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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.57

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                     EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE BENEFITS AGREEMENT

     This Amended and Restated Executive Severance Benefits Agreement (the
"Agreement") is entered into this 31/st/ day of December, 2002 (the "Effective
Date"), between Richard M. Lawn ("Executive") and CV Therapeutics, Inc. (the
"Company"). This Agreement is intended to provide Executive with the
compensation and benefits described herein upon the occurrence of specific
events. Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Article
6.

     The Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1

                  Scope of and Consideration for this Agreement

     1.1  Current Employee. Executive is currently employed by the Company.

     1.2  Benefits Upon Change In Control. The Company and Executive wish to set
forth the compensation and benefits which Executive shall be entitled to receive
in the event of a Change in Control or if Executive's employment with the
Company is terminated under the circumstances described herein following a
Change in Control.

     1.3  Consideration. The duties and obligations of the Company to Executive
under this Agreement shall be in consideration for Executive's past services to
the Company, Executive's continued employment with the Company, and Executive's
execution of a release in accordance with Section 4.1.

     1.4  Prior Agreement. This Agreement shall supersede any other agreement
relating to cash severance benefits and health benefits in the event of
Executive's severance from employment with the Company following a Change in
Control, including that certain Executive Severance Benefits Agreement between
the Company and Executive dated as of February 2, 1999 (the "Prior Agreement").
By executing this Agreement you hereby waive (within the meaning of Section 6.4
of the Prior Agreement) any rights you may currently have or have in the future
to any benefits of any sort under the Prior Agreement.

                                    ARTICLE 2

                   Option Acceleration Upon Change in Control

     In the event of a Change in Control, all options of Executive to purchase
the Company's common stock (or the stock of a successor to the Company by reason
of assumption or substitution of options) then outstanding shall, automatically
and without further action of the Company, become one hundred percent (100%)
vested and exercisable, and any restrictions with respect to restricted shares
of the Company's capital stock (or the stock of a successor to the Company by
reason of assumption or substitution of such shares) that Executive then holds
shall,

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automatically and without further action of the Company, lapse, in the case of
all such options and/or restrictions no later than five (5) business days before
the effective date of such Change in Control.

                                    ARTICLE 3

                               Severance Benefits

     3.1  Severance Benefits. If Executive's employment terminates due to an
Involuntary Termination Without Cause or a Constructive Termination, in any such
case occurring within thirteen (13) months following the effective date of a
Change in Control, such termination of employment will be deemed a Covered
Termination. A Covered Termination entitles Executive to receive the following
benefits set forth in Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4.

     3.2  Base Salary. The Company shall pay to Executive an amount equal to
eighteen (18) months' Base Salary. Such severance amount shall be paid in cash
in a lump sum within thirty (30) days following the Covered Termination and
shall be subject to all required tax withholding.

     3.3  Bonus. The Company shall pay to Executive an amount equal to one
hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the annual bonus paid to the Executive in
the year immediately preceding the effective date of the Change in Control. Such
severance amount shall be paid in cash in a lump sum within thirty (30) days
following the Covered Termination and shall be subject to all required tax
withholding.

     3.4  Health Benefits. Provided that Executive elects continued coverage
under federal COBRA law, the Company shall pay the premiums of Executive's group
health insurance coverage, including coverage for Executive's eligible
dependents, for a maximum period of eighteen (18) months following a Covered
Termination; provided, however, that the Company shall pay premiums for
Executive's eligible dependents only for coverage for which those eligible
dependents were enrolled immediately prior to the Covered Termination. No
premium payments will be made following the effective date of Executive's
coverage by a health insurance plan of a subsequent employer. For the balance of
the period that Executive is entitled to coverage under federal COBRA law, if
any, Executive shall be entitled to maintain such coverage at Executive's own
expense.

     3.5  Mitigation. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein,
Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment
provided under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor
shall the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement be reduced by
any compensation earned by Executive as a result of employment by another
employer or by any retirement benefits received by Executive after the date of
the Covered Termination.

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                                    ARTICLE 4

                     Limitations and Conditions On Benefits

     4.1  Release Prior To Payment Of Benefits. Upon the occurrence of a Covered
Termination, and prior to the payment of any benefits under this Agreement on
account of such Covered Termination, Executive shall execute a release (the
"Release") in the form attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A or
Exhibit B, as applicable. Such Release shall specifically relate to all of
Executive's rights and claims in existence at the time of such execution and
shall confirm Executive's obligations under the Company's standard form of
proprietary information and inventions agreement. It is understood that, as
specified in the applicable Release, Executive has a certain number of calendar
days to consider whether to execute such Release, and Executive may revoke such
Release within seven (7) calendar days after execution. In the event Executive
does not execute such Release within the applicable period, or if Executive
revokes such Release within the subsequent seven (7) day period, no benefits
shall be payable under this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be null and
void.

     4.2  Termination of Benefits. Benefits under this Agreement shall terminate
immediately if the Executive, at any time, violates any proprietary information
or confidentiality obligation to the Company.

     4.3  Non-Duplication of Benefits. Executive is not eligible to receive
benefits under this Agreement more than one time.

                                    ARTICLE 5

                               Parachute Payments

     5.1  Best Pay Provision. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any Payment under this
Agreement would, when combined with all other Payments Executive receives from
the Company, but for this Article 5, be subject to the Excise Tax, then such
Payments shall be either (a) the full amount of such Payments or (b) such lesser
amount (with cash payments being reduced before stock option compensation) as
would result in no portion of the Payments being subject to the Excise Tax,
whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal,
state and local employment taxes, income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in
Executive's receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount of the
Payments notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payments may be subject
to the Excise Tax.

     5.2  Determinations. All determinations required to be made under this
Article 5, including whether and to what extent the Payments shall be reduced
and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be
made by the nationally recognized certified public accounting firm used by the
Company immediately prior to the Change in Control or, if such firm declines to
serve, such other nationally recognized certified public accounting firm as may
be designated by the Executive (the "Accounting Firm"). The Accounting Firm
shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the
Executive at such time as is requested by the Company. All fees and expenses of
the Accounting Firm shall be borne

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solely by the Company. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding
upon the Company and the Executive. For purposes of making the calculations
required by this Article 5, the Accounting Firm may make reasonable assumptions
and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable,
good-faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999
of the Code.

                                    ARTICLE 6

                                   Definitions

     For purposes of the Agreement, the following terms are defined as follows:

     6.1  "Base Salary" means Executive's annual base salary as in effect during
the last regularly scheduled payroll period immediately preceding the Covered
Termination.

     6.2  "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

     6.3  "Cause" means that, in the reasonable determination of the Company,
Executive:

          (a)  has committed an act that materially injures the business of the
Company;

          (b)  has refused or failed to follow lawful and reasonable directions
of the Board or the appropriate individual to whom Executive reports;

          (c)  has willfully or habitually neglected Executive's duties for the
Company; or

          (d)  has been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude that is
likely to inflict or has inflicted material injury on the business of the
Company.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cause shall not exist based on conduct
described in clause (b) or clause (c) unless the conduct described in such
clause has not been cured within fifteen (15) days following Executive's receipt
of written notice from the Company or the Board, as the case may be, specifying
the particulars of the conduct constituting Cause.

     6.4  "Change in Control" means:

          (a)  a sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company;

          (b)  a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the
surviving corporation (other than a merger or consolidation in which
shareholders immediately before the merger or consolidation have, immediately
after the merger or consolidation, equal or greater stock voting power);

          (c)  a reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving
corporation but the shares of the Company's common stock outstanding immediately
preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property,
whether in the form of securities, cash or

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otherwise (other than a reverse merger in which shareholders immediately before
the merger have, immediately after the merger, greater stock voting power); or

          (d)  any transaction or series of related transactions in which in
excess of 50% of the Company's voting power is transferred.

     6.5  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     6.6  "Company" means CV Therapeutics, Inc. or, following a Change in
Control, the surviving entity resulting from such transaction.

     6.7  "Constructive Termination" means that Executive voluntarily terminates
employment within thirteen (13) months following the effective date of a Change
in Control after any of the following are undertaken without Executive's express
written consent:

          (a)  the assignment to Executive of any duties or responsibilities
which results in a significant diminution in Executive's function as in effect
immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control; provided,
however, that a mere change in Executive's title or reporting relationships
shall not constitute a Constructive Termination;

          (b)  a reduction by the Company in Executive's annual base salary, as
in effect on the effective date of the Change in Control or as increased
thereafter;

          (c)  any failure by the Company to continue in effect any benefit plan
or program, including fringe benefits, incentive plans and plans with respect to
the receipt of securities of the Company, in which Executive is participating
immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control (hereinafter
referred to as "Benefit Plans"); or the taking of any action by the Company that
would adversely affect Executive's participation in or reduce Executive's
benefits under the Benefit Plans; provided, however, that a "Constructive
Termination" shall not exist under this paragraph following a Change in Control
if the Company offers a range of benefit plans and programs which, taken as a
whole, are comparable to the Benefit Plans;

          (d)  a relocation of Executive's business office to a location more
than twenty (20) miles from the location at which Executive performs duties as
of the effective date of the Change in Control, except for required travel by
Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially consistent with
Executive's business travel obligations prior to the Change in Control;
provided, however, that if Executive performs sales functions for the Company, a
change of sales territory shall not constitute a basis for Constructive
Termination so long as the Executive's business office is not relocated as
provided above;

          (e)  a material breach by the Company of any provision of this
Agreement; or

          (f)  any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of this
Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company.

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The termination of Executive's employment as a result of Executive's death or
disability will not be deemed to be a Constructive Termination.

     6.8  "Covered Termination" means an Involuntary Termination Without Cause
or a Constructive Termination, in any such case occurring within thirteen (13)
months following the effective date of a Change in Control.

     6.9  "Excise Tax" shall mean the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the
Code, together with any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such
excise tax.

     6.10 "Involuntary Termination Without Cause" means Executive's dismissal or
discharge other than for Cause. The termination of Executive's employment as a
result of Executive's death or disability will not be deemed to be an
Involuntary Termination Without Cause.

     6.11 A "Payment" shall mean any payment or distribution in the nature of
compensation (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code) to or for
the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable pursuant to this Agreement
or otherwise.

                                    ARTICLE 7

                               General Provisions

     7.1  Employment Status. This Agreement does not constitute a contract of
employment or impose upon Executive any obligation to remain as an employee, or
impose on the Company any obligation (i) to retain Executive as an employee,
(ii) to change the status of Executive as an at-will employee, or (iii) to
change the Company's policies regarding termination of employment.

     7.2  Notices. Any notices provided hereunder must be in writing, and such
notices or any other written communication shall be deemed effective upon the
earlier of personal delivery (including personal delivery by facsimile) or the
third day after mailing by first class mail, to the Company at its primary
office location and to Executive at Executive's address as listed in the
Company's payroll records. Any payments made by the Company to Executive under
the terms of this Agreement shall be delivered to Executive either in person or
at the address as listed in the Company's payroll records.

     7.3  Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will
be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law,
but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect
any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provisions had never been contained herein.

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     7.4  Waiver. If either party should waive any breach of any provisions of
this Agreement, he or it shall not thereby be deemed to have waived any
preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision of this
Agreement.

     7.5  Arbitration. Unless otherwise prohibited by law or specified below,
all disputes, claims and causes of action, in law or equity, arising from or
relating to this Agreement or its enforcement, performance, breach, or
interpretation shall be resolved solely and exclusively by final and binding
arbitration held in San Francisco County, California through Judicial
Arbitration & Mediation Services/Endispute ("JAMS") under the then existing JAMS
arbitration rules. However, nothing in this Section is intended to prevent
either party from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable
harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. The Company will pay the
direct costs and expenses of any such arbitration, including the fees and costs
of the arbitrator. Each party in any such arbitration shall be responsible for
its own attorneys' fees and related costs and necessary disbursements; provided,
however, that in the event one party refuses to arbitrate and the other party
seeks to compel arbitration by court order, if such other party prevails, except
as may be prohibited by law, it shall be entitled to recover reasonable
attorneys' fees and related costs and necessary disbursements. Pursuant to
California Civil Code Section 1717, each party warrants that it was represented
by counsel in the negotiation and execution of this Agreement, including the
attorneys' fees provision herein.

     7.6  Complete Agreement. This Agreement, including Exhibit A and Exhibit B,
constitutes the entire agreement between Executive and the Company and is the
complete, final, and exclusive embodiment of their agreement with regard to this
subject matter, wholly superseding all written and oral agreements with respect
to cash severance benefits and health benefits to Executive in the event of
employment termination (including the Prior Agreement) other than any
outstanding loans by the Company to Executive. It is entered into without
reliance on any promise or representation other than those expressly contained
herein.

     7.7  Amendment Or Termination Of Agreement. This Agreement may be changed
or terminated only upon the mutual written consent of the Company and Executive.
The written consent of the Company to a change or termination of this Agreement
must be signed by an executive officer of the Company after such change or
termination has been approved by the Board.

     7.8  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts,
any one of which need not contain signatures of more than one party, but all of
which taken together will constitute one and the same Agreement.

     7.9  Headings. The headings of the Articles and Sections hereof are
inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part
hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof.

     7.10 Successors And Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure
to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive, and the Company, and any
surviving entity resulting from a Change in Control and upon any other person
who is a successor by merger, acquisition, consolidation or otherwise to the
business formerly carried on by the Company, and their

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respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators, without
regard to whether or not such person actively assumes any rights or duties
hereunder; provided, however, that Executive may not assign any duties hereunder
and may not assign any rights hereunder without the written consent of the
Company, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably.

     7.11 Choice Of Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity and
interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the law of the State of
California, without regard to such state's conflict of laws rules.

     7.12 Non-Publication. The parties mutually agree not to disclose publicly
the terms of this Agreement except to the extent that disclosure is mandated by
applicable law or regulation or to respective advisors (e.g., attorneys,
accountants).

     7.13 Construction Of Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the text
of the Agreement and any summary, description or other information regarding the
Agreement, the text of the Agreement shall control.

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     In Witness Whereof, the parties have executed this Agreement on the
Effective Date written above.

CV Therapeutics, Inc.                              Richard M. Lawn


By: /s/ Louis G. Lange                             /s/ Richard M. Lawn
    ----------------------------------------       -----------------------------
Name: Louis G. Lange
      --------------------------------------
Title: Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
       -------------------------------------


Exhibit A: Release (Individual Termination)
Exhibit B: Release (Group Termination)

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                                    Exhibit A

                                     RELEASE
                            (Individual Termination)

     Certain capitalized terms used in this Release are defined in the Amended
and Restated Executive Severance Benefits Agreement (the "Agreement") which I
have executed and of which this Release is a part.

     I hereby confirm my obligations under the Company's proprietary information
and inventions agreement.

     I acknowledge that I have read and understand Section 1542 of the
California Civil Code which reads as follows: "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." I hereby expressly waive and
relinquish all rights and benefits under that section and any law of any
jurisdiction of similar effect with respect to my release of any claims I may
have against the Company.

     Except as otherwise set forth in this Release, I hereby release, acquit and
forever discharge the Company, its parents and subsidiaries, and their officers,
directors, agents, servants, employees, shareholders, successors, assigns and
affiliates, of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of
action, costs, expenses, attorneys fees, damages, indemnities and obligations of
every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, known and unknown,
suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed (other than any claim for
indemnification I may have as a result of any third party action against me
based on my employment with the Company), arising out of or in any way related
to agreements, events, acts or conduct at any time prior to the date I execute
this Release, including, but not limited to: all such claims and demands
directly or indirectly arising out of or in any way connected with my employment
with the Company or the termination of that employment, including but not
limited to, claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional
distress, any and all tort claims for personal injury, 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 other form of disputed compensation; claims pursuant to
any federal, state or local law or cause of action including, but not limited
to, the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the federal Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended ("ADEA"); the federal
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; the federal
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the California Fair Employment and
Housing Act, as amended; tort law; contract law; statutory law; common law;
wrongful discharge; discrimination; fraud; defamation; emotional distress; and
breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; provided,
however, that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed in any way to release
the Company from its obligation to indemnify me pursuant to the Company's
indemnification obligation pursuant to agreement or applicable law.

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     I acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any
rights I may have under ADEA. I also acknowledge that the consideration given
under the Agreement for the waiver and release in the preceding paragraph hereof
is in addition to anything of value to which I was already entitled. I further
acknowledge that I have been advised by this writing, as required by the ADEA,
that: (A) my waiver and release do not apply to any rights or claims that may
arise on or after the date I execute this Release; (B) I have the right to
consult with an attorney prior to executing this Release; (C) I have twenty-one
(21) days to consider this Release (although I may choose to voluntarily execute
this Release earlier); (D) I have seven (7) days following the execution of this
Release by the parties to revoke the Release; and (E) this Release shall not be
effective until the date upon which the revocation period has expired, which
shall be the eighth day after this Release is executed by me.

                                     Richard M. Lawn

                                     ___________________________________________
                                     Date: _____________________________________


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                                    Exhibit B

                                     RELEASE
                               (Group Termination)

     Certain capitalized terms used in this Release are defined in the Amended
and Restated Executive Severance Benefits Agreement (the "Agreement") which I
have executed and of which this Release is a part.

     I hereby confirm my obligations under the Company's proprietary information
and inventions agreement.

     I acknowledge that I have read and understand Section 1542 of the
California Civil Code which reads as follows: "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." I hereby expressly waive and
relinquish all rights and benefits under that section and any law of any
jurisdiction of similar effect with respect to my release of any claims I may
have against the Company.

     Except as otherwise set forth in this Release, I hereby release, acquit and
forever discharge the Company, its parents and subsidiaries, and their officers,
directors, agents, servants, employees, shareholders, successors, assigns and
affiliates, of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of
action, costs, expenses, attorneys fees, damages, indemnities and obligations of
every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, known and unknown,
suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed (other than any claim for
indemnification I may have as a result of any third party action against me
based on my employment with the Company), arising out of or in any way related
to agreements, events, acts or conduct at any time prior to the date I execute
this Release, including, but not limited to: all such claims and demands
directly or indirectly arising out of or in any way connected with my employment
with the Company or the termination of that employment, including but not
limited to, claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional
distress, any and all tort claims for personal injury, 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 other form of disputed compensation; claims pursuant to
any federal, state or local law or cause of action including, but not limited
to, the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the federal Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended ("ADEA"); the federal
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; the federal
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the California Fair Employment and
Housing Act, as amended; tort law; contract law; statutory law; common law;
wrongful discharge; discrimination; fraud; defamation; emotional distress; and
breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; provided,
however, that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed in any way to release
the Company from its obligation to indemnify me pursuant to the Company's
indemnification obligation pursuant to agreement or applicable law.

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     I acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any
rights I may have under ADEA. I also acknowledge that the consideration given
under the Agreement for the waiver and release in the preceding paragraph hereof
is in addition to anything of value to which I was already entitled. I further
acknowledge that I have been advised by this writing, as required by the ADEA,
that: (A) my waiver and release do not apply to any rights or claims that may
arise on or after the date I execute this Release; (B) I have the right to
consult with an attorney prior to executing this Release; (C) I have forty-five
(45) days to consider this Release (although I may choose to voluntarily execute
this Release earlier); (D) I have seven (7) days following the execution of this
Release by the parties to revoke the Release; (E) this Release shall not be
effective until the date upon which the revocation period has expired, which
shall be the eighth day after this Release is executed by me; and (F) I have
received with this Release a detailed list of the job titles and ages of all
employees who were terminated in this group termination and the ages of all
employees of the Company in the same job classification or organizational unit
who were not terminated.

                                         Richard M. Lawn

                                         _______________________________________
                                         Date: _________________________________

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