            ---                 11
Common stock issued pursuant to employee stock                                                                                
  purchase plan                                            30             ---            ---            ---                 30
Series A preferred stock issued for cash, net of                                                                              
  issuance costs                                        4,863             ---            ---            ---              4,864
Amortization of deferred compensation                    (109)            ---            296            ---                187
Foreign currency translation adjustment                   ---             ---            ---            (16)               (16)
Net loss                                                  ---         (14,903)           ---            ---            (14,903)
                                                    ----------     -----------     ------------     -----------    -------------
  Balance as of December 31, 1994                      69,149         (54,295)           (83)          (134)            14,647 

Common stock issued upon exercise of                                                                                           
  stock options                                           150             ---            ---            ---                150 
Common stock issued pursuant to employee stock                                                                                 
  purchase plan                                            35             ---            ---            ---                 35 
Common stock issued pursuant to employee                                                                                       
   performance stock award                                 12             ---            ---            ---                 12 
Amortization of deferred compensation                     ---             ---             83            ---                 83 
Foreign currency translation adjustment                   ---             ---            ---            134                134 
Net loss                                                  ---          (6,293)           ---            ---             (6,293)
                                                    ----------     -----------     ------------     -----------    -------------
     Balance as of December 31, 1995                   69,346         (60,588)           ---            ---              8,768 

Common stock issued for cash, net of issuance costs    19,710             ---            ---            ---             19,714 
Common stock issued upon exercise of                                                                                           
  stock options                                           248             ---            ---            ---                249 
Common stock issued pursuant to employee stock                                                                                 
  purchase plan                                            27             ---            ---            ---                 27 
Common stock issued pursuant to litigation                                                                                     
  settlement                                              298             ---            ---            ---                298 
Series B preferred stock issued for cash, net of                                                                               
  issuance costs                                        2,000             ---            ---            ---              2,000 
Net loss                                                  ---          (6,709)           ---            ---             (6,709)
                                                    ----------     -----------     ------------     -----------    -------------
  Balance as of December 31, 1996                    $ 91,629       $ (67,297)        $  ---         $  ---           $ 24,347 
                                                    ----------     -----------     ------------     -----------    -------------
                                                    ----------     -----------     ------------     -----------    -------------


See accompanying notes to financial statements.

                                      F-4



                          CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                           STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                (IN THOUSANDS)



                                                                                      Years ended December 31,
                                                                             ------------------------------------------
                                                                                1996            1995            1994
                                                                             ----------       ---------       ---------
                                                                                                     
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
   Net loss                                                                  $  (6,709)       $ (6,293)       $(14,903)
   Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
      net cash used in operating activities:
         Depreciation and amortization                                             767             834             814
         Amortization of premiums and discounts on investments                    (160)           (377)            (26)
         Amortization of deferred compensation                                     ---              83             187
         Stock compensation expense                                                  4              12             ---
         Translation loss                                                          ---              92             ---
         Loss on disposal of property and equipment                                ---             154             ---
         Change in assets and liabilities:
            (Increase) decrease in receivables                                    (100)            (32)            346
            (Increase) decrease in other current assets                            (62)             (8)            107
            Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued 
               expenses, accrued benefits, accrued vacation and
               accrued litigation settlement expenses                              314          (1,191)            738
            Decrease in deferred rent                                              (34)           (211)            (99)
            Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue                                695            (695)          5,000
                                                                             ----------       ---------       ---------
               Net cash used in operating activities                            (5,285)         (7,632)         (7,836)
                                                                             ----------       ---------       ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
   Purchases of investments held to maturity                                   (39,195)        (14,927)        (23,587)
   Proceeds from maturity of investments held to maturity                       23,985          20,460          28,728
   Purchases of property and equipment                                            (437)           (577)           (443)
   Proceeds from sale of property and equipment                                    ---             256             ---
   Repayments from (loans to) related parties                                     (200)            ---             150
                                                                             ----------       ---------       ---------
               Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities             (15,847)          5,212           4,848
                                                                             ----------       ---------       ---------

                                                                                                             (Continued)


                                      F-5



                          CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                      STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS, CONTINUED
                                (IN THOUSANDS)




                                                                                     Years ended December 31,
                                                                               ------------------------------------
                                                                                 1996          1995          1994
                                                                               ---------     ---------     --------
                                                                                                  
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
   Principal payments under capital lease obligation                           $    (77)     $    (71)     $   (46)
   Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock                                  2,000           ---        4,864
   Net proceeds from issuance of common stock                                    19,984           185           41
                                                                               ---------     ---------     --------
      Net cash provided by financing activities                                  21,907           114        4,859

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                                             ---            46          (69)
                                                                               ---------     ---------     --------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                                775        (2,260)       1,802

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                                  1,427         3,687        1,885
                                                                               ---------     ---------     --------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                                    $   2,202      $  1,427      $ 3,687
                                                                               ---------     ---------     --------
                                                                               ---------     ---------     --------
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
   Interest paid                                                              $       6      $     11      $     9
   Noncash financing activities: 
      Equipment acquisitions under capital lease                              $     ---      $    ---      $   221
      Common stock issued under litigation settlement agreement               $     298      $    ---      $   ---


See accompanying notes to financial statements.

                                      F-6




                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                            Notes to Financial Statements
                              December 31, 1996 and 1995


(l) THE COMPANY
    
    Corvas International, Inc. (the "Company") was incorporated on March 27,
    1987 under the laws of the State of California.  In July 1993, the Company
    reincorporated in the state of Delaware.  The Company is engaged in the
    design and development of a new generation of therapeutic agents for the
    prevention and treatment of major cardiovascular, inflammatory and other
    diseases.  Prior to December 1994, the Company was considered to be in the
    development stage for financial reporting purposes.

    The 1994 financial statements were consolidated to include the Company's
    Belgian subsidiary, Corvas International, N.V.  All material intercompany
    balances and transactions were eliminated in consolidation.  Operating
    activities ceased in December 1994 at the Belgian subsidiary, which was
    liquidated in December 1995.

(2) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

    (a)  CASH EQUIVALENTS:
         
         Cash equivalents consist of an investment in a short-term government
         fund and are stated at cost, which approximates market value. 
    
    (b)  SHORT-TERM DEBT SECURITIES HELD TO MATURITY AND TIME DEPOSITS:

         Short-term debt securities consist of government-backed debt
         instruments.  Short-term debt securities are carried at amortized cost
         which approximates market value and mature at various dates through
         June 11, 1997.  At both December 31, 1996 and 1995, a $60,000 time
         deposit was restricted related to the facility lease.  See Note 6.
         
         The Company has the ability and intent to hold its investments until
         their maturity and, therefore, records its investments at amortized
         cost, adjusted for the amortization or accretion of premiums or
         discounts.
         
    (c)  DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION:
         
         Depreciation for financial reporting purposes is provided using the
         straight-line method over estimated useful lives of three to five
         years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis
         over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the
         asset.  Assets held under capital lease are amortized over the life of
         the lease.
         
    (d)  RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS:
         
         Research and development costs are expensed in the period incurred.
         
    (e)  PATENTS:  
         
         Costs to obtain and maintain patents are expensed as incurred.


                                         F-7




                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                       Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


    (f)  NET LOSS PER SHARE:
         
         Net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of
         common and common share equivalents outstanding. Common equivalent
         shares from convertible preferred stock, stock options and warrants
         are excluded from the computation as their effect is antidilutive.
         
    (g)  REVENUE RECOGNITION:
         
         Revenue from collaborative agreements is generally recognized over the
         term of the agreement or upon achievement of certain milestones. 
         Advance payments received in excess of amounts earned are classified
         as deferred revenue.

         Revenue on product sales is recorded at the time of shipment. 
         Research grant revenue is recognized as research and development
         activities are performed under the terms of the research contracts.

    (h)  USE OF ESTIMATES:

         Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and
         assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and
         the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these
         financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
         principles.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

    (i)  FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:
         
         Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 107, "Disclosures
         about Fair Value of Financial Instruments" ("SFAS 107"), defines the
         fair value of a financial instrument as the amount at which the
         instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing
         parties.  The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, short-term
         debt securities held to maturity and time deposits, receivables, other
         current assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses, accrued vacation,
         accrued litigation settlement expenses, capital lease obligations,
         deferred rent and deferred revenue, included in the accompanying
         balance sheets, approximate the estimated fair value of those
         instruments because of their short maturities.  The fair value of the
         notes receivable from related parties cannot be determined due to
         their related party nature.

    (j)  ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK OPTIONS:
         
         The Company accounts for its stock option plans in accordance with the
         recognition provisions of Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion
         No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" and related
         interpretations.  Accordingly, stock compensation expense would be
         recorded on the date of grant only if the current market price of the
         underlying stock exceeded the exercise price.

         In 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
         Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
         Compensation" ("SFAS 123").  SFAS 123 permits companies to recognize
         as expense over the vesting period the fair value of all stock-based
         awards on the date of grant, or to continue measuring compensation
         expense for those plans using the intrinsic value method prescribed in
         APB Opinion  No. 25.  SFAS 123 requires that companies electing to
         continue using the intrinsic value method must provide pro forma net
         income and pro forma earnings per share disclosures for grants made in
         1995 and future years as if the fair-value method defined in SFAS 123
         had been applied.  The Company has elected to continue to apply the
         provisions of APB Opinion No. 25 and provide the pro forma disclosure
         provisions of SFAS 123.


                                         F-8



                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                       Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


(3)  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

    Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are summarized as follows
(in thousands).

                                                            DECEMBER 31,
                                                      ----------------------
                                                        1996           1995
                                                        ----           ----

    Machinery and equipment                           $ 3,235        $ 2,906
    Furniture and fixtures                                143            135
    Leasehold improvements                                782            732
                                                      -------        -------

         Total property and equipment                   4,160          3,773

    Less accumulated depreciation and amortization     (3,067)        (2,350)
                                                      --------       --------

                                                      $ 1,093        $ 1,423
                                                      -------        -------
                                                      -------        -------


(4) STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    (a)  CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK:
         
         In December 1996, in conjunction with a strategic alliance with
         Schering-Plough Corporation ("Schering-Plough") (See Note 7), the
         Company issued 250,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock,
         resulting in net proceeds of $2,000,000.  Each share of Series B
         preferred stock is convertible into one share of the Company's common
         stock, and will automatically convert if the market price of the
         Company's common stock for 10 consecutive trading days exceeds $12.00
         per share.  As a result, 250,000 shares of common stock have been
         reserved for the potential conversion of Series B preferred stock. 
         Each share of Series B preferred stock is entitled to a fixed,
         cumulative dividend of $.64 per share per annum, when and if declared
         by the Board of Directors.  No such dividends have been declared.  In
         addition, each share is entitled to one vote and has a liquidating
         preference of $8.00 plus any declared and unpaid dividends.
         
         Also in conjunction with its strategic alliance with Schering-Plough,
         the Company issued 1,000,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred
         Stock in December 1994, resulting in net proceeds of $4,864,000.  Each
         share of Series A preferred stock is convertible into one share of the
         Company's common stock, and will automatically convert if the market
         price of the Company's common stock for 10 consecutive trading days
         exceeds $7.50 per share.  As a result, 1,000,000 shares of common
         stock have been reserved for the potential conversion of Series A
         preferred stock.  Each share of Series A preferred stock is entitled
         to a fixed, cumulative dividend of $.40 per share per annum, when and
         if declared by the Board of Directors.  No such dividends have been
         declared.  In addition, each share is entitled to one vote and has a
         liquidating preference of $5.00 plus any declared and unpaid
         dividends.
         
         The Company is authorized to issue a total of 10,000,000 shares of
         preferred stock.


                                         F-9



                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                       Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


    (b)  COMMON STOCK:
         
         In July 1996, the Company completed a public offering of 1,000,000
         shares of registered common stock to an institutional investor,
         resulting in net proceeds of $4,885,000.
         
         In February 1996, the Company completed a private placement of equity
         securities consisting of 3,000,000 units to a group of institutional
         buyers, resulting in net proceeds of $14,829,000.  Each unit consisted
         of one share of common stock and one callable warrant to purchase one
         additional share of common stock.
         
         In February 1992, the Company completed its initial public offering of
         3,000,000 shares of common stock, resulting in net proceeds of
         $32,470,000.  The Company filed Restated Articles of Incorporation in
         February 1992 which increased to 50,000,000 the number of authorized
         common shares.
         
    (c)  STOCK OPTIONS:
         
         The Company has several plans and arrangements under which incentive
         stock options, non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights,
         restricted stock awards, dividend equivalents, performance awards and
         stock payments can be granted to key personnel, including officers,
         directors, and outside consultants.  The grants are authorized by the
         Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors. 
         Options have a term of 10 years, and become exercisable over a four-
         year period beginning one year from the date of grant at a price per 
         share equal to the fair market value on the date of grant, except for
         grants to outside directors which have an exercise price of 85% of the
         fair market value on the date of grant. All options granted to 
         employees and consultants after December 1, 1994 vest 25% at the end 
         of the first year and 6.25% per quarter each quarter thereafter.  
         Activity under these plans and arrangements from 1994 through 1996
         is as follows (in thousands except per share amounts).

                                              Number of    Weighted-Average
                                               Options      Exercise Price
                                               -------      --------------

         Outstanding, December 31, 1993          840            $ 4.59
              Granted                            305            $ 2.90
              Exercised                          (14)           $ 0.86
              Cancelled                          (43)           $ 5.94
                                               ------


         Outstanding, December 31, 1994        1,088            $ 4.11    
              Granted                            755            $ 2.26
              Exercised                          (74)           $ 2.02
              Cancelled                         (711)           $ 4.73
                                               ------

         Outstanding, December 31, 1995        1,058            $ 2.44
              Granted                          1,079            $ 4.56
              Exercised                         (133)           $ 1.86
              Cancelled                         (350)           $ 4.17
                                               ------

         Outstanding, December 31, 1996        1,654            $ 3.51
                                               ------
                                               ------

         A total of 2,225,000 shares are authorized for issuance, and an
         additional 695,000 shares are reserved for future grant. As of
         December 31, 1996, the range of exercise prices and the weighted-
         average remaining contractual life of options outstanding was $0.70 -
         $7.06 and 8.22 years, respectively.


                                         F-10



                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                       Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


         At December 31, 1996 and 1995, the number of options exercisable was
         615,000 and 342,000, respectively, and the weighted-average exercise
         price of those options was $2.47 and $2.28, respectively.
         
         In January 1995, the Company offered certain holders of stock options,
         excluding outside directors of the Company, the opportunity to
         exchange an issued option for a new stock option on a one-for-one
         basis at the market value on January 16, 1995.  After a waiting period
         of 6 months (12 months for officers), vesting of the exchanged options
         was restored to the level existing prior to the exchange.  A total of
         608,000 options at an average exercise price of $4.83 were exchanged
         for options with an exercise price of $2.19 per share.  These options
         are included as grants and cancellations in the preceding table.
         
         For certain options granted prior to the Company's initial public
         offering, deferred compensation expense was recognized for the excess
         of the deemed fair value over the exercise price at the date of grant. 
         This deferred compensation was amortized to expense ratably over the
         vesting period of each option.  All such deferred compensation expense
         was amortized prior to December 31, 1995.
         
         The Company applies APB Opinion No. 25 in accounting for its plans
         and, accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for stock
         options in the financial statements.  Had the Company determined
         compensation cost based on the fair value at the grant date for its
         stock options under SFAS 123, the Company's net loss and loss per
         share would have been increased to the pro forma amounts indicated
         below (in thousands):
         
         
                                      1996                     1995
                           -----------------------   ----------------------
                           As reported   Pro Forma   As reported  Pro Forma
                           -----------   ---------   -----------  ---------

         Net loss            $(6,709)    $(8,149)     $(6,293)    $(7,221)

         Net loss per share  $ (0.52)    $ (0.63)     $ (0.67)    $ (0.77)

         Pro forma net loss reflects only options granted in 1996 and 1995. 
         Therefore, the full impact of calculating compensation cost for stock
         options under SFAS 123 is not reflected in the pro forma net loss
         amounts presented above because compensation cost is reflected over
         the options' vesting period of 4 years and compensation cost for
         options granted prior to January 1, 1995 is not considered.
         
         The per share weighted-average fair value of stock options granted
         during 1996 and 1995 at an exercise price equal to the fair market
         value on the date of grant was $4.17 and $1.98 on the date of grant
         using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The per share weighted-
         average fair value of stock options granted during 1996 and 1995 at an
         exercise price less than the fair market value on the date of grant
         was $3.95 and $1.90 on the date of grant. The following weighted-
         average assumptions were used: 1996 - expected dividend yield of 0%,
         risk-free interest rate of 5.86%, expected life of 7.64 years, and
         expected volatility of 92.67%; 1995 - expected dividend yield of 0%,
         risk-free interest rate of 6.61%, expected life of 8.39 years, and
         expected volatility of 96.35%.
         
         (d)  PERFORMANCE AWARDS:
         
         In January 1995, the Company granted a total of 6,000 shares of common
         stock as a performance award to all employees, excluding senior
         management of the Company.  These shares were fully vested and non-
         restrictive.  No such shares were issued in the year ended December
         31, 1996.


                                         F-11



                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                       Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


    (e)  WARRANTS:
         
         In conjunction with the private placement of equity securities in
         February 1996, the Company issued 3,000,000 warrants to purchase an
         equal number of shares of common stock. The warrants are exercisable
         at $6.00 per share over a six-year period from the date of purchase. 
         As of December 31, 1996, no warrants had been exercised.
         
         In conjunction with the negotiation of equipment leases entered into
         in 1990, the Company issued warrants to purchase 9,000 shares of
         preferred stock (subsequently converted to common stock) to the
         lessors in lieu of security deposits.  The warrants are exercisable at
         $6.13 or $7.00 per share over a period of ten years from the inception
         of the leases.  As of December 31, 1996, no warrants had been
         exercised.  The lease agreements are described in Note 6.
         
    (f)  STOCK PURCHASE PLAN:
         
         In December 1991, the Company adopted an employee stock purchase plan
         that provides for the issuance of up to 150,000 shares of common
         stock.  The plan is intended to qualify under Section 423 of the
         Internal Revenue Code and is for the benefit of qualifying employees,
         as designated by the Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the
         Board of Directors.  Under the terms of the plan, participating
         employees are eligible to have a maximum of 10% of their compensation
         withheld through payroll deductions to purchase shares of common stock
         at the lower of 85% of the fair market value at the beginning of each
         offering period or of the fair market value on predetermined dates. 
         As of December 31, 1996, 58,000 shares of common stock have been
         issued pursuant to this plan.  Had the Company determined compensation
         cost based on the fair value at the date of grant for these shares
         under SFAS 123, the effect would not have been material to the
         Company's net loss and loss per share for 1996 and 1995.

(5) INCOME TAXES

    Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. 
    Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future
    tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial
    statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their
    respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. 
    Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates
    expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary
    differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on
    deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized
    in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
    
    The Company has no net, taxable temporary differences which would require
    recognition of deferred tax liabilities and, due to the uncertainty of
    future realizability, has recorded a valuation allowance against any
    deferred tax assets for deductible temporary differences and tax operating
    loss carryforwards.  The Company increased its valuation allowance by
    approximately $2,100,000 and $2,400,000 for the years ended December 31,
    1996 and 1995, respectively, primarily as a result of the increase in tax
    operating loss carryforwards.
    
    At December 31, 1996, the Company had available net operating loss
    carryforwards of approximately $58,178,000 for federal income tax reporting
    purposes which begin to expire in 2002.  The net operating loss
    carryforwards for state purposes, which expire five years after generation,
    are approximately $24,557,000.  The Company has unused research and
    development tax credits for federal income tax purposes of $2,624,000 at
    December 31, 1996.
    
    In accordance with Internal Revenue Code Section 382, the annual
    utilization of net operating loss carryforwards and credits existing prior
    to a change in control may be limited.


                                         F-12



                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                       Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


(6) COMMITMENTS
    
    (a)  LEASE COMMITMENTS:
    
         The Company currently leases its principal facility under an operating
         lease and certain equipment under a capital lease. The facility lease
         expires in September 1997 and has two one-year renewal options
         remaining.  Terms of the lease provide for escalating rent payments
         during the lease term.  For financial reporting purposes, rent expense
         was recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the base
         lease.  Accordingly, rent expense recognized in excess of cash rent
         paid was reflected as deferred rent through expiration of the base
         lease on September 30, 1996.  Total rent expense recognized under this
         lease for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 was
         $846,000, $733,000 and $722,000, respectively.
              
         In 1994, the Company had a lease commitment with a related party for
         its former Belgian operation.  See Notes 8 and 11.  Rent expense for
         this operation for the year ended December 31, 1994 was $74,000.
         
         In 1994, the Company entered into a capital equipment lease for
         $221,000 to be paid over 36 months.  The amortization expense on this
         lease for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 was
         $44,000, $44,000 and $30,000, respectively.
         
         The Company has entered into various operating leases for the purchase
         of equipment. All of these leases have expired and, accordingly, no
         lease expense was recognized pursuant to these leases in the year
         ended December 31, 1996.  Lease expense on these leases for the years
         ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 was $58,000 and $247,000,
         respectively.
         
         Annual future minimum commitments under these leases for year ending
         December 31, 1997 are as follows (in thousands).

                                            Operating       Capital
                                              Lease          Lease

    Total minimum lease payments            $    684            28
                                            --------
                                            --------

    Less amount representing interest                           (1)
                                                           --------

    Current capital lease obligation                       $    27
                                                           -------
                                                           -------

    (b)  LETTER OF CREDIT:
         
         The Company has an unused standby letter of credit of $60,000 that
         bears interest at the prime rate plus 1% and expires on September 30,
         1997 with provisions for annual renewal.  This letter of credit,
         collateralized by a $60,000 time deposit, is pledged in lieu of a
         security deposit against the principal facility lease discussed above.


                                         F-13



                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                       Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


(7) COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS
         
    In October 1995, the Company entered into a research and option agreement
    of up to eighteen months with Pfizer Inc. ("Pfizer") to collaborate on the
    development of neutrophil inhibitory factor ("NIF"), an anti-inflammatory
    agent with therapeutic potential for stroke and other indications.  Of the
    $1,159,000 payment received from Pfizer in 1995, license fees of $500,000
    and revenue from collaborative agreements of $354,000 were recorded on the
    statements of operations and the balance of $305,000 was included in
    deferred revenue on the balance sheets as of December 31, 1995.  Revenue
    recognized in 1996 includes $480,000 of revenue from collaborative
    agreements, $150,000 of license fees and $50,000 of other income.  Of these
    amounts, $305,000 was recorded as deferred revenue as of December 31, 1995. 
    The option period concluded in October 1996, but Pfizer extended its option
    and began to make monthly payments of $125,000 to retain its option rights. 
    If this option is exercised by April 1997, pursuant to a license and
    development agreement, Pfizer will receive an exclusive, worldwide license
    to further develop, manufacture and market NIF as a therapeutic agent.
    Pfizer will also be responsible for funding all further development of NIF
    including costs associated with clinical trials and limited activities at
    Corvas. Pfizer will pay the Company an additional license fee and will
    compensate the Company for certain costs of research and preclinical
    development of NIF over a two-year period if this option to enter into the
    license and development agreement is exercised.  See Note 13. The Company
    will also receive milestone payments and royalty payments on product sales
    if products are successfully commercialized from this agreement.
         
    In December 1994, the Company entered into a strategic alliance agreement
    with Schering-Plough to collaborate on the discovery and commercialization
    of oral thrombin inhibitor drugs for the prevention and treatment of
    chronic cardiovascular disorders. Under the terms of the agreement,
    Schering-Plough compensated the Company for the costs of research and
    preclinical development of thrombin inhibitors over a two-year period which
    ended December 31, 1996.  Of the $5,000,000 payment received in December
    1994, revenue of $4,000,000 was recognized in 1995; the remaining
    $1,000,000 and an additional $3,000,000 received in 1995 were recorded as
    deferred revenue on the balance sheets as of December 31, 1995.  This
    $4,000,000 was recognized as revenue from collaborative agreements in 1996. 
    The Company may also receive milestone payments and royalties on sales of
    therapeutics resulting from this alliance.  See Note 13.  Schering-Plough,
    which is responsible for certain preclinical development and all future
    clinical trials and regulatory activities, received exclusive worldwide
    manufacturing and marketing rights for any resulting thrombin inhibitors.
    
    Under a separate agreement also completed in December 1994, Schering-Plough
    purchased 1,000,000 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock of the
    Company which resulted in net proceeds of $4,864,000.
    
    In conjunction with the agreements completed in December 1994, Schering-
    Plough acquired an exclusive one-year option (renewable for one additional
    year) to expand the alliance to include a second blood clotting enzyme,
    Factor Xa.  Schering-Plough renewed this option in January 1996; the 
    $1,000,000 option extension fee was recorded as revenue from collaborative
    agreements in 1996.  In December 1996, Schering-Plough exercised this
    option and, accordingly, will compensate the Company for the costs of
    research and preclinical development of coagulation Factor Xa inhibitors
    over two years.  Exercise of this option resulted in payment of $5,000,000,
    which has been recorded as deferred revenue on the balance sheets as of
    December 31, 1996 and, along with an additional payment, will be recognized
    as revenue over the two-year research program.  An additional $2,000,000
    payment received upon the option exercise resulted in the issuance of
    250,000 shares of Series B convertible preferred stock.


                                         F-14



                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                       Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


    In June 1992, the Company entered into two agreements with Ortho Diagnostic
    Systems, Inc. ("Ortho"), a Johnson & Johnson company, granting Ortho
    exclusive worldwide rights to market certain diagnostic reagents.  Ortho is
    obligated to order stipulated minimum amounts each year, or must pay the
    Company the deficiency between the minimum and the amount actually ordered. 
    Net product sales for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 were
    $130,000, $282,000 and $169,000, respectively.  These agreements provide
    that Ortho pay royalties based on unit sales of this product, as well as
    two milestone payments.  A $250,000 milestone payment received in November
    1996 was included as revenue in 1996; the first milestone payment was
    received in 1992.  For the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994,
    royalties under this agreement amounted to $161,000, $142,000 and $183,000,
    respectively.
    
    The Company has also entered into research and licensing agreements with
    scientific consultants, universities and other research institutions which
    have required the Company to make royalty payments for the years ended
    December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 of $17,000, $15,000 and 14,000,
    respectively.
    
(8) RESTRUCTURING CHARGE AND LIQUIDATION OF SUBSIDIARY
         
    In December 1994, the Company ceased operation of its Belgian subsidiary,
    Corvas International, N.V.  The Belgian operation accounted for 20% of the
    consolidated operating expenses in 1994, including a restructuring charge. 
    In connection with this restructuring, the statements of operations reflect
    a one-time charge to earnings in 1994 of $1,575,000 for severance and other
    expenses.
    
    Corvas International, N.V. was liquidated on December 19, 1995. 
    Substantially all of the assets were liquidated and any remaining or future
    liabilities were assumed by the Company.
    
(9) EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PLAN 

    Effective January 1, 1988, the Board of Directors approved the Corvas
    401(k) Compensation Deferral Savings Plan ("The Plan"), adopting provisions
    of the Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k).  The Plan was approved by the
    IRS in 1989, and was amended and restated in 1994.  The Plan is for the
    benefit of all qualifying employees, and permits employee voluntary
    contributions, qualified nonelective contributions and company profit
    sharing contributions.  No employer contributions have been approved by the
    Board of Directors through December 31, 1996.
         
(10) RESEARCH GRANTS

    Research grant revenue of $667,000 was recorded in the year ended December
    31, 1994.  No such revenue was recorded in 1996 or 1995.  The related
    expenses, which equal research grant revenues, are recorded as research and
    development expenses in the statements of operations.

(11) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

    Notes receivable from related parties as of December 31, 1996 consist of
    two loans evidenced by promissory notes.  The Company granted a $200,000
    short-term loan to an executive officer of the Company on June 25, 1996 in
    connection with the officer's relocation to San Diego.  This secured loan,
    which was extended in December 1996, bears no interest and is due and
    payable in full on the earlier of (i) December 7, 1997, (ii) the closing of
    the sale of the secured property or any transfer thereof, or (iii) within
    90 days of such officer's termination of employment with the Company.

    On February 23, 1996, the Company granted two loans to an executive officer
    of the Company who resigned on July 8, 1996 (the "Former Officer").  The
    first loan, in the principal amount of $180,000, was repaid on December 3,
    1996.  The Company also granted a second loan in the amount of $120,000 to
    such Former Officer on February 23, 1996.  Of such loan, $60,000 was repaid
    on April 25, 1996, and the remaining $60,000 has been reserved as of
    December 31, 1996.


                                         F-15



                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                       Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


    Pursuant to the acquisition of the Belgian subsidiary, the Company entered
    into a facility and equipment services agreement in 1991 with one of its
    principal shareholders.  The Company was charged $410,000 in 1994 pursuant
    to this agreement.  See Notes 6 and 8.
    
(12) LEGAL MATTERS

    The Company, several of its current and former directors, and Centocor,
    Inc. were parties to a legal proceeding filed February 18, 1993, in the
    U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.  The complaint
    was filed by a shareholder of the Company who represented a class of
    persons who purchased Corvas stock from January 30, 1992 through April 14,
    1992.  The Company continues to deny all claims of wrongdoing and maintains
    this denial as part of the settlement agreement reached in 1995.  All
    amounts due under the settlement agreement, including the issuance of
    125,000 shares of common stock, have been distributed or paid.
    
    In 1993, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the "USPTO") declared an
    interference to determine the priority of invention between a patent for
    which some rights are licensed to the Company (the "Licensed Patent") and a
    patent application for which rights are held by other parties (the "First
    Patent Application").  During the third quarter of 1996, the USPTO added a
    second patent application to the proceeding (the "Second Patent
    Application") and redeclared the interference.  Rights to the Second Patent
    Application are held by other parties, at least some of which also hold
    rights in the First Patent Application.  The subject matter of the patent
    and these applications is recombinant tissue factor, which is used by Ortho
    to determine the blood clotting abilities of patients.  The Company is
    contesting the other parties' claims of prior invention; however, there can
    be no assurance that the Licensed Patent will be upheld.    
    
(13) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
    
    On January 8, 1997, the Company received a $3,000,000 milestone payment
    from Schering-Plough, which will be recorded as revenue in 1997.  This
    milestone payment, made pursuant to the companies' strategic alliance
    agreement, was paid upon selection of a clinical development compound in
    the thrombin inhibitor program.  See Note 7.
    
    Subject to the notification and waiting requirements of Hart-Scott-Rodino,
    the Company was notified on February 14, 1997 that Pfizer has elected to
    exercise its option to enter into an exclusive license and development
    agreement on the NIF program.  Under the agreement, Pfizer will pay the
    Company $1,000,000 upon execution of the agreement, less $200,000 applied
    from amounts paid to extend the option period from October 1996 to February
    1997.


                                         F-16

EX-3.3

                              CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
                                        OF THE
                         SERIES B CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
                             (Par Value $.001 Per Share)
                                          OF
                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                  ------------------

                            Pursuant to Section 151 of the
                   General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

                                  ------------------

    Corvas International, Inc., a company organized and existing under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Company"), in accordance
with the provisions of Section 103 thereof, and pursuant to Section 151 thereof,
DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

    That the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the "Certificate of
Incorporation") authorizes the creation of up to 10,000,000 shares of the
Company's preferred stock, par value $.001 per share (such preferred stock,
together with all other preferred stock of the Company the creation of which is
in the future authorized by the Certificate of Incorporation, referred to herein
as the "Preferred Stock"); and

    That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors (the
"Board") by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, the Board on
December 20, 1996, approved the creation, issuance and the voting powers of
shares of Preferred Stock to be issued in one series and adopted the following
resolution creating a series of 250,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as
set forth below:

    RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority expressly granted to and vested in
the Board by provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the issuance of a series
of Preferred Stock, which shall consist of 250,000 shares of the 10,000,000
shares of Preferred Stock which the Company now has authority to issue, be, and
the same hereby is, authorized, and the Board hereby fixes the powers,
designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special
rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the
shares of such series (in addition to the powers, designations, preferences and
relative participating, optional or other special rights, and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, set forth in the
Certificate of Incorporation which may be applicable to the Preferred Stock)
authorized by this resolution as follows:



SECTION 1.    DESIGNATION OF SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK.  The designation of such
series of Preferred Stock authorized by this resolution shall be Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series B Preferred").  The Series B Preferred
is issuable solely in whole shares that shall entitle the holder thereof to
exercise the voting rights, to participate in the distributions and to have the
benefit of all other rights of holders of Series B Preferred, as set forth
herein and in the Certificate of Incorporation.

SECTION 2.    DIVIDEND RIGHTS OF SERIES B PREFERRED.  Subject to the rights of
the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock (or any similar
stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series B Preferred Stock with respect
to dividends, the holders of the Series B Preferred shall be entitled to
receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds
legally available therefor, dividends at the rate of Sixty-Four Cents ($0.64)
per share of Series B Preferred per annum (as adjusted for any combinations,
consolidations, stock distributions, stock dividends or other recapitalizations
with respect to such shares) before any dividend is declared or paid on shares
of Common Stock.  The right to such dividends on the Series B Preferred shall be
cumulative and shall accrue annually on the Series B Preferred from the date of
issuance, whether or not earned or declared.  No interest shall be earned or
accrued on any unpaid cumulative dividends.  No dividends (other than those
payable solely in Common Stock of the Company) shall be declared or paid on any
Common Stock of the Company until any accrued by unpaid dividends on the Series
B Preferred shall have been declared and paid or set apart.

SECTION 3.    LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE.

    (a)  SERIES B PREFERRED.  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of Series B
Preferred then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid, pro rata, out of the
assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, whether
from capital, surplus or earnings, before any payment shall be made in respect
of any other class or series of stock ranking junior to the Series B Preferred,
an amount equal to Eight Dollars ($8.00) per share (the "Series B Original Issue
Price") (as adjusted for any combinations, consolidations, stock distributions,
stock dividends or other recapitalizations with respect to such shares) plus any
declared but unpaid dividends on such shares.  If upon liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Company the assets of the Company available for
distribution to its stockholders shall be insufficient to pay the holders of the
Series B Preferred the full amounts to which they shall be entitled as set forth
above, then the entire assets of the Company legally available for distribution
shall be distributed pro rata among the holders of the Series B Preferred in
proportion to the preferential amount each such holder would otherwise be
entitled to receive.  After setting apart or paying in full the preferential
amounts due the holders of the Series B Preferred, the holders of the Series B
Preferred will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution
of the assets of the Company, and the entire remaining


                                          2.



assets of the Company legally available for distribution, if any, shall be
distributed among the holders of Common Stock in proportion to the shares of
Common Stock then held by them.

    (b)  MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS NOT DEEMED LIQUIDATIONS.  The merger or
consolidation of the Company into or with another company in which the Company
is not the surviving entity or in which the stockholders of this Company
immediately prior to such event shall own less than a majority of the voting
securities of the surviving company, or the sale, transfer, or lease (but not
including a transfer or lease by pledge or mortgage to a bona fide lender) of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, shall not be deemed a
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company as those terms are used in
this Section 3.

SECTION 4.    CONVERSION PRIVILEGES.

    (a)  RIGHTS OF CONVERSION.  Subject to the other provisions of this
Certificate of Designations, each share of Series B Preferred shall be
convertible, without payment of any additional consideration by the holder
thereof and at the option of such holder, at any time and from time to time
after the date of issuance of such share, at the office of the Company or any
transfer agent for such stock, into such number of fully paid and nonassessable
shares of Common Stock as is determined by dividing the Series B Original Issue
Price by the Series B Conversion Price (as defined below) in effect at the time
of conversion.  The price at which shares of Common Stock shall be deliverable
upon conversion of Series B Preferred (the "Series B Conversion Price") shall
initially equal the Series B Original Issue Price per share, subject to
adjustment as set forth below.

    (b)  AUTOMATIC CONVERSION.  Each share of Series B Preferred shall
automatically, and without action on the part of the holder thereof, be
converted into shares of Common Stock at the Series B Conversion Price then in
effect upon the 10th consecutive trading day for which the average of the high
and low sales prices per share of Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq
National Market (or any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock
of the Company is then traded) is equal to or greater than One Hundred Fifty
percent (150%) of the Series B Original Issue Price (the "Automatic Conversion
Date").

    (c)  MECHANICS OF CONVERSION.  Before any holder of Series B Preferred
shall be entitled to convert the same into shares of Common Stock pursuant to
Section 4(a) hereof, and before the Company shall be obligated to issue
certificates for shares of Common Stock upon the automatic conversion of the
Series B Preferred pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, such holder shall surrender
the certificate or certificates thereof, duly endorsed, at the office of the
Company or of any transfer agent for such stock, and shall give written notice
to the Company at such office that such holder elects to convert the same and
shall state therein the name or names in which such holder wishes


                                          3.



the certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock to be issued (except
that no such written notice of intent to convert shall be necessary in the event
of an automatic conversion pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof).  The Company shall,
as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at such office to such
holder of Series B Preferred or its nominee or nominees, a certificate or
certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall
be entitled as aforesaid, together with cash in lieu of any fractional shares. 
Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close
of business on the date of surrender of the shares of Series B Preferred to be
converted, except that in the case of an automatic conversion pursuant to
Section 4(b) hereof, such conversion shall be deemed to have been made
immediately prior to the close of business on the Automatic Conversion Date. 
The person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or
holders of such shares of Common Stock on such date.

    (d)  ADJUSTMENTS FOR COMBINATIONS OR SUBDIVISIONS OF COMMON STOCK.  In the
event the Company at any time or from time to time after the original issue date
of the Series B Preferred shall declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock
payable in Common Stock or in any right to acquire Common Stock, or shall effect
a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of
shares of Common Stock (by stock split, reclassification or otherwise), or in
the event the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be combined or
consolidated, by reclassification or otherwise, into a lesser number of shares
of Common Stock, then the Series B Conversion Price in effect immediately prior
to such event shall, concurrently with the effectiveness of such event, be
proportionately decreased or increased, as appropriate.

    (e)  ADJUSTMENTS FOR OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS.  In the event the Company shall
at any time or from time to time make or issue, or fix a record date for the
determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or
other distribution payable in securities of the Company (other than Common
Stock) or in securities of any of its subsidiaries, then in each such event
provision shall be made so that the holders of Series B Preferred shall receive,
upon the conversion thereof, the securities of the Company which they would have
received had their stock been converted into Common Stock on the date of such
event.

    (f)  ADJUSTMENTS FOR REORGANIZATION OR RECLASSIFICATION.  In case of any
capital reorganization or any reclassification of the capital stock of the
Company (other than a combination or subdivision of shares, dividend,
distribution or other transaction provided for in Section 2 or Section 4(d) or
(e) above), each share of Series B Preferred shall thereafter be convertible
into the same kind and amounts of securities or property (including cash), or
both, to which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon
conversion of such share of Series B Preferred would have been entitled upon the
record date of (or date of, if no record date is fixed) such


                                          4.



reorganization or reclassification, and, in any case, appropriate adjustment (as
determined by the Board of Directors) shall be made in the application of the
provisions herein set forth with respect to the rights and interests thereafter
of the holders of such Series B Preferred, to the end that the provisions set
forth herein shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as equivalent as is
practicable, in relation to any securities or property (including cash)
thereafter deliverable upon the conversion of the shares of such Series B
Preferred.

    (g)  CERTIFICATES AS TO ADJUSTMENTS.  Upon the occurrence of each
adjustment or readjustment of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of a share of Series B Preferred pursuant to this Section 4, the
Company at its expense shall promptly compute such adjustment or readjustment in
accordance with the terms hereof and prepare and furnish to each holder of
Series B Preferred a certificate setting forth such adjustment or readjustment
and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is
based.  The Company shall, upon the written request at any time of any holder of
Series B Preferred, furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a like
certificate prepared by the Company setting forth (i) such adjustments and
readjustments, (ii) the Series B Conversion Price at the time in effect, and
(iii) the number of shares of Common Stock and the amount, if any, of other
property which at the time would be received upon the conversion of the Series B
Preferred.

    (h)  NOTICES OF RECORD DATE.  In the event of any taking by the Company of
a record of the holders of any class of securities for the purpose of
determining the holders thereof who are entitled to receive any dividend (other
than a cash dividend) or other distribution, any security or right convertible
into or entitling the holder thereof to receive additional shares of Common
Stock, or any right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares
of stock of any class or any other securities or property, or to receive any
other right, the Company shall mail to each holder of Series B Preferred at
least 10 days prior to the date specified therein, a notice specifying the date
on which any such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend,
distribution, security or right, and the amount and character of such dividend,
distribution, security or right.

    (i)  ISSUE TAXES.  The holders of Series B Preferred shall pay any and all
issue, transfer and other taxes that may be payable in respect of any issue or
delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversion of shares of Series B Preferred
pursuant hereto.

    (j)  RESERVATION OF STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION.  The Company shall at
all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares
of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the
shares of the Series B Preferred, such number of its shares of Common Stock as
shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all
outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred; and if at any time the number of
authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect
the conversion of all then outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred, the
Company will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its


                                          5.



counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purpose,
including, without limitation, engaging in best efforts to obtain the requisite
stockholder approval of any necessary amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation.

    (k)  FRACTIONAL SHARES.  No fractional share shall be issued upon the
conversion of any share or shares of Series B Preferred.  All shares of Common
Stock (including fractions thereof) issuable upon conversion of more than one
share of Series B Preferred by a holder thereof shall be aggregated for purposes
of determining whether the conversion would result in the issuance of any
fractional share.  If, after the aforementioned aggregation, the conversion
would result in the issuance of a fraction of a share of Common Stock, the
Company shall, in lieu of issuing any fractional share, pay the holder otherwise
entitled to such fraction a sum in cash equal to the fair market value of such
fraction on the date of conversion (as determined in good faith by the Board).

    (l)  NOTICES.  Any notice required by the provisions of this Section 4 to
be given to the holders of shares of Series B Preferred shall be deemed given if
deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to each
holder of record at its address appearing on the books of the Company.

SECTION 5.    VOTING RIGHTS.  Except as provided in this Section 4 or as
otherwise from time to time required by law, the Series B Preferred shall vote
together with the Common Stock as a single class.  The holder of each share of
Series B Preferred shall be entitled to that number of votes equal to the number
of shares of Common Stock into which such share could then be converted and
shall be entitled to notice of all stockholders' meetings in accordance with the
Bylaws of the Company.  So long as any shares of Series B Preferred remain
outstanding, the consent of the holders of a majority of the shares of Series B
Preferred outstanding at the time, voting separately as a class, given in person
or by proxy, either in writing or at any special or annual meeting called for
the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any capital
reorganization or reclassification of the capital stock of the Company or any
amendment, alteration or repeal of any of the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation or of these resolutions which, in any such event, would alter or
change the powers, preferences, or special rights of the shares of the Series B
Preferred so as to affect them adversely; provided, however, that any increase
in the amount of authorized Preferred Stock or the creation and issuance of
other series of Preferred Stock, shall not be deemed to adversely affect such
powers, preferences or special rights.  The foregoing voting provisions shall
not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such
vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of
Series B Preferred shall have been converted into Common Stock.


                                          6.



    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Corvas International, Inc. has caused this Certificate
to be signed by its President and Chief Executive Officer, and attested by its
Secretary, this 20th day of December, 1996.
                                  CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                  By: /s/ RANDALL E. WOODS
                                     ---------------------
                                       Randall E. Woods,
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer


Attest:


 /s/ JOHN E. CRAWFORD
- ---------------------
John E. Crawford,
Secretary


                                          7.

EX-10.50

                             EXTENSION OF PROMISSORY NOTE

This Extension of Promissory Note (the "Extension")  is made  effective as of
December 7, 1996 (the "Effective Date"), by and between Corvas International,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Lender"), and Randall E. Woods ("Borrower") with
respect to the following:

    A.   Borrower executed a Promissory Note for a principal amount of
$200,000.00, dated June 25, 1996 (the "Note") secured by that certain Deed of
Trust dated as of June 25, 1996, encumbering Borrower's real property in
Potomac, Maryland (the "Property");  and

    B.   The outstanding principal  amount of the Note was due and payable on
the earlier of December 7, 1996, or the closing of the sale of the Property or
any transfer by Borrower of the interest therein; and

    C.   Borrower has made all reasonable efforts to sell the Property and has
been unable to do so.

    The parties hereto agree as follows:

    As approved by resolution of the Board of Directors of Lender at its Board
meeting held December 4, 1996, Lender and Borrower have agreed to extend the
term of the Note for a period of one (1) year, expiring on the sale of the
Maryland residence or December 7, 1997, whichever shall first occur.  

    Except as set forth herein, all of the remaining terms, conditions and
provisions of the Note shall remain in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Extension effective as of the
Effective Date.

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:

"LENDER"                                    "BORROWER"

CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

By: /s/ JOHN E. CRAWFORD                    By: /s/ RANDALL E. WOODS 
    ---------------------------------------    ---------------------------
    John E. Crawford, Executive Vice             Randall E. Woods
    President, Chief Financial Officer and
    Corporate Secretary

Dated: January  30, 1997                    Dated:  January  29, 1997     
      ------------------------------------        ------------------------

EX-10.51

January 28, 1997



Howard R. Soule, Ph.D.
1548 Eldon Lane
Encinitas, California  92024

Dear Howard:

This letter sets forth the terms and conditions of our agreement (the
"Agreement") regarding the termination of your employment with Corvas
International, Inc. (the "Company").  This Agreement is made and entered into as
of the last day either party executes this Agreement.  You and the Company
hereby agree as follows:

1.  The Company accepts your resignation as Vice-President of Product
Development of the Company as of December 31, 1996 (the "Separation Date").

2.  The Company agrees that it will pay you all accrued salary, and all accrued
and unused vacation benefits earned through the Separation Date, if any, subject
to standard payroll deductions, withholding taxes and other obligations.  You
are entitled to this payment regardless of whether or not you sign this
Agreement.

3.  Although the Company has no policy of procedure for providing severance
benefits, in exchange for the promises and covenants set forth herein, and in
consideration thereof, the Company agrees to make severance payments to you in
the form of continuation of your base salary in effect on the Separation Date
from January 1, 1997 through June 30, 1997.  These payments will be made on the
Company's ordinary payroll dates, and will be subject to standard payroll
deductions and withholdings.

4.  To the extent permitted by the federal COBRA law and by the Company's
current group health and disability insurance policies, you will be eligible to
continue your health insurance benefits.  You will be provided with a separate
notice of your COBRA rights.  In the event that you elect continued coverage
under COBRA, the Company, as part of this Agreement and in consideration
thereof, will pay your COBRA premiums up until the earlier of either (i) June
30, 1997 or, (ii) the date in which you begin full-time employment with another
company or business entity.



Howard R. Soule, Ph.D.
January 28, 1997
Page 2


5.  In exchange for the promises and covenants set forth herein, the Company
agrees that the vesting of each outstanding stock option held by you as set
forth on Exhibit A attached hereto (the "Stock Options") shall be accelerated
such that, as of the Separation Date, the number of shares vested under the
Stock Options shall equal the number of shares that would have vested through
June 30, 1997 had you remained an employee of the Company continuously through
that date; provided that in any event, should you choose to exercise your Stock
Options, you must do so within 30 days of the Separation Date.  Your Stock
Options will terminate 30 days after the Separation Date if not exercised.

6.  In exchange for the promises and covenants set forth herein, the parties
agree that you shall serve as an outside consultant for the period of January 1,
1997 through June 30, 1997 or until you begin full-time employment with another
company or business entity, whichever occurs first (the "Consulting Period"). 
During the Consulting Period, you shall be required to provide services for up
to twenty hours per month at the request of the Company, at reasonable times and
upon reasonable notice.  You shall receive no other compensation for your
services other than what has been provided for in this Agreement.

7.  You hereby acknowledge and agree that except as expressly provided herein,
you will not receive (nor are you entitled to) any additional compensation,
severance, benefits, shares of stock or stock options, notwithstanding any prior
agreement to the contrary, after the Separation Date.

8.  You agree that, within ten (10) days of the Separation Date, you will
submit your final documented expense reimbursement statement reflecting all
business expenses you incurred through the Separation Date, if any, for which
you seek reimbursement.  The Company will reimburse you for these expenses
pursuant to its regular business practice.  You further agree that you will not
be entitled to any expense reimbursements after the Separation Date unless such
expenses are approved in writing by an officer of the Company.

9.  You agree that for one year after the Separation Date, you will not, either
directly or through others, solicit or attempt to solicit any employee,
consultant, or independent contractor of the Company to terminate his or her
relationship with the Company in order to become an employee, consultant or
independent contractor to or for any other person or entity.



Howard R. Soule, Ph.D.
January 28, 1997
Page 3

10. Upon the conclusion of the Consulting Period, you agree to return to the
Company all Company documents (and all copies thereof) and other Company
property in your possession or your control, including, but not limited to,
Company files, notes, samples, sales notebooks, drawings, specifications,
calculations, sequences, data, computer-recorded information, tangible property,
including, but not limited to, computers, credit cards, entry cards, keys and
any other materials of any nature pertaining to your work with the Company, and
any documents or data of any description (or any reproduction of any documents
or data) containing or pertaining to any proprietary or confidential material of
the Company.

11. Both during and after your employment you acknowledge your continuing
obligations under your Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement not to
use or disclose any confidential or proprietary information of the Company
without prior written authorization from a duly authorized representative of the
Company.  A copy of your Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement is
attached hereto as Exhibit B.

12. You and the Company agree that neither party will at any time disparage the
other party, and the other party's officers, directors, employees, shareholders
and agents, in any manner likely to be harmful to them or their business,
business reputation or personal reputation; provided that each party shall
respond accurately and fully to any questions, inquiry or request for
information when required by legal process.

13. The provisions of this Agreement shall be held in strictest confidence by
you and the Company and shall not be publicized or disclosed in any manner
whatsoever;  provided, however, that: (a) you may disclose this Agreement, in
confidence, to your immediate family; (b) the parties may disclose this
Agreement in confidence to their respective attorneys, accountants, auditors,
tax preparers, and financial advisors; (c) the Company may disclose this
Agreement as necessary to fulfill standard or legally required corporate
reporting or disclosure requirements; and (d) the parties may disclose this
Agreement insofar as such disclosure may be necessary to enforce its terms or as
otherwise required by law.

14. In exchange for the promises and covenants set forth herein, you hereby
release, acquit, and forever discharge the Company, its parents and
subsidiaries, and their officers, directors, agents, servants, employees,
attorneys, shareholders, partners, successors, assigns, affiliates, customers,
and clients of and from any and all claims liabilities, demands, causes of
action, costs, expenses, attorneys'



Howard R. Soule, Ph.D.
January 28, 1997
Page 4

fees, damages, indemnities and obligations of every kind and nature, in law,
equity, or otherwise, known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed
and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way related to agreements, acts or
conduct at any time prior to the Separation Date, including, but not limited to:
all such claims and demands directly or indirectly arising  out of or in any way
connected with the Company's employment of you, the termination of that
employment, and the Company's performance of its obligations as your former
employer; claims or demands related to salary, bonuses, commissions, stock,
stock options, or any other ownership interests in the Company, vacation pay,
fringe benefits, expense reimbursements, severance pay, or any form of
compensation; claims pursuant to any federal, state or local law or cause of
action including, but not limited to, the California Fair Employment and Housing
Act, the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the federal Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended; the federal Americans With
Disabilities Act; tort law; contract law; wrongful discharge; discrimination;
harassment; fraud; defamation; emotional distress; and breach of the implied
covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

    You further acknowledge that you are knowingly and voluntarily waiving and
releasing any rights you may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
of 1967 ("ADEA").  You also acknowledge that the consideration given for the
waiver and release in the preceding paragraphs hereof is in addition to anything
of value to which you were already entitled.  If you are more than forty (40)
years of age or older when this release is signed, you hereby provide the
further acknowledgment that you are advised by this writing, as required by the
Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, that: (a) your waiver and release do not
apply to any rights or claims that may arise after the Effective Date of this
release; (b) you have the right to consult with an attorney prior to executing
this release (although you may voluntarily choose not to do so); (c) you may
have at least twenty-one (21) days to consider this Agreement (although you may
by your own choice execute this release earlier); (d) you have seven (7) days
following the execution of this release to revoke this release; and (e) this
Agreement shall not be effective until the date upon which the revocation period
has expired, therefore making the effective date the eighth day after this
release is signed by you (the "Effective Date").

15. In giving this release, which includes claims which may be unknown to you
at present, you hereby acknowledge that you have read and understand Section
1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California which reads as follows:



Howard R. Soule, Ph.D.
January 28, 1997
Page 5

         A general release does not extend to claims which the
         creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at
         the time of executing the release, which if known by him
         must have materially affected his settlement with the
         debtor.

You hereby expressly waive and relinquish all rights and benefits under this
section and any law or legal principle of similar effect in any jurisdiction
with respect to claims released hereby.

16. In the event of any litigation arising out of or relating to this
Agreement, its breach or enforcement, including an action for declaratory
relief, the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be entitled to
receive his or its damages, court costs, and all out-of-pocket expenses,
including attorneys fees.  Such recovery shall include court costs, out-of-
pocket expenses, and attorneys fees on appeal, if any.

17. The parties hereto hereby acknowledge that this is a compromise settlement
of various matters, and that the promised payments in consideration of this
Agreement shall not be construed to be an admission of any liability or
obligation by either party to the other party or to any other person whomsoever.

18. This Agreement, including Exhibit A and B, constitutes the complete, final
and exclusive embodiment of the entire Agreement between you and the Company
with regard to the subject matter hereof.  It is entered into without reliance
on any promise or representation, written or oral, other than those expressly
contained herein.  It may not be modified except in a writing signed by you and
a duly authorized officer of the Company.  Each party has carefully read this
Agreement, has been afforded the opportunity to be advised of its meaning and
consequences by his or its respective attorneys, and signed the same of his or
its free will.

19. This Agreement shall bind the heirs, personal representatives, successors,
assigns, executors, and administrators of each party, and inure to the benefit
of each party, its agents, directors, officers, employees, servants, heirs,
successors and assigns.

20. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been entered into and shall be
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California as
applied to contracts made and to be performed entirely within California.



Howard R. Soule, Ph.D.
January 28, 1997
Page 6

21. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any term or provision
of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, then the
remaining terms and provisions hereof shall be unimpaired.  Such court will have
the authority to modify or replace the invalid or unenforceable term or
provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that most accurately
represents the parties' intention with respect to the invalid or unenforceable
term or provision.

22. This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.

Please confirm your assent to the foregoing terms and conditions of our
Agreement by signing and returning to me the two copies of this letter which are
enclosed herewith.  Upon my receipt thereof, I will forward to you a fully
executed duplicate original hereof.

Sincerely,

CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.


/s/ RANDALL E. WOODS
- --------------------
Randall E. Woods
Chief Executive Officer

HAVING READ AND REVIEWED THE FOREGOING, I HEREBY AGREE TO AND ACCEPT THE TERMS
AND CONDITIONS AS STATED ABOVE.


Dated: 1/31/97               /s/ HOWARD R. SOULE, PH.D.
     --------------          --------------------------
                             Howard R. Soule, Ph.D.

EX-10.52

                       AMENDMENT 1 TO DAVID S. KABAKOFF, PH.D./
                             CORVAS CONSULTING AGREEMENT


THIS AMENDMENT 1 to the David S. Kabakoff, Ph.D./Corvas Consulting Agreement
(the "1996 Agreement) is made effective as of February 20, 1997 (the "Effective
Date") by and between CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Delaware corporation having
its principal place of business at 3030 Science Park Road, San Diego, California
92121 ("CORVAS"),  and Dr. David S. Kabakoff ("CONSULTANT"), 16947 Circa del
Sur, Rancho Santa Fe, CA  92067, with regard to the following:

    A.   CORVAS and CONSULTANT entered into that 1996 Agreement effective as of
May 1, 1996;
    
    B.   As of February 19, 1997, CONSULTANT resigned as a member of the Board
of Directors of CORVAS;
    
    C.   CORVAS and CONSULTANT desire to continue the 1996 Agreement amended as
follows:

    Paragraph 11 shall be replaced in its entirety with the following"

"11. The term of this Agreement shall be until December 31, 1998.  This
Agreement may be terminated prior to expiration of its term by mutual written
consent, or may be terminated by the Company at any time for cause.  CONSULTANT
may terminate this Agreement upon thirty (30) days written notice delivered to
CORVAS, provided that CONSULTANT shall be bound by all duties hereunder which
survive termination including the duty of confidentiality.  Renewals of this
Agreement must be negotiated in writing during the term of this Agreement and
shall be conducted by mutual agreement.  The CONSULTANT agrees on behalf of
himself and any other person or persons claiming any benefit under him, that
this Agreement and the rights of CONSULTANT hereunder shall not be assigned in
any way.  Any attempt to assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of this
Agreement shall be null and void."

    Attachment A shall be amended by adding the following:

"Beginning February 20, 1997, consideration for CONSULTANT shall be the
continued vesting of his then-outstanding stock options during the term of the
1996 Agreement, except for the stock options marked CXL in the table attached as
Exhibit A, which shall be cancelled as of February 20, 1997."

Further, the stock options remaining to be vested by 12/31/98 as noted in the
Consultant Options table shall become immediately vested and exercisable upon
the date of a change of control of CORVAS.  A change in control of CORVAS shall
be deemed to occur on the date of a transfer or sale of an aggregate of fifty-
one percent (51%) or greater of the voting control of CORVAS."



David S. Kabakoff, Ph.D./Corvas Consulting Agreement
Amendment 1
February 20, 1997
Page 2

D.       Effect on Agreement.  Except as expressly amended hereby, all of the
terms, conditions and provisions of the 1996 Agreement, including the attachment
thereto, and the terms and conditions pertaining to the original grants of the
above listed options, shall remain in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment 1 effective as of
the Effective Date.

Agreed to and Accepted:                Agreed to and Accepted:


CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.             "CONSULTANT"


By: /s/ JOHN E. CRAWFORD                    /s/ DAVID S. KABAKOFF, PH.D.       
    -------------------------           ---------------------------------
John E. Crawford, Executive            David S. Kabakoff, Ph.D.
Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Corporate Secretary



David S. Kabakoff, Ph.D./Corvas Consulting Agreement
Amendment 1
February 20, 1997
Page 3

                                      EXHIBIT A
                                  CONSULTANT OPTIONS





                             #Options        # Currently          Additonal Options
Grant Date                    Granted            vested           # Vested at 12/31/98           CXL Options
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    
1/16/95                      60,000              52,500                    7,500
Grants #850, 849

1/16/95                      25,000              20,312                    4,688
Grants #852, 851
                                                                                                   (cont.)
1/16/95                      40,000              21,562                   15,156                  CXL 3,282
Grants #854, 853

1/16/95                      25,000               7,812                   10,938                  CXL 6,250
Grants #856, 855

1/11/96                      50,000              13,287                   25,322                  CXL 11,391
Grants #808, 809             

1/3/97                        5,000                 -0-                      -0-                  CXL 5,000
Grant #916

EX-10.53

                                 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                                    BY AND BETWEEN


                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                         AND

                                   JOHN E. CRAWFORD


                                DATED:  MARCH 18, 1997





                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE


1.  EMPLOYMENT.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

2.  LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS PERFORMANCE; NONCOMPETITION. . . . . . . . . . . 2

3.  COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

4.  TERMINATION BY COMPANY.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

5.  TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

6.  COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

7.  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; EXECUTIVE'S DUTIES UPON TERMINATION. . . . . . 8

8.  ASSIGNMENT AND BINDING EFFECT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

9.  NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

10. CHOICE OF LAW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

11. INTEGRATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

12. AMENDMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

13. WAIVER.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

14. SEVERABILITY.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

15. INTERPRETATION; CONSTRUCTION.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

16. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

17. COUNTERPARTS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10


                                          i.



                                 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT



    THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into
effective as of March 18, 1997, by and between CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and JOHN E. CRAWFORD ("Executive").  The
Company and Executive are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties,"
and individually referred to as a "Party."

                                       RECITALS

    A.   The Company desires assurance of the association and services of
Executive in order to retain Executive's experience, skills, abilities,
background and knowledge, and is willing to engage Executive's services on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

    B.   The Company and the Executive have previously entered into an
Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of April 17, 1989 (the "Prior
Agreement") memorializing the terms of Executive's engagement by the Company.

    C.   The Company and the Executive desire to terminate the "Prior
Agreement", except as described herein, and to enter into this Agreement, the
terms of which shall supersede in their entirety the terms of the Prior
Agreement.

                                      AGREEMENT

    Now, therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants set
forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the Parties agree
as follows:

1.  EMPLOYMENT.

    1.1  The Company hereby employs Executive, and Executive hereby accepts
employment by the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, effective as of the date first set forth above ("Effective Date").

    1.2  Executive shall be the Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial
Officer of the Company and shall serve in such other capacity or capacities as
the President or the Company may from time to time prescribe.


                                          1.



    1.3  Executive shall do and perform all services, acts or things necessary
or advisable to manage and conduct the business of his department, provided,
however, that at all times during his employment Executive shall be subject to
the direction and policies from time to time established by the President of the
Company.  Executive's duties shall include, but not be limited to, general
responsibility for financial affairs, business development, business strategic
planning, and legal and administrative affairs of the Company.

    1.4  Unless the Parties otherwise agree in writing, during the term of this
Agreement, Executive shall perform the services he is required to perform
pursuant to this Agreement at the Company's offices, located at 3030 Science
Park Road, San Diego, California, or at any other place at which the Company
maintains an office; provided, however, that the Company may from time to time
require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations in connection with
the Company's business.

2.  LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS PERFORMANCE; NONCOMPETITION.

    2.1  During his employment by the Company, Executive shall devote his full
business energies, interest, abilities and productive time to the proper and
efficient performance of his duties under this Agreement.

    2.2  During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall not engage in
competition with the Company, either directly or indirectly, in any manner or
capacity, as adviser, principal, agent, partner, officer, director, employee,
member of any association or otherwise, in any phase of the business of
developing, manufacturing and marketing medical products which are in the same
field of use or which otherwise compete with the products or proposed products
of the Company.

         2.2.1     Ownership by Executive, as a passive investment, of less
than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any
corporation with one or more classes of its capital stock listed on a national
securities exchange or publicly traded in the over-the-counter market shall not
constitute a breach of this paragraph.

         2.2.2     Notwithstanding Section 2.2.1, the Company acknowledges and
approves that Executive serve on the Board of Directors of Navius Corporation, a
privately held company engaged in research, development, manufacturing and sales
of interventional cardiology products.  The Company further acknowledges that: 
(i) Navius could, in the future, have one or more classes of its capital stock
listed on a national securities exchange or be publicly traded in the over-the-
counter market, (ii) Executive may own more than one percent (1%) of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of Navius Corporation, and (iii) that such
ownership shall not constitute a breach of this paragraph 2.2.


                                          2.



3.  COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE.

    3.1  While employed by the Company, the Company shall pay Executive a
salary (the "Base Salary") of $150,000 per year, payable in regular periodic
payments in accordance with Company policy.  Such salary shall be prorated for
any partial year of employment on the basis of a 365-day fiscal year.

    3.2  Executive's compensation may be changed from time to time by mutual
agreement of Executive and the President or Board of Directors of the Company
("Board").

    3.3  Executive's performance shall be reviewed by the President or Board on
a periodic basis (but not less than once in each fiscal year during the term of
this Agreement).  As part of such review, the President and the Board, at their
sole discretion, shall consider appropriate adjustments to Executive's base
salary, grant of stock options and the potential for performance based bonuses.

    3.4  All of Executive's compensation shall be subject to customary
withholding taxes and any other employment taxes as are commonly required to be
collected or withheld by the Company.

    3.5  Executive shall, in accordance with Company policy, be eligible to
participate in the benefits described in The Employee Benefits Summary, attached
as Exhibit A. 

4.  TERMINATION BY COMPANY.  Executive's employment with the Company may be
terminated by the Company under the following conditions:

    4.1  DEATH.  Upon Executive's death, in which case termination shall be
effective on the last day of the month in which Executive's death occurs.

    4.2  DISABILITY.  If Executive becomes completely disabled due to physical
or mental illness as defined under Section 4.2.1, or if Executive shall be
absent from duties on a full-time basis due to illness for six consecutive
months, and shall not have returned to the performance of duties within ten (10)
days after receiving written notice of termination following such six-month
period.

         4.2.1     The term "completely disabled" as used in this Agreement
shall mean the inability of Executive to perform the essential functions of his
position under this Agreement by reason of any incapacity, physical or mental,
which the Board, based upon medical advice or an opinion provided by a licensed
physician acceptable to the Board and approved by the Executive, which approval
shall not be unreasonably


                                          3.



withheld, determines to have incapacitated Executive from satisfactorily
performing any or all essential functions of his position for the Company during
the foreseeable future.  Based upon such medical advice or opinion, the
determination of the Board shall be final and binding and the date such
determination is made shall be the date of such complete disability for purposes
of this Agreement.

    4.3  FOR CAUSE.  The Company may terminate Executive's employment under
this Agreement "for cause" ("For Cause") by delivery of written notice to
Executive specifying the cause or causes relied upon for such termination.  Any
notice of termination given pursuant to this Section 4.3 shall effect
termination as of the date specified in such notice or, in the event no such
date is specified, on the last day of the month in which such notice is
delivered or deemed delivered as provided in Section 9 below.  Grounds for the
Company to terminate this Agreement For Cause shall be limited to the occurrence
of any of the following events:

         4.3.1     Executive is in material breach of any provision of this
Agreement;

         4.3.2     Executive's engaging or in any manner participating in any
activity which is directly competitive with or intentionally injurious to the
Company or which violates any provision of Section 7 of this Agreement;

         4.3.3     Executive's commission of any fraud against the Company; 

         4.3.4     Executive's intentional improper use or appropriation for
his personal use or benefit of any funds or properties of the Company not
authorized by the Board to be so used or appropriated; and

         4.3.5     Executive's conviction of any crime involving dishonesty or
moral turpitude.

    4.4  WITHOUT CAUSE.  The Company may terminate the Executive's employment
without cause ("Without Cause") upon delivery of written notice to the Executive
at any time.  Any notice of termination given pursuant to this Section 4.4 shall
effect termination as of the date specified in such notice or, in the event no
such date is specified, on the last day of the month in which such notice is
delivered or deemed deliverable as provided in Section 9 below. 


                                          4.



5.  TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE.  Executive may terminate Executive's employment
with the Company (a) for Sufficient Reason (as defined below in Section 5.1)
within one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days following the occurrence of an
event or events constituting such Sufficient Reason; or (b) without Sufficient
Reason.

    5.1  "Sufficient Reason" shall mean any one or more of the following
events:

         5.1.1     The occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as
defined below in Section 6.5);

         5.1.2     The failure by the Company to comply with any material
provision of this Agreement and such failure has continued for a period of
thirty (30) days after notice of such failure has been given by Executive to the
Company;

6.  COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION.

    6.1  DEATH.  If Executive's employment shall be terminated by death, the
Company shall pay to Executive's designee(s), beneficiary(ies), or if there is
no such designee or beneficiary, to Executive's estate, an amount equal to three
(3) months of Executive's base salary.

    6.2  DISABILITY.  If Executive is terminated due to disability as provided
in Section 4.2, the Company shall pay to Executive an amount equal to three (3)
months of Executive's base salary.  

    6.3  CAUSE, WITHOUT SUFFICIENT REASON.  If Executive's employment shall be
terminated by the Company For Cause, or if Executive terminates employment
hereunder without Sufficient Reason, the Company shall pay Executive his base
salary and accrued benefits through the date of termination at the rate in
effect at the time of the notice of termination, and the Company shall
thereafter have no further obligations to Executive under this Agreement.

    6.4  WITHOUT CAUSE, SUFFICIENT REASON.  If (a) Executive shall terminate
Executive's employment with the Company or the New Company (as defined in
Section 6.5 of this Agreement) for Sufficient Reason under Section 5.1 of this
Agreement; or (b) the Company shall terminate Executive's employment Without
Cause, then upon Executive's furnishing to the Company (or the New Company, as
the case may be) an executed waiver and release of claims (a form of which is
attached hereto as Exhibit B), Executive shall be entitled to the following:

         6.4.1     Executive's base salary and accrued benefits through the
date of termination;


                                          5.



         6.4.2     Executive's annual base salary in effect at the time of
termination for a period of one year;

         6.4.3     Immediate vesting of all unvested stock options of the
Company held by Executive;

         6.4.4     Continued receipt for one year of all employee benefit plans
and programs in which the Executive and Executive's family were entitled to
participate immediately prior to the date of termination, provided that the
Executive's continued participation is possible under the general terms and
provisions of such plans and programs.  In the event that the Executive's
participation in any such plan or program is barred, the Company shall arrange
to provide the Executive with benefits substantially similar to those which the
Executive would otherwise have been entitled to receive under such plans and
programs from which his continued participation is barred.

         6.4.5     In the event that any payment or benefit received or to be
received by Executive pursuant to this Section 6.4 would result in all or a
portion of such payment to be subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the
Code, then the Executive's payment shall be either (i) the full payment or (ii)
such lesser amount which would result in no portion of the payment being subject
to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, whichever of the foregoing
amounts, taking into account the applicable Federal, state, and local employment
taxes, income taxes, and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code,
results in the receipt by Executive, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest
amount of the payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the payment
may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code.  All determinations required to
be made under this Section 6.4 shall be made by KPMG Peat Marwick or any other
nationally recognized accounting firm which is the Company's outside auditor at
the time of such determination, which firm must be reasonably acceptable to
Executive (the "Accounting Firm").  The Company shall cause the Accounting Firm
to provide detailed supporting calculations of its determinations to the Company
and Executive.  Notice must be given to the Accounting Firm within fifteen (15)
business days after an event entitling Executive to a payment under this
Agreement.  All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely
by the Company.  The Accounting Firm's determinations must be made with
substantial authority (within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code).

    6.5  CHANGE IN CONTROL.

         6.5.1     A "Change in Control" of the Company shall be deemed to have
occurred if and when:


                                          6.



              (i)  Any person or entity or group of persons and/or entities 
acting in concert shall acquire, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership 
of more than fifty-one percent (51%) of the outstanding shares of voting 
stock of the Company or other securities of the Company convertible (after 
giving effect to such conversion) into more than fifty-one percent (51%) of 
the outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company; or

             (ii)  The Company is a participant in a merger or consolidation in
which the Company does not survive as an independent company and shareholders of
the Company immediately prior to such transaction fail to retain at least fifty
percent (50%) of the voting power of the Company immediately following such
transaction; or

            (iii)  The business or businesses of the Company for which
Executive's services are principally performed are disposed of by the Company
pursuant to a partial or complete liquidation of the Company, a sale of assets
or otherwise; or 

             (iv)  During any period of two consecutive years during the term
of Executive's employment hereunder, individuals who at the beginning of such
period constitute the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority thereof, unless the election of each Director who was not a Director at
the beginning of such period has been approved in advance by Directors
representing at least two-thirds of the Directors then in office who were
Directors at the beginning of the period.

         6.5.2     If any of the above events occur, then for purposes of this
Agreement, the Company or the Company's successor will be considered the "New
Company."

         6.5.3     If within one hundred eighty (180) days following the
occurrence of a Change in Control, Executive's employment with the New Company
is terminated by the New Company for any reason whatsoever other than as
specified in Section 4.3, upon Executive's furnishing to the New Company an
executed waiver and release of claims (Exhibit B), Executive shall be entitled
to the compensation provided for in Section 6.4.

    All payments provided for in this Section 6 to be made to Executive shall
be made in one lump sum within thirty (30) calendar days of Executive's date of
termination unless otherwise directed by Executive.


                                          7.



7.  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; EXECUTIVE'S DUTIES UPON TERMINATION.

    7.1  Executive recognizes that his employment with the Company will involve
contact with information of substantial value to the Company, which is not old
and generally known in the trade, and which gives the Company an advantage over
its competitors who do not know or use it, including but not limited to,
techniques, formulations, products, processes, inventions, developments,
methods, clinical data, improvements, plans for research, prototypes, sales and
customer information, and business and financial information relating to the
business, products, practices and techniques of the Company, (hereinafter
referred to as "Confidential Information").  Executive will at all times regard
and preserve as confidential such Confidential Information obtained by Executive
from whatever source and will not, either during his employment with the Company
or thereafter, publish or disclose any part of such Confidential Information in
any manner at any time, or use the same except on behalf of the Company, without
the prior written consent of the Company.  Executive has signed and will
continue to be bound by the Company's "Employment Agreement," attached as
Exhibit C.

8.  ASSIGNMENT AND BINDING EFFECT.

    8.1  This Agreement, including Exhibits A, B and C, shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of Executive and Executive's heirs, executors, personal
representatives, assigns, administrators and legal representatives.  Because of
the unique and personal nature of Executive's duties under this Agreement,
neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations under this Agreement shall
be assignable by Executive.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the Company and its successors, assigns and legal
representatives.

9.  NOTICES.

    9.1  All notices or demands of any kind required or permitted to be given
by the Company or Executive under this Agreement shall be given in writing and
shall be personally delivered (and receipted for) or mailed by certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

         9.1.1     If to the Company:

                   Randall E. Woods
                   President and Chief Executive Officer 
                   Corvas International, Inc.
                   3030 Science Park Road
                   San Diego, California


                                          8.



         9.1.2     If to Executive:

                   John E. Crawford
                   2547 Caminito La Paz
                   La Jolla, California 92037

Any such written notice shall be deemed received when personally delivered or
three (3) days after its deposit in the United States mail as specified above. 
Either Party may change its address for notices by giving notice to the other
Party in the manner specified in this section.

10. CHOICE OF LAW.

    10.1 This Agreement is made in San Diego, California.  This Agreement shall
be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
California.

11. INTEGRATION.

    11.1 This Agreement contains the complete, final and exclusive agreement of
the Parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersedes all
prior oral and written employment agreements or arrangements between the
Parties.

12. AMENDMENT.

    12.1 This Agreement cannot be amended or modified except by a written
agreement signed by Executive and the Company.

13. WAIVER.

    13.1 No term, covenant or condition of this Agreement or any breach thereof
shall be deemed waived, except with the written consent of the Party against
whom the wavier in claimed, and any waiver or any such term, covenant, condition
or breach shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding or succeeding
breach of the same or any other term, covenant, condition or breach.

14. SEVERABILITY.

    14.1 The finding by a court of competent jurisdiction of the
unenforceability, invalidity or illegality of any provision of this Agreement
shall not render any other provision of this Agreement unenforceable, invalid or
illegal.  Such court shall have the authority to modify or replace the invalid
or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or
provision which most accurately represents the parties' intention with respect
to the invalid or unenforceable term or provision.


                                          9.



15. INTERPRETATION; CONSTRUCTION.

    15.1 The headings set forth in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not be used in interpreting this Agreement.  This
Agreement has been drafted by legal counsel representing the Company, but
Executive has been encouraged, and has consulted with, his own independent
counsel and tax advisors with respect to the terms of this Agreement.  The
Parties acknowledge that each Party and its counsel has reviewed and revised, or
had an opportunity to review and revise, this Agreement, and the normal rule of
construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the
drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement.

16. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

    16.1 Executive represents and warrants that he is not restricted or
prohibited, contractually or otherwise, from entering into and performing each
of the terms and covenants contained in this Agreement, and that his execution
and performance of this Agreement will not violate or breach any other
agreements between Executive and any other person or entity.

17. COUNTERPARTS.

    17.1 This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, all of which together shall contribute one and the
same instrument.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.

                                  The Company:
    
                                  CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                  a Delaware Corporation


                                  By:/S/ RANDALL E. WOODS     
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                         Randall E. Woods
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer
    
                                  Date: March 18, 1997
                                        --------------------------------------


                                         10.



                                  EXECUTIVE:


                                  /S/ JOHN E. CRAWFORD
                                  --------------------------------------------
                                  John E. Crawford
    
                                  Date: March 18, 1997
                                        --------------------------------------


Exhibit A:    Employee Benefits Summary
Exhibit B:    Waiver and Release Agreement
Exhibit C:    Employment Agreement


                                         11.

EX-10.54

                                 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                                    BY AND BETWEEN


                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                         AND

                               WILLIAM C. RIPKA, PH.D.

                                           
                                DATED:  MARCH 18, 1997




                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE


1.  EMPLOYMENT.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

2.  LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS PERFORMANCE; NONCOMPETITION. . . . . . . . . . . 2

3.  COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

4.  TERMINATION BY COMPANY.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

5.  TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

6.  COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

7.  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; EXECUTIVE'S DUTIES UPON TERMINATION. . . . . . 7

8.  ASSIGNMENT AND BINDING EFFECT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

9.  NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

10. CHOICE OF LAW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

11. INTEGRATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

12. AMENDMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

13. WAIVER.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

14. SEVERABILITY.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

15. INTERPRETATION; CONSTRUCTION.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

16. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

17. COUNTERPARTS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10


                                          i.



                                 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT



    THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into
effective as of March 18, 1997, by and between CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and WILLIAM C. RIPKA, PH.D. ("Executive").
The Company and Executive are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Parties," and individually referred to as a "Party."

                                       RECITALS

    A.   The Company desires assurance of the association and services of
Executive in order to retain Executive's experience, skills, abilities,
background and knowledge, and is willing to engage Executive's services on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

    B.   Executive desires to be in the employ of the Company, and is willing
to accept such employment on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.

                                      AGREEMENT

    Now, therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants set
forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the Parties agree
as follows:

1.  EMPLOYMENT.

    1.1  The Company hereby employs Executive, and Executive hereby accepts
employment by the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, effective as of the date first set forth above ("Effective Date").

    1.2  Executive shall be the Senior Vice President Chemical Research of the
Company and shall serve in such other capacity or capacities as the President or
the Company may from time to time prescribe.

    1.3  Executive shall do and perform all services, acts or things necessary
or advisable to manage and conduct the business of his department, provided,
however, that at all times during his employment Executive shall be subject to
the direction and policies from time to time established by the President of the
Company.


                                          1.



    1.4  Unless the Parties otherwise agree in writing, during the term of this
Agreement, Executive shall perform the services he is required to perform
pursuant to this Agreement at the Company's offices, located at 3030 Science
Park Road, San Diego, California, or at any other place at which the Company
maintains an office; provided, however, that the Company may from time to time
require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations in connection with
the Company's business.

2.  LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS PERFORMANCE; NONCOMPETITION.

    2.1  During his employment by the Company, Executive shall devote his full
business energies, interest, abilities and productive time to the proper and
efficient performance of his duties under this Agreement.

    2.2  During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall not engage in
competition with the Company, either directly or indirectly, in any manner or
capacity, as adviser, principal, agent, partner, officer, director, employee,
member of any association or otherwise, in any phase of the business of
developing, manufacturing and marketing medical products which are in the same
field of use or which otherwise compete with the products or proposed products
of the Company.

         2.2.1     Ownership by Executive, as a passive investment, of less
than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any
corporation with one or more classes of its capital stock listed on a national
securities exchange or publicly traded in the over-the-counter market shall not
constitute a breach of this paragraph.

3.  COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE.

    3.1  While employed by the Company, the Company shall pay Executive a
salary (the "Base Salary") of $175,000 per year, payable in regular periodic
payments in accordance with Company policy.  Such salary shall be prorated for
any partial year of employment on the basis of a 365-day fiscal year.

    3.2  Executive's compensation may be changed from time to time by mutual
agreement of Executive and the President or Board of Directors of the Company
("Board").

    3.3  Executive's performance shall be reviewed by the President or Board on
a periodic basis (but not less than once in each fiscal year during the term of
this Agreement).  As part of such review, the President and the Board, at their
sole discretion, shall consider appropriate adjustments to Executive's base
salary, grant of stock options and the potential for performance based bonuses.


                                          2.



    3.4  All of Executive's compensation shall be subject to customary
withholding taxes and any other employment taxes as are commonly required to be
collected or withheld by the Company.

    3.5  Executive shall, in accordance with Company policy, be eligible to
participate in the benefits described in The Employee Benefits Summary, attached
as Exhibit A. 

4.  TERMINATION BY COMPANY.  Executive's employment with the Company may be
terminated by the Company under the following conditions:

    4.1  DEATH.  Upon Executive's death, in which case termination shall be
effective on the last day of the month in which Executive's death occurs.

    4.2  DISABILITY.  If Executive becomes completely disabled due to physical
or mental illness as defined under Section 4.2.1, or if Executive shall be
absent from duties on a full-time basis due to illness for six consecutive
months, and shall not have returned to the performance of duties within ten (10)
days after receiving written notice of termination following such six-month
period.

         4.2.1     The term "completely disabled" as used in this Agreement
shall mean the inability of Executive to perform the essential functions of his
position under this Agreement by reason of any incapacity, physical or mental,
which the Board, based upon medical advice or an opinion provided by a licensed
physician acceptable to the Board and approved by the Executive, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld, determines to have incapacitated Executive
from satisfactorily performing any or all essential functions of his position
for the Company during the foreseeable future.  Based upon such medical advice
or opinion, the determination of the Board shall be final and binding and the
date such determination is made shall be the date of such complete disability
for purposes of this Agreement.

    4.3  FOR CAUSE.  The Company may terminate Executive's employment under
this Agreement "for cause" ("For Cause") by delivery of written notice to
Executive specifying the cause or causes relied upon for such termination.  Any
notice of termination given pursuant to this Section 4.3 shall effect
termination as of the date specified in such notice or, in the event no such
date is specified, on the last day of the month in which such notice is
delivered or deemed delivered as provided in Section 9 below.  Grounds for the
Company to terminate this Agreement For Cause shall be limited to the occurrence
of any of the following events:


                                          3.



         4.3.1     Executive is in material breach of any provision of this
Agreement;

         4.3.2     Executive's engaging or in any manner participating in any
activity which is directly competitive with or intentionally injurious to the
Company or which violates any provision of Section 7 of this Agreement;

         4.3.3     Executive's commission of any fraud against the Company; 

         4.3.4     Executive's intentional improper use or appropriation for
his personal use or benefit of any funds or properties of the Company not
authorized by the Board to be so used or appropriated; and

         4.3.5     Executive's conviction of any crime involving dishonesty or
moral turpitude.

    4.4  WITHOUT CAUSE.  The Company may terminate the Executive's employment
without cause ("Without Cause") upon delivery of written notice to the Executive
at any time.  Any notice of termination given pursuant to this Section 4.4 shall
effect termination as of the date specified in such notice or, in the event no
such date is specified, on the last day of the month in which such notice is
delivered or deemed deliverable as provided in Section 9 below. 

5.  TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE.  Executive may terminate Executive's employment
with the Company (a) for Sufficient Reason (as defined below in Section 5.1)
within one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days following the occurrence of an
event or events constituting such Sufficient Reason; or (b) without Sufficient
Reason.

    5.1  "Sufficient Reason" shall mean any one or more of the following
events:

         5.1.1     The occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as
defined below in Section 6.5);

         5.1.2     The failure by the Company to comply with any material
provision of this Agreement and such failure has continued for a period of
thirty (30) days after notice of such failure has been given by Executive to the
Company;

6.  COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION.

    6.1  DEATH.  If Executive's employment shall be terminated by death, the
Company shall pay to Executive's designee(s), beneficiary(ies), or if there is
no such designee or beneficiary, to Executive's estate, an amount equal to three
(3) months of Executive's base salary.


                                          4.



    6.2  DISABILITY.  If Executive is terminated due to disability as provided
in Section 4.2, the Company shall pay to Executive an amount equal to three (3)
months of Executive's base salary.  

    6.3  CAUSE, WITHOUT SUFFICIENT REASON.  If Executive's employment shall be
terminated by the Company For Cause, or if Executive terminates employment
hereunder without Sufficient Reason, the Company shall pay Executive his base
salary and accrued benefits through the date of termination at the rate in
effect at the time of the notice of termination, and the Company shall
thereafter have no further obligations to Executive under this Agreement.

    6.4  WITHOUT CAUSE, SUFFICIENT REASON.  If (a) Executive shall terminate
Executive's employment with the Company or the New Company (as defined in
Section 6.5 of this Agreement) for Sufficient Reason under Section 5.1 of this
Agreement; or (b) the Company shall terminate Executive's employment Without
Cause, then upon Executive's furnishing to the Company (or the New Company, as
the case may be) an executed waiver and release of claims (a form of which is
attached hereto as Exhibit B), Executive shall be entitled to the following:

         6.4.1     Executive's base salary and accrued benefits through the
date of termination;

         6.4.2     Executive's annual base salary in effect at the time of
termination for a period of one year;

         6.4.3     Immediate vesting of all unvested stock options of the
Company held by Executive;

         6.4.4     Continued receipt for one year of all employee benefit plans
and programs in which the Executive and Executive's family were entitled to
participate immediately prior to the date of termination, provided that the
Executive's continued participation is possible under the general terms and
provisions of such plans and programs.  In the event that the Executive's
participation in any such plan or program is barred, the Company shall arrange
to provide the Executive with benefits substantially similar to those which the
Executive would otherwise have been entitled to receive under such plans and
programs from which his continued participation is barred.

         6.4.5     In the event that any payment or benefit received or to be
received by Executive pursuant to this Section 6.4 would result in all or a
portion of such payment to be subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the
Code, then the Executive's payment shall be either (i) the full payment or (ii)
such lesser amount which would result in no portion of the payment being subject
to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code,


                                          5.



whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable Federal,
state, and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the excise tax imposed by
Section 4999 of the Code, results in the receipt by Executive, on an after-tax
basis, of the greatest amount of the payment notwithstanding that all or some
portion of the payment may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code.  All
determinations required to be made under this Section 6.4 shall be made by KPMG
Peat Marwick or any other nationally recognized accounting firm which is the
Company's outside auditor at the time of such determination, which firm must be
reasonably acceptable to Executive (the "Accounting Firm").  The Company shall
cause the Accounting Firm to provide detailed supporting calculations of its
determinations to the Company and Executive.  Notice must be given to the
Accounting Firm within fifteen (15) business days after an event entitling
Executive to a payment under this Agreement.  All fees and expenses of the
Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company.  The Accounting Firm's
determinations must be made with substantial authority (within the meaning of
Section 6662 of the Code).

    6.5  CHANGE IN CONTROL.

         6.5.1     A "Change in Control" of the Company shall be deemed to have
occurred if and when:

              (i)  Any person or entity or group of persons and/or entities 
acting in concert shall acquire, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership 
of more than fifty-one percent (51%) of the outstanding shares of voting 
stock of the Company or other securities of the Company convertible (after 
giving effect to such conversion) into more than fifty-one percent (51%) of 
the outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company; or

             (ii)  The Company is a participant in a merger or consolidation in
which the Company does not survive as an independent company and shareholders of
the Company immediately prior to such transaction fail to retain at least fifty
percent (50%) of the voting power of the Company immediately following such
transaction; or

            (iii)  The business or businesses of the Company for which
Executive's services are principally performed are disposed of by the Company
pursuant to a partial or complete liquidation of the Company, a sale of assets
or otherwise; or 

             (iv)  During any period of two consecutive years during the term
of Executive's employment hereunder, individuals who at the beginning of such
period constitute the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority thereof, unless the election of each Director who was not a Director at
the beginning of such


                                          6.



period has been approved in advance by Directors representing at least two-
thirds of the Directors then in office who were Directors at the beginning of
the period.

         6.5.2     If any of the above events occur, then for purposes of this
Agreement, the Company or the Company's successor will be considered the "New
Company."

         6.5.3     If within one hundred eighty (180) days following the
occurrence of a Change in Control, Executive's employment with the New Company
is terminated by the New Company for any reason whatsoever other than as
specified in Section 4.3, upon Executive's furnishing to the New Company an
executed waiver and release of claims (Exhibit B), Executive shall be entitled
to the compensation provided for in Section 6.4.  

    All payments provided for in this Section 6 to be made to Executive shall
be made in one lump sum within thirty (30) calendar days of Executive's date of
termination unless otherwise directed by Executive.

7.  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; EXECUTIVE'S DUTIES UPON TERMINATION.

    7.1  Executive recognizes that his employment with the Company will involve
contact with information of substantial value to the Company, which is not old
and generally known in the trade, and which gives the Company an advantage over
its competitors who do not know or use it, including but not limited to,
techniques, formulations, products, processes, inventions, developments,
methods, clinical data, improvements, plans for research, prototypes, sales and
customer information, and business and financial information relating to the
business, products, practices and techniques of the Company, (hereinafter
referred to as "Confidential Information").  Executive will at all times regard
and preserve as confidential such Confidential Information obtained by Executive
from whatever source and will not, either during his employment with the Company
or thereafter, publish or disclose any part of such Confidential Information in
any manner at any time, or use the same except on behalf of the Company, without
the prior written consent of the Company.  Executive has signed and will
continue to be bound by the Company's "Employment Agreement," attached as
Exhibit C.

8.  ASSIGNMENT AND BINDING EFFECT.

    8.1  This Agreement, including Exhibits A, B and C, shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of Executive and Executive's heirs, executors, personal
representatives, assigns, administrators and legal representatives.  Because of
the unique and personal nature of Executive's duties under this Agreement,
neither this


                                          7.



Agreement nor any rights or obligations under this Agreement shall be assignable
by Executive.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the Company and its successors, assigns and legal representatives.

9.  NOTICES.

    9.1  All notices or demands of any kind required or permitted to be given
by the Company or Executive under this Agreement shall be given in writing and
shall be personally delivered (and receipted for) or mailed by certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

         9.1.1     If to the Company:

                   Randall E. Woods
                   President and Chief Executive Officer 
                   Corvas International, Inc.
                   3030 Science Park Road
                   San Diego, California

         9.1.2     If to Executive:

                   William C. Ripka, Ph.D.
                   10819 Red Rock Drive
                   San Diego, CA  92131
                   
Any such written notice shall be deemed received when personally delivered or
three (3) days after its deposit in the United States mail as specified above. 
Either Party may change its address for notices by giving notice to the other
Party in the manner specified in this section.

10. CHOICE OF LAW.

    10.1 This Agreement is made in San Diego, California.  This Agreement shall
be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
California.


                                          8.



11. INTEGRATION.

    11.1 This Agreement contains the complete, final and exclusive agreement of
the Parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersedes all
prior oral and written employment agreements or arrangements between the
Parties.

12. AMENDMENT.

    12.1 This Agreement cannot be amended or modified except by a written
agreement signed by Executive and the Company.

13. WAIVER.

    13.1 No term, covenant or condition of this Agreement or any breach thereof
shall be deemed waived, except with the written consent of the Party against
whom the wavier in claimed, and any waiver or any such term, covenant, condition
or breach shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding or succeeding
breach of the same or any other term, covenant, condition or breach.

14. SEVERABILITY.

    14.1 The finding by a court of competent jurisdiction of the
unenforceability, invalidity or illegality of any provision of this Agreement
shall not render any other provision of this Agreement unenforceable, invalid or
illegal.  Such court shall have the authority to modify or replace the invalid
or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or
provision which most accurately represents the parties' intention with respect
to the invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

15. INTERPRETATION; CONSTRUCTION.

    15.1 The headings set forth in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not be used in interpreting this Agreement.  This
Agreement has been drafted by legal counsel representing the Company, but
Executive has been encouraged, and has consulted with, his own independent
counsel and tax advisors with respect to the terms of this Agreement.  The
Parties acknowledge that each Party and its counsel has reviewed and revised, or
had an opportunity to review and revise, this Agreement, and the normal rule of
construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the
drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement.


                                          9.



16. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

    16.1 Executive represents and warrants that he is not restricted or
prohibited, contractually or otherwise, from entering into and performing each
of the terms and covenants contained in this Agreement, and that his execution
and performance of this Agreement will not violate or breach any other
agreements between Executive and any other person or entity.

17. COUNTERPARTS.

    17.1 This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, all of which together shall contribute one and the
same instrument.


                                         10.



    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.

                                  The Company:
    
                                  CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                  a Delaware Corporation
    
    
                                  By:/S/ RANDALL E. WOODS     
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                         Randall E. Woods
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer
    
                                  Date: March 18, 1997
                                        --------------------------------------

                                  EXECUTIVE:
    
    
                                  /S/ WILLIAM C. RIPKA                         
                                  --------------------------------------------
                                  William C. Ripka, Ph.D.
    
                                  Date: March 18, 1997
                                        --------------------------------------


Exhibit A:    Employee Benefits Summary
Exhibit B:    Waiver and Release Agreement
Exhibit C:    Employment Agreement


                                         11.

EX-10.55

                                 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                                    BY AND BETWEEN


                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                         AND

                               GEORGE P. VLASUK, PH.D.


                                DATED:  MARCH 18, 1997



                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE


1.  EMPLOYMENT.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

2.  LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS PERFORMANCE; NONCOMPETITION. . . . . . . . . . . 2

3.  COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

4.  TERMINATION BY COMPANY.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

5.  TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
    
6.  COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

7.  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; EXECUTIVE'S DUTIES UPON TERMINATION. . . . . . 7

8.  ASSIGNMENT AND BINDING EFFECT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

9.  NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

10. CHOICE OF LAW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

11. INTEGRATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

12. AMENDMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

13. WAIVER.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

14. SEVERABILITY.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

15. INTERPRETATION; CONSTRUCTION.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

16. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

17. COUNTERPARTS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10


                                          i.



                                 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT



    THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into
effective as of March 18, 1997, by and between CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and GEORGE P. VLASUK, PH.D.,
("Executive").  The Company and Executive are hereinafter collectively referred
to as the "Parties," and individually referred to as a "Party."

                                       RECITALS

    A.   The Company desires assurance of the association and services of
Executive in order to retain Executive's experience, skills, abilities,
background and knowledge, and is willing to engage Executive's services on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

    B.   Executive desires to be in the employ of the Company, and is willing
to accept such employment on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.

                                      AGREEMENT

    Now, therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants set
forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the Parties agree
as follows:

1.  EMPLOYMENT.

    1.1  The Company hereby employs Executive, and Executive hereby accepts
employment by the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, effective as of the date first set forth above ("Effective Date").

    1.2  Executive shall be the Executive Vice-President Research and
Development of the Company and shall serve in such other capacity or capacities
as the President or the Company may from time to time prescribe.

    1.3  Executive shall do and perform all services, acts or things necessary
or advisable to manage and conduct the business of his department, provided,
however, that at all times during his employment Executive shall be subject to
the direction and policies from time to time established by the President of the
Company.  Executive's duties shall include, but not be limited to, providing
strong leadership for the Company's scientific operations and the development of
new products and technology.


                                          1.



    1.4  Unless the Parties otherwise agree in writing, during the term of this
Agreement, Executive shall perform the services he is required to perform
pursuant to this Agreement at the Company's offices, located at 3030 Science
Park Road, San Diego, California, or at any other place at which the Company
maintains an office; provided, however, that the Company may from time to time
require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations in connection with
the Company's business.

2.  LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS PERFORMANCE; NONCOMPETITION.

    2.1  During his employment by the Company, Executive shall devote his full
business energies, interest, abilities and productive time to the proper and
efficient performance of his duties under this Agreement.

    2.2  During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall not engage in
competition with the Company, either directly or indirectly, in any manner or
capacity, as adviser, principal, agent, partner, officer, director, employee,
member of any association or otherwise, in any phase of the business of
developing, manufacturing and marketing medical products which are in the same
field of use or which otherwise compete with the products or proposed products
of the Company.

         2.2.1     Ownership by Executive, as a passive investment, of less
than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any
corporation with one or more classes of its capital stock listed on a national
securities exchange or publicly traded in the over-the-counter market shall not
constitute a breach of this paragraph.

3.  COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE.

    3.1  While employed by the Company, the Company shall pay Executive a
salary (the "Base Salary") of $200,000 per year, payable in regular periodic
payments in accordance with Company policy.  Such salary shall be prorated for
any partial year of employment on the basis of a 365-day fiscal year.

    3.2  Executive's compensation may be changed from time to time by mutual
agreement of Executive and the President or Board of Directors of the Company
("Board").

    3.3  Executive's performance shall be reviewed by the President or Board on
a periodic basis (but not less than once in each fiscal year during the term of
this Agreement).  As part of such review, the President and the Board, at their
sole discretion, shall consider appropriate adjustments to Executive's base
salary, grant of stock options and the potential for performance based bonuses.


                                          2.



    3.4  All of Executive's compensation shall be subject to customary
withholding taxes and any other employment taxes as are commonly required to be
collected or withheld by the Company.

    3.5  Executive shall, in accordance with Company policy, be eligible to
participate in the benefits described in The Employee Benefits Summary, attached
as Exhibit A. 

4.  TERMINATION BY COMPANY.  Executive's employment with the Company may be
terminated by the Company under the following conditions:

    4.1  DEATH.  Upon Executive's death, in which case termination shall be
effective on the last day of the month in which Executive's death occurs.

    4.2  DISABILITY.  If Executive becomes completely disabled due to physical
or mental illness as defined under Section 4.2.1, or if Executive shall be
absent from duties on a full-time basis due to illness for six consecutive
months, and shall not have returned to the performance of duties within ten (10)
days after receiving written notice of termination following such six-month
period.

         4.2.1     The term "completely disabled" as used in this Agreement
shall mean the inability of Executive to perform the essential functions of his
position under this Agreement by reason of any incapacity, physical or mental,
which the Board, based upon medical advice or an opinion provided by a licensed
physician acceptable to the Board and approved by the Executive, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld, determines to have incapacitated Executive
from satisfactorily performing any or all essential functions of his position
for the Company during the foreseeable future.  Based upon such medical advice
or opinion, the determination of the Board shall be final and binding and the
date such determination is made shall be the date of such complete disability
for purposes of this Agreement.

    4.3  FOR CAUSE.  The Company may terminate Executive's employment under
this Agreement "for cause" ("For Cause") by delivery of written notice to
Executive specifying the cause or causes relied upon for such termination.  Any
notice of termination given pursuant to this Section 4.3 shall effect
termination as of the date specified in such notice or, in the event no such
date is specified, on the last day of the month in which such notice is
delivered or deemed delivered as provided in Section 9 below.  Grounds for the
Company to terminate this Agreement For Cause shall be limited to the occurrence
of any of the following events:


                                          3.



         4.3.1     Executive is in material breach of any provision of this
Agreement;

         4.3.2     Executive's engaging or in any manner participating in any
activity which is directly competitive with or intentionally injurious to the
Company or which violates any provision of Section 7 of this Agreement;

         4.3.3     Executive's commission of any fraud against the Company; 

         4.3.4     Executive's intentional improper use or appropriation for
his personal use or benefit of any funds or properties of the Company not
authorized by the Board to be so used or appropriated; and

         4.3.5     Executive's conviction of any crime involving dishonesty or
moral turpitude.

    4.4  WITHOUT CAUSE.  The Company may terminate the Executive's employment
without cause ("Without Cause") upon delivery of written notice to the Executive
at any time.  Any notice of termination given pursuant to this Section 4.4 shall
effect termination as of the date specified in such notice or, in the event no
such date is specified, on the last day of the month in which such notice is
delivered or deemed deliverable as provided in Section 9 below. 

5.  TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE.  Executive may terminate Executive's employment
with the Company (a) for Sufficient Reason (as defined below in Section 5.1)
within one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days following the occurrence of an
event or events constituting such Sufficient Reason; or (b) without Sufficient
Reason.

    5.1  "Sufficient Reason" shall mean any one or more of the following
events:

         5.1.1     The occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as
defined below in Section 6.5);

         5.1.2     The failure by the Company to comply with any material
provision of this Agreement and such failure has continued for a period of
thirty (30) days after notice of such failure has been given by Executive to the
Company;

6.  COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION.

    6.1  DEATH.  If Executive's employment shall be terminated by death, the
Company shall pay to Executive's designee(s), beneficiary(ies), or if there is
no such designee or beneficiary, to Executive's estate, an amount equal to three
(3) months of Executive's base salary.


                                          4.



    6.2  DISABILITY.  If Executive is terminated due to disability as provided
in Section 4.2, the Company shall pay to Executive an amount equal to three (3)
months of Executive's base salary.  

    6.3  CAUSE, WITHOUT SUFFICIENT REASON.  If Executive's employment shall be
terminated by the Company For Cause, or if Executive terminates employment
hereunder without Sufficient Reason, the Company shall pay Executive his base
salary and accrued benefits through the date of termination at the rate in
effect at the time of the notice of termination, and the Company shall
thereafter have no further obligations to Executive under this Agreement.

    6.4  WITHOUT CAUSE, SUFFICIENT REASON.  If (a) Executive shall terminate
Executive's employment with the Company or the New Company (as defined in
Section 6.5 of this Agreement) for Sufficient Reason under Section 5.1 of this
Agreement; or (b) the Company shall terminate Executive's employment Without
Cause, then upon Executive's furnishing to the Company (or the New Company, as
the case may be) an executed waiver and release of claims (a form of which is
attached hereto as Exhibit B), Executive shall be entitled to the following:

         6.4.1     Executive's base salary and accrued benefits through the
date of termination;

         6.4.2     Executive's annual base salary in effect at the time of
termination for a period of one year;

         6.4.3     Immediate vesting of all unvested stock options of the
Company held by Executive;

         6.4.4     Continued receipt for one year of all employee benefit plans
and programs in which the Executive and Executive's family were entitled to
participate immediately prior to the date of termination, provided that the
Executive's continued participation is possible under the general terms and
provisions of such plans and programs.  In the event that the Executive's
participation in any such plan or program is barred, the Company shall arrange
to provide the Executive with benefits substantially similar to those which the
Executive would otherwise have been entitled to receive under such plans and
programs from which his continued participation is barred.

         6.4.5     In the event that any payment or benefit received or to be
received by Executive pursuant to this Section 6.4 would result in all or a
portion of such payment to be subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the
Code, then the Executive's payment shall be either (i) the full payment or (ii)
such lesser amount which would result in no portion of the payment being subject
to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code,


                                          5.



whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable Federal,
state, and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the excise tax imposed by
Section 4999 of the Code, results in the receipt by Executive, on an after-tax
basis, of the greatest amount of the payment notwithstanding that all or some
portion of the payment may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code.  All
determinations required to be made under this Section 6.4 shall be made by KPMG
Peat Marwick or any other nationally recognized accounting firm which is the
Company's outside auditor at the time of such determination, which firm must be
reasonably acceptable to Executive (the "Accounting Firm").  The Company shall
cause the Accounting Firm to provide detailed supporting calculations of its
determinations to the Company and Executive.  Notice must be given to the
Accounting Firm within fifteen (15) business days after an event entitling
Executive to a payment under this Agreement.  All fees and expenses of the
Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company.  The Accounting Firm's
determinations must be made with substantial authority (within the meaning of
Section 6662 of the Code).

    6.5  CHANGE IN CONTROL.

         6.5.1     A "Change in Control" of the Company shall be deemed to have
occurred if and when:

              (i)  Any person or entity or group of persons and/or entities 
acting in concert shall acquire, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership 
of more than fifty-one percent (51%) of the outstanding shares of voting 
stock of the Company or other securities of the Company convertible (after 
giving effect to such conversion) into more than fifty-one percent (51%) of 
the outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company; or

             (ii)  The Company is a participant in a merger or consolidation in
which the Company does not survive as an independent company and shareholders of
the Company immediately prior to such transaction fail to retain at least fifty
percent (50%) of the voting power of the Company immediately following such
transaction; or

            (iii)  The business or businesses of the Company for which
Executive's services are principally performed are disposed of by the Company
pursuant to a partial or complete liquidation of the Company, a sale of assets
or otherwise; or

             (iv)  During any period of two consecutive years during the term
of Executive's employment hereunder, individuals who at the beginning of such
period constitute the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority thereof, unless the election of each Director who was not a Director at
the beginning of such


                                          6.



period has been approved in advance by Directors representing at least two-
thirds of the Directors then in office who were Directors at the beginning of
the period.

         6.5.2     If any of the above events occur, then for purposes of this
Agreement, the Company or the Company's successor will be considered the "New
Company."

         6.5.3     If within one hundred eighty (180) days following the
occurrence of a Change in Control, Executive's employment with the New Company
is terminated by the New Company for any reason whatsoever other than as
specified in Section 4.3, upon Executive's furnishing to the New Company an
executed waiver and release of claims (Exhibit B), Executive shall be entitled
to the compensation provided for in Section 6.4.

    All payments provided for in this Section 6 to be made to Executive shall
be made in one lump sum within thirty (30) calendar days of Executive's date of
termination unless otherwise directed by Executive.

7.  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; EXECUTIVE'S DUTIES UPON TERMINATION.

    7.1  Executive recognizes that his employment with the Company will involve
contact with information of substantial value to the Company, which is not old
and generally known in the trade, and which gives the Company an advantage over
its competitors who do not know or use it, including but not limited to,
techniques, formulations, products, processes, inventions, developments,
methods, clinical data, improvements, plans for research, prototypes, sales and
customer information, and business and financial information relating to the
business, products, practices and techniques of the Company, (hereinafter
referred to as "Confidential Information").  Executive will at all times regard
and preserve as confidential such Confidential Information obtained by Executive
from whatever source and will not, either during his employment with the Company
or thereafter, publish or disclose any part of such Confidential Information in
any manner at any time, or use the same except on behalf of the Company, without
the prior written consent of the Company.  Executive has signed and will
continue to be bound by the Company's "Employment Agreement," attached as
Exhibit C.

8.  ASSIGNMENT AND BINDING EFFECT.

    8.1  This Agreement, including Exhibits A, B and C, shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of Executive and Executive's heirs, executors, personal
representatives, assigns, administrators and legal representatives.  Because of
the unique and personal nature of Executive's duties under this Agreement,
neither this


                                          7.



Agreement nor any rights or obligations under this Agreement shall be assignable
by Executive.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the Company and its successors, assigns and legal representatives.

9.  NOTICES.

    9.1  All notices or demands of any kind required or permitted to be given
by the Company or Executive under this Agreement shall be given in writing and
shall be personally delivered (and receipted for) or mailed by certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

          9.1.1    If to the Company:
                   Randall E. Woods
                   President and Chief Executive Officer 
                   Corvas International, Inc.
                   3030 Science Park Road
                   San Diego, California

          9.1.2    If to Executive:
                   George Vlasuk, Ph.D.
                   3024 Garboso Street
                   Carlsbad, CA  92009

Any such written notice shall be deemed received when personally delivered or
three (3) days after its deposit in the United States mail as specified above. 
Either Party may change its address for notices by giving notice to the other
Party in the manner specified in this section.

10. CHOICE OF LAW.

    10.1 This Agreement is made in San Diego, California.  This Agreement shall
be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
California.


                                          8.



11. INTEGRATION.

    11.1 This Agreement contains the complete, final and exclusive agreement of
the Parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersedes all
prior oral and written employment agreements or arrangements between the
Parties.

12. AMENDMENT.

    12.1 This Agreement cannot be amended or modified except by a written
agreement signed by Executive and the Company.

13. WAIVER.

    13.1 No term, covenant or condition of this Agreement or any breach thereof
shall be deemed waived, except with the written consent of the Party against
whom the wavier in claimed, and any waiver or any such term, covenant, condition
or breach shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding or succeeding
breach of the same or any other term, covenant, condition or breach.

14. SEVERABILITY.

    14.1 The finding by a court of competent jurisdiction of the
unenforceability, invalidity or illegality of any provision of this Agreement
shall not render any other provision of this Agreement unenforceable, invalid or
illegal.  Such court shall have the authority to modify or replace the invalid
or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or
provision which most accurately represents the parties' intention with respect
to the invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

15. INTERPRETATION; CONSTRUCTION.

    15.1 The headings set forth in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not be used in interpreting this Agreement.  This
Agreement has been drafted by legal counsel representing the Company, but
Executive has been encouraged, and has consulted with, his own independent
counsel and tax advisors with respect to the terms of this Agreement.  The
Parties acknowledge that each Party and its counsel has reviewed and revised, or
had an opportunity to review and revise, this Agreement, and the normal rule of
construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the
drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement.


                                          9.



16. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

    16.1 Executive represents and warrants that he is not restricted or
prohibited, contractually or otherwise, from entering into and performing each
of the terms and covenants contained in this Agreement, and that his execution
and performance of this Agreement will not violate or breach any other
agreements between Executive and any other person or entity.

17. COUNTERPARTS.

    17.1 This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, all of which together shall contribute one and the
same instrument.


                                         10.



    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.

                                  The Company:
    
                                  CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                  a Delaware Corporation
    
    
                                  By:/S/ RANDALL E. WOODS     
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                         Randall E. Woods
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer
    
                                  Date: March 18, 1997
                                        --------------------------------------

                                  EXECUTIVE:
    
    
                                  /S/ GEORGE P. VLASUK
                                  --------------------------------------------
                                  George P. Vlasuk, Ph.D.
    
                                  Date: March 18, 1997
                                        --------------------------------------

Exhibit A:    Employee Benefits Summary
Exhibit B:    Waiver and Release Agreement
Exhibit C:    Employment Agreement


                                         11.

EX-10.56

                                 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                                    BY AND BETWEEN


                              CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                         AND

                                   RANDALL E. WOODS


                                DATED: MARCH 18, 1997



                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE


1.  EMPLOYMENT.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

2.  LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS PERFORMANCE; NONCOMPETITION. . . . . . . . . . . 2

3.  COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

4.  TERMINATION BY COMPANY.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

5.  TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

6.  COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

7.  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; EXECUTIVE'S DUTIES UPON TERMINATION. . . . . . 7

8.  ASSIGNMENT AND BINDING EFFECT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

9.  NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

10. CHOICE OF LAW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

11. INTEGRATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

12. AMENDMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

13. WAIVER.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

14. SEVERABILITY.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

15. INTERPRETATION; CONSTRUCTION.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

16. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

17. COUNTERPARTS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10


                                          i.



                                 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT



    THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into
effective as of March 18, 1997, by and between CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and RANDALL E. WOODS, ("Executive").  The
Company and Executive are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties,"
and individually referred to as a "Party."

                                       RECITALS

    A.   The Company desires assurance of the association and services of
Executive in order to retain Executive's experience, skills, abilities,
background and knowledge, and is willing to engage Executive's services on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

    B.   The Company and the Executive have previously entered into an
Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of May 10, 1996 (the "Prior Agreement")
memorializing the terms of Executive's engagement by the Company.

    C.   The Company and the Executive desire to terminate the "Prior
Agreement", except as described herein, and to enter into this Agreement, the
terms of which shall supersede in their entirety the terms of the Prior
Agreement.

                                      AGREEMENT

    Now, therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants set
forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the Parties agree
as follows:

1.  EMPLOYMENT.

    1.1  The Company hereby agrees to continue to employ Executive, and
Executive hereby accepts continued employment by the Company, upon the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, effective as of the date first set forth
above ("Effective Date").

    1.2  Executive shall be the President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company and shall serve in such other capacity or capacities appropriate for a
person serving in the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, as the
Company's Board of Directors ("Board") may from time to time prescribe.


                                          1.



    1.3  Executive shall exercise such authority over all of the Company's
operations, employees and business of the Company as is customarily exercised by
a President and Chief Executive Officer, provided, however, that at all times
during his employment Executive shall be subject to the overall direction and
policies from time to time established by the Board.

    1.4  Unless the Parties otherwise agree in writing, during the term of this
Agreement, Executive shall perform the services he is required to perform
pursuant to this Agreement at the Company's offices, located at 3030 Science
Park Road, San Diego, California, or at any other place at which the Company
maintains an office; provided, however, that the Company may from time to time
require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations in connection with
the Company's business.

2.  LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS PERFORMANCE; NONCOMPETITION.

    2.1  During his employment by the Company, Executive shall devote his full
business energies, interest, abilities and productive time to the proper and
efficient performance of his duties under this Agreement.

    2.2  During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall not engage in
competition with the Company, either directly or indirectly, in any manner or
capacity, as adviser, principal, agent, partner, officer, director, employee,
member of any association or otherwise, in any phase of the business of
developing, manufacturing and marketing medical products which are in the same
field of use or which otherwise compete with the products or proposed products
of the Company.

         2.2.1     Ownership by Executive, as a passive investment, of less
than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any
corporation with one or more classes of its capital stock listed on a national
securities exchange or publicly traded in the over-the-counter market shall not
constitute a breach of this paragraph.

3.  COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE.

    3.1  While employed by the Company, the Company shall pay Executive a
salary (the "Base Salary") of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) per
year, payable in regular periodic payments in accordance with Company policy. 
Such salary shall be prorated for any partial year of employment on the basis of
a 365-day fiscal year.

    3.2  Executive's compensation may be changed from time to time by mutual
agreement of Executive and the Board.


                                          2.



    3.3  Executive's performance shall be reviewed by the Board on a periodic
basis (but not less than once in each fiscal year during the term of this
Agreement).  As part of such review, the Board, at its sole discretion, shall
consider appropriate adjustments to Executive's base salary, grant of stock
options and the potential for performance based bonuses.

    3.4  All of Executive's compensation shall be subject to customary
withholding taxes and any other employment taxes as are commonly required to be
collected or withheld by the Company.

    3.5  Executive shall, in accordance with Company policy, be eligible to
participate in the benefits described in The Employee Benefits Summary, attached
as Exhibit A.

4.  TERMINATION BY COMPANY.  Executive's employment with the Company may be
terminated by the Company under the following conditions:

    4.1  DEATH.  Upon Executive's death, in which case termination shall be
effective on the last day of the month in which Executive's death occurs.

    4.2  DISABILITY.  If Executive becomes completely disabled due to physical
or mental illness as defined under Section 4.2.1, or if Executive shall be
absent from duties on a full-time basis due to illness for six consecutive
months, and shall not have returned to the performance of duties within ten (10)
days after receiving written notice of termination following such six-month
period.

         4.2.1     The term "completely disabled" as used in this Agreement
shall mean the inability of Executive to perform the essential functions of his
position under this Agreement by reason of any incapacity, physical or mental,
which the Board, based upon medical advice or an opinion provided by a licensed
physician acceptable to the Board and approved by the Executive, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld, determines to have incapacitated Executive
from satisfactorily performing any or all essential functions of his position
for the Company during the foreseeable future.  Based upon such medical advice
or opinion, the determination of the Board shall be final and binding and the
date such determination is made shall be the date of such complete disability
for purposes of this Agreement.

    4.3  FOR CAUSE.  The Company may terminate Executive's employment under
this Agreement "for cause" ("For Cause") by delivery of written notice to
Executive specifying the cause or causes relied upon for such termination.  Any
notice of termination given pursuant to this Section 4.3 shall effect
termination as of the date specified in such notice or, in the event no such
date is specified, on the last day of the


                                          3.



month in which such notice is delivered or deemed delivered as provided in
Section 9 below.  Grounds for the Company to terminate this Agreement For Cause
shall be limited to the occurrence of any of the following events:

         4.3.1     Executive is in material breach of any provision of this
Agreement;

         4.3.2     Executive's engaging or in any manner participating in any
activity which is directly competitive with or intentionally injurious to the
Company or which violates any provision of Section 7 of this Agreement;

         4.3.3     Executive's commission of any fraud against the Company; 

         4.3.4     Executive's intentional improper use or appropriation for
his personal use or benefit of any funds or properties of the Company not
authorized by the Board to be so used or appropriated; and

         4.3.5     Executive's conviction of any crime involving dishonesty or
moral turpitude.

    4.4  WITHOUT CAUSE.  The Company may terminate the Executive's employment
without cause ("Without Cause") upon delivery of written notice to the Executive
at any time.  Any notice of termination given pursuant to this Section 4.4 shall
effect termination as of the date specified in such notice or, in the event no
such date is specified, on the last day of the month in which such notice is
delivered or deemed deliverable as provided in Section 9 below. 

5.  TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE.  Executive may terminate Executive's employment
with the Company (a) for Sufficient Reason (as defined below in Section 5.1)
within one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days following the occurrence of an
event or events constituting such Sufficient Reason; or (b) without Sufficient
Reason.

    5.1  "Sufficient Reason" shall mean any one or more of the following
events:

         5.1.1     The occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (as
defined below in Section 6.5);

         5.1.2     The failure by the Company to comply with any material
provision of this Agreement and such failure has continued for a period of
thirty (30) days after notice of such failure has been given by Executive to the
Company;

    5.2  If Executive terminates his employment with the Company voluntarily
prior to one year of service, then Executive agrees to repay the gross amount of
Relocation Benefits described in the Prior Agreement.  Executive hereby
authorizes the Company to


                                          4.



deduct such repayments from his final paycheck, including vacation pay or other
wages owed Executive.

6.  COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION.

    6.1  DEATH.  If Executive's employment shall be terminated by death, the
Company shall pay to Executive's designee(s), beneficiary(ies), or if there is
no such designee or beneficiary, to Executive's estate, an amount equal to three
(3) months of Executive's base salary.

    6.2  DISABILITY.  If Executive is terminated due to disability as provided
in Section 4.2 the Company shall pay to Executive an amount equal to three (3)
months of Executive's base salary.  

    6.3  CAUSE, WITHOUT SUFFICIENT REASON.  If Executive's employment shall be
terminated by the Company For Cause, or if Executive terminates employment
hereunder without Sufficient Reason, the Company shall pay Executive his base
salary and accrued benefits through the date of termination at the rate in
effect at the time of the notice of termination, and the Company shall
thereafter have no further obligations to Executive under this Agreement.

    6.4  WITHOUT CAUSE, SUFFICIENT REASON.  If (a) Executive shall terminate
Executive's employment with the Company or the New Company (as defined in
Section 6.5 of this Agreement) for Sufficient Reason under Section 5.1 of this
Agreement; or (b) the Company shall terminate Executive's employment Without
Cause, then upon Executive's furnishing to the Company (or the New Company, as
the case may be) an executed waiver and release of claims (a form of which is
attached hereto as Exhibit B), Executive shall be entitled to the following:

         6.4.1     Executive's base salary and accrued benefits through the
date of termination;

         6.4.2     Executive's annual base salary in effect at the time of
termination for a period of one year;

         6.4.3     Immediate vesting of all unvested stock options of the
Company held by Executive;

         6.4.4     Continued receipt for one year of all employee benefit plans
and programs in which the Executive and Executive's family were entitled to
participate immediately prior to the date of termination, provided that the
Executive's continued participation is possible under the general terms and
provisions of such plans and


                                          5.



programs.  In the event that the Executive's participation in any such plan or
program is barred, the Company shall arrange to provide the Executive with
benefits substantially similar to those which the Executive would otherwise have
been entitled to receive under such plans and programs from which his continued
participation is barred.

         6.4.5     In the event that any payment or benefit received or to be
received by Executive pursuant to this Section 6.4 would result in all or a
portion of such payment to be subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the
Code, then the Executive's payment shall be either (i) the full payment or (ii)
such lesser amount which would result in no portion of the payment being subject
to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, whichever of the foregoing
amounts, taking into account the applicable Federal, state, and local employment
taxes, income taxes, and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code,
results in the receipt by Executive, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest
amount of the payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the payment
may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code.  All determinations required to
be made under this Section 6.4 shall be made by KPMG Peat Marwick or any other
nationally recognized accounting firm which is the Company's outside auditor at
the time of such determination, which firm must be reasonably acceptable to
Executive (the "Accounting Firm").  The Company shall cause the Accounting Firm
to provide detailed supporting calculations of its determinations to the Company
and Executive.  Notice must be given to the Accounting Firm within fifteen (15)
business days after an event entitling Executive to a payment under this
Agreement.  All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely
by the Company.  The Accounting Firm's determinations must be made with
substantial authority (within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code).

    6.5  CHANGE IN CONTROL.

         6.5.1     A "Change in Control" of the Company shall be deemed to have
occurred if and when:

              (i)  Any person or entity or group of persons and/or entities 
acting in concert shall acquire, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership 
of more than fifty-one percent (51%) of the outstanding shares of voting 
stock of the Company or other securities of the Company convertible (after 
giving effect to such conversion) into more than fifty-one percent (51%) of 
the outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company; or

             (ii)  The Company is a participant in a merger or consolidation in
which the Company does not survive as an independent company and shareholders of
the Company immediately prior to such transaction fail to retain at least fifty
percent (50%) of the voting power of the Company immediately following such
transaction; or


                                          6.



            (iii)  The business or businesses of the Company for which
Executive's services are principally performed are disposed of by the Company
pursuant to a partial or complete liquidation of the Company, a sale of assets
or otherwise; or 

             (iv)  During any period of two consecutive years during the term
of Executive's employment hereunder, individuals who at the beginning of such
period constitute the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority thereof, unless the election of each Director who was not a Director at
the beginning of such period has been approved in advance by Directors
representing at least two-thirds of the Directors then in office who were
Directors at the beginning of the period.

         6.5.2     If any of the above events occur, then for purposes of this
Agreement, the Company or the Company's successor will be considered the "New
Company."

         6.5.3     If within one hundred eighty (180) days following the
occurrence of a Change in Control, Executive's employment with the New Company
is terminated by the New Company for any reason whatsoever other than as
specified in Section 4.3, upon Executive's furnishing to the New Company an
executed waiver and release of claims (Exhibit B), Executive shall be entitled
to the compensation provided for in Section 6.4.

    All payments provided for in this Section 6 to be made to Executive shall
be made in one lump sum within thirty (30) calendar days of Executive's date of
termination unless otherwise directed by Executive.

7.  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; EXECUTIVE'S DUTIES UPON TERMINATION.

    7.1  Executive recognizes that his employment with the Company will involve
contact with information of substantial value to the Company, which is not old
and generally known in the trade, and which gives the Company an advantage over
its competitors who do not know or use it, including but not limited to,
techniques, designs, drawings, processes, inventions, developments, equipment,
prototypes, sales and customer information, and business and financial
information relating to the business, products, practices and techniques of the
Company, (hereinafter referred to as "Confidential Information").  Executive
will at all times regard and preserve as confidential such Confidential
Information obtained by Executive from whatever source and will not, either
during his employment with the Company or thereafter, publish or disclose any
part of such Confidential Information in any manner at any time, or use the same
except on behalf of the Company, without the prior written consent of the


                                          7.



Company.  Executive has signed and will continue to be bound by the Company's
"Employment Agreement," attached as Exhibit C.

8.  ASSIGNMENT AND BINDING EFFECT.

    8.1  This Agreement, including Exhibits A, B and C, shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of Executive and Executive's heirs, executors, personal
representatives, assigns, administrators and legal representatives.  Because of
the unique and personal nature of Executive's duties under this Agreement,
neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations under this Agreement shall
be assignable by Executive.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the Company and its successors, assigns and legal
representatives.

9.  NOTICES.

    9.1  All notices or demands of any kind required or permitted to be given
by the Company or Executive under this Agreement shall be given in writing and
shall be personally delivered (and receipted for) or mailed by certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

          9.1.1         If to the Company:

                   Chairman of the Board
                   Corvas International, Inc.
                   3030 Science Park Road
                   San Diego, California

          9.1.2         If to Executive:

                   Randall E. Woods
                   P.O. Box 675331
                   Rancho Santa Fe, CA  92067-5331
              
Any such written notice shall be deemed received when personally delivered or
three (3) days after its deposit in the United States mail as specified above. 
Either Party may change its address for notices by giving notice to the other
Party in the manner specified in this section.

10. CHOICE OF LAW.

    10.1 This Agreement is made in San Diego, California.  This Agreement shall
be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
California.


                                          8.



11. INTEGRATION.

    11.1 This Agreement contains the complete, final and exclusive agreement of
the Parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersedes all
prior oral and written employment agreements or arrangements between the
Parties.

12. AMENDMENT.

    12.1 This Agreement cannot be amended or modified except by a written
agreement signed by Executive and the Company.

13. WAIVER.

    13.1 No term, covenant or condition of this Agreement or any breach thereof
shall be deemed waived, except with the written consent of the Party against
whom the wavier in claimed, and any waiver or any such term, covenant, condition
or breach shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding or succeeding
breach of the same or any other term, covenant, condition or breach.

14. SEVERABILITY.

    14.1 The finding by a court of competent jurisdiction of the
unenforceability, invalidity or illegality of any provision of this Agreement
shall not render any other provision of this Agreement unenforceable, invalid or
illegal.  Such court shall have the authority to modify or replace the invalid
or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or
provision which most accurately represents the parties' intention with respect
to the invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

15. INTERPRETATION; CONSTRUCTION.

    15.1 The headings set forth in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not be used in interpreting this Agreement.  This
Agreement has been drafted by legal counsel representing the Company, but
Executive has been encouraged, and has consulted with, his own independent
counsel and tax advisors with respect to the terms of this Agreement.  The
Parties acknowledge that each Party and its counsel has reviewed and revised, or
had an opportunity to review and revise, this Agreement, and the normal rule of
construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the
drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement.


                                          9.



16. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

16.1 Executive represents and warrants that he is not restricted or prohibited,
contractually or otherwise, from entering into and performing each of the terms
and covenants contained in this Agreement, and that his execution and
performance of this Agreement will not violate or breach any other agreements
between Executive and any other person or entity.

17. COUNTERPARTS.

    17.1 This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, all of which together shall contribute one and the
same instrument.


                                         10.




    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.

                                  The Company:
    
                                  CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                  a Delaware Corporation
    
    
                                  By: /S/ JOHN H. FRIED
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                         Chairman of the Board
                                         Board of Directors
    
    
                                  Date: March 27, 1997
                                        --------------------------------------

                                  EXECUTIVE:
    
    
                                  /S/ RANDALL E. WOODS
                                  --------------------------------------------
                                  Randall E. Woods
    
                                  Date: March 18, 1997                         
                                        --------------------------------------


Exhibit A:    Employee Benefits Summary
Exhibit B:    Waiver and Release Agreement
Exhibit C:    Employment Agreement


                                         11.

EX-23.1

[ KPMG LETTERHEAD]


                            INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


The Board of Directors
Corvas International, Inc.:

We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement (No. 33-
45607) on Form S-8, as amended, of Corvas International, Inc. of our report
dated February 19, 1997 relating to the balance sheets of Corvas International,
Inc. as of December 31, 1996, and 1995, and the related statements of
operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 1996, which report appears in the December
31, 1996 annual report on Form 10-K of Corvas International, Inc.


                                       KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
San Diego, California
March 26, 1997

EX-27

 


<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           2,202
<SECURITIES>                                    26,394
<RECEIVABLES>                                      638
<ALLOWANCES>                                        60
<INVENTORY>                                         58
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                29,546
<PP&E>                                           4,160
<DEPRECIATION>                                   3,067
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  30,639
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            5,292
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          1
<COMMON>                                            14
<OTHER-SE>                                      24,332
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    30,639
<SALES>                                            224
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 6,265
<CGS>                                              134
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   14,216
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   6
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (6,709)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (6,709)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (6,709)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.52)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.52)