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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.17

                                EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

       EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT made as of the 9th day of November, 1998 between 
Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Company") and Larry G. Stambaugh ("Executive").

                               PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

       WHEREAS, the Company wishes to retain the Executive as Chairman of the 
Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and 
the Executive wishes to continue in such positions, all on the terms and 
conditions set forth in this Agreement;

       NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and for other good 
and valuable consideration, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

       1.     TERM OF AGREEMENT.  This Agreement shall commence on October 1, 
1998 and shall continue in effect for a term ending on December 31, 2001 
("Term"), except as hereinafter provided.

       2.     POSITION AND DUTIES.  Except as may otherwise be agreed upon 
between the Company and the Executive, the Company agrees to employ the 
Executive, and the Executive agrees to serve the Company, as Chairman of the 
Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer.  The Executive 
shall render such services to the Company as are customary for such positions 
and perform all other services incident thereto.  At all times, the Executive 
shall report directly to the Board of Directors of the Company.  The 
Executive shall devote substantially all of his working time and efforts to 
the business and affairs of the Company, except for time spent for service on 
the boards of directors of other corporations, vacations as defined by 
Company policy and civic and charitable activities, and shall represent the 
Company within its industry.

       3.     PLACE OF PERFORMANCE.  In connection with his employment by the 
Company, the Executive shall, except as the Executive may otherwise agree, 
perform his principal activities at the offices of the Company located in San 
Diego, California, subject to travel reasonably required for the Company's 
business.

                                       

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       4.     COMPENSATION AND RELATED MATTERS.

              4.1    BASE SALARY.  During the Term, the Company shall pay to 
the Executive, in approximately equal installments not less often than twice 
per month, a base salary of not less than $310,000 per year through December 
31, 2001 and such base salary shall be subject to increase from time to time 
based upon recommendations from the Compensation Committee to the Board of 
Directors. All amounts payable to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement 
shall be paid subject to such reporting and withholding requirements, if any, 
as may be imposed by applicable law and applicable Company policy.

              4.2    INCENTIVE PLAN.  The Executive shall be eligible to 
receive bonus payments pursuant to a plan to be prepared by the Company's 
Board of Directors with the Executive's participation ("Bonus Plan").  The 
parties shall endeavor to establish the initial Bonus Plan at the earliest 
practicable time. The Bonus Plan shall provide that, assuming reasonable 
satisfaction of the performance criteria to be set forth in the Bonus Plan, 
the Executive shall be eligible to earn an annual bonus with respect to each 
of the Company's fiscal years during the Term in an amount up to 30% of the 
Executive's annualized base salary hereunder, such bonus to be payable within 
ninety days after the end of each such fiscal year.  The bonus will be based 
upon the annualized base salary for the year in which the bonus applies.

              4.3    BENEFIT PLANS AND ARRANGEMENT.  The Executive shall be 
entitled to participate in and receive benefits under the Company's employee 
benefit plans and arrangements in effect during the Term.  The Company shall 
pay the entire cost of the Executive's health, life and disability insurance 
coverage under the Company's plans and policies during the Term, 
notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such plans and policies.

              4.4    PERQUISITES.  During the Term, the Executive shall be 
entitled to receive fringe benefits ordinarily and customarily provided by 
the Company to its senior officers.

              4.5    EXPENSES.  The Company shall promptly reimburse the 
Executive for all normal out-of-pocket expenses related to the Company's 
business actually paid or incurred by him in the performance of his services 
under this Agreement.

              5.     TERMINATION.  The Executive's employment hereunder may 
be terminated under the following circumstances (without impairing the 
Executive's rights under benefit plans and arrangements and the Company's 
policies and procedures):

              5.1    TERMINATION UPON DEATH OR PERMANENT DISABILITY.  The 
Term shall automatically terminate in the event of the death or permanent 
disability of Executive.  For purposes of this Agreement, "permanent 
disability" shall mean the inability to perform services hereunder for a 
period of six consecutive months.

              5.2    TERMINATION BY COMPANY FOR CAUSE.  The Company shall 
have the option to terminate the Term (a) for cause in the event the 
Executive engages in grossly negligent conduct or willful misconduct in 
connection with the execution of his duties hereunder which materially and 
adversely affects the

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Company, after written notice by the Company to the Executive of the specific 
acts that form the basis for the termination, and (b) for the Executive's 
material nonperformance of his duties hereunder, provided the nonperformance 
continues uncorrected for a period of thirty days after written notice 
thereof by the Company to the Executive specifically identifying the manner 
in which the Company believes the Executive has not performed his duties.  
For purposes of this Section 5.2, no act, or failure to act, on the 
Executive's part shall be considered "willful" unless done, or omitted to be 
done, by him not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his act or 
omission was in the best interests of the Company.

              5.3    SEVERANCE AND LIFE INSURANCE.  If the Company terminates 
Executive's employment other than for cause pursuant to Section 5.2, 
Executive, in lieu of all other remedies and as liquidated damages, shall be 
entitled to receive a severance payment equal to his then annual base salary 
plus health care insurance coverage for one year or the remainder of the term 
of this Agreement, whichever is greater.

The Company shall also during the Term hereof maintain for Executive a term 
life insurance policy in the amount of $1,000,000, with Executive's nominee 
as beneficiary.  Such insurance shall, however, decrease to $750,000 at the 
next anniversary of the policy and by $250,000 each anniversary thereafter. 
Nothing herein shall derogate from the Executive's rights under employee 
benefit plans, programs and arrangements or under applicable law.

              5.4    CONSTRUCTIVE DISCHARGE.  Any significant reduction or 
adverse change in the nature or scope of the Executive's authority, duties, 
status or position contemplated by Section 2 hereof, including an involuntary 
relocation, or a reduction the base salary and/or benefits of the Executive 
from those provided for in Section 4 hereof as they may from time to time be 
in effect, will be the basis for the Executive's termination of this 
Agreement by giving at least 30 days prior notice to the Company and in such 
event the termination will be treated as a termination by the Company without 
cause under Section 5.3.

              5.5    BENEFITS UPON TERMINATION FOR CAUSE OR VOLUNTARY 
TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE.  In the event the Company properly terminates 
Executive's employment under this Agreement for cause pursuant to Section 5.2 
or Executive voluntary resigns from his employment during the Term:

                     a.     all salary shall be prorated as of the date of 
termination and such prorated amount shall be paid to Executive;

                     b.     all stock options or stock appreciation rights 
granted to Executive shall be governed by the instruments granting such 
rights; and

                     c.     the Company shall (i) make such other and further 
payment to Executive, his designated beneficiaries and his dependents as may 
be provided pursuant to the terms of any employee benefit plan and other 
compensation plans, programs and structures, or fringe benefit programs in 
which Executive is a participant at the time of the termination of his 
employment with the Company and (ii) promptly reimburse the Executive for any 
then unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses pursuant to Section 4.6.

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       6.     ATTORNEYS FEES.  If litigation shall be instituted to enforce 
or interpret any provision hereof the prevailing party will reimburse the 
other part for his reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements incurred in 
such proceeding and will pay prejudgment interest at the legal rate then in 
effect on any money judgment or award obtained in such proceeding.

       7.     NOTICE.  For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands 
and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in 
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed 
by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, 
addressed as follows:

       If to the Executive:

       Larry G. Stambaugh
       17947 Corazon Place
       San Diego, California 92127

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       If to the Company:

       Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
       8899 University Center Lane, Suite 400
       San Diego, California 92122
       Attn:  Corporate Secretary

or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in 
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change in address 
shall be effective only upon receipt.

       8.     MISCELLANEOUS.  No provisions of this Agreement may be 
modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge 
is agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and the Company.  No waiver 
by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto 
of, or compliance with, any condition provision of this Agreement to be 
performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or 
dissimilar provision or conditions at the same or at any proper or subsequent 
time.  No agreements or representations, oral otherwise, expressed or 
implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either 
party which are not set forth expressly or referred to in this Agreement.  
The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement 
shall be governed by the laws of the State of California relating to 
contracts to be performed entirely therein.

       9.     VALIDITY.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision 
or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or 
enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain 
in full force and effect.

       10.    HEADINGS.  The headings of the paragraphs herein are for 
convenience only and shall have no significance in the interpretation of this 
Agreement.

       11.    BIND AND INURE.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure 
to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, personal 
representatives and successors, including any successor of the Company by 
reason of any dissolution, merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other 
reorganization of the Company.

       12.    COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more 
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of 
which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed and 
its seal to be affixed hereunto by its officer thereunto duly authorized, and 
Executive has signed this Agreement, as of the day and year first above 
written.

MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.



By: /s/ DALE A. SANDER
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Dale A. Sander
Vice President, Finance and
Chief Financial Officer

Date:  11/9/98



/s/ LARRY G. STAMBAUGH
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Executive

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