SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                      Washington, D.C. 20549

                            FORM 10-K/A

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
    SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
    DECEMBER 31, 1997

                   Commission File Number 1-6247

                          ALZA CORPORATION
      (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               Delaware                            77-0142070
(State or other jurisdiction of               (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation of organization)              Identification No.)

950 Page Mill Road, P.O. Box 10950, Palo Alto, CA 94303-0802
(Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (650) 494-5000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                            Name of each exchange
Title of each class                         on which registered

Common Stock                                New York Stock Exchange

5 1/4% Liquid Yield Option Notes due 2014   New York Stock Exchange
       (Zero Coupon-Subordinated)

5% Convertible Subordinated Debentures      New York Stock Exchange
   due 2006                     
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Warrants (to purchase Common Stock at $65 per share)

     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 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]

     State the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by
non-affiliates of the registrant, as of March 16, 1998:
$3,539,051,440.

     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the
registrant's classes of common stock, as of March 16, 1998:

     Title of Class                     Number of Shares
     Common Stock                       86,052,152

                   DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     Part II, Items 5, 6, 7 and 8 are incorporated by reference to
the registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended
December 31, 1997; Part III, Items 10, 11, 12 and 13 are
incorporated by reference to the definitive proxy statement for the
registrant's Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 7,
1998.
<PAGE>
                                PART IV

Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on
Form 8-K

(a)  Documents filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

      1.  Consolidated Financial Statements:  Incorporated by
reference to the Annual Report (see accompanying Index to
Consolidated Financial Statements).**

      2.  Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule:  (see
accompanying Index to Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule).**

      3.  Exhibits:

                3.1  Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
                ALZA Corporation filed with the Delaware Secretary
                of State on February 14, 1994**

                3.2 Composite Bylaws of ALZA Corporation as
                restated on February 10, 1994 and amended on
                August 11, 1994, February 16, 1995, February 15,
                1996, August 13, 1996 and February 10, 1998**

                4.1 Indenture dated July 7, 1994 between ALZA
                Corporation and the Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. as
                Trustee, relating to ALZA's 5 1/4% Liquid Yield
                Option-trademark- Notes**

                4.2 Specimen of LYONs-trademark- Certificate 
                (included in Exhibit 4.1)**

                4.3 Form of Warrant Agreement between ALZA
                Corporation and the Chase Manhattan Bank (with
                attached Warrant Certificate)**

                4.4 Indenture dated April 23, 1996 between ALZA
                Corporation and the Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., as
                Trustee, relating to ALZA's 5% Convertible
                Subordinated Debentures**

                4.5 Specimen of 5% Convertible Subordinated
                Debenture (included in Exhibit 4.4)**

                10.1 Technology License Agreement between ALZA
                Corporation and Crescendo Pharmaceuticals
                Corporation**

See footnotes on page 4.
<PAGE>
                     10.2 Development Agreement between ALZA
                Corporation and Crescendo Pharmaceuticals
                Corporation**

                     10.3 License Option Agreement between ALZA
                Corporation and Crescendo Pharmaceuticals
                Corporation**

                     10.4 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
                Crescendo Pharmaceuticals Corporation**

                     10.5 Amended and Restated Executive Deferral
                Plan II+**

                     10.6 Executive Deferral Plan II for Chief
                Executive Officer+**

                     10.7 Executive Deferral Plan Amendments+**

                     10.8 Amendment Number 2 to Executive Deferral
                Plans II+**

                     10.9 ALZA Corporation Amended and Restated
                Stock Plan+**

                     10.10     Form of Executive Agreement between
                ALZA Corporation and Certain Executive Officers+**

                     10.11     Lease Agreement between ALZA and
                P/A Charleston Road LLC for Building One of
                Charleston Road Development Project (a
                substantially identical lease is in effect for
                each of two other office buildings)

                     10.12     Construction Agreement between ALZA
                and P/A Charleston Road LLC relating to three
                office building lease agreements

                     10.13     Ground Lease between ALZA and the
                Peery and Arrillaga Trusts relating to a seven-
                acre parcel in Mountain View

                     13   Portions of Annual Report to
                Stockholders expressly incorporated by reference
                herein**

                     21   Subsidiaries**

                     23   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP,
                Independent Auditors**

                     27.1 Financial Data Schedule for the year
                ended December 31, 1997**

                     27.2 Restated Financial Data Schedule for the
                quarters ended March 31, 1997 and June 30, 1997**
<PAGE>

                     27.3 Restated Financial Data Schedule for the
                quarters ended June 30, 1996 and September 30,
                1996 and for the year ended December 31, 1996**

(b)  No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended
December 31, 1997.
______________________________________________________________

+  A management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement
   required to be filed as an Exhibit pursuant to Item 14(c) of
   Form 10-K.

** Previously filed.

<PAGE>

                            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.



                                       ALZA CORPORATION



                                   By  /s/ Ernest Mario
                                       Dr. Ernest Mario
                                       Chief Executive Officer






Date:   July 16, 1998

<PAGE>

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of

1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on

behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates

indicated.


/s/ Ernest Mario                    /s/ Dean O. Morton
Dr. Ernest Mario                    Dean O. Morton
Chairman of the Board of            Director
Directors, Director and Chief       Date:  July 16, 1998
Executive Officer                   
Date:  July 16, 1998                
                                    /s/ Isaac Stein
                                    Isaac Stein
/s/ William G. Davis                Director
William G. Davis                    Date: July 16, 1998
Director                            
Date:  July 16, 1998                
                                    /s/ Julian N. Stern
                                    Julian N. Stern
/s/ Robert J. Glaser                Director
Dr. Robert J. Glaser                Date:  July 16, 1998
Director                            
Date:  July 16, 1998                
                                    /s/ Bruce C. Cozadd
                                    Bruce C. Cozadd
                                    Senior Vice President, Chief
                                    Financial Officer and
                                    Principal Accounting Officer
                                    Date:  July 16, 1998
<PAGE>
                          EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit

10.11 Lease Agreement between ALZA and P/A Charleston Road LLC for
      Building One of Charleston Road Development Project (a
      substantially identical lease is in effect for each of two
      other office buildings)


10.12 Construction Agreement between ALZA and P/A Charleston Road
      LLC relating to three office building lease agreements



10.13 Ground Lease between ALZA and the Peery and Arrillaga Trusts
      relating to a seven-acre parcel in Mountain View