EXHIBIT 10.68

                                       =========================================
                                       ***TEXT OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY
                                           CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
                                            UNDER 17 C.F.R. SS.SS.200.80(B)(4),
                                                 200.83 AND 240.24B-2
                                       =========================================

                                LICENSE AGREEMENT

          THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of July 22, 1998
(the "Effective Date") by and between CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Delaware
corporation ("CORVAS"), and LIFESCAN, INC., a California corporation and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson ("LIFESCAN").

          WHEREAS, CORVAS wishes to grant to LIFESCAN, and LIFESCAN wishes to
obtain from CORVAS, an exclusive license under certain patent rights held by
CORVAS for the development and commercialization of certain in-vitro diagnostic
assay products based on or incorporating recombinant human tissue factor on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

          Now, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

          1.1   "AFFILIATE" means an individual, trust, business trust, joint
venture, partnership, corporation, association or any other entity which owns,
is owned by or is under common ownership with a party. For the purposes of this
definition, the term "owns" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms
"owned by" and "under common ownership with") as used with respect to any party,
shall mean the possession (directly or indirectly) of 50% or more of the
outstanding voting securities of a corporation or comparable equity interest in
any other type of entity.

          1.2   "COMMERCIAL PURPOSE" means the transfer or use of any
Single-Test PT Product for valuable consideration.

          1.3   "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" means any confidential or proprietary
information, including, without limitation, information related to the CORVAS
Patent Rights or the existence of, terms of, or performance of, this agreement,
whether in oral, written, graphic or electronic form.

          1.4   "CONTROL" means possession of the ability to grant a license or
sublicense as provided for herein without violating the terms of any agreement
or other arrangement with any Third Party.

          1.5   "CORVAS PATENT RIGHTS" means all rights under the patents and/or
patent applications set forth on Exhibit A hereto, and any and all patents
issuing thereon, owned by or under the Control of CORVAS, including, without
limitation, any and all substitutions, extensions (including supplemental
protection certificates), registrations, confirmations, reissues, divisionals,
continuations, continuations-in-part, re-examinations, renewals and foreign
counterparts of the aforementioned.

<PAGE>

          1.6   "SINGLE-TEST PT PRODUCT" means any IN-VITRO diagnostic assay
product, the manufacture, use, sale, offer to sell or import of which would
infringe a Valid Claim but for the license granted herein, which is marketed,
sold or distributed through (a) retail outlets, whether supplied directly or
through drug wholesalers, including drug stores, food stores, combination food
and drug stores and mass merchandisers; (b) direct marketing, including sales by
mail-order catalog, telemarketing or television marketing; (c) facilities for
use in on-site, non-laboratory medical testing as part of an overall employee
wellness program; or (d) physicians' offices (which do not have an on-site group
practice laboratory) and physicians for distribution to their patients for
self-testing.

          1.7   "TERM" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.

          1.8   "THIRD PARTY" means any entity other than LIFESCAN or CORVAS or
an Affiliate of LIFESCAN or CORVAS.

          1.9   "UNIT" means a single IN VITRO diagnostic assay (i.e., used for
an individual determination).

          1.10  "VALID CLAIM" means a claim of an unexpired patent within
Corvas Patent Rights which has not been held unpatentable or invalid by a
non-appealable decision of a court or other appropriate body of competent
jurisdiction.

                                    ARTICLE 2
                                GRANT OF LICENSE

          2.1   GRANT OF LICENSE TO CORVAS PATENT RIGHTS. Subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, CORVAS hereby grants to LIFESCAN a worldwide,
exclusive license, including the right to grant sublicenses, under the CORVAS
Patent Rights to develop, make, have made, use, offer for sale, sell and import
Single-Test PT Products for the Term.

          2.2   SUBLICENSES. LIFESCAN shall notify any sublicensee hereunder of
all rights and obligations of LIFESCAN under this Agreement which are
sublicensed to such sublicensee and shall notify CORVAS within 30 days of the
grant of any sublicense hereunder.

                                    ARTICLE 3
                                PRODUCT PAYMENTS

          3.1   LICENSE FEE. In partial consideration for the grant of the
license set forth in Section 2.1, LIFESCAN agrees to pay CORVAS a one-time,
non-refundable fee equal to [***] within 10 days after the Effective Date.

          3.2   ROYALTIES. During the Term, LIFESCAN shall pay to CORVAS (a) a
royalty equal to [***] for each Unit of Single-Test PT Product sold or
transferred by LIFESCAN or its Affiliates to any Third Party, or used by
LIFESCAN or its Affiliates for any Commercial Purpose, and (b) a royalty equal
to [***] for each Unit of Single-Test PT Product sold or transferred by any
sublicensee of LIFESCAN to any Third Party, or used by such sublicensee for any
Commercial Purpose.

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***Confidential Treatment Requested.

                                       2
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 4
                            PAYMENTS; RECORDS; AUDITS

          4.1   PAYMENT; REPORTS. Royalty payments and reports for the sale,
transfer or use, as the case may be, of Single-Test PT Products by LIFESCAN, its
Affiliates and sublicensees shall be calculated and reported for each calendar
quarter. All royalty payments due to CORVAS under this Agreement shall be paid
within 45 days of the end of each calendar quarter, unless otherwise
specifically provided herein. Each payment of royalties shall be accompanied by
a report of the number of Units of Single-Test PT Products sold, transferred or
used, as the case may be, including the royalties payable in U.S. dollars, in
sufficient detail to permit confirmation of the accuracy of the royalty payment
made.

          4.2   MANNER AND PLACE OF PAYMENT. All royalty payments due to CORVAS
under this Agreement shall be paid in U.S. dollars and shall be made by wire
transfer, unless otherwise specified by CORVAS.

          4.3   RECORDS AND AUDITS. During the Term and for a period of five
years thereafter, LIFESCAN shall keep complete and accurate records pertaining
to the sale or other disposition of Single-Test PT Products in sufficient detail
to permit CORVAS to confirm the accuracy of all payments due hereunder. CORVAS
shall have the right to cause an independent, certified public accountant
reasonably acceptable to LIFESCAN to audit such records to confirm sales of
Single-Test PT Products and royalty payments for the preceding year. Such audits
may be exercised during normal business hours once a year upon at least 30
working days' prior written notice to LIFESCAN. CORVAS shall bear the full cost
of such audit unless such audit discloses an underpayment by more than 5% of the
amount of the royalties due under this Agreement. In such case, LIFESCAN shall
bear the full cost of such audit.

          4.4   TAXES. All income taxes and taxes in lieu of income taxes levied
on account of the royalties accruing to CORVAS under this Agreement shall be
paid by CORVAS for its own account. If provision is made in law or regulation
for withholding, such tax shall be deducted from the royalty payment made by
LIFESCAN to the proper taxing authority and a receipt of payment of the tax
secured and promptly delivered to CORVAS. Each party agrees to assist the other
party in claiming exemption from or credit for such deductions or withholdings
under any double taxation or similar agreement or treaty from time to time in
force.

                                    ARTICLE 5
                                 CONFIDENTIALITY

          5.1   NONDISCLOSURE. During the Term and for a period of five years
thereafter, each party will maintain all Confidential Information of the other
party as confidential and will not disclose any such Confidential Information to
any Third Party or use any Confidential Information for any purpose, except (a)
as expressly authorized by this Agreement, (b) as required by law or court
order, or (c) disclosure may be made to its Affiliates, employees, agents,
consultants and other representatives so long as such persons are under an
obligation of confidentiality no less stringent than set forth herein. Each
party may use such Confidential Information only to the extent required to
accomplish the purposes of this Agreement. Each party will use at least the same
standard of care as it uses to protect proprietary or confidential information
of its own to ensure that its Affiliates, employees, agents, consultants and
other representatives do not disclose or make any unauthorized use of the
Confidential Information of the other party. Each party will promptly notify the
other upon discovery of any unauthorized use or disclosure of the Confidential
Information of the other party.

                                       3
<PAGE>

          5.2   EXCEPTIONS. Confidential Information shall not include any
information which the receiving party can prove by competent evidence:

                (a) is now, or hereafter becomes, through no act or failure to
act on the part of the receiving party, generally known or available;

                (b) is lawfully known by the receiving party at the time of
receiving such information;

                (c) is hereafter furnished to the receiving party by a Third
Party, as a matter of right and without restriction on disclosure; or

                (d) is the subject of a written permission to disclose provided
by the disclosing party.

                                    ARTICLE 6
                          INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

          6.1   APPLICATION, PROSECUTION AND MAINTENANCE OF CORVAS PATENT
RIGHTS. From and after the Effective Date, CORVAS shall be responsible for the
filing, prosecution and maintenance of all patent applications and patents
within the CORVAS Patent Rights. CORVAS shall keep LIFESCAN informed of
significant developments with regard to the filing, prosecution and maintenance
of patent applications and patents within the CORVAS Patent Rights. LIFESCAN
shall cooperate fully with CORVAS in the filing, prosecution and maintenance of
patent applications and patents within the CORVAS Patent Rights.

          6.2   REIMBURSEMENT OF PATENT EXPENSES. If Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics,
Inc. ("OCD") informs CORVAS in writing that OCD no longer wishes to reimburse
CORVAS for expenses relating to the prosecution and maintenance of any patent
application and/or patent within the CORVAS Patent Rights under that certain
License Agreement dated as of July 22, 1998 between CORVAS and OCD to sell
Multi-Test PT Products (as defined therein), then CORVAS shall approach LIFESCAN
to assume such obligation. If LIFESCAN likewise informs CORVAS in writing that
it does not wish to reimburse CORVAS for such patent expenses, effective upon
receipt of such written communication, then CORVAS shall be free, at its sole
discretion and expense, and with no further obligations to LIFESCAN under such
CORVAS Patent Rights, to either abandon the subject patent application or patent
or to continue said prosecution and maintenance.

          6.3   INFRINGEMENT BY THIRD PARTIES. LIFESCAN and CORVAS shall
promptly notify the other in writing of any alleged or threatened infringement
of any patent included in the CORVAS Patent Rights of which they become aware.
Both parties shall use reasonable efforts in cooperating with each other to
terminate such infringement without litigation. LIFESCAN shall have the first
right to bring and control any action or proceeding with respect to any such
infringement which relates to any Single-Test PT Product, at its own expense and
by counsel of its own choice, and CORVAS shall have the right, at its own
expense, to be represented in any such action by counsel of its own choice. If
LIFESCAN fails to bring an action or proceeding with respect to any infringement
of any CORVAS Patent Rights, which relates to any Single-Test PT Product, within
(a) 60 days following the notice of alleged infringement or (b) 10 days before
the time limit, if any, set forth in the appropriate laws and regulations for
the filing of such actions, whichever comes first, CORVAS shall have the right
to bring and control any such action, at its own expense and by counsel of its
own choice, and LIFESCAN shall have the right, at its own expense, to be


                                       4
<PAGE>

represented in any such action by counsel of its own choice. CORVAS, or a party
with which CORVAS may contract or otherwise designate, shall have the right to
bring and control any action or proceeding with respect to any such infringement
which does not relate to any Single-Test PT Product, at its own expense and by
counsel of its own choice. In the event a party brings an infringement action,
the other party shall cooperate fully, including if required to bring such
action, the furnishing of a power of attorney. Neither party shall have the
right to settle any patent infringement litigation under this Section 6.2 in a
manner that diminishes the rights or interests of the other party or obligates
the other party to make any payment or take any action without the consent of
such other party. Except as otherwise agreed to by the parties as part of a cost
sharing arrangement, any recovery realized as a result of such litigation, after
reimbursement of any litigation expenses of LIFESCAN and CORVAS, shall belong to
the party who brought the action.

                                    ARTICLE 7
                    REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS

          7.1   CORPORATE POWER. Each party hereby represents and warrants that
such party is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the state of
its incorporation and has full corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to carry out the provisions hereof.

          7.2   DUE AUTHORIZATION. Each party hereby represents and warrants
that such party is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
perform its obligations hereunder.

          7.3   BINDING AGREEMENT. Each party hereby represents and warrants
that this Agreement is a legal and valid obligation binding upon it and is
enforceable in accordance with its terms. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by such party does not conflict with any
agreement, instrument or understanding, oral or written, to which it is a party
or by which it may be bound, nor violate any law or regulation of any court,
governmental body or administrative or other agency having authority over it.

          7.4   OWNERSHIP OF CORVAS PATENT RIGHTS. CORVAS represents and
warrants that (a) CORVAS is the holder of all right, title and interest in and
to the CORVAS Patent Rights, (b) CORVAS has not granted any license under the
CORVAS Patent Rights and is under no obligation to grant any such license,
except to LIFESCAN and Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., and (c) there are no
outstanding liens, encumbrances, agreements or understandings of any kind,
either written, oral or implied, regarding the CORVAS Patent Rights which are
inconsistent or in conflict with this Agreement.

          7.5   DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS
AGREEMENT, CORVAS DOES NOT MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY TO LIFESCAN OF
ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE CORVAS PATENT RIGHTS,
INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF NONINFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY
OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

          7.6   LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. NEITHER CORVAS NOR LIFESCAN SHALL BE
ENTITLED TO RECOVER FROM THE OTHER PARTY ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL
OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE CORVAS PATENT RIGHTS OR THE LICENSE
GRANTED HEREUNDER.

                                       5
<PAGE>

          7.7   INDEMNIFICATION. LIFESCAN hereby agrees to indemnify, save,
defend and hold harmless CORVAS and its officers, directors, employees,
consultants and agents from and against any and all suits, claims, actions
demands, liabilities, expenses and losses, including reasonable legal expenses
and attorneys' fees ("Losses") arising directly or indirectly out of the
practice of the license granted hereunder, except to the extent such Losses
result from the gross negligence or the willful misconduct of CORVAS. In the
event CORVAS seeks indemnification under this Section 7.7, CORVAS shall inform
LIFESCAN of a claim as soon as reasonably practicable after CORVAS receives
notice of the claim, shall permit LIFESCAN to assume direction and control of
the defense of the claim (including the right to settle the claim solely for
monetary consideration), and shall cooperate as requested (at the expense of
LIFESCAN) in the defense of the claim.

                                    ARTICLE 8
                                TERM; TERMINATION

          8.1   TERM. This Agreement shall begin on the Effective Date and shall
end upon the expiration of the last to expire of the CORVAS Patent Rights (the
"Patent Expiration Date"), unless terminated earlier in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement (the "Term").

          8.2   TERMINATION.

                (a) Either party may terminate this Agreement prior to the
Patent Expiration Date upon or after the bankruptcy, insolvency, dissolution or
winding up of the other party (other than dissolution or winding up for the
purposes of reconstruction or amalgamation).

                (b) The non-breaching party may terminate this Agreement prior
to the Patent Expiration Date upon or after the breach of any material provision
of this Agreement by the other party if the breaching party, has not cured such
breach within 60 days following written notice thereof by the non-breaching
party.

                (c) Either party may terminate this Agreement prior to the
Patent Expiration Date upon or after LIFESCAN, its Affiliates and sublicensees
discontinue the marketing, sale, distribution and use of all Single-Test PT
Products that incorporate [***] following 60 days' written notice to the other
party.

                (d) LIFESCAN may terminate this Agreement prior to the Patent
Expiration Date following written notice to CORVAS if (i) LIFESCAN has paid at
least [***] of cumulative royalties to CORVAS under this Agreement, or (ii) in
the event LIFESCAN has not paid at least [***] of cumulative royalties to
CORVAS under this Agreement, LIFESCAN pays CORVAS the difference between [***]
and the cumulative royalties actually paid to CORVAS to date.

          8.3   EFFECT OF EXPIRATION OR TERMINATION.

                (a) Upon termination of this Agreement by either party pursuant
to Section 8.2(a), all rights to the CORVAS Patent Rights under this Agreement
shall revert to CORVAS and all royalty obligations under Section 3.2 shall
terminate.

                (b) Upon termination of this Agreement by either party pursuant
to Section 8.2(c), by CORVAS pursuant to Section 8.2(b) or by LIFESCAN pursuant
to Section 8.2(d), all rights to the CORVAS Patent Rights shall revert to
CORVAS, any and all sublicenses granted hereunder by LIFESCAN shall remain in
effect, but shall be assigned to CORVAS.

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***Confidential Treatment Requested.

                                       6
<PAGE>

                (c) Upon termination of this Agreement by LIFESCAN pursuant to
Section 8.2(b), the license granted under Section 2.1 shall remain in effect so
long as LIFESCAN does not breach its obligations to CORVAS under this Agreement,
and all royalty obligations under Section 3.2 shall terminate.

                (d) Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason other than
by CORVAS pursuant to Section 8.2, LIFESCAN shall have the right for a period of
18 months following the date of termination to finish any work-in-process and to
dispose of any Single-Test PT Products in its possession or control; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, LIFESCAN shall make all royalty payments to CORVAS relating to such
Single-Test PT Products as required under Section 3.2.

                (e) Expiration or termination of this Agreement shall not
relieve the parties of any obligation accruing prior to such expiration or
termination. The provisions of Sections 4.3, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7 and 8.3 and Articles
1, 5 and 9 shall survive termination or expiration of this Agreement.

                (f) Termination of this Agreement by a party pursuant to Section
8.2 shall not confer upon LIFESCAN any right to practice within the CORVAS
Patent Rights in the absence of a license to the CORVAS Patent Rights or other
such express authorization from CORVAS.

                                    ARTICLE 9
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

          9.1   FORCE MAJEURE. Neither party shall be held liable or responsible
to the other party nor be deemed to have defaulted under or breached this
Agreement for failure or delay in fulfilling or performing any term of this
Agreement when such failure or delay is caused by or results from causes beyond
the reasonable control of the affected party, including, but not limited to,
fire, floods, embargoes, war, acts of war (whether war be declared or not),
insurrections, riots, civil commotions, strikes, lockouts or other labor
disturbances, acts of God or acts, omissions or delays in acting by any
governmental authority or the other party.

          9.2   ASSIGNMENT.

                (a) Except as expressly provided hereunder, neither this
Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned or otherwise
transferred by either party without the prior written consent of the other party
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
either party may assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder
without the consent of the other party (i) in connection with the transfer or
sale of all or substantially all of the assets of such party to which this
Agreement pertains (for the avoidance of doubt, such assets shall consist of the
tangible and intangible property related to Single-Test PT Products for
monitoring or evaluating bleeding and/or clotting processes), (ii) in the event
of a merger or reorganization of such party with or into another party, or (iii)
to any Affiliate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such assignment to an
Affiliate shall not relieve the assigning party of its responsibilities for
performance of its obligations under this Agreement.

                (b) The rights and obligations of the parties under this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and
permitted assigns of the parties. Any assignment not in accordance with this
Agreement shall be void.

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<PAGE>

          9.3   PUBLICITY. The parties agree that neither party will originate
any press release or other public announcement, written or oral, or otherwise
make any disclosure relating to the existence or terms of or performance under
this Agreement without the prior written approval of the other party, except as
may otherwise be required by law, including compliance with securities laws (in
which case the disclosing party shall still consult with the other party prior
to such disclosure).

          9.4   GOVERNING LAW AND ARBITRATION. All matters affecting the
interpretation, validity and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by
the laws of the State of California. Any and all disputes between the parties
relating in any way to the execution of this Agreement and/or the validity,
construction, meaning, enforceability, or performance of this Agreement or any
of its provisions, or the intent of the parties in entering into this Agreement,
or any dispute relating to patent validity or infringement arising under this
Agreement, shall be settled by arbitration. Such arbitration shall be conducted
in San Diego, California if initiated by LIFESCAN, or in San Francisco,
California if initiated by CORVAS, in accordance with the rules then pertaining
to the American Arbitration Association with a panel of three arbitrators. The
arbitrators shall be selected from the National Panel of Arbitrators of the
American Arbitration Association (the "AAA"). Each party shall select one
arbitrator and the two selected arbitrators shall select the third arbitrator.
If the two selected arbitrators cannot agree on a third arbitrator then the AAA
shall select the third arbitrator from the National Panel of Arbitrators.
Reasonable discovery as determined by the arbitrators shall apply to the
arbitration proceeding. The law of the State of New Jersey shall apply to the
arbitration proceedings. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may
be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

          9.5   WAIVER. Except as specifically provided for herein, the waiver
from time to time by either of the parties of any of their rights or their
failure to exercise any remedy shall not operate or be construed as a continuing
waiver of the same rights or remedies or of any other of such party's rights or
remedies provided in this Agreement.

          9.6   SEVERABILITY. If any term, covenant or condition of this
Agreement or the application thereof to any party or circumstance shall, to any
extent, be held to be invalid or unenforceable, then (a) the remainder of this
Agreement, or the application of such term, covenant or condition to parties or
circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable,
shall not be affected thereby and each term, covenant or condition of this
Agreement shall be valid and be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law;
and (b) the parties hereto covenant and agree to renegotiate any such term,
covenant or application thereof in good faith to provide a reasonably acceptable
alternative to the term, covenant or condition of this Agreement or the
application thereof that is invalid or unenforceable, it being the intent of the
parties that the basic purposes of this Agreement are to be effectuated.

          9.7   ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT. This Agreement sets forth all of
the covenants, promises, agreements, warranties, representations, conditions and
understandings between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of
this Agreement, and supersedes and terminates all prior agreements and
understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this
Agreement. There are no covenants, promises, agreements, warranties,
representations, conditions or understandings with respect to the subject matter
hereof, either oral or written, between the parties other than as set forth
herein. No subsequent alteration, amendment, change or addition to this
Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto unless reduced to writing and
signed by the respective authorized officers of the parties.

                                       8
<PAGE>

          9.8   RELATIONSHIP OF THE PARTIES. It is expressly agreed that CORVAS
 and LIFESCAN shall be independent contractors and that the relationship between
 the two parties shall not constitute a partnership, joint venture or agency of
 any kind. Neither party shall have the authority to make any statements,
 representations or commitments of any kind, or to take any action, which shall
 be binding on the other, without the prior written authorization of the other
 party.

          9.9   NOTICES. Any notices or communications provided for in this
 Agreement to be made by either of the parties to the other shall be in writing
 and delivered personally or sent by United States mail, registered or
 certified, postage paid, by overnight delivery service such as FedEx or UPS or
 by facsimile, with confirmation of receipt, addressed as follows:

 If to CORVAS:                                        CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                                      3030 Science Park Road
                                                      San Diego, CA 92121
                                                      Attn: Corporate Secretary
                                                      Phone No. (619) 455-9800
                                                      Fax No. ( 619) 455-7895

 If to LIFESCAN:                                      David Van Avermaete
          Executive Vice President
          LifeScan, Inc.
          1000 Gibraltar Drive
          Milpitas, CA 95035-6312
          Phone No. (408)942-3746
          Fax No. (408) 942-8268

          Either party may by like notice specify or change an address to which
notices and communications shall thereafter be sent. Notices sent by facsimile
shall be effective upon confirmation of receipt, notices sent by mail or
overnight delivery service shall be effective upon receipt, and notices given
personally shall be effective when delivered.

          9.10  HEADINGS. The captions contained in this Agreement are not a
part of this Agreement, but are merely guides or labels to assist in locating
and reading the several Articles hereof.

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

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<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first set forth above.

 CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.                     LIFESCAN, INC.

 /s/ RANDALL E. WOODS  11-6-98                  /s/ DAVID VAN AVERMAETE  7-31-98
 -----------------------------                  --------------------------------
 Randall E. Woods                               David Van Avermaete
 President and Chief Executive Officer          Executive Vice President









                                LICENSE AGREEMENT

                                       10
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                               EXHIBIT A
                                                               ---------
                                                         CORVAS PATENT RIGHTS
                                                         --------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Docket No.        Title                                                   Serial Number        Filing Date
Appl. Type        (Inventor)                                              PATENT NUMBER        (Issue Date)        Status
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>               <C>                                                     <C>                  <C>                 <C>
[***]             [***]                                                   07/612,118           [***]               [***]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[***]             [***]                                                   08/126,668           [***]               [***]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[***]             [***]                                                   08/427,683           [***]               [***]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
195/185           Tissue factor based prothrombin time reagent(Brown)     07/784,326           10-29-91            ISSUED PATENT
CIP                                                                       US5,314,695          (5-24-94)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
195/185PCT        [***]                                                   PCT                  [***]               [***]
                                                                          US91/08174
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[***]             [***]                                                   EPO                  [***]               [***]
                                                                          92901065
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[***]             [***]                                                   JPN                  [***]               [***]
                                                                          501271/1992
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[***]             [***]                                                   CAN                  [***]               [***]
                                                                          2096109
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

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***Confidential Treatment Requested.

                                       11
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Docket No.        Title                                                   Serial Number        Filing Date
Appl. Type        (Inventor)                                              PATENT NUMBER        (Issue Date)        Status
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>               <C>                                                     <C>                  <C>                 <C>
[***]             [***]                                                   AUS                  [***]               [***]
                                                                          90907/91
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[***]             [***]                                                   AUS                  [***]               [***]
                                                                          44489/96
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[***]             [***]                                                   FIN                  [***]               [***]
                                                                          932148
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[***]             [***]                                                   IRE                  [***]               [***]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[***]             [***]                                                   KOR                  [***]               [***]
                                                                          701454/93
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[***]             [***]                                                   MEX                  [***]               [***]

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195/185NZ*        Tissue factor based prothrombin time reagent(Brown)     NZ240577             11-13-91            ISSUED PATENT
                                                                          (NZ240577)           (11-5-96)
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195/185-D1NZ      Tissue factor based prothrombin time reagent(Brown)     NZ264,556              -  -94            ISSUED PATENT
DIV                                                                       (NZ264,556)          (11-6-96)
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[***]             [***]                                                   NOR                  [***]               [***]
                                                                          931708
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[***]             [***]                                                   POR                  [***]               [***]
                                                                          99499
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

*Indicates application was filed directly in national patent office; not through
 PCT.

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