MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS INC
10-K405/A, 1999-01-29
MEDICINAL CHEMICALS & BOTANICAL PRODUCTS
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                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, D. C. 20549
             _________________________________________________________
                                          
                                    FORM 10-K/A
                                          
                  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                        THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                                          
    For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998      Commission File No. 1-4430
              ________________________________________________________
                                          
                            MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
                                          
     Delaware                                             87-0279983
     (State or other jurisdiction of                  (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)               Identification Number)

                       8899 University Center Lane, Suite 400
                            San Diego, California 92122
                                   (619) 453-4040
                (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, 
         including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)
                                          
             _________________________________________________________
                                          

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

     Title of Each Class              Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
     -------------------              -----------------------------------------
Common Stock, $.001 Par Value                  American Stock Exchange
Redeemable Common Stock Purchase Warrants      American Stock Exchange
          

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None 
             _________________________________________________________
                                          
     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]

     The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by persons considered
by the registrant for this purpose to be nonaffiliates of the registrant was
approximately $152,451,889 on December 28, 1998, when the closing price of such
stock, as reported in the American Stock Exchange, was $15.375.

     The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's Common Stock, $.001
par value, as of December 28, 1998 was 9,915,570.
           _____________________________________________________________
                                          
                        DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
                                          
1.   Certain portions of the Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders for the
     fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, are incorporated into Part II hereof.
2.   Certain portions of the Registrant's Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting
     of Stockholders to be held on February 19, 1999, which will be mailed on or
     about January 11, 1998, are incorporated into Part III hereof.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

<PAGE>

     THIS FORM 10-K CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS REGARDING OUR BUSINESS
AND PRODUCTS AND OUR PROJECTED PROSPECTS AND QUALITIES.  SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS INCLUDE STATEMENTS REGARDING THE RESULTS OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
EFFORTS AND CLINICAL TRIALS, AND THE SCOPE AND SUCCESS OF FUTURE OPERATIONS.  
SUCH STATEMENTS ARE ONLY PREDICTIONS AND ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE INHERENT IN THE PROCESS OF DISCOVERING AND
DEVELOPING DRUGS THAT CAN BE PROVEN TO BE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FOR USE AS HUMAN
THERAPEUTICS AND THE ENDEAVOR OF BUILDING A BUSINESS AROUND SUCH POTENTIAL
PRODUCTS.  ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN THIS
FORM 10-K.  FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH DIFFERENCES INCLUDE,
BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE DISCUSSED IN THIS FORM 10-K INCLUDING, WITHOUT
LIMITATION, IN THE SECTION OF ITEM I ENTITLED "RISK FACTORS."  AS A RESULT, YOU
ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO PLACE RELIANCE ON THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. 
                                          
                                       PART 1
                                          
ITEM 1.   BUSINESS

     Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is referred to throughout this report as
"Maxim", the "Company", "we" or "us".

OVERVIEW

     Maxim is developing novel drugs, therapies and vaccines for cancer and 
infectious diseases.  Clinical trials of our lead drug MAXAMINE-TM- in the 
treatment of malignant melanoma and acute myelogenous leukemia have shown a 
more than doubling of survival and remission times while maintaining patient 
quality of life during treatment.  Earlier-stage clinical studies have also 
suggested promise in renal cell carcinoma and hepatitis C.  We are currently 
testing MAXAMINE in three Phase III cancer clinical trials in 12 countries 
around the world.
   
     MAXAMINE, an immuno-modulator, is designed to offer a safer treatment 
that extends life for seriously ill patients.  MAXAMINE is used in 
biotherapy, a class of treatments that are intended to improve the ability of 
a patient's immune system to identify, disable and destroy malignant or 
infected cells. MAXAMINE THERAPY combines the administration of MAXAMINE, 
which protects critical immune cells, with the administration of 
biotherapeutic agents such as cytokines designed to stimulate these immune 
cells.  Because MAXAMINE THERAPY is designed to capitalize upon and enhance a 
patient's own immune capabilities, we believe that it has the potential to be 
used in a wide range of cancers and diseases that can be recognized by the 
immune system.

     In addition to extending survival, maintaining the quality of a 
patient's life during treatment is an important objective of MAXAMINE 
THERAPY.  MAXAMINE is designed to allow self-administration by patients in 
their own homes, and is believed to reduce toxic side effects of cytokines 
and other biological response modifiers.

     We are conducting three Phase III clinical trials of MAXAMINE THERAPY 
for the treatment of cancer.  In June 1997 we commenced a 300-patient Phase 
III clinical trial of MAXAMINE THERAPY for advanced malignant melanoma in the 
United States.  A separate international Phase III advanced malignant 
melanoma trial centered in Europe, Australia and Canada was initiated in 
November 1997. Lastly, we commenced a 400-patient Phase III clinical trial 
for acute myelogenous leukemia ("AML") in the United States, Europe, 
Australia, Canada and Israel  in February 1998.  Each of these trials are 
designed to independently support application for approval to market 
MAXAMINE.   

     In two completed Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of advanced 
malignant melanoma, MAXAMINE THERAPY substantially improved patient survival. 
Median survival time for patients treated with MAXAMINE THERAPY in the two 
studies exceeded 13 and 15 months, respectively, as compared with reported 
median survival times of approximately six to seven months for existing 
available treatments.  In patients for which the melanoma had metastasized to 
the liver, MAXAMINE THERAPY improved median survival time to 19 months 
compared to predicted survival times of approximately four months for these 
patients. 

                                       1

<PAGE>

     Our Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of AML demonstrated a 
substantial improvement of disease-free remission intervals.  As of September 
1998, after a median of 24 months of follow-up, 58% of patients treated with 
MAXAMINE THERAPY during their first complete remission ("CR1") remained in 
leukemia-free remission.  Less than 20-25% would be expected to remain in 
remission under current treatments.  Furthermore, 65% of patients treated 
with MAXAMINE THERAPY without concurrent diseases or antecedent illnesses 
remained in leukemia-free remission.  Patients who relapsed and achieved a 
second or greater remission ("CR2+") and were subsequently treated with 
MAXAMINE THERAPY had a median time in remission in excess of 21 months as 
compared with the historic reported median time in remission of approximately 
six months under the current standard of care. 

     A Phase II clinical trial of MAXAMINE in the treatment of renal cell 
carcinoma was initiated in Europe in late 1998.  We have also tested MAXAMINE 
in a Phase I trial in hepatitis C (HCV) patients. The study suggested that 
the combination of MAXAMINE with interferon-alpha (IFN-a) is safe in the 
treatment of HCV patients, and that MAXAMINE may enhance the efficacy of 
IFN-a in patients who were previously nonresponsive to IFN-a therapy.  We 
currently plan to start a Phase II trial in hepatitis C in 1999. 

     We are also developing MAXDERM-TM-, a MAXAMINE-related drug for the 
treatment of dermatological conditions, infections and conditions for which 
topical therapy is appropriate.  A study in patients with herpes labialis 
(cold sores) that suggested that MAXDERM resolved lesions more effectively 
than a placebo control.  Other potential uses for MAXDERM include the 
treatment of oral mucositis, decubitus ulcers, shingles, burns and related 
conditions.

     Our third technology, MAXVAX-TM-, is currently in preclinical 
development and is designed to facilitate a new class of needle-free vaccines 
for major respiratory infections, sexually transmitted diseases, 
gastrointestinal tract diseases and other infectious diseases.  Nearly 85 
percent of infectious diseases enter the body through the mucosal membranes 
lining the nose, mouth, eyes, ears, lungs, intestinal and urogenital tracts.  
We hope that mucosal vaccines, using the MAXVAX carrier, can provide immune 
protection at these mucosal surfaces. 

MAXAMINE DRUG FOR CANCER AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

     CANCER MARKET

     Cancer comprises a large and diverse group of diseases resulting from 
the uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal (malignant) cells. Most cancers 
will spread beyond their original sites and invade surrounding tissue and may 
also metastasize to more distant sites and ultimately cause death in the 
patient unless effectively treated. To be effective, cancer treatment must 
target not only the primary tumor site but also distant metastases. CANCER 
FACTS AND FIGURES, a report from the American Cancer Society, estimates that 
a total of approximately 1,230,000 new cases and approximately 565,000 deaths 
will be reported for invasive cancers in the United States in 1998. 
Predominant forms of cancer include leukemia and lymphoma, breast, lung, 
urinary, prostate, melanoma, ovarian, colon, rectal and brain cancers. The 
National Cancer Institute estimates that the direct medical cost of treating 
cancer in the United States is $35 billion per year. Information regarding 
certain cancer indications is summarized below. 

 Estimated Incidence for Selected Cancers for 1998 for Initial Target Markets*

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              ANNUAL    
                                                     --------------------
                                                     NEW CASES     DEATHS
                                                     ---------     ------
<S>                                                  <C>           <C>
Malignant Melanoma                                    83,000        15,000
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia                            19,000        13,000
Renal Cell Carcinoma                                  60,000        23,000
All Invasive Cancers                               2,460,000     1,130,000
</TABLE>

     *These estimates are based upon the American Cancer Society's 1998 FACTS
AND FIGURES doubled to provide an estimate of incidence for the European Union
and Australia. 

                                       2

<PAGE>

     Predominant methods of treating cancer generally include surgery, 
radiation therapy, chemotherapy and biotherapy.  Although these techniques 
have achieved success for certain cancers, particularly when detected in the 
early stages, each has drawbacks which may significantly limit their success 
in treating certain types and stages of cancer.  For example, cancer may 
recur even after repeated attempts at surgical removal of tumors or other 
treatment.  Surgery may be successful in removing visible tumors but may 
leave smaller nests of cancer cells in the patient which continue to 
proliferate.  Radiation or chemotherapy are relatively imprecise methods for 
the destruction of cancer cells (i.e., such therapies can kill both cancer 
cells and normal cells) and have toxic side effects which may themselves be 
lethal to the patient; these toxic side effects may also restrict the 
application of these treatment modes to less than optimal levels required to 
ensure eradication of the cancer. 

     The high number of cancer-related deaths indicate the need for more 
efficacious therapies for many patients.  In addition, we believe that new 
cancer therapies will increasingly be expected to maintain patients' quality 
of life during treatment. 

HEPATITIS C MARKET

     The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 
approximately four million Americans are infected with the hepatitis C virus 
("HCV").  The World Health Organization and other sources estimate that at 
least 60 million people are chronically infected worldwide.  Approximately 
85% of HCV patients develop long-term or chronic infection, possibly leading 
to serious liver diseases, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer 
and death.  HCV is the leading cause of liver cancer and the primary reason 
for liver transplantation in many countries.  The majority of patients do not 
effectively respond to existing therapies or to therapies known by us to be 
under development.

BIOTHERAPY FOR CANCER AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

     In recent years, significant research has focused on attempts to 
capitalize upon and enhance the immune system's ability to combat cancer and 
infectious diseases, a treatment approach known as biotherapy.  New 
cytokines, drugs, vaccines, chemotherapeutic agents and advanced radiation 
therapy technologies are continually being developed in attempts to protect 
and enhance the response of the immune system.  Many of these technologies, 
however, have demonstrated significant limitations in their ability to treat 
cancer and certain infectious agents.  These limitations may include marginal 
efficacy, severe adverse side effects and the development of multi-drug 
resistance. 
  
     Since the early 1980's, much research in the biotherapy area has 
included the testing of cytokines, naturally occurring proteins, such as 
interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-alpha (IFN-a) for the treatment of a 
number of cancers and infectious diseases including advanced malignant 
melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, hepatitis C and AML.  Two kinds of immune 
cells, the natural killer-cells (NK cells) and T cells, possess an ability to 
kill and support the killing of cancer cells and virally infected cells.  
IL-2 and IFN-a are potent stimulators of NK cells and T Cells.  However, 
cytokines are often rendered ineffective in the treatment of patients as the 
NK cells and T cells are suppressed by another component of the body's immune 
system.  As a result, cytokines demonstrate a clinically significant tumor 
response in only a small portion of cancer patients and often produce severe 
adverse side effects.  Moreover, even with recent advances in the use of 
IFN-a in combination with anti-viral drugs or in sustained release 
formulations, the majority of HCV patients do not effectively respond to 
existing therapy.

MAXAMINE TECHNOLOGY

     The method of action of MAXAMINE THERAPY is intended to improve the 
immune system's ability to identify, disable and destroy malignant or 
infected cells. MAXAMINE may be key to many types of biotherapy -- the use of 
the body's own immune or biologic systems to fight cancer and infectious 
diseases.  MAXAMINE is based on a naturally occurring molecule, and its 
usefulness in biotherapy was discovered by Maxim's collaborative scientists 
at the University of Goteborg, Sweden.  

                                      3

<PAGE>

     Two kinds of immune cells, NK Cells and cytotoxic T Cells, possess an 
ability to kill and support the killing of cancer cells and virally infected 
cells. Maxim's researchers have shown, however, that NK Cells and T Cells are 
suppressed by phagocytes, another component of the body's immune system. 
Phagocytes are a class of white blood cells found in abundant quantities at 
the site of tumors and viral infections.  The release of free radicals by 
phagocytes results in apoptosis (programmed cell death) of NK Cells and T 
Cells, thereby destroying their cytotoxic capability and rendering the immune 
response against the tumor or virally infected cell largely ineffective. 

     MAXAMINE is designed to modulate the immune system to protect NK Cells 
and T Cells, allowing biotherapy to be more effective.  When histamine, a 
natural molecule present in the body, or any other molecules in the class 
known as H2 receptor agonists, binds to the H2 receptor on the phagocytes, 
the production and release of free radicals is temporarily prevented.  The 
prevention of the release of free radicals thereby allows immune-activating 
agents, such as IL-2 and IFN-a, to more effectively activate NK Cells and T 
Cells to enhance their killing of tumor cells or virally infected cells.  
     
     We have formulated MAXAMINE, an analogue of histamine, so that it may be 
delivered to patients through a subcutaneous injection.  Among the body of 
proprietary protection surrounding our MAXAMINE technology are United States 
and international patents and patent applications covering not only MAXAMINE, 
or histamine, but the use of any as H2 receptor agonist in the treatment of 
cancer and infectious diseases, as well as patent applications covering their 
use in other medical applications.  See "Patents, Licenses and Proprietary 
Rights."

     In summary, MAXAMINE THERAPY combines the administration of MAXAMINE, 
which protects critical immune cells, with the administration of 
biotherapeutic agents designed to stimulate these immune cells.  The results 
of the series of clinical trials conducted to date highlight the potential of 
MAXAMINE to improve the efficacy of certain biotherapeutic agents.  Because 
MAXAMINE has been shown to increase the effectiveness of cytokines, lower 
doses of cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-a can potentially be used in MAXAMINE 
THERAPY without compromising therapeutic effectiveness, thereby reducing 
serious side effects associated with the cytokines.  Among the potential 
benefits of MAXAMINE THERAPY is the utilization and enhancement of the body's 
immune capabilities, thereby making the treatment potentially applicable to a 
broad range of cancers and infectious diseases recognizable by the immune 
system.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF MAXAMINE

     We believe that MAXAMINE may be integral in the growing trend toward 
combination therapy for certain cancers and infectious diseases, and may 
offer a number of important clinical and commercial advantages relative to 
current therapies or approaches, including: 

     -    EXTENDING LIFE.  Phase II clinical trials and other data have provided
          evidence of improved therapeutic efficacy (extended survival and
          remission intervals) over approved therapies or standards of care. 

     -    MAINTAINING QUALITY OF LIFE.  Phase II clinical trials and other data
          have indicated that MAXAMINE THERAPY may reduce the toxic side effects
          of cytokines and other biological response modifiers, thereby allowing
          the maintenance of the patient's quality of life during this
          outpatient therapy. 

     -    OUTPATIENT ADMINISTRATION.  MAXAMINE can be self-administered on an
          outpatient basis, subcutaneously, in contrast to the in-hospital
          administration required for many other therapies. 

     -    COST EFFECTIVE.  Lower doses of IL-2 or IFN-a are possible for many
          patients, potentially reducing the cost per treatment cycle below
          existing treatment regimens.  In addition, the delivery of MAXAMINE
          THERAPY on an outpatient basis may eliminate the costs associated with

                                       4

<PAGE>

          in-hospital patient care.  These factors, combined with the potential
          improvements in efficacy, contribute favorably to the assessment of
          benefit versus cost for this therapy.   

MAXAMINE CLINICAL TRIAL STATUS

     Building upon the body of human data generated from a series of Phase II 
clinical trials, we have initiated a clinical development program 
encompassing three concurrent Phase III clinical trials of MAXAMINE THERAPY 
for the treatment of cancer based in 12 countries.  Each of these trials is 
designed to independently support regulatory submissions for approval to 
market MAXAMINE. Our Phase III trials target advanced malignant melanoma and 
AML, but we believe that these are only the first potential uses for the 
drug.  A Phase II trial is underway in renal cell carcinoma, and 
earlier-stage trials have been conducted in hepatitis C and multiple myeloma.
  
     The table summarizes our current and completed clinical trial activities 
for each disease we currently target or plan to target. We cannot predict 
when clinical studies for any of the indications set forth below will be 
completed or whether the results of such studies will support the filing of 
New Drug Applications or the equivalent.  In addition, we can give no 
assurance as to when we will be able to commence planned clinical studies. 

                       MAXAMINE THERAPY Clinical Trial Status
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          INDICATION               PHASE               STATUS                  LOCATION
          ----------               -----               ------                  --------
 <S>                          <C>                    <C>                  <C>
 Advanced Malignant Melanoma  Phase III trial        Ongoing              United States
 Advanced Malignant Melanoma  Phase III trial        Ongoing              Five countries  (Europe,
                                                                          Australia and Canada)
 Acute Myelogenous Leukemia   Phase III trial        Ongoing              12 countries  (United States, 
                                                                          Europe, Australia 
                                                                          Canada and Israel)
 Renal Cell Carcinoma         Phase II trial         Ongoing              Sweden, Denmark and 
                                                                          United Kingdom
 Multiple Myeloma             Phase I trial          Completed            Sweden
 Hepatitis C                  Phase I trial          Completed            Sweden
 Hepatitis C                  Phase II trial         Planned for 1999     To be determined
 Prostate Adenocarcinoma      Preclinical research   Completed            Sweden
</TABLE>

     ADVANCED MALIGNANT MELANOMA

     Malignant melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer.  Our initial 
Phase II clinical trial was conducted in Sweden at the Sahlgrenska University 
Hospital in Goteborg.  In that study, fifteen patients with advanced 
metastatic malignant melanoma were treated with a high-dose regimen of IL-2 
together with daily injections of IFN-a in five-day cycles. Eight of the 
patients were also given MAXAMINE THERAPY, which consisted of MAXAMINE 
injections twice daily in combination with treatment with IL-2 and IFN-a. 

     The results of the initial Phase II clinical trial indicated that MAXAMINE
may be given as an effective adjuvant to IL-2/IFN-a therapy.  In the seven
patients who did not receive MAXAMINE THERAPY, one partial response (defined as
a 50% reduction of the total tumor burden) was observed in a patient with skin
and lymph node melanoma.  In the eight patients treated with MAXAMINE THERAPY,
four partial and two mixed responses were observed.  Notably, two of the
MAXAMINE THERAPY patients had complete resolution of their extensive liver
metastases.  Sites of response in the MAXAMINE THERAPY patients also included
skin, lymph nodes, skeleton, spleen and muscle.  In patients receiving MAXAMINE
THERAPY, there was a statistically significant improvement in overall survival
(p  < 0.03).  The MAXAMINE THERAPY patients had a mean survival of 13.3 months,
double the mean 6.8 month survival in the control group.  One patient remained
completely free of detectable disease more than four years after the
commencement of treatment with MAXAMINE THERAPY. 

     A second advanced malignant melanoma study was undertaken at the 
Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Sweden to determine if MAXAMINE THERAPY 
utilizing a lower-dose regimen of the same cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-a)

                                       5

<PAGE>

in combination with the same doses of MAXAMINE would retain the efficacy seen 
in the first study, while reducing the side effects of the cytokine portion 
of the treatment.  In addition to survival, a goal for MAXAMINE THERAPY is to 
lower the toxicity of biotherapy and better maintain the patients' quality of 
life. Lowering the doses of the cytokines reduces many of the side effects of 
these drugs, thereby facilitating tolerance of the therapy and even allowing 
self-administration of the drugs at home.  The median survival time of 
patients with advanced (stage IV) malignant melanoma using conventional 
treatments is historically reported to be six to seven months.  In this 
second, low-dose malignant melanoma study, 11 patients had a median survival 
time of 15 months, more than double the rate generally reported for the 
normal course of the disease and exceeding the favorable results from the 
high-dose study described above.  In this second malignant melanoma clinical 
trial, MAXAMINE THERAPY was well-tolerated and most patients were able to 
treat themselves at home. 

     In the first two trials the median survival time exceeded 13 and 14 
months, respectively, compared to reported medians of six to seven months for 
conventional treatments.  In addition, of the seven patients having liver 
metastases, treatment with MAXAMINE THERAPY was shown to significantly 
improve survival outcome (median of 19 months survival as a group) compared 
to the predicted four months survival time for these patients. 

     In July 1997, we commenced a multi-center Phase III clinical trial of 
MAXAMINE THERAPY in the United States for the treatment of advanced malignant 
melanoma.  In this clinical trial, advanced malignant melanoma patients are 
being treated with a combination of MAXAMINE and IL-2, while patients in the 
control group are being treated with IL-2 alone.  The primary endpoint of the 
study is overall patient survival, and the secondary endpoints include time 
to progression, tumor response rate, duration of response and quality of 
life.  The minimum enrollment objective for the study was 240 patients.  More 
than 50 clinical sites in the United States are participating in the study, 
and we have exceeded the original enrollment goal for the study.  We plan to 
terminate enrollment in the first half of 1999 after enrolling approximately 
300 patients.

     We commenced a second international Phase III trial of MAXAMINE THERAPY 
for the treatment of advanced malignant melanoma in November 1997 based in 
five countries, including clinical sites in Europe,  Australia and Canada.  
Patients in the MAXAMINE THERAPY arm will receive a co-administration of 
MAXAMINE plus low-dose IL-2 and IFN-a, while patients in the control arm will 
receive dacarbazine (DTIC), the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for 
the treatment of advanced malignant melanoma.  DTIC has a reported survival 
benefit of six to seven months in advanced malignant melanoma patients.  The 
international study will be designed to encompass approximately 300 patients. 

     Our two Phase III malignant melanoma trials are designed to complement 
each other by addressing separate clinical and marketing issues.  The United 
States trial is designed to demonstrate that treatment with a combination of 
MAXAMINE and IL-2 is better at extending patient survival than the 
administration of IL-2 alone.  The international trial is designed to 
demonstrate that MAXAMINE THERAPY is better at extending patient survival 
than dacarbazine (DTIC), a standard treatment throughout the world for 
advanced malignant melanoma.  A secondary endpoint of both trials is to 
evaluate patient quality of life while on MAXAMINE THERAPY.

     ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA ("AML")

     Acute Myelogenous Leukemia is the most common form of acute leukemia in 
adults, and prospects for long-term survival are poor for the majority of 
patients.  Once diagnosed with AML, patients are typically treated with 
chemotherapy, and the majority achieve complete remission ("CR").  
Unfortunately 75-80% of patients who achieve their first CR ("CR1") will 
relapse, and the median time in remission before relapse is only 12 months 
with current treatments.  Relapsed patients are typically treated again with 
chemotherapy, and many of these patients die during treatment.  Among those 
relapsed patients who do survive treatment and achieve a second complete 
remission ("CR2"), these subsequent remissions normally have a shorter 
duration than the prior CR (a median of only six months in the case of CR2 
patients). 
 
     We conducted a Phase II study in Sweden in which 39 AML patients in 
remission were treated with MAXAMINE THERAPY.  The objective of MAXAMINE 
THERAPY is to treat AML patients in remission with the combination of 
MAXAMINE and low doses of IL-2 to prevent relapse and prolong leukemia-free 
survival while 

                                      6

<PAGE>

maintaining a good quality of life for patients during treatment. The intent 
is to augment the body's ability to scavenge and attack residual leukemic 
cells.
      
     In the Phase II study, patients treated in their first remission with 
MAXAMINE THERAPY experienced a substantial increase in leukemia-free 
survival, highlighted by the following updated clinical results as of 
September 1, 1998 after a median 24 months of follow-up:

     -    58% (15 of 26) of all CR1 patients treated with MAXAMINE remained in
          leukemia-free remission.  A prior study of AML patients suggested that
          only 20-25% of patients would be expected to be alive after two years.
          
     -    65% (13 of 20) of CR1 patients without concurrent diseases or
          antecedent illnesses treated with MAXAMINE remained in leukemia-free
          remission.
     
     -    After a median of 24 months of follow up, the median time to relapse
          had not been reached in this study as more than 50% of the MAXAMINU-
          treated CR1 patients remained leukemia-free.  By contrast, under the
          normal course for AML, the median time to relapse would be expected to
          be reached after only 12 months.

     These results were achieved despite the fact that the patients treated 
with MAXAMINE were a relatively older group of patients and more than half 
(15 of 26) of the patients were categorized as high risk with a poor 
prognosis for long-term survival.

     Patients treated in their second or subsequent remission ("CR2+") 
historically have a poor prognosis, with about 5% achieving long-term 
survival. The 13 CR2+ patients treated with MAXAMINE THERAPY in the Phase II 
study experienced a substantial increase in remission duration, and the 
median time to relapse for the CR2+ patients was 21 months, more than three 
times the six-month historic median. Remission inversion (prolonging the 
duration of CR2+ to that equal to or exceeding the patient's prior remission 
duration) was achieved in 8 of 11 (73%) patients treated with MAXAMINE 
THERAPY as compared with approximately 10% to 20% under the current standard 
of care.

     In February 1998, we commenced a Phase III AML clinical trial based in 
12 countries, including clinical sites in the United States, Europe, 
Australia, Canada and Israel.  The trial is designed as a remission therapy 
to demonstrate that MAXAMINE THERAPY can prolong leukemia-free remission time 
and prevent relapse in AML patients compared to the current standard of care, 
which is no therapy during remission.  In the study, patients in CR2+ will be 
evaluated for up to 18 months, while patients in CR1 will be evaluated up to 
24 months.   The trial is designed to include up to 400 patients.

     RENAL CELL CARCINOMA

     Advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), cancer of the kidneys, is resistant 
to radiation therapy and chemotherapy and patients have a poor prognosis for 
survival.  A pilot study of six RCC patients was conducted at the Sahlgrenska 
Hospital in Gothenburg to evaluate the safety and feasibility of MAXAMINE 
THERAPY in this patient group.  In the small study, three patients were 
treated with MAXAMINE and cytokines (IFN-a and IL-2) and achieved a mean 
survival of 29 months, while another three patients were treated with the 
cytokines alone and achieved a mean survival of four months. 

     In late 1998 we initiated a Phase II clinical trial of MAXAMINE THERAPY 
in the treatment of patients with RCC.  The trial is designed to evaluate 
MAXAMINE THERAPY, consisting in this trial of the combination of MAXAMINE, a 
natural cytokine Interferon Alfanative-Registered Trademark- and IL-2, in the 
treatment of late-stage RCC patients.  Under the trial design, approximately 
40 patients are expected to be enrolled and treated for a period of up to 
nine months.

     HEPATITIS C (HCV)

                                       7

<PAGE>

     Hepatitis C ("HCV"), a viral infection that is estimated to afflict 4 
million people in the United States and at least 60 million people worldwide, 
is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer and the primary reason 
for liver transplantation in the United States.  IFN-a is the primary 
treatment for HCV.  However, even with recent advances in the use of IFN-a in 
combination with anti-viral drugs or in sustained release formulations, the 
majority of patients do not effectively respond to therapy.

     In 1998 we reported results from a Phase I feasibility study in HCV 
patients using MAXAMINE THERAPY.  The study indicated that the combination of 
MAXAMINE with IFN-a is safe in the treatment of HCV patients, and that 
MAXAMINE may enhance the efficacy of IFN-a in patients who were previously 
nonresponsive to IFN-a therapy.  In the study, 10 patients who were 
characterized as nonresponders to previous IFN-a treatment were put back on 
treatment with the same dose of IFN-a plus MAXAMINE.  Eight of the 10 
patients had a decrease in ALT levels, an enzyme used to assess liver 
function, and two patients achieved a complete normalization of ALT.  
Patients treated with MAXAMINE plus IFN-a also demonstrated statistically 
significant decreases of viral load and AST.  Based in part on these results 
and other support for the potential benefit of MAXAMINE in HCV, our goal is 
to commence a Phase II trial in Hepatitis C in 1999.

MAXDERM DERMATOLOGICAL AND TOPICAL THERAPY

     The development of MAXDERM allows for topical delivery of the active 
ingredient in MAXAMINE.  The novel technology underlying MAXDERM is designed 
to modulate the patient's immune, inflammatory and wound healing responses to 
treat certain dermatological conditions, infections and other conditions for 
which topical therapy is appropriate.  MAXDERM encompasses acquired and 
internally developed technologies that include three issued patents and a 
number of patent applications covering material compositions and uses.  

     A total of more than 75 patients have been treated in randomized, 
double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot studies of MAXDERM.  A pilot study 
in patients with herpes labialis (cold sores) suggested that MAXDERM resolved 
cold sores more effectively than a placebo control.  In the double-blinded 
study, 18 randomized patients were treated with either varying concentrations 
of MAXDERM or the placebo control. Importantly, the study also suggested that 
increasing concentrations of the active ingredient in MAXDERM resulted in 
increased efficacy, providing support that the active ingredient in MAXDERM 
contributed to the healing process.   Virtually all lesions healed in those 
patients treated with the high-dose MAXDERM in five days or less.  

     Small pilot studies were also conducted in patients with oral mucositis, 
canker sores, decubitus ulcers and shingles.  No safety concerns were noted 
in any of the patients, and in each of the studies the data suggested that 
MAXDERM improved healing and resolution of lesions compared to the placebo 
control. 

     We believe that the MAXDERM technology gives us the opportunity to 
expand our product pipeline into therapies for a number of key medical 
conditions for which topical delivery is preferred.  There are unmet needs in 
the treatment of herpes, oral mucositis, shingles, decubitus ulcers and other 
dermatological ailments, and our plan is to evaluate  MAXDERM in further 
clinical studies.

     MAXDERM  represents an early stage development program.  As with any 
such program, substantial additional development will be necessary in order 
for us or our partners to develop products based on the technology, and there 
can be no assurance that our development efforts will lead to development of 
products that are shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials and that 
are commercially viable. 

MAXVAX MUCOSAL VACCINE CARRIER/ADJUVANT PLATFORM

     OVERVIEW OF VACCINE MARKET AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

     There remains today a broad range of infectious diseases for which no 
therapies currently exist.  One of the most promising areas in the fight 
against such diseases is the development of vaccines.  Recent trends in the 
delivery of health care in the United States, including an increased emphasis 
on preventive health care, have contributed to significant growth of interest 
in disease prevention and development of the vaccine market.

                                       8

<PAGE>

Immunization has long been recognized as an effective means to decrease 
health care costs through disease prevention, and is one of the key areas 
given priority attention by the United States Department of Health and Human 
Services and the World Health Organization in their respective public health 
service publications.  It is estimated that by 1999, the world market for 
human vaccine products will total $5.3 billion. 

     MUCOSAL MEMBRANES - A FIRST-LINE DEFENSE

     The mucosal membranes that line the nasal compartment and sinuses, eyes, 
ears, oral cavity, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and urogenital 
tract represent the body's first line defense against infections and are the 
sites where most infectious agents enter the body.  Examples of infectious 
pathogens which enter the body through the mucosal membranes are: chlamydia, 
herpes simplex viruses and HIV, which cause sexually transmitted diseases; 
respiratory syncytial virus ("RSV"), pneumococcus and streptococcus, which 
cause respiratory diseases; and HELICOBACTER PYLORI (ulcers) and rotavirus 
(diarrhea), which cause gastrointestinal diseases.  There has been a 
long-standing interest in developing mucosal vaccines against these and other 
important infections.
     
     MAXVAX SYSTEM--MUCOSAL VACCINE CARRIER/ADJUVANT PLATFORM

     MAXVAX is a mucosal vaccine carrier/adjuvant platform based on the 
cholera toxin B subunit ("CTB").  CTB has already been administered to 
hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide and is a major component of an 
existing oral cholera vaccine and traveler's diarrhea vaccine.  Most current 
vaccines have been designed to provide systemic immunity administered through 
injection.  They treat or prevent infection only after the infecting organism 
has entered the blood stream or deep tissues of the body.  The mechanisms 
which induce mucosal immunity appear to be distinct from those that protect 
systemically.  We believe that the MAXVAX approach to therapeutic and 
protective vaccines has the potential to elicit both mucosal and systemic 
immunity by delivering antigens directly to the mucosal system.  By combining 
our proprietary recombinant form of CTB ("rCTB") with vaccine antigens and/or 
genes, we believe that we may be able to develop effective, new needle-free 
mucosal-based vaccines. 

     POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF MUCOSAL IMMUNIZATION USING MAXVAX

     The MAXVAX approach to therapeutic and protective vaccines has been 
shown to elicit both mucosal and systemic immunity and is based upon 
"non-injectable" administration.  We believe that there are numerous 
important potential clinical and commercial advantages to mucosal 
immunization compared with traditional injected vaccine products, including: 

     -    GREATER CLINICAL EFFICACY.  The body's largest defense system against
          disease is the mucosal immune system where most infectious agents
          enter the body.  We believe that our mucosal vaccine platform may
          likely result in mucosal and systemic immune stimulation and could
          more effectively prevent or treat most infectious diseases, as
          compared to traditional injected vaccines. 

     -    HIGHER LEVEL OF SAFETY.  CTB-based vaccines have been administered to
          hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide in clinical trials for
          cholera and traveler's diarrhea.  CTB is widely thought to be a safe
          and effective mucosal vaccine carrier. 

     -    LOWER COST OF ADMINISTRATION.  The administration of potential MAXVAX
          vaccines by oral, nasal and topical applications involving direct
          contact with mucosal surfaces may not require patients to go to
          clinics or require trained personnel, thereby effectively lowering the
          cost of administration.  The vaccines may be prescribed by a doctor
          and dispensed by a pharmacy, thus simplifying delivery and eliminating
          the multiple office visits required for injection delivery of most
          contemporary vaccines. 

     -    IMPROVED VACCINE UTILIZATION.  We believe that the relative ease of
          administration and the concept of "prescription" vaccines may improve
          vaccine utilization over traditionally administered vaccines. 
          Further, we believe that this novel mucosal vaccine concept may allow
          development

                                       9

<PAGE>

          of protective and therapeutic approaches to diseases where previous 
          vaccines and therapeutics have failed. 

     The MAXVAX technology is currently in preclinical development.  Two 
studies published in INFECTION AND IMMUNITY in 1998 highlighted the potential 
of MAXVAX. The first was a human vaccination study that demonstrated mucosal 
antibody responses in female volunteers after nasal and oral application of 
rCTB, the technology underlying MAXVAX.  The results were important as they 
confirmed in humans the results of earlier animal studies in which rCTB has 
been shown to stimulate strong mucosal immune responses.  The results also 
support the potential effectiveness of oral and nasal administration, the two 
most attractive routes for the delivery of mucosal vaccines.  Also published 
was a preclinical study that demonstrated the induction of specific mucosal 
immunity within the female reproductive tract.  The study's vaccination 
regimen was a prototype for mucosal vaccination against human sexually 
transmitted diseases.  

     Prototype MAXVAX-based vaccines are currently being prepared and tested 
in our laboratories.  Our objective is to align ourselves with corporate 
collaborators possessing antigens for specific diseases that can be coupled 
to the MAXVAX carrier, and to develop vaccine candidates in collaboration 
with these partners. 

     The MAXVAX technology represents an early stage discovery and 
development program.  As with any such program, substantial additional 
research and development will be necessary in order for us or our partners to 
develop products based on the technology, and there can be no assurance that 
our research and development efforts will lead to development of products 
that are shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials and that are 
commercially viable. 

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS

     We conduct our research and other product development efforts through a 
combination of internal research personnel and collaborative programs.  For 
MAXAMINE, we rely upon our clinical management personnel in extensive 
collaboration with universities and other clinical research sites, contract 
research organizations and similar service providers and persons.  We expect 
to rely upon a similar combination of internal personnel and collaborators as 
we expand the clinical and other development of MAXDERM.  Current research 
and development efforts related to MAXVAX are primarily conducted in our 
internal laboratories, although we expect to rely heavily on pharmaceutical 
company collaborative relationships to advance the clinical development of 
the technology. 

     We have relied upon licensing and other transactions to gain access to 
certain of our proprietary technologies.  Conduct of our current and planned 
clinical trials of MAXAMINE THERAPY rely heavily upon contractual 
relationships with universities and other clinical trial sites, contract 
research organizations, home nursing organizations, and regulatory and other 
consultants. Our strategy for development, commercialization and marketing of 
each of our product candidates will involve, where appropriate, the 
establishment of marketing and other collaborative relationships with 
pharmaceutical industry partners.  

     During 1998 we entered into clinical collaborations with Chiron 
Corporation, Amgen Inc. and BioNative AB.  Each of these companies possess 
cytokines that have the potential to benefit from use in combination with 
MAXAMINE, and under each of these agreements we receive economic and other 
support for important clinical trials without giving up any marketing or 
other future rights to MAXAMINE.  For example, Chiron is providing the IL-2 
requirements and other assistance related to our Phase III AML clinical 
trial. These collaborations highlight our belief that MAXAMINE, a combination 
therapy, is complementary rather than competitive with many existing and 
future drugs, and may be the key to the successful use of may biotherapeutic 
agents.
     
     We expect to pursue additional collaborations to further the expanded 
use and development of MAXAMINE.  We will also seek other collaborative 
relationships, particularly for the further development of MAXVAX and in 
other situations where we believe that the clinical testing, marketing, 
manufacturing and other resources of pharmaceutical or other collaborators 
will enable us to more effectively develop particular products or access 
geographic markets. 

                                      10

<PAGE>
 
MARKETING AND SALES

     We expect that our strategy for the potential global market launch of 
MAXAMINE will be based on a combination of direct marketing by Maxim in the 
United States, and the establishment of marketing alliances with 
pharmaceuticals companies for international markets.

     We are currently undertaking efforts to prepare to market MAXAMINE 
directly in the United States.  Our objective is to retain the full revenue 
stream from the potential sale of MAXAMINE in this key market, and we have 
built a core marketing group with experience in planning and managing 
successful United States launches of pharmaceutical products.  As we move 
closer to the potential market launch of MAXAMINE, we have and will continue 
to undertake certain activities required to prepare for launch including 
market evaluations, reimbursement analysis, and building awareness of the 
drug among leading clinicians.  The treatment of cancer is a highly 
specialized activity in which the approximately 3,500 practicing oncologists 
in the United States tend to be concentrated in approximately 1,500 major 
medical centers.  Marketing MAXAMINE directly in the United States will 
require us to build a marketing infrastructure, including the recruitment and 
hiring of sales representatives. Our plan is to defer the build up of this 
infrastructure until obtaining some assurance (after a review of Phase III 
clinical data and initiation of the regulatory approval process) of the 
likelihood and timing of any potential approval to market MAXAMINE in the 
United States. 

     In international markets we are in the process of recruiting, evaluating 
and selecting pharmaceutical companies to serve as marketing collaborators 
for major geographic regions, including Europe and the Pacific Rim.  We are 
currently in discussions with potential collaborative marketing partners, 
although there can be no assurance that any such relationships can be 
consummated, or that any such relationships will be consummated under terms 
favorable to us. 

     Due to the nature of the vaccine markets, we intend to establish 
agreements with pharmaceutical companies with large distribution systems for 
MAXVAX and do not expect to establish a direct sales capability in the 
vaccine area.  Our marketing strategy for MAXDERM will be developed over time 
based upon, among other factors, the specific indications targeted for 
therapy.

MANUFACTURING

     We do not intend to acquire or establish our own dedicated manufacturing 
facilities for MAXAMINE in the foreseeable future.  There are a number of 
facilities with FDA Good Manufacturing Practice ("GMP") approval available 
for contract manufacturing, and we have contracted with established 
pharmaceutical manufacturers for the production of MAXAMINE.  These 
manufacturers are supplying the MAXAMINE requirements under GMP for our 
current clinical trial activities, and have demonstrated the capability to 
supply commercial quantities of the product for the potential market launch.  
The CTB protein portion of MAXVAX is currently being produced by SBL Vaccin 
AB ,  Stockholm, Sweden, under GMP through a system suitable for large-scale 
industrial production. 

     We believe that, in the event of the termination of an agreement with 
any single supplier or manufacturer, we would likely be able to enter into 
agreements with other suppliers or manufacturers on similar terms.  However, 
there can be no assurance that there will be manufacturing capacity available 
to us within the timelines and at quantities required. We expect, however, to 
establish relationships with additional manufacturers during 1999 to provide 
alternate sources of supply for MAXAMINE. 

PATENTS, LICENSES AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS

     We hold five issued or allowed patents and have eleven patent 
applications pending in the United States.  In addition, we hold license 
rights to six issued patents and three patent applications pending in the 
United States. Corresponding patent applications have been filed, and in a 
number of instances patents have been issued, in major international markets. 
Our policy is to file, where possible, patent applications to protect 
technologies, inventions and improvements that are important to the 
development of our business.  We have devoted substantial attention 

                                      11

<PAGE>

and resources to our patent and license portfolio in an attempt to develop 
the strongest positions available.  Maintaining patents and licenses and 
conducting an assertive patent prosecution strategy is a priority for us. 

     KEY GRANTED PATENTS AND PENDING APPLICATIONS

     We hold a patent relating to the combination of IL-2 and H2 receptor 
agonists ("H2RA's") that was issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office 
in September 1994 and has additionally been granted in Europe, Australia and 
Japan. We also hold a U.S. patent issued in March 1998 relating to the 
combination of IFN-a and H2RA's, and a corresponding patent has also issued 
in Australia.  We also hold seven other patent applications in the United 
States relating to other cytokines, biotherapies, mechanisms, rates and 
routes of administration, and other proprietary claims that have also been 
filed internationally. 

     We also hold a worldwide, exclusive license to Professional 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s (PPI) three U.S. patents for material compositions 
and other rights underlying the MAXDERM technology.  We also hold a U.S. 
patent application related to the MAXDERM technology.  Corresponding patents 
for each of the above have also been filed internationally.  

     In the MAXVAX area, we hold a worldwide exclusive license to the U.S. 
and international patents of Vitec AB ("Vitec") and SBL Vaccin AB ("SBL") for 
recombinantly producing CTB for use in infectious diseases other than 
cholera, bacterial related diarrheas and HIV (We hold non-exclusive rights to 
this patent with regard to HIV).  We also hold exclusive license rights to 
related patent applications as well as a patent application with respect to 
certain therapeutic and anti-inflammatory properties of CTB. 

     We have also filed three of our own U.S. and international patent 
applications related to MAXVAX, covering the use of CTB to make vaccines 
against chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases, the use of CTB and 
other proteins in gene delivery of DNA or RNA, and methods for developing 
CTB-based vaccines. 

     MAXAMINE TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS

     In 1993 we entered into a technology transfer agreement under which we 
purchased the core intellectual property and patent rights related to our 
MAXAMINE technology.  The technology transfer agreement requires that we pay 
certain royalty obligations to the two inventors of the technology, although, 
as part of a subsequent agreement with us, one of the inventors waived his 
royalty rights.  We have also filed a number of additional patent 
applications and received additional patents encompassing the MAXAMINE 
technology as described above. 

     MAXDERM TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS

     In 1998 we entered into a license agreement with PPI for an exclusive, 
worldwide license to technology related to material compositions and other 
patent rights underlying the MAXDERM technology.  The license agreement 
requires that we pay certain royalty obligations to PPI.  We have also filed 
an additional patent application related to the MAXDERM technology.

                                      12

<PAGE>

     MAXVAX LICENSES AND TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS

     In 1993 we entered into an option and license agreement with Vitec and 
SBL, under which we exercised an option for an exclusive, worldwide license 
to technology related to CTB for use in a chlamydia vaccine.  Under the 
agreement, we are required to use our best efforts to engage SBL to 
manufacture any products which result from the application of the licensed 
technology.  We also have to make royalty payments on the net sales of 
products using the licensed technology and to make additional license and 
milestone payments to Vitec upon the execution of any sub-licenses.  Under 
the agreement, any party may terminate the license agreement, with respect to 
the rights and duties of that party, as a result of a material breach of the 
agreement by another party. 

     In 1994 we entered into a second license agreement with Vitec and SBL 
for an exclusive, worldwide license to technology rights related to CTB for 
all infectious diseases except chlamydia (which is governed by the agreement 
discussed above), HIV (which is governed by a separate non-exclusive 
sub-license agreement held by us), cholera and bacterial-related diarrheas.  
Under the agreement, we have agreed to use our best efforts to engage SBL to 
manufacture any products which result from the application of licensed 
technology, and both Vitec and Maxim shall receive a percentage of any 
profits that SBL derives from manufacturing such products.  The licensors may 
terminate the agreement upon a material breach of the agreement by us. 

     In January 1998 we filed arbitration in Sweden relating to the 
licensors' performance under the above agreements.  The arbitration alleges 
certain causes of action against the licensors (among other things, 
misstatements regarding the scope of Maxim's licensed rights) and seeks 
compensatory and punitive damages and declaratory relief.  The arbitration 
also seeks specific performance of the licensors' obligations under the 
agreements (including full disclosure of relevant manufacturing information). 
We cannot determine what impact, if any, an unfavorable resolution of the 
existing concerns would have on the commercial value of the MAXVAX 
technology.   

     We also hold other licenses relating to CTB, including a non-exclusive 
sub-license to CTB for the prevention and treatment of HIV infection, and an 
exclusive, worldwide license to patent applications and related technology 
rights with respect to certain therapeutic and anti-inflammatory properties 
of CTB. 

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

     Regulation by governmental authorities in the United States and other 
countries is a significant factor in the development, manufacture and 
marketing of our proposed products and in our ongoing research and product 
development activities.  The nature and extent to which such regulation 
applies to Maxim will vary depending on the nature of any products which may 
be developed by us. We anticipate that many if not all of our products will 
require regulatory approval by governmental agencies prior to 
commercialization.  In particular, human therapeutic and vaccine products are 
subject to rigorous preclinical and clinical testing and other approval 
procedures of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and similar 
regulatory authorities in European and other countries.  Various governmental 
statutes and regulations also govern or influence testing, manufacturing, 
safety, labeling, storage and record-keeping related to such products and 
their marketing.  The process of obtaining these approvals and the subsequent 
compliance with appropriate statutes and regulations require the expenditure 
of substantial time and money.  Any failure by us or our collaborators to 
obtain, or any delay in obtaining, regulatory approval could adversely affect 
the marketing of any products developed by us, and prevent us from generating 
product revenues and obtaining adequate cash to continue present and planned 
operations. 

     FDA APPROVAL PROCESS

     Prior to commencement of clinical studies involving humans, preclinical 
testing of new pharmaceutical products is generally conducted on animals in 
the laboratory to evaluate the potential efficacy and the safety of the 
product. The results of these studies are submitted to the FDA as a part of 
an Investigational New Drug ("IND") application, which must become effective 
before clinical testing in humans can begin.  Typically, human clinical 
evaluation involves a time consuming and costly three-phase process.  In 
Phase I, clinical trials are conducted with a small number of people to 
assess safety and to evaluate the pattern of drug distribution and metabolism 
within the 
                                      13
<PAGE>

body.  In Phase II, clinical trials are conducted with groups of patients 
afflicted with a specific disease in order to determine preliminary efficacy, 
optimal dosages and expanded evidence of safety.  In Phase III, large-scale, 
multi-center, comparative trials are conducted with patients afflicted with a 
target disease in order to provide enough data to demonstrate the efficacy 
and safety required by the FDA.  The FDA closely monitors the progress of 
each of the three phases of clinical testing and may, at its discretion, 
re-evaluate, alter, suspend or terminate the testing based upon the data 
which have been accumulated to that point and its assessment of the 
risk/benefit ratio to the patient. 

     The results of the preclinical and clinical testing on a non-biologic 
drug and certain diagnostic drugs are submitted to the FDA in the form of a 
New Drug Application ("NDA") for approval prior to commencement of commercial 
sales.  In the case of vaccines, the results of clinical trials are submitted 
as a Product License Application ("PLA").  In responding to an NDA or PLA, 
the FDA may grant marketing approval, request additional information or deny 
the application if the FDA determines that the application does not satisfy 
its regulatory approval criteria.  There can be no assurance that approvals 
will be granted on a timely basis, if at all, for any of our products.  
Similar procedures are in place in countries outside the United States. 

     The Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices ("ACIP") of the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDCP") has a role in influencing the 
markets for most, if not all, of the vaccine products we intend to make.  The 
ACIP meets quarterly to review developing data on licensed vaccines, and 
those approaching license, as well as epidemiologic data on the need for 
these products.  The recommendations of the ACIP on the appropriate use of 
vaccines and related products are published in the MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY 
WEEKLY REPORT and reprinted in several journals.  The CDCP develops 
epidemiological data in support of the need for new vaccines and monitors 
vaccine usage and changes in disease incidence.  In addition, CDCP staff 
frequently act as key advisors to the FDA in their review process. 

     EUROPEAN AND OTHER REGULATORY APPROVAL

     Whether or not FDA approval has been obtained, approval of a product by 
comparable regulatory authorities in Europe and other countries will likely 
be necessary prior to commencement of marketing the product in such 
countries.  The regulatory authorities in each country may impose their own 
requirements and may refuse to grant, or may require additional data before 
granting, an approval even though the relevant product has been approved by 
the FDA or another authority.  As with the FDA, the European Union ("EU") 
countries and other developed countries have very high standards of technical 
appraisal and, consequently, in most cases a lengthy approval process for 
pharmaceutical products.  The process for gaining such approval in particular 
countries varies, but generally follows a similar sequence to that described 
for FDA approval.  In Europe, the European Committee for Proprietary 
Medicinal Products provides a mechanism for EU-member states to exchange 
information on all aspects of product licensing.  The EU has established a 
European agency for the evaluation of medical products, with both a 
centralized community procedure and a decentralized procedure, the latter 
being based on the principle of licensing within one member country followed 
by mutual recognition by the other member countries. 

      OTHER REGULATIONS

     We are also subject to various U.S. federal, state, local and 
international laws, regulations and recommendations relating to safe working 
conditions, laboratory manufacturing practices and the use and disposal of 
hazardous or potentially hazardous substances, including radioactive 
compounds and infectious disease agents, used in connection with our research 
work.  The extent of government regulation which might result from future 
legislation or administrative action cannot be predicted accurately.

                                      14

<PAGE>

THIRD-PARTY REIMBURSEMENT

     The business and financial condition of pharmaceutical and biotechnology 
companies will continue to be affected by the efforts of government and 
third-party payors to contain or reduce the cost of health care through 
various means.  For example, in certain international markets, pricing 
negotiations are often required in each country of the European Community, 
even if approval to market the drug under the European Medical Evaluation 
Authority's centralized procedure is obtained.  In the U.S. there have been, 
and we expect that there will continue to be, a number of federal and state 
proposals to implement similar government control. In addition, an increasing 
emphasis on managed care in the U.S. has and will continue to increase the 
pressure on pharmaceutical pricing.  While we cannot predict whether any such 
legislative or regulatory proposals will be adopted or the effect such 
proposals or managed care efforts may have on our business, the announcement 
of such proposals or efforts could have a material adverse effect on our 
ability to raise capital, and the adoption of such proposals or efforts could 
have a material adverse effect on the our business, financial condition and 
results of operations.  Further, to the extent that such proposals or efforts 
have a material adverse effect on other pharmaceutical companies that are 
prospective corporate partners for us, our ability to establish corporate 
collaborations may be adversely affected.  In addition, in both the U.S. and 
elsewhere, sales of prescription pharmaceuticals are dependent in part on the 
availability of reimbursement to the consumer from third-party payors, such 
as government and private insurance plans that mandate predetermined 
discounts from list prices. Third-party payors are increasingly challenging 
the prices charged for medical products and services.  If we succeed in 
bringing one or more products to the market, there can be no assurance that 
these products will be considered cost effective and that reimbursement to 
the consumer will be availale or will be sufficient to allow us to sell our 
products on a competitive basis. 

COMPETITION

     Competition in the discovery and development of methods for treating or 
preventing cancer and infectious disease is intense.  Numerous 
pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical companies and academic and research 
institutions in the United States and elsewhere are engaged in the discovery, 
development, marketing and sale of products for the treatment of cancer and 
infectious disease.  These include surgical approaches, new pharmaceutical 
products and new biologically derived products.  We expect to encounter 
significant competition for the principal pharmaceutical products we plan to 
develop.  Companies that complete clinical trials, obtain regulatory 
approvals and commence commercial sales of their products before us may 
achieve a significant competitive advantage.  A number of pharmaceutical 
companies are developing new products for the treatment of the same diseases 
being targeted by us, particularly hepatitis C.  In some instances, our 
competitors already have products in late-stage clinical trials.  In 
addition, certain pharmaceutical companies are currently marketing drugs for 
the treatment of the same diseases being targeted by us, and may also be 
developing new drugs to address these disorders. 

     In the area of biotherapy, the impact of competition for MAXAMINE may be 
reduced by the fact that the drug may be complementary to many other 
biotherapeutic agents.  MAXAMINE THERAPY combines the administration of 
MAXAMINE with the administration of biotherapeutic agents.  Accordingly, 
MAXAMINE and these biotherapeutic agents may not be competitive but may play 
complementary and synergistic roles in enhancing the immune system.  For this 
reason, we believe that continuing advancements in the overall field of 
biotherapy may create new opportunities for MAXAMINE.

     Many of our competitors have substantially greater financial, clinical 
testing, regulatory compliance, manufacturing, marketing, human and other 
resources.  Additional mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical 
industry may result in even more resources being concentrated with our 
competitors.  We believe that our competitive success will be based on our 
ability to create and maintain scientifically advanced technology, develop 
proprietary products, attract and retain scientific personnel, obtain patent 
or other protection for our products, obtain required regulatory approvals, 
obtain orphan drug status for certain products and manufacture and 
successfully market our products either independently or through outside 
parties. 

                                      15

<PAGE>

EMPLOYEES AND CONSULTANTS

     As of December 28, 1998, the Company had 53 employees, all but two of 
whom were based at its two facilities in San Diego, California.  The Company 
believes its relationships with its employees are satisfactory.  Other 
experienced professionals and personnel are expected to be hired to join our 
company in 1999 to, among other things, address the requirements of the 
expansion of clinical trials of MAXAMINE and other commercialization efforts. 

     In addition to our employees, we have engaged a number of experienced 
consultants in North America, Europe and Australia with pharmaceutical and 
business backgrounds to assist in its product development efforts.  We plan 
to leverage our key personnel by making extensive use of contract 
laboratories, development consultants, and collaborations with pharmaceutical 
companies to expand our preclinical and clinical trials. 

                                      16

<PAGE>

RISK FACTORS

     In evaluating Maxim and its business, you should carefully consider the 
following risk factors in addition to the other information contained herein.

     DEVELOPMENT-STAGE COMPANY; HISTORY OF OPERATING LOSSES; UNCERTAINTY OF 
FUTURE PROFITABILITY.  Maxim, as a development-stage enterprise, has 
experienced net losses every year since its inception and, as of September 
30, 1998, had a deficit accumulated during the development stage of 
approximately $42.7 million. We have not commercially introduced any product 
and each of our product candidates are in varying stages of development and 
testing.  We anticipate incurring substantial additional losses over at least 
the next several years due to the need to expend substantial amounts on 
clinical trials, other anticipated research and development activities, 
preparation for the potential market launch of MAXAMINE, and the general and 
administrative expenses associated with these activities.  Attaining 
profitability will depend upon our ability to develop products that are 
effective and commercially viable, to obtain regulatory approval for the 
manufacture and sale of our products and to market our products successfully. 
We cannot guarantee that we will ever achieve profitability or that 
profitability, if achieved, can be sustained on an ongoing basis.  See 
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 
Operations." 

     NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS; UNCERTAINTY OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING.  Our
operations to date have consumed substantial amounts of cash.  Negative cash
flow from our operations is expected to continue and to accelerate over at least
the next several years.  Our capital requirements will depend on numerous
factors, including: 

     -    the results of our clinical trials; 
     -    the timing and scope of any additional clinical trials undertaken;
     -    the scope and results of our research and development programs; 
     -    the time required to obtain regulatory approvals; 
     -    our ability to establish marketing alliances and collaborative
          agreements;
     -    the cost of our internal marketing activities; and
     -    the cost of filing, prosecuting and, if necessary, enforcing patent
          claims. 

     We will likely have to raise substantial additional funds to complete 
development of our products and to bring these products to market.  Issuance 
of additional equity securities by us, for these or other purposes, could 
result in dilution to then existing stockholders.  Additional financing may 
not be available on acceptable terms, if at all.  If adequate funds are not 
available on acceptable terms, we may be required to delay, scale back or 
eliminate one or more of our product development programs or obtain funds 
through arrangements with collaborative partners or others that may require 
us to relinquish rights to certain of our technologies or products that we 
would not otherwise relinquish, which may have a detrimental effect on our 
business, financial condition and results of operations.  See "Management's 
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." 

     NO ASSURANCE OF SUCCESSFUL CLINICAL TRIALS AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. 
Potential products based on our MAXAMINE, MAXDERM and MAXVAX technologies 
will require extensive clinical testing, regulatory approval and substantial 
additional investment prior to commercialization.  There can be no assurance 
that any such products will be successfully developed, prove to be safe and 
effective in clinical trials, meet applicable regulatory standards, be 
capable of being produced in commercial quantities at acceptable costs, be 
eligible for third party reimbursement from governmental or private insurers, 
be successfully marketed or achieve market acceptance.  Additional research 
and development and preclinical work will be required before clinical trials 
can be initiated with the MAXVAX technology, and may be required before 
clinical trials of the MAXAMINE and MAXDERM technologies can be expanded. 

     We have not completed testing for efficacy or safety in humans on any of 
our products.  We may find, at any stage of the clinical testing process, 
that products that appeared promising in preclinical studies or Phase I and 
Phase II clinical trials do not demonstrate efficacy in larger-scale, Phase 
III clinical trials and do not receive regulatory approvals.  Further, our 
products may prove to have undesirable or unintended side effects that may 
prevent or limit their commercial use.  Accordingly, any product development 
program undertaken by us may be curtailed, redirected or eliminated at any 
time.  There may be delays in our expected testing and development

                                      17

<PAGE>

schedules, and any such delays could have a material adverse effect on our 
business, financial condition and results of operations. 

     NO ASSURANCE OF REGULATORY APPROVAL; GOVERNMENT REGULATION.  The U.S. 
Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") and comparable agencies in countries 
outside the United States impose substantial requirements on the introduction 
of therapeutic pharmaceutical products and vaccines through lengthy and 
detailed laboratory and clinical testing procedures and other costly and time 
consuming procedures.  Satisfaction of these requirements typically takes a 
number of years and varies substantially based upon the type, complexity and 
novelty of the pharmaceutical agent.  In general, the FDA approval process 
for pharmaceuticals involves the submission of an Investigational New Drug 
("IND") application following preclinical studies, clinical trials in humans 
to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the product under the protocols set 
forth in the IND and submission of preclinical and clinical data as well as 
other information to the FDA in a New Drug Application ("NDA") or Product 
License Application ("PLA").  We are expending substantial time and financial 
resources to conduct clinical trials, but there can be no assurance that the 
results of such trials will support the submission of an NDA or PLA, or that 
any such applications will be approved by the FDA or any comparable agencies 
on a timely basis, or at all.  

     We cannot assure that we will have sufficient resources to complete the 
required regulatory review process, or that we could overcome the inability 
to obtain, or delays in obtaining, such approvals.  The failure to receive 
FDA approval for our products under development would preclude us from 
marketing and selling our products in the United States.  Therefore, failure 
to receive such FDA approval would prevent us from generating product 
revenues and would be extremely detrimental to our business, financial 
condition and results of operations.  European and other international 
regulatory approvals are subject to the same risks and uncertainties as FDA 
and other regulatory approvals in the United States. 

     The production and marketing of our proposed products, as well as our 
ongoing research and development activities, are also subject to regulation 
by governmental agencies of the United States and other countries.  The 
effect of government regulation may be to delay marketing of our products for 
a considerable period of time, to impose costly procedures upon our 
activities and to furnish a competitive advantage to larger companies that 
compete with us.  In addition, the marketing and manufacturing of 
pharmaceuticals are subject to continuing FDA (or comparable international 
agency) review and surveillance and failure to comply with regulations or 
discovery of previously unknown problems can result in FDA (or comparable 
international agency) action against the product or the manufacturer, 
including fines, recalls, product seizures and suspension or withdrawal of 
previously granted regulatory approvals. Furthermore, government regulation 
may increase at any time, creating additional costs and delays for us.  The 
extent of potential adverse government regulation which might arise from 
future legislation or administrative action cannot be predicted.  See 
"Business--Government Regulation." 

     UNCERTAINTY REGARDING PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS. Our success 
depends in large part on our ability to obtain, maintain and protect patents, 
protect trade secrets and operate without infringing upon the  proprietary 
rights of others.  The patent positions of biotechnology and pharmaceutical 
companies are highly uncertain and involve complex legal and factual 
questions, and the breadth of claims allowed in biotechnology and 
pharmaceutical patents cannot be predicted.  Patents may not issue from any 
of our patent applications.  Patent applications in the United States are 
maintained in secrecy until a patent issues, and we cannot be certain that 
others have not filed patent applications for technology covered by our 
pending applications or that we were the first to file patent applications 
for such technology.  Competitors may have filed applications for, or may 
have received patents and may obtain additional patents and proprietary 
rights relating to, compounds or processes that block or compete without 
infringing on those held by Maxim.  In addition, patents currently held by us 
or issued to us in the future, or to licensors from whom we have licensed 
technology rights, may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented and the 
rights granted thereunder may not protect our technologies or provide 
commercial advantage to us. 

     Other public and private concerns, including universities, may have 
filed applications for or have been issued patents with respect to technology 
potentially useful or necessary to us.  The scope and validity of such 

                                      18

<PAGE>

patents, the extent to which we may wish or need to acquire licenses under 
such patents, and the cost or availability of such licenses, are currently 
unknown. 

     In addition to patents and proprietary rights, we rely on unpatented 
trade secrets and proprietary know-how, and there can be no assurance that 
others will not obtain access to or independently develop such trade secrets 
and know-how. Although potential corporate partners and our research partners 
and consultants are not given access to trade secrets and proprietary 
know-how of ours until they have executed confidentiality agreements, these 
agreements may be breached by the other party or may otherwise be of limited 
effectiveness or enforceability. 

     The pharmaceutical industry has experienced extensive litigation 
regarding patent and other intellectual property rights.  Accordingly, we 
could incur substantial costs in defending ourselves in suits that may be 
brought against us claiming infringement of the patent rights of others or in 
asserting our patent rights in a suit against another party.  We may also be 
required to participate in interference proceedings declared by the United 
States Patent and Trademark Office for the purpose of determining the 
priority of inventions in connection with our patent applications or other 
parties' patent applications.  Adverse determinations in litigation or 
interference proceedings could require us to seek licenses that may not be 
available on commercially reasonable terms or subject us to significant 
liabilities to third parties, and could therefore have a material adverse 
effect on us.  See "Business--Patents, Licenses and Proprietary Rights."

     DEPENDENCE ON QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.  Our future performance depends in 
part upon the continued contributions of our senior management team and on 
our ability to attract and retain qualified management and scientific 
personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense, and there can be no 
assurance that we will be able to continue to attract, assimilate or retain 
highly qualified technical and management personnel.  The loss of key 
personnel or the failure to recruit additional personnel or to develop needed 
expertise could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial 
condition and results of operations.  See "Business--Employees and 
Consultants." 

     DEPENDENCE ON COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS.  Our strategy for the clinical 
testing, manufacturing, international marketing and certain research and 
development activities related to our products requires arrangements with 
numerous collaborators.  These collaborators include universities, hospitals 
and other clinical trial sites, clinical contract research organizations, 
contract manufacturers, other corporate and university collaborators, 
licensors, marketing partners, licensees, consultants and others.  Our 
success is dependent upon the success of these outside parties in performing 
their responsibilities. Although we believe that these parties will have an 
economic motivation to perform their contractual responsibilities, the amount 
and timing of resources and skill applied to these activities by our 
collaborators may not be within our control.  In addition, some collaborators 
may pursue alternative technologies as a means for developing treatments for 
the diseases targeted by these collaborative programs.  Furthermore, we may 
not be able to negotiate acceptable collaborative arrangements required in 
the future to implement our strategies, and such collaborative arrangements 
may not be successful.  See "Business--Product Development and Collaborative 
Relationships." 

     NO MARKETING AND SALES CAPABILITIES; ANTICIPATED DEPENDENCE UPON 
MARKETING COLLABORATIONS.  Our current strategy is to market MAXAMINE 
directly in the United States, but we currently do not possess pharmaceutical 
marketing or sales capabilities.  In order to market and sell MAXAMINE or 
other products, we will need to develop a sales force and a marketing group 
with relevant pharmaceutical experience, or make appropriate arrangements 
with strategic partners.  We cannot guarantee that we will be able to 
attract, assimilate or retain highly qualified marketing and sales personnel, 
or successfully employ them to commercialize MAXAMINE.  The inability to 
develop the required marketing and sales expertise could have a material 
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

     Our strategy for the commercialization and marketing of MAXAMINE in 
international markets, and for MAXVAX in all markets, is expected to rely 
upon the establishment of marketing and other collaborative relationships 
with pharmaceutical industry partners.  We cannot guarantee that any such 
relationships can be consummated on terms favorable to us, that such 
marketing collaborators will apply adequate resources and skills

                                      19

<PAGE>

to their responsibilities, or that marketing efforts undertaken by such 
partners will be successful.  See "Business--Marketing and Sales." 

     NO ASSURANCE OF MARKET ACCEPTANCE.  MAXAMINE, and any of our other 
products in development, may not achieve market acceptance even if approved 
by the FDA and other regulatory agencies.  The degree of market acceptance of 
our products will depend upon a number of factors, including the scope of 
regulatory approvals, the establishment and demonstration in the medical 
community of the clinical efficacy and safety of our products and their 
potential advantages over existing treatment methods, and reimbursement 
policies of government and other third-party payors.  We cannot guarantee 
that physicians, patients, payors or the medical community in general will 
accept and utilize any products that may be developed by us.  See 
"Business--Competition" and --Third-Party Reimbursement." 

     NO MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES.  We do not intend to acquire or establish 
our own dedicated manufacturing facilities for MAXAMINE in the foreseeable 
future, and have and expect to continue to contract with established 
pharmaceutical manufacturers for the production of the product.  If we are 
unable to continue to contract for manufacturing capabilities on acceptable 
terms, our ability to conduct clinical testing and to produce commercial 
quantities of MAXAMINE and other products will be adversely affected.  Such 
manufacturing deficiencies could result in delays in submissions for 
regulatory approval and in commercial product launches, which in turn could 
materially impair our competitive position and the possibility of achieving 
profitability. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to maintain our 
existing contract manufacturing relationships, or acquire or establish new, 
satisfactory third-party relationships to provide adequate manufacturing 
capabilities.  See "Business--Manufacturing." 

     COMPETITION.  There are many companies, both publicly and privately 
held, including well-known pharmaceutical companies, and academic and other 
research institutions, engaged in developing pharmaceutical and 
biologically-derived products for the treatment of cancer and vaccines and 
therapeutics for the prevention or the treatment of infectious diseases.  
Many of our competitors and potential competitors have substantially greater 
capital, research and development capabilities and human resources than us 
and represent significant competition.  Many of these competitors also have 
significantly greater experience than us in undertaking preclinical testing 
and clinical trials of new pharmaceutical products and obtaining FDA and 
other regulatory approvals. Additional mergers and acquisitions in the 
pharmaceutical industry may result in even more resources being concentrated 
with our competitors.  If any of our products are approved for commercial 
sale, we will also be competing with companies that have greater resources 
and experience in the manufacturing, marketing and sales of pharmaceutical 
products.  Our competitors may succeed in developing products that are more 
effective, less costly, or have better side effect profiles than any that may 
be developed by us, and such competitors may also prove to be more successful 
than us in manufacturing, marketing and sales. See "Business--Competition." 

     TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES AND UNCERTAINTY.  We are engaged in the 
pharmaceutical field, which is characterized by extensive research efforts 
and rapid technological progress.  New developments in oncology, cancer 
therapy, medicinal pharmacology, biochemistry and other fields are expected 
to continue at a rapid pace in both industry and academia.  Research and 
discoveries by others may render some or all of our proposed programs or 
products noncompetitive or obsolete.  Our business strategy is subject to the 
risks inherent in the development of new products using new technologies and 
approaches.  Unforeseen problems may develop with these technologies or 
applications, and we may not be able to successfully address technological 
challenges we encounter in our research and development programs to the 
extent required to develop commercially feasible products.  See 
"Business--Competition." 

     PRODUCT LIABILITY EXPOSURE AND INSURANCE.  Our business exposes us to 
potential product liability risks which are inherent in the clinical testing, 
manufacturing and marketing of human therapeutic products.  We currently 
maintain product liability insurance coverage for our clinical trials, and 
intend to expand our insurance coverage to include the sales of commercial 
products if marketing approval is obtained for MAXAMINE or other products 
under development.  Such coverage may not be adequate now or in the future, 
and adequate insurance may not be available in the future at an acceptable 
cost, if at all.  A product liability claim, even if we have insurance 
coverage, could materially adversely affect our business or financial 
condition. 

                                      20

<PAGE>

     POTENTIAL ADVERSE EFFECT OF SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE; PRICE 
VOLATILITY OF THE COMMON STOCK. Our common stock currently trades on the 
American Stock Exchange and on the Stockholm Stock Exchange.  Historically, 
our common stock has generally experienced relatively low daily trading 
volumes in relation to the aggregate number of shares outstanding.  Sales of 
substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market could adversely 
affect the prevailing market prices for our common stock and our ability to 
raise equity capital in the future.

     Factors that may have a significant impact on the market price or the 
liquidity of the common stock also include:

     -    Actual or potential clinical trial results relating to products under
          development by us or our competitors;
     -    Delays in our testing and development schedules,;
     -    Events or announcements relating to our collaborative relationships
          with others;
     -    Announcements of technological innovations or new products by us or
          our competitors;
     -    Developments or disputes concerning patents or proprietary rights;
     -    Regulatory developments in both the United States and countries
          outside of the United States;
     -    Economic and other external factors, as well as period-to-period
          fluctuations in our financial results. 

     External factors may also adversely affect the market prices for our 
common stock.  The price and liquidity of our common stock may be 
significantly affected by the overall trading activity and market factors on 
the AMEX and SSE, and these factors may differ between the two markets.  In 
addition, the securities markets have from time to time experienced 
significant price and volume fluctuations that may be unrelated to the 
operating performance of particular companies.  The market prices of the 
common stock of many publicly traded pharmaceutical or biotechnology 
companies have in the past been, and can in the future be expected to be, 
especially volatile. 

                                      21

<PAGE>

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

     We currently lease approximately 35,000 square feet of laboratory and 
office space in two facilities in San Diego, California.  Approximately 5,000 
square feet of laboratory space is subleased to a third party.  We believe 
that our existing facilities will be adequate to accommodate the 
implementation of our current business strategies.

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     None

ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

     No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the 
quarter ended September 30, 1998.

                                      22

<PAGE>

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

     (a) The information required by this Item 5(a) is incorporated herein by 
reference to the information set forth on page 34 of our Annual Report to 
Stockholders for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, filed as Exhibit 
13.1 hereto.  
     
In addition, in August and September 1998, the Company issued 10,769 and 
16,666 shares of Common Stock, respectively, upon exercise of warrants at a 
price per share of $3.00.  The Company issued such shares in reliance upon 
the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
     
     (b) During the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, 392,000 of the 
2,875,000 Redeemable Warrants issued in the Company's initial public offering 
were exercised for 392,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of 
$10.50 per share, for aggregate proceeds to the Company of $4,116,000.

Of the net offering proceeds to the Company of $22,336,000, including 
$18,220,000 received at the time of the initial public offering and 
$4,116,000 received upon subsequent exercises of the Redeemable Warrants, 
through September 30, 1998, the following payments have been made:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 (A)               (B)
 <S>                                               <C>           <C>
 Purchase and installation of 
 machinery and equipment                                         1,101,000

 Repayment of indebtedness                     289,000             795,000

 Interest earning bonds and                                      1,017,000
 securities

 R&D expenses                                                   14,983,000

 Business development expenses                                     977,000

 G&A expenses                                                    2,637,000

 Intellectual property                                             537,000
</TABLE>

(A)  Direct or indirect payments to directors, officers, general partners of the
     issuer or their associates; to persons owning ten percent or more of any
     class of equity securities of the issuer; and to affiliates of the issuer.
(B)  Direct or indirect payments to others.  


ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     The information required by this Item 6 is incorporated herein by 
reference to the information set forth on page 35 of our Annual Report to 
Stockholders for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, filed as Exhibit 
13.1 hereto.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND    
        RESULTS OF OPERATION

     The information required by this Item 7 is incorporated herein by 
reference to the information contained under the caption "Management's 
Discussion and Analysis" on pages 17-20 of our Annual Report to Stockholders 
for the fiscal year ended, September 30, 1998, filed as Exhibit 13.1 hereto.

                                      23

<PAGE>
     
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

     We invest our excess cash in interest-bearing investment-grade 
securities that we hold for the duration of the term of the respective 
instrument.  We do not utilize derivative financial instruments, derivative 
commodity instruments or other market risk sensitive instruments, positions 
or transactions in any material fashion.  Accordingly, we believe that, while 
the investment-grade securities we hold are subject to changes in the 
financial standing of the issuer of such securities, we are not subject to 
any material risks arising from changes in interest rates, foreign currency 
exchange rates, commodity prices, equity prices or other market changes that 
affect market risk sensitive instruments.

ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

     The information required by this Item 8 is incorporated herein by 
reference to the information set forth on pages 21-36 of our Annual Report to 
Stockholders for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, filed as Exhibit 
13.1 hereto.

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

     None.

                                       24

<PAGE>

                                     PART III
                                          
ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

     Information concerning directors and executive officers is incorporated 
herein by reference to the information under the captions "Election of 
Directors" and "Other Information - Executive Officers" set forth in our 
definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission within 120 days after September 30, 1998, for our Annual Meeting 
of Stockholders to be held on February 19, 1999.       Information concerning 
compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act is incorporated herein by 
reference to the information included under the caption "Section 16(a) 
Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance" set forth in our definitive Proxy 
Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 
days after September 30, 1998, for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be 
held on February 19, 1999.

ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     The information required by this Item 11 is incorporated herein by 
reference to the information under the caption "Executive Compensation" set 
forth in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission within 120 days after September 30, 1998, for our Annual 
Meeting of Stockholders to be held on February 19, 1999.

ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     The information required by this Item 12 is incorporated herein by 
reference to the information under the caption "Security Ownership of Certain 
Beneficial Owners and Management" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after 
September 30, 1998, for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on 
February 19, 1999.

ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

     The information required by this Item 13 is incorporated herein by 
reference to the information under the caption "Certain Transactions" in our 
definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission within 120 days after September 30, 1998, for our Annual Meeting 
of Stockholders to be held on February 19, 1999. 

                                      25

<PAGE>

                                    PART IV
                                          
ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

     (a)  The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report:

          1.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

          The following financial statements, including the Notes thereto, are
          incorporated herein by reference from pages 21-36 of our Annual Report
          to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 filed as
          Exhibit 13.1 hereto:
          
          Balance Sheets as of September 30, 1998 and 1997

          Statements of Operations for the years ended September 30, 1998, 1997,
          and 1996, and from October 23, 1989 (date of inception) to September
          30, 1998

          Statements of Stockholders' Equity from October 23, 1989 (date of
          inception) through September 30, 1998

          Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 1998, 1997,
          and 1996, and from October 23, 1989 (date of inception) to September
          30, 1998

     
          2.   FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

          All schedules have been omitted since the required information is not
present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because
the information required is included in the consolidated financial statements or
notes thereto.

          EXHIBITS

          See list of Exhibits set forth in paragraph (c) below.
          
          The following management contracts or compensatory plans and
          arrangements are required to be filed as exhibits to this Annual
          Report pursuant to Item 14(c).
          
          10.15     Employment Agreement dated October 1, 1998 between the
                    Registrant and Kurt R. Gehlsen.
          10.16     Employment Agreement dated October 1, 1998 between the
                    Registrant and Dale A. Sander.
          10.17     Employment Agreement dated November 9, 1998 between the
                    Registrant and Larry G. Stambaugh.
          10.23     Employment Agreement dated October 1, 1998 between the
                    Registrant and Geoffrey B. Altman.

     (b)  The Company filed no reports on Form 8-K during the fourth quarter of
the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998.

                                      26

<PAGE>

     (c)  Exhibits

EXHIBIT
  NO.         DESCRIPTION
- -------       -----------
 3.1      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant. (1)

 3.2      Bylaws of Registrant. (1) 

 4.1      Reference is made to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2.

 4.2      Form of Common Stock Certificate. (1)

10.1      Form of Indemnification Agreement for directors and officers of the
          Registrant. (1)

10.2      Form of Representative's Warrant Agreement between the Company and
          National Securities Corporation, as representative of the several
          Underwriters (the "Representative"), including form of
          Representative's Warrant Certificate. (1)

10.3      Form of Warrant Agreement between the Company, the Representative and
          American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, including form of Warrant
          Certificate. (1)
     
10.4      Option to Buy Technology and Rights Agreement, dated March 30, 1993,
          between the Registrant and Estero Anstalt. (1)(2)
     
10.5      Security Agreement, dated July 27,1993, between the Registrant and
          Estero Anstalt. (1)(2)
     
10.6      Exclusive License Agreement, dated June 14, 1995, among the
          Registrant, Jan Holmgren, M.D., Ph.D., Cecil Czerkinsky, Duotol AB and
          Triotol Ltd. (1)(2) 
     
10.7      Option and License Agreement, dated May 19, 1993, among the
          Registrant, Vitec AB and SBL Vaccin AB, as amended. (1)(2) 
     
10.8      License Agreement dated January 14, 1994, among the Registrant, Vitec
          AB and SBL Vaccin, AB, as amended. (1)(2)
     
10.9      Agreement, dated December 2, 1995, among the Registrant, Syntello
          Vaccine Development AB and Estero Anstalt. (1)(2)
     
10.10     Agreement, dated April 23, 1996, among the Registrant, Anders Vahlne,
          M.D., Ph.D. and Syntello Vaccine Development AB. (1)(2)
     
10.11     Letter Agreement, dated February 15, 1996, between the Registrant and
          Burrill & Craves, Inc.(1)
     
10.12     Lease dated November 1, 1996 between DM Spectrum LLC, a California
          limited liability company, as Landlord and the Registrant for 3099
          Science Park Road, Suite 150, San Diego, California  92121. (3)
      
10.13     Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 5, 1996, by and between Dr.
          Anders Vahlne and the Registrant. (1)
     
10.14     Amended and Restated 1993 Long-Term Incentive Plan and forms of stock
          option agreements. (4)
     
10.15     Employment Agreement dated October 1, 1998 between the Registrant and
          Kurt R. Gehlsen. 
     
10.16     Employment Agreement dated October 1, 1998 between the Registrant and
          Dale A. Sander.

                                      27

<PAGE>

10.17     Employment Agreement dated November 9, 1998 between the Registrant and
          Larry G. Stambaugh. 

10.18      Loan and Security Agreement between the Registrant and Silicon Valley
          Bank. (5)
     
10.19     Financial Advisory Services Agreement between the Registrant and
          Rodman & Renshaw, Inc. dated September 17, 1997. (6)
     
10.20     Lease dated January 13, 1998 between British Pacific Properties
          Corporation, a California Corporation, as Landlord, and the
          Registrant. (7)

10.21     Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated March 6, 1998 between
          the Registrant and Silicon Valley Bank. (8)
     
10.22     Lease dated July 2, 1998 between British Pacific Properties
          Corporation, a California Corporation, as Landlord, and the
          Registrant. (9)

10.23     Employment Agreement dated October 1, 1998 between the Registrant and
          Geoffrey B. Altman.

10.24     Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated September 1, 1998
          between the Registrant and Silicon Valley Bank

11.1      Statement re: computation of pro forma loss per share.  
     
13.1      Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended
          September 30, 1998.
     
23.1      Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Independent Auditors. 

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

27        Financial Data Schedule. 
     
99        Independent Auditors' Report. 
_________________

(1)  Previously filed together with the Registrant's Registration Statement on
     Form SB-2 (File No. 333-4854-LA) or amendments thereto and incorporated
     herein by reference.

(2)  Certain confidential portions deleted pursuant to Order Granting
     Application Under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 406 thereunder
     respecting confidential treatment.

(3)  Previously filed together with the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
     (File No. 1-4430) dated September 30, 1996 and incorporated herein by
     reference.

(4)  Previously filed together with the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form
     10-Q (File No. 1-4430) dated December 31, 1996 and incorporated herein by
     reference.

(5)  Previously filed together with the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form
     10-Q (File No. 1-4430) dated March 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by
     reference.

(6)  Previously filed together with the Registrant's Registration Statement on
     Form S-1 (File No. 333-35895) dated September 18, 1997 and incorporated
     herein by reference.

                                      28

<PAGE>

(7)  Previously filed together with the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form
     10-Q (File No. 1-4430) dated December 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by
     reference.

(8)  Previously filed together with the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form
     10-Q (File No. 1-4430) dated March  31, 1998 and incorporated herein by
     reference.

(9)  Previously filed together with the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form
     10-Q (File No. 1-4430) dated June 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by
     reference.

                                        29

<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.
                              MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

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

                              Date:  December 29, 1998

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature 
appears below constitutes and appoints Larry G. Stambaugh and Dale A. Sander, 
and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with 
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place 
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this 
Report, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents 
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, 
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power 
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and 
necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and 
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming 
that all said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his 
substitute or substituted, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue 
hereof.

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE                           TITLE                                 DATE
- ---------                           -----                                 ----
<S>                           <C>                                   <C>
/S/ LARRY G. STAMBAUGH        Chairman of the Board                 December 29, 1998
- -----------------------       Director, President and           
Larry G. Stambaugh            Chief Executive Officer
                              (Principal Executive Officer)

/S/ DALE A. SANDER            Vice President, Finance, and          December 29, 1998
- -----------------------       Chief Financial Officer
Dale A. Sander                (Principal Accounting Officer and
                              Principal Financial Officer)

/S/ COLIN B. BIER             Director                              December 29, 1998 
- -----------------------
Colin B. Bier, Ph.D. 

/S/ PER-OLOF MARTENSSON       Director                              December 29, 1998
- -----------------------
Per-Olof Martensson

/S/ F. DUWAINE TOWNSEN        Director                              December 29, 1998
- -----------------------
F. Duwaine Townsen
</TABLE>

                                      30

<PAGE>
                                       
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.15

                                EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

       THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into 
effective as of October 1, 1998, by and between Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 
(the "Company"), and Kurt Gehlsen, Ph.D. ("Executive").  The Company and 
Executive are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties," and 
individually referred to as a "Party."
                                          
                                      RECITALS

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

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

       In consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual promises and 
covenants herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, 
the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1.     EMPLOYMENT.

       1.1    The Company hereby employs Executive, and Executive hereby 
accepts employment by the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in 
this Agreement, effective as of the date first set forth above ("Commencement 
Date"). This Agreement shall continue in until December 31, 2000, unless 
terminated earlier pursuant to Section 5 below.

       1.2    Executive shall be the Vice-President, Development and Chief 
Technical Officer of the Company and shall serve in such other capacity or 
capacities as the Chief Executive Officer and/or the Company's Board of 
Directors ("Board") may from time to time prescribe.

       1.3    Executive shall do and perform all services, acts or things 
necessary or advisable to manage and conduct the business of the Company and 
which are normally associated with the position of Vice-President, 
Development and Chief Technical Officer, consistent with the Bylaws of the 
Company, as well as its general employment policies and practices, including, 
but not limited to management of the Company's research and development 
programs issuing from its technologies, including; primary responsibility for 
business development and corporate partnering activities, over-site and 
administration of clinical trials, supervision of collaborator and contract 
laboratory relationships, planning and supervision of research programs, 
preparation of strategic development and marketing plans for the Company's 
technologies, evaluation of scientific and other technologies for 
acquisition, and participation in financing presentations and otherwise 
representing the Company at various meetings. However, at all times during 
his employment Executive shall be subject to the direction and policies from 
time to time established by the Board.

       1.4    Unless the Parties otherwise agree in writing, during the term 
of this Agreement, Executive shall perform the services he is required to 
perform pursuant to this Agreement at the Company's offices, located at 8899 
University Center Lane, Suite 400 or at any other place at which the Company 
maintains an office; provided, however, that the Company may from time to 
time require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations in connection 
with the Company's business.

                                       

<PAGE>

2.     LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS PERFORMANCE; NONCOMPETITION.

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

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

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

3.     COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE.

       3.1    While employed by the Company, as compensation for proper and 
satisfactory performance of all duties to be performed hereunder, the Company 
shall pay Executive an annual base salary of One Hundred Ninety Thousand 
Dollars ($190,000) per year (the "Base Salary"), payable in regular periodic 
payments in accordance with Company policy.  Such salary shall be prorated 
for any partial year of employment on the basis of a 365-day fiscal year.  In 
addition, Executive will be eligible for an incentive bonus of up to 25% of 
Base Salary, based upon defined milestones, during the agreement period.

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

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

       3.4    Executive shall be entitled to vacation and illness days 
consistent with the Company's standard practice for its employees generally.

       3.5    Executive shall, at the discretion of the Board, be entitled to 
participate in the benefits for which he is eligible under the terms and 
conditions of the standard Company benefits which may be in effect from time 
to time and provided by the Company.

4.     EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT.

       4.1    Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement of 
all reasonable business and travel expenses incurred by Executive in 
connection with the business of the Company.  Such expenses must be properly 
accounted for under the policies and procedures established by the Company.

5.     TERMINATION.

       5.1    The Company may terminate Executive's employment under this 
Agreement "for cause" by delivery of written notice to Executive specifying 
the cause or causes relied upon for such termination.  If Executive's 
employment under this Agreement is terminated by the Company for cause under 
this section, Executive shall be entitled to receive only accrued Base Salary 
and other accrued benefits required by law, prorated to the date of 
termination. Executive will not be entitled to severance pay, pay in lieu of 
notice or any other such compensation.  Grounds for the Company to terminate 
this Agreement "for cause" shall be limited to the occurrence of any of the 
following events:

                                       2

<PAGE>

              5.1.1  If Executive is in material breach of any provision of 
this Agreement;

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

              5.1.3  Executive's commission of any fraud against the Company 
or use or appropriation for his personal use or benefit of any funds or 
properties of the Company not authorized by the Board to be so used or 
appropriated;

              5.1.4  Executive's conviction of any crime involving dishonesty 
or moral turpitude;

              5.1.5  Conduct by Executive which in good faith and reasonable 
determination of the Board demonstrates gross unfitness to serve.

       Any notice of termination given pursuant to this Section 5.1 shall 
effect termination as of the date specified in such notice or, in the event 
no such date is specified, on the last day of the month in which such notice 
is delivered or deemed delivered as provided in Section 9 below.

       5.2    The Company may terminate the Executive's employment at any 
time without cause upon delivery of written notice to the Executive.  Any 
notice of termination given pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall effect 
termination as of the date specified in such notice or, in the event no such 
date is specified, on the last day of the month in which such notice is 
delivered or deemed deliverable as provided in Section 9 below.  If such 
termination shall occur under this Section 5.2, then Executive shall be 
entitled to continuation of Base Salary and health benefits for a period of 
six (6) months from said date of termination with such Base Salary 
continuation to be at the rate set forth in Section 3.1 or, as the case may 
be, at the rate of Executive's then current Base Salary in effect as of the 
date of termination.

       5.3    The parties may mutually agree at any time to terminate this
Agreement upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon in writing.

       5.4    This Agreement shall terminate without notice upon the date of 
Executive's death or the date when Executive becomes "completely disabled" as 
that term is defined in Section 6.2

       5.5    Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, unless 
otherwise provided herein or unless otherwise provided by law, Executive may 
at any time terminate his employment with the Company hereunder.  In such 
event, the Company shall not be liable to Executive for the payment of any 
amount other than accrued Base Salary and other accrued benefits required by 
law, prorated to the date of termination.  Executive will not be entitled to 
severance pay, pay in lieu of notice or any other such compensation.

6.     DEATH OR DISABILITY DURING TERM OF EMPLOYMENT.

       6.1    Upon termination of Executive's employment pursuant to Section 
5.4, Executive or his estate or personal representative, as the case may be, 
shall be entitled to receive Executive's Base Salary and benefits for a 
period of one month following the date of death or the date when Executive 
becomes completely disabled.

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

                                       3

<PAGE>

7.     CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; NONSOLICITATION.

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

       7.2    While employed by the Company and for one (1) year thereafter, 
the Executive agrees that in order to protect the Company's confidential and 
proprietary information from unauthorized use, that Executive will not, 
either directly or through others, solicit or attempt to solicit any 
employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Company to terminate 
his or her relationship with the Company in order to become an employee, 
consultant or independent contractor to or for any other person or business 
entity; or the business of any customer, vendor or distributor of the Company 
which, at the time of termination or one (1) year immediately prior thereto, 
was listed on Company's customer, vendor or distributor list.

8.     ASSIGNMENT AND BINDING EFFECT.

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

9.     NOTICES.

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

              9.1.1  If to the Company:

                            LARRY STAMBAUGH
                            MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                            8899 UNIVERSITY CENTER LANE
                            SUITE 400
                            SAN DIEGO, CA  92122

                                       4

<PAGE>

              9.1.2  If to Executive:

                            KURT GEHLSEN, PH.D.
                            MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                            8899 UNIVERSITY CENTER LANE
                            SUITE 400
                            SAN DIEGO, CA  92122

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

10.    CHOICE OF LAW.

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

11.    INTEGRATION.

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

12.    AMENDMENT.

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

13.    WAIVER.

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

14.    SEVERABILITY.

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

15.    INTERPRETATION; CONSTRUCTION.

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

                                       5

<PAGE>

16.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

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

17.    COUNTERPARTS.

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

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

                                          The Company:

                                          MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                                          By: /s/ LARRY G. STAMBAUGH
                                              --------------------------------
                                          Larry G. Stambaugh
                                          Chairman of the Board, President and
                                          Chief Executive Officer
                                                 

                                          EXECUTIVE:


                                          /s/ KURT R. GEHLSEN
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Kurt Gehlsen, Ph.D.
                                          
                                       6






<PAGE>
                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.16
                                       
                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

       THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into 
effective as of October 1, 1998, by and between Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 
(the "Company"), and Dale A. Sander ("Executive").  The Company and Executive 
are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties," and individually 
referred to as a "Party."
                                          
                                   RECITALS

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

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

       In consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual promises and 
covenants herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, 
the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1.     EMPLOYMENT.

       1.1    The Company hereby employs Executive, and Executive hereby 
accepts employment by the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in 
this Agreement, effective as of the date first set forth above ("Commencement 
Date"). This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period beginning with 
the Commencement Date and ending December 31, 2000, unless terminated earlier 
pursuant to Section 5 below.

       1.2    Executive shall be the Vice-President, Finance, Chief Financial 
Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Company and shall serve in such other 
capacity or capacities as the Chief Executive Officer and/or the Company's 
Board of Directors ("Board") may from time to time prescribe.

       1.3    Executive shall do and perform all services, acts or things 
necessary or advisable to manage and conduct the business of the Company and 
which are normally associated with the position Vice-President, Finance, 
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Company, consistent 
with the Bylaws of the Company, as well as its general employment policies 
and practices, including, but not limited to management of the corporate 
administrative activities, record keeping and reporting requirements, 
preparation and review of corporate documents related to regulatory 
requirements and board activities, preparation of budgets and strategic 
business plans, analysis for acquisitions and other business transactions,  
investor relations and development and maintenance of financial community 
relationships necessary for raising additional debt and/or equity capital.  
However, at all times during his employment Executive shall be subject to the 
direction and policies from time to time established by the Board.

       1.4    Unless the Parties otherwise agree in writing, during the term 
of this Agreement, Executive shall perform the services he is required to 
perform pursuant to this Agreement at the Company's offices, located at 8899 
University Center Lane, Suite 400 or at any other place at which the Company 
maintains an office; provided, however, that the Company may from time to 
time require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations in connection 
with the Company's business.

<PAGE>

2.     LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS PERFORMANCE; NONCOMPETITION.

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

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

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

3.     COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE.

       3.1    While employed by the Company, as compensation for proper and 
satisfactory performance of all duties to be performed hereunder, the Company 
shall pay Executive an annual base salary of One Hundred Seventy Thousand 
Dollars, $170,000 per year (the "Base Salary"), payable in regular periodic 
payments in accordance with Company policy.  Such salary shall be prorated 
for any partial year of employment on the basis of a 365-day fiscal year.  In 
addition, Executive will be eligible for an incentive bonus of up to 20% of 
base salary, based upon defined milestone, during the agreement period.

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

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

       3.4    Executive shall be entitled to vacation and illness days 
consistent with the Company's standard practice for its employees generally.

       3.5    Executive shall, at the discretion of the Board, be entitled to 
participate in the benefits for which he is eligible under the terms and 
conditions of the standard Company benefits which may be in effect from time 
to time and provided by the Company.

4.     EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT.

       4.1    Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement of 
all reasonable business and travel expenses incurred by Executive in 
connection with the business of the Company.  Such expenses must be properly 
accounted for under the policies and procedures established by the Company.

5.     TERMINATION.

       5.1    The Company may terminate Executive's employment under this 
Agreement "for cause" by delivery of written notice to Executive specifying 
the cause or causes relied upon for such termination.  If Executive's 
employment under this Agreement is terminated by the Company for cause under 
this section, Executive shall be entitled to receive only accrued Base Salary 
and other accrued benefits required by law, prorated to the date of 
termination. Executive will not be entitled to severance pay, pay in lieu of 
notice or any other such compensation.  Grounds for the Company to terminate 
this Agreement "for cause" shall be limited to the occurrence of any of the 
following events:

                                       2

<PAGE>

              5.1.1  If Executive is in material breach of any provision of 
this Agreement;

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

              5.1.3  Executive's commission of any fraud against the Company 
or use or appropriation for his personal use or benefit of any funds or 
properties of the Company not authorized by the Board to be so used or 
appropriated;

              5.1.4  Executive's conviction of any crime involving dishonesty 
or moral turpitude;

              5.1.5  Conduct by Executive which in good faith and reasonable 
determination of the Board demonstrates gross unfitness to serve.

       Any notice of termination given pursuant to this Section 5.1 shall 
effect termination as of the date specified in such notice or, in the event 
no such date is specified, on the last day of the month in which such notice 
is delivered or deemed delivered as provided in Section 9 below.

       5.2    The Company may terminate the Executive's employment at any 
time without cause upon delivery of written notice to the Executive.  Any 
notice of termination given pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall effect 
termination as of the date specified in such notice or, in the event no such 
date is specified, on the last day of the month in which such notice is 
delivered or deemed deliverable as provided in Section 9 below.  If such 
termination shall occur under this Section 5.2, then Executive shall be 
entitled to continuation of Base Salary and health benefits for a period of 
six (6) months from said date of termination with such Base Salary 
continuation to be at the rate set forth in Section 3.1 or, as the case may 
be, at the rate of Executive's then current Base Salary in effect as of the 
date of termination.

       5.3    The parties may mutually agree at any time to terminate this 
Agreement upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon in writing.

       5.4    This Agreement shall terminate without notice upon the date of 
Executive's death or the date when Executive becomes "completely disabled" as 
that term is defined in Section 6.2

       5.5    Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, unless 
otherwise provided herein or unless otherwise provided by law, Executive may 
at any time terminate his employment with the Company hereunder.  In such 
event, the Company shall not be liable to Executive for the payment of any 
amount other than accrued Base Salary and other accrued benefits required by 
law, prorated to the date of termination.  Executive will not be entitled to 
severance pay, pay in lieu of notice or any other such compensation.

6.     DEATH OR DISABILITY DURING TERM OF EMPLOYMENT.

       6.1    Upon termination of Executive's employment pursuant to Section 
5.4, Executive or his estate or personal representative, as the case may be, 
shall be entitled to receive Executive's Base Salary and benefits for a 
period of one month following the date of death or the date when Executive 
becomes completely disabled.

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

                                       3

<PAGE>

Board of the Company shall be final and binding and the date such 
determination is made shall be the date of such complete disability for 
purposes of this Agreement.

7.     CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; NONSOLICITATION.

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

       7.2    While employed by the Company and for one (1) year thereafter, 
the Executive agrees that in order to protect the Company's confidential and 
proprietary information from unauthorized use, that Executive will not, 
either directly or through others, solicit or attempt to solicit any 
employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Company to terminate 
his or her relationship with the Company in order to become an employee, 
consultant or independent contractor to or for any other person or business 
entity; or the business of any customer, vendor or distributor of the Company 
which, at the time of termination or one (1) year immediately prior thereto, 
was listed on Company's customer, vendor or distributor list.

8.     ASSIGNMENT AND BINDING EFFECT.

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

9.     NOTICES.

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

              9.1.1         If to the Company:

                            LARRY STAMBAUGH
                            MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                            8899 UNIVERSITY CENTER LANE
                            SUITE 400
                            SAN DIEGO, CA  92122

                                       4

<PAGE>

              9.1.2         If to Executive:

                            DALE SANDER
                            MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                            8899 UNIVERSITY CENTER LANE
                            SUITE 400
                            SAN DIEGO, CA  92122

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

10.    CHOICE OF LAW.

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

11.    INTEGRATION.

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

12.    AMENDMENT.

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

13.    WAIVER.

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

14.    SEVERABILITY.

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

15.    INTERPRETATION; CONSTRUCTION.

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

                                       5

<PAGE>

16.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

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

17.    COUNTERPARTS.

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

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

                                          The Company:

                                          MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                                          By:  /s/LARRY G. STAMBAUGH
                                              --------------------------------
                                          Larry G. Stambaugh
                                          Chairman of the Board, President and
                                          Chief Executive Officer
                                                 

                                          EXECUTIVE:

                                          /s/DALE A. SANDER
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Dale A. Sander



                                       6

<PAGE>
                                       
                                                                  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.

                                       

<PAGE>

       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

                                       -2-

<PAGE>

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.

                                       -3-

<PAGE>

       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

                                       -4-

<PAGE>

       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.

                                       -5-

<PAGE>

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
     ----------------------
Dale A. Sander
Vice President, Finance and
Chief Financial Officer

Date:  11/9/98



/s/ LARRY G. STAMBAUGH
- ---------------------------
Executive

                                       -6-

<PAGE>
                                       
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.23

                                EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

       THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into 
effective as of December 28, 1998, by and between Maxim Pharmaceuticals, 
Inc., (the "Company"), and Geoffrey B. Altman ("Executive").  The Company and 
Executive are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties," and 
individually referred to as a "Party."
                                          
                                      RECITALS

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

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

       In consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual promises and 
covenants herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, 
the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1.     EMPLOYMENT.

       1.1    The Company hereby employs Executive, and Executive hereby 
accepts employment by the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in 
this Agreement, effective as of the date first set forth above ("Commencement 
Date"). This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period beginning with 
the Commencement Date and ending December 31, 2000, unless terminated earlier 
pursuant to Section 5 below.

       1.2    Executive shall be the Vice-President, Marketing & Sales of the 
Company and shall serve in such other capacity or capacities as the Chief 
Executive Officer and/or the Company's Board of Directors ("Board") may from 
time to time prescribe.

       1.3    Executive shall do and perform all services, acts or things 
necessary or advisable to manage and conduct the business of the Company and 
which are normally associated with the position Vice-President, Marketing & 
Sales of the Company, consistent with the Bylaws of the Company, as well as 
its general employment policies and practices.  However, at all times during 
his employment Executive shall be subject to the direction and policies from 
time to time established by the Board.

       1.4    Unless the Parties otherwise agree in writing, during the term 
of this Agreement, Executive shall perform the services he is required to 
perform pursuant to this Agreement at the Company's offices, located at 8899 
University Center Lane, Suite 400 or at any other place at which the Company 
maintains an office; provided, however, that the Company may from time to 
time require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations in connection 
with the Company's business.

                                       

<PAGE>

2.     LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS PERFORMANCE; NONCOMPETITION.

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

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

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

3.     COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE.

       3.1    While employed by the Company, as compensation for proper and 
satisfactory performance of all duties to be performed hereunder, the Company 
shall pay Executive an annual base salary of One Hundred Forty-Five Thousand 
Dollars, $145,000 per year (the "Base Salary"), payable in regular periodic 
payments in accordance with Company policy.  Such salary shall be prorated 
for any partial year of employment on the basis of a 365-day fiscal year. In 
addition, Executive will be eligible for an incentive bonus of up to 20% of 
the Executive's annualized base salary hereunder, based upon defined 
milestones during the agreement period.

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

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

       3.4    Executive shall be entitled to vacation and illness days 
consistent with the Company's standard practice for its employees generally.

       3.5    Executive shall, at the discretion of the Board, be entitled to 
participate in the benefits for which he is eligible under the terms and 
conditions of the standard Company benefits which may be in effect from time 
to time and provided by the Company.

4.     EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT.

       4.1    Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement of 
all reasonable business and travel expenses incurred by Executive in 
connection with the business of the Company.  Such expenses must be properly 
accounted for under the policies and procedures established by the Company.

5.     TERMINATION.

       5.1    The Company may terminate Executive's employment under this 
Agreement "for cause" by delivery of written notice to Executive specifying 
the cause or causes relied upon for such termination.  If Executive's 
employment under this Agreement is terminated by the Company for cause under 
this section, Executive shall be entitled to receive only accrued Base Salary 
and other accrued benefits required by law, prorated to the date of 
termination. Executive will not be entitled to severance pay, pay in lieu of 
notice or any other such compensation.  Grounds for the Company to terminate 
this Agreement "for cause" shall be limited to the occurrence of any of the 
following events:

                                       2

<PAGE>

              5.1.1  If Executive is in material breach of any provision of 
this Agreement;

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

              5.1.3  Executive's commission of any fraud against the Company 
or use or appropriation for his personal use or benefit of any funds or 
properties of the Company not authorized by the Board to be so used or 
appropriated;

              5.1.4  Executive's conviction of any crime involving dishonesty 
or moral turpitude;

              5.1.5  Conduct by Executive which in good faith and reasonable 
determination of the Board demonstrates gross unfitness to serve.

       Any notice of termination given pursuant to this Section 5.1 shall 
effect termination as of the date specified in such notice or, in the event 
no such date is specified, on the last day of the month in which such notice 
is delivered or deemed delivered as provided in Section 9 below.

       5.2    The Company may terminate the Executive's employment at any 
time without cause upon delivery of written notice to the Executive.  Any 
notice of termination given pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall effect 
termination as of the date specified in such notice or, in the event no such 
date is specified, on the last day of the month in which such notice is 
delivered or deemed deliverable as provided in Section 9 below.  If such 
termination shall occur under this Section 5.2, then Executive shall be 
entitled to continuation of Base Salary and health benefits for a period of 
six (6) months from said date of termination with such Base Salary 
continuation to be at the rate set forth in Section 3.1 or, as the case may 
be, at the rate of Executive's then current Base Salary in effect as of the 
date of termination.

       5.3    The parties may mutually agree at any time to terminate this
Agreement upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon in writing.

       5.4    This Agreement shall terminate without notice upon the date of 
Executive's death or the date when Executive becomes "completely disabled" as 
that term is defined in Section 6.2

       5.5    Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, unless 
otherwise provided herein or unless otherwise provided by law, Executive may 
at any time terminate his employment with the Company hereunder.  In such 
event, the Company shall not be liable to Executive for the payment of any 
amount other than accrued Base Salary and other accrued benefits required by 
law, prorated to the date of termination.  Executive will not be entitled to 
severance pay, pay in lieu of notice or any other such compensation.

6.     DEATH OR DISABILITY DURING TERM OF EMPLOYMENT.

       6.1    Upon termination of Executive's employment pursuant to Section 
5.4, Executive or his estate or personal representative, as the case may be, 
shall be entitled to receive Executive's Base Salary and benefits for a 
period of one month following the date of death or the date when Executive 
becomes completely disabled.

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

                                       3

<PAGE>

7.     CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; NONSOLICITATION.

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

       7.2    While employed by the Company and for one (1) year thereafter, 
the Executive agrees that in order to protect the Company's confidential and 
proprietary information from unauthorized use, that Executive will not, 
either directly or through others, solicit or attempt to solicit any 
employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Company to terminate 
his or her relationship with the Company in order to become an employee, 
consultant or independent contractor to or for any other person or business 
entity; or the business of any customer, vendor or distributor of the Company 
which, at the time of termination or one (1) year immediately prior thereto, 
was listed on Company's customer, vendor or distributor list.

8.     ASSIGNMENT AND BINDING EFFECT.

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

9.     NOTICES.

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

              9.1.1         If to the Company:

                            LARRY STAMBAUGH
                            MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                            8899 UNIVERSITY CENTER LANE
                            SUITE 400
                            SAN DIEGO, CA  92122

                                       4

<PAGE>

              9.1.2         If to Executive:

                            GEOFFREY B. ALTMAN
                            MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                            8899 UNIVERSITY CENTER LANE
                            SUITE 400
                            SAN DIEGO, CA  92122

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

10.    CHOICE OF LAW.

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

11.    INTEGRATION.

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

12.    AMENDMENT.

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

13.    WAIVER.

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

14.    SEVERABILITY.

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

15.    INTERPRETATION; CONSTRUCTION.

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

                                       5

<PAGE>

16.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

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

17.    COUNTERPARTS.

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

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

                                          The Company:

                                          MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                                          By: /s/ LARRY G. STAMBAUGH
                                              --------------------------------
                                          Larry G. Stambaugh
                                          Chairman of the Board, President and
                                          Chief Executive Officer
                                                 

                                          EXECUTIVE:
              
                                          /s/ GEOFFREY B. ALTMAN
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Geoffrey B. Altman

                                       6

<PAGE>

SILICON VALLEY BANK 
                                          
                            AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT

BORROWER:      MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.        

DATE:          SEPTEMBER 1, 1998

     THIS AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT is entered into between SILICON VALLEY 
BANK ("Bank") and the borrower named above (the "Borrower").  The Parties 
agree to amend the Loan and Security Agreement between them, dated March 15, 
1997, as amended by that Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement (the "March 
1998 Amendment") dated March 16, 1998, and as otherwise amended from time to 
time (the "Loan Agreement"), as follows, effective as of the date hereof.  
(Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Amendment, shall have the 
meanings set forth in the Loan Agreement.)

     1.   NEW DEFINITIONS.    Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement is hereby 
amended by replacing the definition of "Committed Second Term Line" with the 
following: 

          "Committed Second Term Line" means a credit extension of up to
          One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) made pursuant to Section 2.1.3
          hereof, and as further limited pursuant to the terms and conditions
          of Section 2.1.3 hereof.

     2.   AMENDED SECTION 2.1.3.  The figure of "$125,000" set forth in Section
2.1.3(a) of the Loan Agreement regarding leasehold improvements, as added by the
March 1998 Amendment, is hereby amended to be "$250,000."

     3.   REPRESENTATIONS TRUE.  Borrower represents and warrants to Bank 
that all representations and warranties set forth in the Loan Agreement, as 
amended hereby, are true and correct.  

     4.   FEE.  Borrower shall pay to Bank a fee of $750 in connection 
herewith, which shall be in addition to interest and to all other amounts 
payable under the Loan Agreement.

     5.   GENERAL PROVISIONS.  This Amendment, the Loan Agreement, any prior 
written amendments to the Loan Agreement signed by Bank and the Borrower, and 
the other written documents and agreements between Bank and the Borrower set 
forth in full all of the representations and agreements of the parties with 
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior discussions, 
representations, agreements and understandings between the parties with 
respect to the subject hereof.  Except as herein expressly amended, all of 
the terms and provisions of the Loan Agreement, and all other documents and 
agreements between Bank and the Borrower shall continue in full force and 
effect and the same are hereby ratified and confirmed.  This Agreement and 
Consent may be executed in any number of counterparts, which when taken 
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.                   SILICON VALLEY BANK
                                               
                                                    
 BY  /s/ DALE A. SANDER
     ------------------
      TITLE:                                   BY /s/ SUSAN BATCHEN
                                                  -----------------
 BY       Dale A. Sander                       TITLE   Vice President
 TITLE:   Chief Financial Officer



                                     -1-

<PAGE>

Exhibit 11.1
Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Statement Regarding Computation of Loss Per share

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 --------------------------------------------------
                                                                          1996
                                                 --------------------------------------------------
                                                  Prior to
                                                  Effective             Subsequent          Total
                                                 Date of IPO              To IPO           For Year         1997         1998
                                                 -----------            ----------         --------         ----         ----
<S>                                          <C>                    <C>                    <C>              <C>         <C>
                                             (10/1/95-7/10/96)      (7/11/96-9/30/96)
Weighted average shares outstanding 
  excluding common shares issued in
  accordance with SAB 83                           438,229               6,671,237                        6,671,237     9,215,416

Number of common shares issued and stock
  options and warrants granted in 
  accordance with SAB 83                         2,668,374

Convertible preferred stock                        102,866
                                                ----------               ---------          ---------    ----------   -----------
Total shares outstanding                         3,209,469               6,671,237          4,074,961     6,671,237     9,215,416
                                                ----------               ---------          ---------    ----------   -----------
                                                ----------               ---------          ---------    ----------   -----------
Net income (loss)                               (2,378,298)              1,544,810           (833,488)   (6,895,149)  (21,854,572)

Net loss per share                                                                             ($0.20)       ($1.03)       ($2.37)
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                                                 EXHIBIT 13.1

[INSIDE FRONT COVER AND FIRST PAGE]


Maxim is developing advanced drugs, therapies and vaccines for cancer and
infectious diseases.  Global awareness of our lead drug MAXAMINE-TM- continues
to grow as the immuno-modulator is now in three Phase III cancer trials in 12
countries around the world.



1998 MILESTONES - MOVING TOWARD GLOBAL COMMERCIALIZATION

- -    Commenced an international Phase III clinical trial of MAXAMINE THERAPY-TM-
     for the treatment of advanced malignant melanoma in Europe, Australia and
     Canada.

- -    Commenced a Phase III clinical trial of MAXAMINE THERAPy in acute
     myelogenous leukemia in the United States, Europe, Australia, Canada and
     Israel.

- -    Expanded the body of human data highlighting the potential benefits of
     MAXAMINE THERAPY, including updated Phase II AML clinical results
     suggesting substantial increases in leukemia-free remission duration.

- -    Completed our first three corporate collaborations with Chiron Corporation,
     Amgen Inc., and BioNative AB.

- -    Commenced a Phase II trial of MAXAMINE THERAPY in the treatment of advanced
     renal cell carcinoma, and released pilot study data suggesting that
     MAXAMINE has the potential to improve the treatment outcomes for such
     patients.

- -    Completed a Phase I trial of MAXAMINE THERAPY in the treatment of hepatitis
     C patients, demonstrating safety and suggesting that MAXAMINE has the
     potential to improve existing treatments of the pandemic disease.

- -    Completed a $35 million secondary offering, and expanded our shareholder
     base with a listing in Europe on the Stockholm Stock Exchange (SSE) to
     complement our United States AMEX listing.

- -    Expanded our product pipeline by advancing the development of MAXDERM-TM-
     for dermatological and other topical applications.

- -    Developed prototype vaccine candidates with our MAXVAX-TM- technology, and
     published two studies highlighting its feasibility as a carrier in humans.


Note:  MAXAMINE, MAXAMINE THERAPY, MAXDERM, MAXVAX and the Maxim logo are
trademarks of Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

                                       1

<PAGE>

LETTER TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS

We began Fiscal 1998 with one Phase III cancer trial of MAXAMINE underway and
with the goal of rapidly advancing the global commercialization of this
important drug candidate.  Now, in December 1998, clinicians in 12 countries are
treating patients with MAXAMINE in three Phase III cancer trials.  During the
last year we also completed three corporate collaborations to assist with our
development efforts.  We believe that these results and other accomplishments
during the year clearly achieved our goal of moving closer to a potential global
launch of MAXAMINE.  It is apparent from our discussions with doctors, nurses
and patients that there is a vital need for this prospective treatment for
cancer and infectious diseases such as hepatitis C. 

During 1998 we expanded our product pipeline, by advancing the development of
the MAXDERM technology for dermatological and other topical applications.  We
also moved the MAXVAX technology closer to the clinic as we work toward the
development of a new class of vaccines.

MAXAMINE PROGRESSES TOWARD GLOBAL LAUNCH

In February 1998 we commenced our third Phase III clinical trial of MAXAMINE,
initiating an international study in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) on three
continents.  This trial complements the two ongoing Phase III trials in advanced
malignant melanoma.  Each of these trials are designed to independently support
regulatory submissions for approval to market MAXAMINE.  We believe that
conducting three concurrent Phase III cancer trials of MAXAMINE THERAPY around
the world increases prospects  for the commercial success of MAXAMINE.

In December 1998 clinicians presented updated clinical results from our Phase II
study of MAXAMINE as a remission therapy in patients with AML at a large
international hematology meeting.  In a disease where only 20-25% of the
patients would be expected to be alive after two years, more than half the
patients treated with MAXAMINE remain leukemia-free.  The number of clinical
sites - more than 100 - that have approached Maxim and agreed to participate in
this trial has greatly exceeded our expectations.  We believe that this interest
results from the combination of the promising data we have seen in the Phase II
trial, and the fact that this population of patients has limited options for
therapy today. 

PROMISING RESULTS AND EXPANDED CLINICAL TESTING IN CANCER

Those of you who have followed Maxim know that MAXAMINE THERAPY has shown great
promise in extending survival and disease-free remission duration in a series of
Phase II trials in patients with advanced-stage malignant melanoma and AML. 
Although these indications represent the initial disease targets for MAXAMINE,
they are not the only potential uses for the drug.

In November 1998 we initiated a Phase II clinical trial of MAXAMINE THERAPY in
the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).  A small
pilot study of MAXAMINE THERAPY in the treatment of RCC suggested that patients
treated with MAXAMINE survived longer than patients treated with the current
standard of care.  We are excited to further test MAXAMINE THERAPY in this
patient population as conventional therapies have not improved overall survival
for advanced RCC patients.

                                       2

<PAGE>

A 1998 publication of research in the BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER suggests that
MAXAMINE potentiates the anti-tumor efficacy of interleukin-2 in treating
established prostate adenocarcinoma in rats.  In the report, a team of
researchers at the Department of Oncology, University of Umea, Sweden, showed
that MAXAMINE may also enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy of prostate
cancer tumors.  Based on these results, new approaches to treating advanced
prostate cancer may be possible.

This new clinical and preclinical data adds to a growing body of research that
supports the potentially broad applicability of the immuno-modulating attributes
of MAXAMINE.  We expect to continue the expansion of our clinical development
program into other cancers, most likely in collaboration with our marketing
partners and other corporate collaborators.  We also expect to advance this
basic immuno-enhancing technology further into the treatment of infectious
diseases, including an area of great need, hepatitis C.

HEPATITIS C

In June 1998 we released the results of our Phase I trial in hepatitis C 
(HCV). The study indicated that the combination of MAXAMINE with 
interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is safe in the treatment of HCV patients, and 
that MAXAMINE may enhance the efficacy of IFN-alpha  in patients who were 
previously nonresponsive to IFN-alpha therapy.  These results further support 
the underlying mechanism of action of MAXAMINE as a potential 
immuno-modulator for the biotherapeutic treatment of viral infections.  

These data encourage us to continue our clinical development of MAXAMINE for use
in the treatment of hepatitis C and other viral infections.  With at least 60
million people infected with HCV world wide, and existing therapies that remain
relatively ineffective in the majority of patients, a critical need exists for
these patients.  We expect to start a Phase II trial in hepatitis C in 1999. 

CORPORATE COLLABORATIONS AND PREPARATION FOR MARKET LAUNCH

As we move closer to the potential market launch of MAXAMINE, we are undertaking
the activities required to prepare for launch, including market evaluations,
reimbursement analysis and selection of potential marketing partners.  During
1999 we expect to complete and announce our selection of marketing partners in
key regions of the world.  In the United States we are preparing for the direct
launch of the product ourselves.

Our corporate collaboration activities in 1998 highlight our belief that
MAXAMINE, a combination therapy, is complementary rather than competitive with
many drugs and may be key to successful biotherapy for many indications.  During
1998 we entered into clinical collaborations with Chiron Corporation, Amgen Inc.
and BioNative AB.  Each of these companies have cytokines whose efficacy may be
enhanced by using them in combination with MAXAMINE.  Under each of these
agreements, we received economic and other support for important clinical trials
without giving up marketing or other future rights to MAXAMINE.

                                       3

<PAGE>

EXPANDING OUR PRODUCT PIPELINE

During the year we acquired and developed technologies that we believe will
allow for the development of MAXDERM, a MAXAMINE-related technology for
dermatological and other topical treatments.  We recently announced the results
of a study in patients with herpes labialis (cold sores) that suggested that
MAXDERM resolved lesions more effectively than a placebo control. Other
potential applications for MAXDERM include oral mucositis, decubitus ulcers,
shingles, burns and other related conditions.

During 1988 we also advanced the preclinical development of our MAXVAX mucosal
vaccine carrier/adjuvant technology.  Two 1998 publications in INFECTION AND
IMMUNITY described a human study and a preclinical study, both of which support
the feasibility and potential benefits of using MAXVAX as a carrier for a new
class of needle-free mucosal vaccines.

                                 *   *   *   *   *
 
In last year's report we highlighted our goal of building a company whose 
products EXTEND LIFE...WITH QUALITY.  During the past year we expanded the 
breadth of our development efforts while moving closer to the potential 
market launch of our lead product candidate.  During 1999 we hope to maintain 
and build upon this momentum and prepare for the worldwide commercialization 
of MAXAMINE.  We thank our long-standing shareholders, collaborators, 
healthcare providers, patients and associates for their continued loyalty, 
interest and support, and enthusiastically look forward to 1999.

Sincerely,



Larry G. Stambaugh
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

                                       4

<PAGE>

MAXAMINE THERAPY:  KEY TO BIOTHERAPY
          
THE RESULTS FROM AN EXTENSIVE SERIES OF CLINICAL TRIALS OF MAXAMINE THERAPY IN
CANCER PATIENTS SUGGEST A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN OVERALL PATIENT SURVIVAL
AND REMISSION DURATION WHILE MAINTAINING QUALITY OF LIFE DURING THERAPY. 

Maxim's lead drug, the immuno-modulator MAXAMINE, is designed to offer a safer
treatment that extends life for seriously ill patients.  MAXAMINE may be key to
many types of biotherapy -- the use of the body's immune or biological systems
to fight cancer and infectious diseases.  

The results of an extensive series of clinical trials of MAXAMINE in the
treatment of malignant melanoma and acute myelogenous leukemia suggest a more
than doubling of survival and remission duration in patients treated with
MAXAMINE.  Earlier-stage clinical studies have also suggested promise for the
use of MAXAMINE in treating renal cell carcinoma and hepatitis C.  Because
MAXAMINE THERAPY capitalizes upon and enhances the patient's own immune
capabilities, it has the potential to be used in a wide range of cancers and
infectious or other diseases that can be recognized by the immune system.


MAXAMINE CURRENT CLINICAL TRIAL STATUS

[GRAPH]

The broad potential use of MAXAMINE is further expanded by the fact that the
drug may be complementary to many other biotherapeutic agents.  MAXAMINE THERAPY
combines the administration of MAXAMINE, which protects critical immune cells,
with the administration of biotherapeutic agents designed to stimulate these
immune cells.  Accordingly, MAXAMINE and these biotherapeutic agents are not

                                       5

<PAGE>

competitive, but play complementary and synergistic roles in enhancing the
immune system as combination therapies.  

There are a number of biotherapeutic agents currently available or under
development, but many have achieved only modest effectiveness in most cancers or
infectious diseases as single-agent therapies.  The results of a series of
clinical trials conducted to date highlight the potential of combination
therapies using MAXAMINE to improve the efficacy of certain biotherapeutic
agents.  Because MAXAMINE'S basic mechanism may benefit many complementary
drugs, we believe that continuing improvements in the field of biotherapy, such
as the development of sustained-release cytokines or tumor vaccines, may result
in greatly expanded opportunities for the use of MAXAMINE. 

PATIENT QUALITY OF LIFE

THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE REMISSION THERAPY ON AN OUTPATIENT, AT-HOME BASIS IS
ESSENTIAL TO ALLOW PATIENTS TO MAINTAIN AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE THEIR NORMAL
LIFESTYLES.

In addition to extending survival, maintaining the quality of the patient's life
during treatment is an important objective of MAXAMINE THERAPY.  Cancer and
chronic infectious diseases afflict millions of people worldwide, yet available
treatments can be ineffective, harsh and costly.  MAXAMINE THERAPY is designed
to allow self-administered treatment by patients in their own homes, and is
believed to reduce toxic side effects of cytokines and other biotherapeutic
agents.
  
In a Phase II study of MAXAMINE in the treatment of AML, 39 patients
administered more than 8,000 doses of MAXAMINE at home.  The majority, 75%, of
the evaluable patients returned to work while taking MAXAMINE THERAPY.  "Quality
of life is very important for AML patients during remission," said Dr. Mats
Brune, Department of Hematology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg,
Sweden, principal investigator in the Phase II study.  "The ability to provide
remission therapy on an outpatient, at-home basis is essential to allow patients
to maintain as closely as possible their normal lifestyles."

                                       6

<PAGE>

HOW MAXAMINE THERAPY WORKS 

MAXAMINE, an immuno-modulator, is based on a naturally occurring molecule.  
Its usefulness in biotherapy was discovered by Maxim's collaborative 
scientists at the University of Goteborg, Sweden.  Two kinds of immune cells, 
natural killer-cells (NK Cells) and cytotoxic T Cells, possess an ability to 
kill and support the killing of cancer cells and virally infected cells.  
Cytokines, such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), are 
potent stimulators of NK Cells and T Cells.  However, cytokines are often 
rendered ineffective in the treatment of patients as the NK Cells and T Cells 
are suppressed by phagocytes, another component of the body's immune system.  
MAXAMINE is designed to modulate the immune system to protect NK Cells and T 
Cells, allowing biotherapy to be more effective.

[Insert Most Current Mechanism Illustration - "Programmed Cell Death of NK Cells
Without Maxamine"]



THE RELEASE OF FREE RADICALS BY PHAGOCYTES RESULTS IN APOPTOSIS (PROGRAMMED 
CELL DEATH) OF NK CELLS AND T CELLS, THEREBY DESTROYING THEIR KILLING 
(CYTOTOXIC) CAPABILITY AND RENDERING THE IMMUNE RESPONSE AGAINST THE TUMOR OR 
VIRALLY INFECTED CELL LARGELY INEFFECTIVE.  THESE PHAGOCYTES, A CLASS OF 
WHITE BLOOD CELLS, ARE FOUND IN ABUNDANT QUANTITIES AT THE SITE OF TUMORS OR 
VIRAL INFECTIONS. 

[Insert Most Current Mechanism Illustration - "Maxamine Immuno-Modulator
Technology"]



MAXAMINE, A NATURALLY OCCURRING MOLECULE, ATTACHES TO PHAGOCYTES AND PREVENTS 
THE PRODUCTION AND RELEASE OF FREE RADICALS, THEREBY ALLOWING 
IMMUNE-ACTIVATING AGENTS, SUCH AS IL-2 AND IFN-alpha, TO MORE EFFECTIVELY 
ACTIVATE NK CELLS AND T CELLS TO ENHANCE THE KILLING OF TUMOR CELLS OR 
VIRALLY INFECTED CELLS.

Because MAXAMINE has been shown to increase the effectiveness of cytokines, 
lower doses of cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-alpha can potentially be used 
in MAXAMINE THERAPY without compromising therapeutic effectiveness, thereby 
reducing serious side effects associated with the cytokines.  Among the 
benefits of MAXAMINE THERAPY is the utilization and enhancement of the body's 
immune capabilities, thereby making the treatment potentially applicable to a 
broad range of cancers and infectious diseases recognizable by the immune 
system.

                                       7

<PAGE>

GROWING BODY OF CLINICAL TRIAL RESULTS FOR MAXAMINE THERAPY  

For several years we have seen survival benefits in a series of Phase II 
clinical trials conducted with MAXAMINE in malignant melanoma and acute 
myelogenous leukemia.  One of our goals for 1998, however, was to further 
expand the body of data supporting the potential benefit of MAXAMINE into 
other diseases.  During 1998, clinical results were released showing the 
potential benefit of MAXAMINE in renal cell carcinoma and hepatitis C, as was 
preclinical data suggesting the potential for use in prostate adenocarcinoma.

MALIGNANT MELANOMA

Malignant melanoma is one of most rapidly increasing cancers in the developed 
world, with more than 300,000 cases reported in the United States, Europe and 
Australia.  In two completed Phase II trials using MAXAMINE THERAPY in the 
treatment of advanced malignant melanoma, overall survival times more than 
doubled compared to conventional therapies.  Specifically, the median 
survival time for patients treated with MAXAMINE THERAPY in the two studies 
exceeded 13 and 15 months, respectively, compared to reported median survival 
times of six to seven months for conventional treatments.  

Maintaining the patient's quality of life was also an important outcome of 
the second study.  In that study, the doses of the cytokines IL-2 and 
IFN-alpha were lowered substantially, resulting in reduced side effects and 
making it possible for patients to self-administer MAXAMINE THERAPY in their 
homes.  

     MAXAMINE THERAPY in Advanced-Stage Malignant Melanoma Patients
                      Second Phase II Clinical Study
                                 Median Survival Time             

Conventional treatment      7 months

MAXAMINE and low-dose
cytokines (IL-2/IFN-a)                                15 months


Another very encouraging outcome of these two melanoma clinical trials was the
improved survival seen in patients with liver metastases.  Malignant melanoma
frequently metastasizes (spreads) to the liver in advanced-stage patients. 
Prognosis in these cases is poor, and the predicted survival time for malignant
melanoma patients with liver metastasis is four months or less.  No therapy to
date has reported significant improvements in this patient population. 
Remarkably, the median survival times of the seven patients with liver
metastases treated with MAXAMINE THERAPY in the first two trials exceeded 19
months, more than four times longer than the predicted survival time for these
patients. 
 
                                       8

<PAGE>

ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA

AML is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults, and prospects for 
long-term survival are poor for the majority of patients.  There are 
approximately 20,000 new cases and 15,000 deaths caused by AML each year in 
the United States, Europe and Australia.  Once diagnosed with AML, patients 
are typically treated with chemotherapy, and the majority achieve complete 
remission ("CR"). Unfortunately 75-80% of patients who achieve their first CR 
("CR1") will relapse, and the median time in remission before relapse is only 
12 months with current treatments.  Relapsed patients are typically treated 
again with chemotherapy, and many of these patients die during treatment.  
Among those relapsed patients who do survive treatment and achieve a second 
complete remission ("CR2"), these subsequent remissions normally have a 
shorter duration than the prior CR (a median of only 6 months in the case of 
CR2 patients). 
 
The objective of MAXAMINE THERAPY is to treat AML patients in remission with a
combination of MAXAMINE and low doses of IL-2 to prevent relapse and prolong
leukemia-free survival while maintaining the quality of life for patients during
treatment.  The intent is to augment the body's ability to scavenge and attack
residual leukemic cells.

In a Phase II study, patients treated in their first remission with MAXAMINE
THERAPY have experienced a substantial increase in leukemia-free survival,
highlighted by the following updated clinical results as of September 1, 1998:

- -    58% (15 of 26) of all CR1 patients treated with MAXAMINE remained in
     leukemia-free remission.  A prior study of AML patients suggest that only
     20-25% of patients would be expected to be alive after two years.

- -    65% (13 of 20) of CR1 patients without concurrent disease or antecedent
     illnesses treated with MAXAMINE remained in leukemia-free remission.

- -    After a median of 24 months of follow up, the median time to relapse had
     not been reached in this study as more than 50% of the MAXAMINe-treated CR1
     patients remained leukemia-free.  By contrast, under the normal course for
     AML, the median time to relapse would be expected to be reached after only
     12 months.

These results were achieved despite the fact that the patients treated with 
MAXAMINE were a relatively older group of patients and more than half (15 of 
26) of the patients were categorized as high risk with a poor prognosis for 
long-term survival.

Patients treated in their second or subsequent remission ("CR2+") historically
have a poor prognosis, with only about 5% achieving long-term survival.  The 13
CR2+ patients treated with MAXAMINE THERAPY in the Phase II study experienced a
substantial increase in remission duration, and the median time to relapse for
the CR2+ patients was 21 months, more than three times the six-month historic
median.

                                       9

<PAGE>

[GRAPH]

RENAL CELL CARCINOMA

There are currently approximately 150,000 cases of renal cell carcinoma 
(RCC), cancer of the kidneys, in the United States and Europe combined.  
Metastatic RCC often is resistant to radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and 
the disease results in more than 20,000 deaths each year in the United States 
and Europe. Market research conducted with oncologists suggests that RCC is a 
logical application for MAXAMINE THERAPY.  In addition, a pilot study of six 
RCC patients was conducted at the Sahlgrenska Hospital in Goteborg.  In the 
small study, three patients who were treated with MAXAMINE and cytokines 
(IFN-alpha and IL-2) achieved a mean survival of 29 months, while another three 
patients who were treated with the cytokines alone achieved a mean survival 
of only four months.  A Phase II RCC trial was initiated in late 1998.  

HEPATITIS C

Hepatitis C ("HCV"), a viral infection, is estimated to afflict 4 million 
people in the United States and at least 60 million people worldwide.  It is 
a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, and the primary reason 
for liver transplantation in the United States.  IFN-alpha is the primary 
treatment for HCV. However, even with recent advances in the use of IFN-alpha 
in combination with anti-viral drugs or in sustained release formulations, 
the majority of patients do not effectively respond to current therapy.

In June 1998 we reported results from a Phase I feasibility study in HCV 
patients using MAXAMINE THERAPY.  The study indicated that the combination of 
MAXAMINE with IFN-alpha is safe in the treatment of HCV patients, and that 
MAXAMINE may enhance the efficacy of IFN-alpha in patients who were 
previously nonresponsive to IFN-alpha therapy.  In the study, 10 patients who 
were characterized as nonresponders to previous IFN-alpha treatment were put 
back on treatment with the same dose of IFN-alpha PLUS MAXAMINE.  Eight of 
the 10 patients had a decrease in liver enzyme (ALT) levels, and two patients 
achieved a complete normalization of ALT.  Patients treated with MAXAMINE 
plus IFN-alpha also demonstrated statistically significant decreases of viral 
load and ALT.  Based on these results and other support for the potential 
benefit of MAXAMINE in HCV, we plan to commence a Phase II trial in Hepatitis 
C in 1999.

                                       10

<PAGE>

THREE PHASE III CLINICAL TRIALS ADVANCE MAXAMINE 
TOWARD GLOBAL MARKET LAUNCH

THE PARTICIPATION OF MORE THAN 150 CLINICAL TRIAL SITES IN 12 COUNTRIES
HIGHLIGHTS THE INCREASING ACCEPTANCE OF THE POTENTIAL OF MAXAMINE.

Building on the body of human data generated in the Phase II clinical trials, 
Maxim has initiated an aggressive clinical development program encompassing 
three concurrent Phase III clinical trials of MAXAMINE THERAPY for the 
treatment of cancer.  Each of these trials is designed to independently 
support regulatory submissions for approval to market MAXAMINE.  

Two Phase III malignant melanoma trials complement each other by addressing 
separate clinical and marketing issues.  The United States pivotal trial is 
designed to demonstrate that MAXAMINE THERAPY using IL-2 is better at 
extending patient survival than the administration of IL-2 alone.  We have 
achieved the original enrollment target for the trial and expect to cease 
enrollment in early 1999.  The second pivotal trial, centered in Europe, 
Australia and Canada, is designed to demonstrate that MAXAMINE THERAPY is 
better at extending patient survival than dacarbazine (DTIC), the most 
commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of advanced malignant 
melanoma.  A secondary endpoint of both trials is to evaluate patient quality 
of life while on MAXAMINE THERAPY.

A Phase III AML clinical trial is underway in the United States, Europe, 
Australia, Canada and Israel.  The trial is designed to demonstrate that 
MAXAMINE THERAPY as a remission therapy can prevent relapse and prolong 
leukemia-free remission duration in AML patients compared to the current 
standard of care, which is no therapy during remission.

Encouraging Phase II clinical trial data have facilitated our recruitment of 
leading cancer investigators on three continents to assist with these Phase 
III clinical trials.  The Company expects that approximately 1,000 patients 
will be enrolled in these three trials combined.  Maxim is hopeful that these 
trials will lead to an international commercial launch of MAXAMINE, and help 
define a new focus in patient care characterized by the extension of 
life...with quality.

MAXAMINE THERAPY - PHASE III CLINICAL TRIALS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          PROTOCOL
                                                                 ------------------------                               APPROXIMATE
       DISEASE                                       DATE        MAXAMINE         CONTROL               PRIMARY            NUMBER
     INDICATION          LOCATION                  INITIATED      THERAPY          GROUP      DURATION  ENDPOINTS        OF PATIENTS
     ----------          --------                  ---------     --------         -------     --------  ---------       ------------
                                                                                                (a)        (c)
<S>                    <C>                         <C>            <C>             <C>         <C>        <C>             <C>
Malignant Melanoma     United States                2nd Half      MAXAMINE          IL - 2     12 mos.    Survival,          300
                                                    1997          + IL-2                                  QOL & Tumor
                                                                                                          Response

Malignant Melanoma     5 Countries                  2nd Half      MAXAMINE          DTIC       12 mos.    Survival,          300
                       (Europe, Australia           1997          + IL-2 &                                QOL & Tumor
                       & Canada)                                  IFN-alpha                               Response

Acute Myelogenous      12 Countries                 1st Half      MAXAMINE          SOC (d)    18/24      Leukemia-Free      400
Leukemia               (United States, Europe,      1998          + IL-2                       mos. (b)   Survival
                       Australia, Canada & Israel)                                                        QOL
</TABLE>


(a)  Expected duration of trial after completion of patient enrollment.
(b)  Up to 18 months for patients in CR2+ group, up to 24 months for patients 
     in CR1 group.
(c)  QOL = quality of life.
(d)  SOC = standard of care.

                                       11

<PAGE>

ACHIEVING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF MAXAMINE THERAPY -- ADDITIONAL TARGET
INDICATIONS

Our Phase III trials target advanced-stage malignant melanoma and AML.  We
believe that these are only the first of a number of potential uses for the
drug.

In November 1998 we initiated a Phase II clinical trial of MAXAMINE THERAPY in
the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.  The trial is
designed to evaluate MAXAMINE THERAPY, consisting in this trial of the
combination of MAXAMINE, the natural cytokine Interferon Alfanative-Registered
Trademark- and IL-2, in the treatment of late-stage RCC patients.  Under the
trial design, approximately 40 patients are expected to be enrolled and treated
for up to 9 months.  Conventional therapies have not improved overall survival
for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
    
The favorable data from the feasibility study in hepatitis C (HCV) encourages us
to continue our clinical development of MAXAMINE for use in the treatment of
hepatitis C and possibly other viral infections.  We expect to start a Phase II
trial in hepatitis C in 1999. 

A 1998 publication of research in the BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER suggests that
MAXAMINE potentiates the anti-tumor efficacy of IL-2 in treating established
prostate adenocarcinoma in rats.  In the report, a team of researchers at the
Department of Oncology, University of Umea, Sweden, showed that MAXAMINE also
may enhance the benefit of radiotherapy of prostate cancer tumors.  Based on
these results, new approaches to treating advanced prostate cancer may be
possible, and we will assess the merits of a clinical trial in this disease.

We expect to continue the expansion of our clinical development program into
other cancers and infectious diseases, most likely in collaboration with our
marketing partners and other corporate collaborators

                                       12

<PAGE>

CORPORATE COLLABORATIONS AND PREPARATION FOR GLOBAL MARKET LAUNCH

As we move closer to the potential market launch of MAXAMINE, we are undertaking
the activities required to prepare for launch, including the selection of
corporate partners in key international markets.  Our strategy for the
commercialization and global market launch of MAXAMINE has three primary
components:
   
DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATIONS

During 1998 we entered into clinical collaborations with Chiron Corporation,
Amgen Inc. and BioNative AB.  Each of these companies have cytokines that may
benefit from use in combination with MAXAMINE, and under each of these
agreements we receive economic and other support for important clinical trials
without giving up any marketing or other future rights to MAXAMINE.  For
example, Chiron is providing IL-2 and other assistance related to our Phase III
AML clinical trial.  These collaborations highlight our belief that MAXAMINE, a
combination therapy, is complementary rather than competitive with many existing
and future drugs, and may be the key to successful biotherapy.  We expect to
pursue additional collaborations to further the expanded use and development of
MAXAMINE.  

DIRECT MARKETING IN THE UNITED STATES  

We are preparing for the possibility of marketing MAXAMINE directly in the
United States.  Our objective is to retain the full revenue stream from sales in
this important market, and we are building a core marketing group experienced in
planning and managing successful United States launches of pharmaceutical
products.  We will defer the build-up of a major marketing infrastructure until
assured of the timing of regulatory approval for MAXAMINE.  As we move closer to
the potential market launch of MAXAMINE, we are undertaking the activities
required to prepare for launch including market evaluations, reimbursement
analysis and building awareness of the drug among leading clinicians.

MARKETING PARTNERSHIPS

Outside of the United States we are actively evaluating and selecting marketing
partners for major geographic regions, including Europe and the Pacific Rim.  We
believe that we have built significant value around MAXAMINE through our
clinical development activities over the past several years, including the
completion of multiple Phase II trials and the commencement of three Phase III
trials.  By seeking marketing partners at this later stage of development, we
believe that we may have a better opportunity to maximize our share of the
revenue stream from sales of MAXAMINE.  Our goal is to complete selection of the
first marketing partners for major regions of the world during 1999.  

                                       13

<PAGE>

EXPANDING OUR PRODUCT PIPELINE

MAXDERM - TOPICAL AND DERMATOLOGICAL THERAPY

The development of MAXDERM allows for topical delivery of the active ingredient
in MAXAMINE.  The novel technology underlying MAXDERM is designed to modulate
the patient's immune, inflammatory and wound healing responses to treat certain
dermatological conditions, infections and other conditions for which topical
therapy is appropriate.  MAXDERM encompasses acquired and internally developed
technologies that include three issued patents and a number of patent
applications covering material compositions and uses.  

A total of more than 75 patients have been treated in randomized, 
double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot studies of MAXDERM.  A pilot study 
in patients with herpes labialis (cold sores) suggested that MAXDERM resolved 
cold sores more effectively than a placebo control.  In the double-blinded 
study, 18 randomized patients were treated with either varying concentrations 
of MAXDERM or the placebo control. Importantly, the study also suggested that 
increasing concentrations of the active ingredient in MAXDERM resulted in 
increased efficacy, providing support that the active ingredient in MAXDERM 
contributed to the healing process.   Virtually all lesions healed in those 
patients treated with the high-dose MAXDERM in five days or less.  


[GRAPH]


Small pilot studies were also conducted in patients with oral mucositis, canker
sores, decubitus ulcers and shingles.  No safety concerns were noted in any of
the patients, and in each of the studies the data suggested that MAXDERM
improved healing and resolution of lesions compared to the placebo control. 

We believe that the MAXDERM technology gives us the opportunity to expand our
product pipeline into therapies for a number of key medical conditions for which
topical delivery is preferred.  There are unmet needs in the treatment of
herpes, oral mucositis, shingles, decubitus

                                       14
<PAGE>

ulcers and other dermatological ailments, and our plan is to evaluate  
MAXDERM in further clinical studies.

MAXVAX MUCOSAL VACCINE CARRIER

The Company's MAXVAX technology, currently in preclinical development, is
designed to facilitate a new class of needle-free mucosal vaccines for major
respiratory infections, sexually transmitted diseases and gastrointestinal tract
diseases and other infectious diseases.  Most of today's vaccines are
administered by injection and stimulate a protective immune response in the
systemic immune system.  However, it is the mucosal membranes lining the nose,
mouth, eyes, ears, lungs, intestinal and urogenital tracts where nearly 85
percent of infectious diseases enter the body.  It is hoped that mucosal
vaccines, using the MAXVAX carrier, can provide immune protection at these
mucosal surfaces. 

(Insert illustration from last year's annual report showing (i) cholera toxin,
(ii) CTB, and (iii) the MaxVax system.) 

THE MAXVAX CARRIER/ADJUVANT IS BASED ON A RECOMBINANT FORM OF THE CHOLERA TOXIN
B-SUBUNIT (rCTB).  CHOLERA TOXIN IS COMPRISED OF TWO SUBUNITS; THE A-SUBUNIT,
WHICH IS THE KNOWN TOXIC PORTION OF THE MOLECULE, AND CTB, WHICH IS NON-TOXIC
AND BINDS SPECIFICALLY TO THE GM-1 GANGLIOSIDE MOLECULE ON THE TARGET M-CELL OF
THE MUCOSAE.  WE ARE DEVELOPING THE MAXVAX SYSTEM TO LINK TARGET ANTIGENS TO
CTB. THE CTB-ANTIGEN CONJUGATE THEN BINDS SPECIFICALLY TO M-CELLS FOR PROCESSING
AND PRESENTATION TO THE APPROPRIATE IMMUNE SYSTEM CELLS.

Two studies published in INFECTION AND IMMUNITY in 1998 highlighted the
potential of MAXVAX.  The first was a human vaccination study that demonstrated
mucosal antibody responses in female volunteers after nasal and oral application
of rCTB, the technology underlying MAXVAX.  The results were important as they
confirmed in humans the results of earlier animal studies in which rCTB has been
shown to stimulate strong mucosal immune responses.  The results also support
the potential effectiveness of oral and nasal administration, the two most
attractive routes for the delivery of mucosal vaccines.  Also published was a
preclinical study that demonstrated the induction of specific mucosal immunity
within the female reproductive tract.  The study's vaccination regimen was a
prototype for mucosal vaccination against human sexually transmitted diseases.  

Prototype MAXVAX-based vaccines are currently being tested in our laboratories. 
Our objective is to align with corporate collaborators possessing antigens for
specific diseases that can be coupled to the MAXVAX carrier, and to develop
vaccine candidates in collaboration with these partners.

                                       15

<PAGE>

OUR GOAL: NOVEL APPROACHES TO PATIENT CARE

We value the quality of patients' lives.  Too often the treatments for cancer 
and some infectious diseases are as harsh as the illnesses themselves, 
forcing patients to make the difficult choice of whether to continue therapy. 
By focusing on safety and well-being as well as effectiveness of therapy, we 
are developing treatments designed to extend survival and maintain the 
patient's quality of life.  

Our lead drug MAXAMINE has shown substantial promise in Phase II trials and 
is currently in three international Phase III trials for cancer patients.  In 
completed and ongoing Phase II trials, patients have lived longer without 
debilitating side effects.  We are pleased that healthcare providers in 12 
countries throughout the world are currently treating their patients in 
clinical trials with MAXAMINE.

Our other product candidates and technologies comprising our expanding 
pipeline also have the potential to benefit patients with significant unmet 
medical needs.  We continue to believe that, by developing an expanding 
portfolio of therapies that may redefine the future of patient care, we are 
strengthening Maxim's value for our shareholders.  

We hope to continue to build upon our growing momentum and prepare for the 
potential worldwide commercialization of MAXAMINE and our other product 
candidates.   

                                       16

<PAGE>

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)

THIS MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS 
OF OPERATIONS CONTAINS CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS 
AND UNCERTAINTIES. SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INCLUDE STATEMENTS 
REGARDING CASH REQUIREMENTS AND YEAR 2000 ISSUES. SUCH STATEMENTS ARE ONLY 
PREDICTIONS AND THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM 
THOSE ANTICIPATED OR PROJECTED IN SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. FACTORS 
THAT COULD CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO DIFFERENCES INCLUDE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH 
CLINICAL TRIALS AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, REGULATORY APPROVAL AND GOVERNMENT 
REGULATION OF THE COMPANY'S PRODUCTS, THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND THE 
UNCERTAINTY OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND DEPENDENCE ON COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS. 
THESE FACTORS AND OTHERS ARE MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL 
REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998.

OVERVIEW

During the periods encompassed by this Annual Report, Maxim Pharmaceuticals, 
Inc. ("Maxim" or the "Company") has devoted substantially all of its 
resources to its MAXAMINE(TM) and MAXVAX(TM) product development programs. 
The Company conducts its research and product development efforts through a 
combination of internal and collaborative programs. For MAXAMINE, in addition 
to internal management and staff, the Company relies upon arrangements with 
universities, other clinical research sites and contract research 
organizations for a significant portion of its product development efforts. 
The majority of the basic research and development efforts related to MAXVAX 
were transferred to the Company's internal facilities during 1997, and prior 
to that time the Company conducted this research primarily through university 
laboratories. Oversight of all external and collaborative programs is 
conducted by the Company's executive officers and other staff from its 
headquarters located in San Diego, California.

Maxim's products are in the development stage and the Company does not expect 
revenue from product sales in the near future. The Company expects to 
continue to incur losses as it expands its research and development 
activities, particularly those relating to ongoing and planned Phase III and 
Phase II clinical trials using MAXAMINE THERAPY. The Company expects that 
losses will fluctuate from quarter to quarter and that such fluctuations may 
be substantial as a result of, among other factors, the number and timing of 
clinical trials conducted, the funding, if any, provided as a result of 
corporate collaborations, the results of clinical testing, and the timing of 
FDA or international regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that the 
Company will successfully develop, commercialize, manufacture or market its 
products or ever achieve or sustain product revenues or profitability.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998, 1997 AND 1996

RESEARCH REVENUE - Research revenue consisting of collaborative support 
related to the Company's MAXAMINE clinical trials totaled $181,000 for the 
year ended September 30, 1998. There were no such revenues earned in the 
years ended September 30, 1997 or 1996.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES - For the year ended September 30, 1998, 
research and development expenses were $20,147,000, an increase of 
$14,793,000, or 276%, over the prior year. This increase was primarily 
attributable to increased activity related to late-stage cancer clinical 
trials of MAXAMINE, including clinical trial site and contract research 
organization costs, hiring additional clinical and development personnel, and 
other clinical costs. These clinical trials include a Phase III clinical 
trial in malignant melanoma commenced in the United States in July 1997, an 
international Phase III malignant melanoma clinical trial commenced in 
November 1997, and an international Phase III clinical trial in acute 
myelogenous leukemia commenced in February 1998. For the year ended September 
30, 1997, research and development expenses were $5,353,000, an increase of 
$3,744,000, or 233%, over the prior year, primarily due to increased activity 
in cancer clinical trials of MAXAMINE and an expansion of preclinical efforts 
for the MAXVAX mucosal vaccine technology.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING AND GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES -
Business development and marketing expenses for the year ended September 30,
1998 were $1,313,000, an increase of $929,000, or 242%, over the same period of
the prior year. This increase was due to additional personnel and other
resources devoted to 

                                       17
<PAGE>
preparation for the potential market launch of MAXAMINE, including corporate 
partnering efforts, market evaluations and third-party reimbursement 
evaluations. For the year ended September 30, 1998, general and 
administrative expenses were $2,660,000, an increase of $667,000, or 33%, 
over the prior year. This increase was in large part due to the increased 
personnel costs and general expenses associated with the Company's expanded 
operations. Business development and marketing expenses for the year ended 
September 30, 1997 were $384,000, an increase of $271,000, or 241%, over the 
prior year. General and administrative expenses for the year ended September 
30, 1997 totaled $1,993,000, an increase of $750,000, or 60%, over the prior 
year. Both of these increases resulted from the expanded activities described 
above.

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) - Investment income was $2,248,000 for the year ended 
September 30, 1998, an increase of $1,321,000 over the prior year, primarily 
resulting from income on the proceeds of the Company's follow-on public 
offering completed in October 1997. Investment income for the year ended 
September 30, 1997 totaled $927,000, an increase of $667,000 over the prior 
year, as a result of a full year of income on the proceeds of the Company's 
initial public offering completed in July 1996. Interest expense for the year 
ended September 30, 1998 was consistent with that of the prior year and 
totaled $89,000. Interest expense for the year ended September 30, 1997 
decreased $119,000, or 61%, to $78,000 compared to the prior year due to the 
repayment of $2,853,000 of notes payable and long-term debt subsequent to 
December 31, 1995. During the year ended September 30, 1996 the Company 
recorded a gain of $2,288,000 from the sale of a subsidiary of the Company.

NET LOSS - Net loss for the year ended September 30, 1998 totaled 
$21,855,000, an increase of $14,959,000 over the prior year. The increase was 
due to the expansion of research and development and general corporate 
activities described above, partially offset by the current year increase in 
investment income. Net loss for the year ended September 30, 1997 totaled 
$6,895,000, an increase of $6,062,000 over the prior year. Net loss per share 
of common stock for the year ended September 30, 1998 was $2.37, an increase 
of $1.34 over the prior year, due to the increase in net loss for the year 
offset partially by an increase in the number of shares of common stock 
outstanding. Net loss per share of common stock for the year ended September 
30, 1997 was $1.03, an increase of $.83 from the prior year, due to the 
increase in net loss for the year offset by an increase in the number of 
shares of common stock outstanding.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company, as a development stage enterprise, anticipates incurring 
substantial additional losses over at least the next several years due to, 
among other factors, the need to expend substantial amounts on its ongoing 
and planned clinical trials, other research and development activities, and 
business development and general corporate expenses associated with these 
activities. The Company has financed its operations primarily through the 
sale of its equity securities, including an initial public offering in July 
1996 and an international follow-on public offering in October 1997 which 
provided net proceeds to the Company of approximately $18.2 million and $34.7 
million, respectively.

As of September 30, 1998, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and 
investments totaling approximately $35.8 million. For the years ended 
September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996, net cash used in the Company's operating 
activities was approximately $14.8 million, $5.9 million and $2.7 million, 
respectively. The Company expects its cash requirements to increase 
significantly in future periods as it conducts additional research and 
development activities including clinical trials, other research and 
development activities, and efforts associated with the commercial launch of 
any products that are approved for sale by government regulatory bodies. 
Among the activities that are expected to result in an increase in cash 
requirements are three Phase III cancer clinical trials of MAXAMINE currently 
underway.

The Company's cash requirements may vary materially from those now planned 
because of the results and scope of clinical trials and other research and 
development activities, the time required to obtain regulatory approvals, the 
cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing patent claims and other 
intellectual property rights, the ability of the Company to establish 
marketing alliances and collaborative arrangements and the costs of the 
Company's internal marketing activities. As a result of these factors, it 
is difficult to predict accurately the timing and amount of the Company's cash
requirements. In order to successfully commercialize any of its products, the 
Company expects that it will ultimately be required to seek additional funds 
through public or private financings or collaborative arrangements with 
corporate 
                                       18
<PAGE>

partners. The issuance of additional equity securities could result in 
substantial dilution to the Company's stockholders. There can be no assurance 
that additional funding will be available on terms acceptable to the Company, 
if at all. The failure to fund its capital requirements would have a material 
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of 
operations. The Company has never paid a cash dividend and does not 
contemplate the payment of cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

IMPACT OF THE YEAR 2000 ISSUE

The Year 2000 issue is related to computer software utilizing two digits 
rather than four to define the appropriate year. As a result, any of the 
Company's computer programs or any of the Company's suppliers or vendors that 
have date sensitive software may incur system failures or generate incorrect 
data if "00" is recognized as 1900 rather than 2000.

The Company has determined that the computer systems utilized internally in 
its daily operations are Year 2000 compliant. The Company is in the process 
of verifying whether its major suppliers, service providers and financial 
institutions are Year 2000 compliant and expects to complete this review by 
March 31, 1999. The total cost of this process is expected to be less than 
$50,000. Although the Company has no material systems that interface directly 
with third party systems, there can be no assurance that the systems and 
networks of its key suppliers and service providers will not be affected by 
the Year 2000 issues, which could have an adverse effect on the Company's 
business, operating results and financial condition. In particular, the 
Company has engaged several third parties to retain and maintain all of the 
clinical, statistical and other information related to the Company's clinical 
trials. These third parties have indicated that they are aggressively working 
to identify and remediate any Year 2000 issues they may have, and that they 
expect to have any necessary remediation completed by December 1999. However, 
in the event these third parties' Year 2000 compliance efforts are 
unsuccessful, data relating to the Company's clinical trials could be 
destroyed or corrupted, which could have a material adverse effect on the 
Company's business, operating results and financial condition. In an effort 
to minimize the potential risks of the failure of such third parties' Year 
2000 efforts, the Company intends to archive data, both in electronic and 
paper formats, through December 1999, after which paper backup will be used. 
The Company's archival records will be updated on a monthly basis

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In June 1997 the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS 
No. 130, "REPORTING COMPREHENSIVE INCOME." This statement established 
standards for reporting and display of comprehensive income and its 
components (revenues, expenses, gains and losses) in a full set of 
general-purpose financial statements. This statement is effective for fiscal 
years beginning after December 15, 1997. Reclassification of financial 
statements for earlier periods provided for comparative purposes is required. 
This statement, requiring only additional informational disclosures, is 
effective for the Company's fiscal year ending September 30, 1999. In June 
1997 the FASB issued SFAS No. 131, "DISCLOSURES ABOUT SEGMENTS OF AN 
ENTERPRISE AND RELATED INFORMATION." This statement established standards for 
the way that public business enterprises report information about operating 
segments in annual financial statements and requires that enterprises report 
selected information about operating segments in interim financial reports 
issued to stockholders. This statement is also effective for fiscal years 
beginning after December 15, 1997. In the initial year of application, 
comparative information for earlier years is to be restated. This statement, 
requiring only additional informational disclosures, is effective for the 
Company's fiscal year ending September 30, 1999. In February 1998 the FASB 
issued SFAS No. 132, "EMPLOYER'S DISCLOSURES ABOUT PENSIONS AND OTHER POST 
RETIREMENT BENEFITS." This statement specifies information to be disclosed by 
employers for defined benefit plans or defined benefit post retirement plans. 
This statement is effective for financial statement periods beginning after 
December 15, 1997. As of September 30, 1998 the Company has no defined 
benefit plans or defined benefit post retirement plans. In June 1998 the FASB 
issued SFAS No. 133, "ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING 
ACTIVITIES." This statement addresses hedging activities relating to changes 
in foreign exchange rates and other futures contracts. As of September 30, 
1998 the Company has no investments in derivatives.

IMPACT OF INFLATION

                                       19

<PAGE>

The impact of inflation on the operations of the Company for the years ended 
September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996 was not material.








                                      20

<PAGE>

BALANCE SHEETS

MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.  (A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         As of September 30
                                                                             -------------------------------------------
                                                                                    1998                    1997
                                                                                    ----                    ----
<S>                                                                          <C>                     <C>
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
    Cash and cash equivalents                                                  $     11,217,429        $        447,523
    Short-term investments in marketable securities                                  21,031,568               9,389,690
    Accrued interest and other current assets                                         2,491,308                 576,836
                                                                             -------------------     -------------------
         Total current assets                                                        34,740,305              10,414,049

Investments in marketable securities                                                  3,519,554               2,322,398
Patents and licenses, net                                                             1,839,167               1,815,428
Property and equipment, net                                                           1,693,402                 718,988
Deposits and other assets                                                               229,157                 586,893
                                                                             -------------------     -------------------
         Total assets                                                          $     42,021,585        $     15,857,756
                                                                             -------------------     -------------------
                                                                             -------------------     -------------------

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
    Accounts payable                                                           $      9,014,831        $      1,082,038
    Accrued expenses                                                                    374,652                 597,388
    Note payable                                                                        176,784                 102,161
    Current portion of long-term debt                                                   361,675                 127,712
                                                                             -------------------     -------------------
      Total current liabilities                                                       9,927,942               1,909,299

    Long-term debt, less current portion                                                977,213                 555,229

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
    Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized:                            -                       -
      none issued or outstanding.
    Common stock, $.001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; 9,885,576 and
      6,678,631 shares issued and outstanding at
      September 30, 1998 and 1997, respectively.                                          9,886                   6,679
    Additional paid-in capital                                                       73,807,327              34,269,514
    Deficit accumulated during the development stage                                (42,686,624)            (20,832,052)
    Deferred compensation                                                               (14,159)                (50,913)
                                                                             -------------------     -------------------
      Total stockholders' equity                                                     31,116,430              13,393,228
                                                                             -------------------     -------------------
         Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                            $     42,021,585        $     15,857,756
                                                                             -------------------     -------------------
                                                                             -------------------     -------------------
</TABLE>


SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                       21
<PAGE>

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                        From Inception
                                                                                                       (October 23, 1989)
                                                          Year Ended September 30                           Through
                                         -----------------------------------------------------------     September 30,
                                               1998                1997                 1996                 1998
                                         -----------------   ------------------   ------------------   ------------------
<S>                                      <C>                 <C>                  <C>                  <C>
Research revenue                           $      180,750      $             -      $             -      $     3,126,751

Operating expenses:
    Research and development                   20,146,649            5,353,165            1,608,931           35,501,072
    Business development
      and marketing                             1,313,019              383,667              112,454            1,926,109
    General and administrative                  2,659,930            1,992,629            1,242,743           12,010,943
                                         -----------------   ------------------   ------------------   ------------------
      Total operating expenses                 24,119,598            7,729,461            2,964,128           49,438,124

Other income (expense):
    Investment income                           2,247,577              927,050              259,625            3,462,357
    Interest expense                              (89,101)             (77,562)            (197,028)          (2,070,472)
    Other expense                                 (74,200)             (15,176)            (220,431)            (191,164)
    Gain on sale of subsidiary                          -                    -            2,288,474            2,288,474
                                         -----------------   ------------------   ------------------   ------------------
      Total other income (expense)              2,084,276              834,312            2,130,640            3,489,195
                                         -----------------   ------------------   ------------------   ------------------

Loss from continuing operations               (21,854,572)          (6,895,149)            (833,488)         (42,822,178)

Discontinued operations:
    Loss from operations of discontinued
      diagnostic division                               -                    -                    -             (347,608)
    Gain on sale of diagnostic division                 -                    -                    -              483,162
                                         -----------------   ------------------   ------------------   ------------------

Net loss                                   $  (21,854,572)     $    (6,895,149)     $      (833,488)     $   (42,686,624)
                                         -----------------   ------------------   ------------------   ------------------



Net loss per share of common stock         $        (2.37)     $         (1.03)     $         (0.20)
                                         -----------------   ------------------   ------------------

Weighted average shares outstanding             9,215,416            6,671,237            4,074,961
                                         -----------------   ------------------   ------------------
</TABLE>


SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                       22
<PAGE>

STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      Preferred Stock                                             
                                                                 -------------------------               Common Stock             
                                                                     Shares        Amount         Shares              Amount      
                                                                 --------------- ------------------------------ ------------------
<S>                                                              <C>             <C>       <C>                  <C>               
Balance at October 23, 1989 (inception)                                       -    $    -                    -    $             - 
Issuance of common stock at $.001                                             -         -                1,000              8,029 
Net income                                                                    -         -                    -                  - 
                                                                 --------------- --------- -------------------- ------------------
Balance at December 31, 1989                                                  -         -                1,000              8,029 
Net income                                                                    -         -                    -                  - 
                                                                 --------------- --------- -------------------- ------------------
Balance at December 31, 1990                                                  -         -                1,000              8,029 
Net income                                                                    -         -                    -                  - 
                                                                 --------------- --------- -------------------- ------------------
Balance at December 31, 1991                                                  -         -                1,000              8,029 
Additional funding                                                            -         -                   42                  - 
Net loss                                                                      -         -                    -                  - 
                                                                 --------------- --------- -------------------- ------------------
Balance at December 31, 1992                                                  -         -                1,042              8,029 
Net effect of reorganization and issuance of common
   stock to account for reverse acquisition                                   -         -              181,371             (7,847)
Net loss                                                                      -         -                    -                  - 
                                                                 --------------- --------- -------------------- ------------------
Balance at September 30, 1993                                                 -         -              182,413                182 
Issuance of common stock at $60 per share
   for consulting and professional services                                   -         -                1,098                  1 
Issuance of Series A preferred stock
   for cash at $3.00 per share                                          250,000       250                    -                  - 
Issuance of common stock to convert bridge debt
   financing at prices from $52.50 to $75 per share                           -         -              112,440                113 
Net loss                                                                      -         -                    -                  - 
                                                                 --------------- --------- -------------------- ------------------
Balance at September 30, 1994                                           250,000       250              295,951                296 
Issuance of common stock at $3.00 per share
   upon conversion of debt                                                    -         -              553,254                553 
Issuance of common stock pursuant to anti-dilutive
   provisions in previous bridge debt financing                               -         -            1,137,343              1,137 
Issuance of common stock at $3.00 per
   share for subscription receivable                                          -         -              103,667                104 
Net loss                                                                      -         -                    -                  - 
                                                                 --------------- --------- -------------------- ------------------
Balance at September 30, 1995                                           250,000       250            2,090,215              2,090 

<CAPTION>

                                                                       Additional                                   
                                                                        Paid-In                   Accumulated       
                                                                        Capital                     Deficit         
                                                               --------------------------  -------------------------
<S>                                                            <C>                         <C>                      
Balance at October 23, 1989 (inception)                          $                     -     $                    - 
Issuance of common stock at $.001                                                      -                          - 
Net income                                                                             -                         44 
                                                               --------------------------  -------------------------
Balance at December 31, 1989                                                           -                         44 
Net income                                                                             -                        751 
                                                               --------------------------  -------------------------
Balance at December 31, 1990                                                           -                        795 
Net income                                                                             -                        272 
                                                               --------------------------  -------------------------
Balance at December 31, 1991                                                           -                      1,067 
Additional funding                                                             1,259,249                          - 
Net loss                                                                               -                 (2,445,184)
                                                               --------------------------  -------------------------
Balance at December 31, 1992                                                   1,259,249                 (2,444,117)
Net effect of reorganization and issuance of common                                                                 
   stock to account for reverse acquisition                                       53,002                 (1,197,822)
Net loss                                                                               -                 (4,238,731)
                                                               --------------------------  -------------------------
Balance at September 30, 1993                                                  1,312,251                 (7,880,670)
Issuance of common stock at $60 per share                                                                           
   for consulting and professional services                                       65,999                          - 
Issuance of Series A preferred stock                                                                                
   for cash at $3.00 per share                                                   487,250                          - 
Issuance of common stock to convert bridge debt                                                                     
   financing at prices from $52.50 to $75 per share                            5,933,894                          - 
Net loss                                                                               -                 (2,432,623)
                                                               --------------------------  -------------------------
Balance at September 30, 1994                                                  7,799,394                (10,313,293)
Issuance of common stock at $3.00 per share                                                                         
   upon conversion of debt                                                     1,659,210                          - 
Issuance of common stock pursuant to anti-dilutive                                                                  
   provisions in previous bridge debt financing                                   (1,137)                         - 
Issuance of common stock at $3.00 per                                                                               
   share for subscription receivable                                             310,896                          - 
Net loss                                                                               -                 (2,790,122)
                                                               --------------------------  -------------------------
Balance at September 30, 1995                                                  9,768,363                (13,103,415)

<CAPTION>

                                                                   Subscription                                 
                                                                   Receivable /                                 
                                                                     Deferred                                   
                                                                   Compensation               Total             
                                                                ------------------- --------------------------  
<S>                                                             <C>                 <C>                         
Balance at October 23, 1989 (inception)                           $              -    $                     -   
Issuance of common stock at $.001                                                -                      8,029   
Net income                                                                       -                         44   
                                                                ------------------- --------------------------  
Balance at December 31, 1989                                                     -                      8,073   
Net income                                                                       -                        751   
                                                                ------------------- --------------------------  
Balance at December 31, 1990                                                     -                      8,824   
Net income                                                                       -                        272   
                                                                ------------------- --------------------------  
Balance at December 31, 1991                                                     -                      9,096   
Additional funding                                                               -                  1,259,249   
Net loss                                                                         -                 (2,445,184)  
                                                                ------------------- --------------------------  
Balance at December 31, 1992                                                     -                 (1,176,839)  
Net effect of reorganization and issuance of common                                                             
   stock to account for reverse acquisition                                      -                 (1,152,667)  
Net loss                                                                         -                 (4,238,731)  
                                                                ------------------- --------------------------  
Balance at September 30, 1993                                                    -                 (6,568,237)  
Issuance of common stock at $60 per share                                                                       
   for consulting and professional services                                      -                     66,000   
Issuance of Series A preferred stock                                                                            
   for cash at $3.00 per share                                                   -                    487,500   
Issuance of common stock to convert bridge debt                                                                 
   financing at prices from $52.50 to $75 per share                              -                  5,934,007   
Net loss                                                                         -                 (2,432,623)  
                                                                ------------------- --------------------------  
Balance at September 30, 1994                                                    -                 (2,513,353)  
Issuance of common stock at $3.00 per share                                                                     
   upon conversion of debt                                                       -                  1,659,763   
Issuance of common stock pursuant to anti-dilutive                                                              
   provisions in previous bridge debt financing                                  -                          -   
Issuance of common stock at $3.00 per                                                                           
   share for subscription receivable                                      (311,000)                         -   
Net loss                                                                         -                 (2,790,122)  
                                                                ------------------- --------------------------  
Balance at September 30, 1995                                             (311,000)                (3,643,712)  
</TABLE>



                                       23
<PAGE>

STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      Preferred Stock                                             
                                                                 -------------------------               Common Stock             
                                                                     Shares        Amount         Shares              Amount      
                                                                 --------------- ------------------------------ ------------------
<S>                                                              <C>             <C>       <C>                  <C>               
Issuance of common stock at $3.00 per share in
   exchange for repayment of note payable to bank                             -         -              744,646                745 
Receipt of subscription receivable                                            -         -                    -                  - 
Issuance of common stock and warrants
   at $3.75 per unit for cash                                                 -         -              465,504                465 
Issuance of common stock at $4.50 per share for cash                          -         -              400,000                400 
Exercise of common stock options                                              -         -                  400                  1 
Issuance of common stock at $7.50 per share and
   warrants at $.10 per warrant in initial public offering                    -         -            2,875,000              2,875 
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock                          (250,000)     (250)             102,866                103 
Options granted to employees                                                  -         -                    -                  - 
Amortization of deferred compensation                                         -         -                    -                  - 
Net loss                                                                      -         -                    -                  - 
                                                                 --------------- --------- -------------------- ------------------
Balance at September 30, 1996                                                 -         -            6,678,631              6,679 
Option granted to consultant                                                  -         -                    -                  - 
Amortization of deferred compensation                                         -         -                    -                  - 
Net loss                                                                      -         -                    -                  - 
                                                                 --------------- --------- -------------------- ------------------
Balance at September 30, 1997                                                 -         -            6,678,631              6,679 
Issuance of common stock at $15.25 per share
   in follow-on offering                                                      -         -            2,500,000              2,500 
Exercise of common stock purchase warrants                                                             392,000                392 
Exercise of stock options and warrants                                        -         -              313,304                314 
Option granted to consultants                                                 -         -                    -                  - 
Contribution to 401(k) plan                                                   -         -                1,641                  1 
Amortization of deferred compensation                                         -         -                    -                  - 
Net loss                                                                      -         -                    -                  - 
                                                                 --------------- --------- -------------------- ------------------
Balance at September 30, 1998                                                 -    $    -            9,885,576    $         9,886 
                                                                 --------------- --------- -------------------- ------------------
                                                                 --------------- --------- -------------------- ------------------

<CAPTION>

                                                                       Additional                                   
                                                                        Paid-In                   Accumulated       
                                                                        Capital                     Deficit         
                                                               --------------------------  -------------------------
<S>                                                            <C>                         <C>                      
Issuance of common stock at $3.00 per share in                                                                      
   exchange for repayment of note payable to bank                              2,249,255                          - 
Receipt of subscription receivable                                                     -                          - 
Issuance of common stock and warrants                                                                               
   at $3.75 per unit for cash                                                  1,740,033                          - 
Issuance of common stock at $4.50 per share for cash                           1,799,600                          - 
Exercise of common stock options                                                   2,999                          - 
Issuance of common stock at $7.50 per share and                                                                     
   warrants at $.10 per warrant in initial public offering                    18,217,215                          - 
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock                                        147                          - 
Options granted to employees                                                     394,999                          - 
Amortization of deferred compensation                                                  -                          - 
Net loss                                                                               -                   (833,488)
                                                               --------------------------  -------------------------
Balance at September 30, 1996                                                 34,172,611                (13,936,903)
Option granted to consultant                                                      96,903                          - 
Amortization of deferred compensation                                                  -                          - 
Net loss                                                                               -                 (6,895,149)
                                                               --------------------------  -------------------------
Balance at September 30, 1997                                                 34,269,514                (20,832,052)
Issuance of common stock at $15.25 per share                                                                        
   in follow-on offering                                                      34,710,939                          - 
Exercise of common stock purchase warrants                                     4,115,608                          - 
Exercise of stock options and warrants                                           634,222                            
Option granted to consultants                                                     50,438                          - 
Contribution to 401(k) plan                                                       26,606                          - 
Amortization of deferred compensation                                                  -                          - 
Net loss                                                                               -                (21,854,572)
                                                               --------------------------  -------------------------
Balance at September 30, 1998                                    $            73,807,327     $          (42,686,624)
                                                               --------------------------  -------------------------
                                                               --------------------------  -------------------------

<CAPTION>

                                                                   Subscription                                 
                                                                   Receivable /                                 
                                                                     Deferred                                   
                                                                   Compensation               Total             
                                                                ------------------- --------------------------  
<S>                                                             <C>                 <C>                         
Issuance of common stock at $3.00 per share in                                                                  
   exchange for repayment of note payable to bank                                -                  2,250,000   
Receipt of subscription receivable                                         311,000                    311,000   
Issuance of common stock and warrants                                                                           
   at $3.75 per unit for cash                                                    -                  1,740,498   
Issuance of common stock at $4.50 per share for cash                             -                  1,800,000   
Exercise of common stock options                                                 -                      3,000   
Issuance of common stock at $7.50 per share and                                                                 
   warrants at $.10 per warrant in initial public offering                       -                 18,220,090   
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock                                    -                          -   
Options granted to employees                                              (163,124)                   231,875   
Amortization of deferred compensation                                       44,385                     44,385   
Net loss                                                                         -                   (833,488)  
                                                                ------------------- --------------------------  
Balance at September 30, 1996                                             (118,739)                20,123,648   
Option granted to consultant                                                     -                     96,903   
Amortization of deferred compensation                                       67,826                     67,826   
Net loss                                                                         -                 (6,895,149)  
                                                                ------------------- --------------------------  
Balance at September 30, 1997                                              (50,913)                13,393,228   
Issuance of common stock at $15.25 per share                                                                    
   in follow-on offering                                                         -                 34,713,439   
Exercise of common stock purchase warrants                                       -                  4,116,000   
Exercise of stock options and warrants                                                                634,536   
Option granted to consultants                                                    -                     50,438   
Contribution to 401(k) plan                                                      -                     26,607   
Amortization of deferred compensation                                       36,754                     36,754   
Net loss                                                                         -                (21,854,572)  
                                                                ------------------- --------------------------  
Balance at September 30, 1998                                     $        (14,159)   $            31,116,430   
                                                                ------------------- --------------------------  
                                                                ------------------- --------------------------  
</TABLE>

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


                                       24
<PAGE>

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Year Ended September 30                  October 23, 1989
                                                           -------------------------------------------------     (inception) to
                                                                1998             1997            1996          September 30, 1998
                                                           ---------------  --------------- ----------------    ----------------
<S>                                                        <C>              <C>             <C>                <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 Net loss                                                   $ (21,854,572)    $ (6,895,149)   $    (833,488)      $ (42,686,624)
 Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
 used in operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization                                407,525          262,784          128,719           1,451,453
     Amortization of premium on investments                       129,603          156,342                -             285,945
     Stock options issued as compensation                          87,193          164,729          276,260             528,182
     Stock contributions to 401(k) plan                            26,607                -                -              26,607
     Loss on disposal of property and equipment                    74,681            4,435          128,248             207,364
     Loss on write-off of patents                                  20,050           53,144          189,068             262,262
     Gain on sale of subsidiary                                         -                -       (2,288,474)         (2,288,474)
     Loss on write-off of  receivable from related party                -                -          147,803             147,803
     Other                                                              -                -           27,032              51,701
     Gain on sale of diagnostic division                                -                -                -            (483,162)
     Loss on write-off of purchased research
        and development                                                 -                -                -           2,646,166
     Cumulative effect of reorganization                                -                -                -           1,152,667
     Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
        Accrued interest and other current assets              (1,721,985)         132,449         (695,609)         (2,298,821)
        Other assets and deposits                                 357,736         (583,496)          14,214            (376,960)
        Accounts payable                                        7,932,792          676,278           70,204           9,014,830
        Accrued expenses                                         (222,736)         118,765          150,629             395,862
                                                           ---------------  --------------- ----------------    ----------------
           Net cash used in operating activities              (14,763,106)      (5,909,719)      (2,685,394)        (31,963,199)

 INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 Purchases of marketable securities                           (35,572,687)     (10,835,442)     (15,073,988)        (61,482,117)
 Maturities of marketable securities                           22,604,050       14,041,000                -          36,645,050
 Additions to patents and licenses                               (212,947)        (652,053)        (213,196)         (2,707,787)
 Purchases of property and equipment                           (1,098,586)        (804,454)         (23,524)         (2,711,281)
 Cash acquired in acquisition of business                               -                -                -             985,356
 Proceeds from sale of diagnostic division                              -                -                -             496,555
                                                           ---------------  --------------- ----------------    ----------------
     Net cash provided (used) by investing activities         (14,280,170)       1,749,051      (15,310,708)        (28,774,224)

 FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
     and warrants                                              39,463,974                -       24,324,588          65,121,840
 Proceeds from issuance of notes payable and
     long-term debt                                               596,840          814,380           81,675           5,987,643
 Payments on notes payable and long-term debt                    (247,632)        (276,278)      (2,603,000)         (3,294,415)
 Proceeds from issuance of notes payable to
     related parties                                                    -                -                -           4,982,169
 Payments on notes payable to related parties                           -                -         (250,000)         (1,329,885)
 Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock                          -                -                -             487,500
                                                           ---------------  --------------- ----------------    ----------------
     Net cash provided by financing activities                 39,813,182          538,102       21,553,263          71,954,852
                                                           ---------------  --------------- ----------------    ----------------
 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents          10,769,906       (3,622,566)       3,557,161          11,217,429

 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                 447,523        4,070,089          512,928                   -
                                                           ---------------  --------------- ----------------    ----------------

 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                  $ 11,217,429      $   447,523    $   4,070,089       $  11,217,429
                                                           ---------------  --------------- ----------------    ----------------
                                                           ---------------  --------------- ----------------    ----------------
</TABLE>

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

                                       25

<PAGE>


NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)


1.     NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS FOR PRESENTATION

Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company") was incorporated in Delaware in 
1954 under the name "Wilco Oil & Minerals, Corp." and has existed under 
various names since then. From 1987 to 1993, the Company operated as a 
medical diagnostics products company under the name "General Biometrics, 
Inc." In 1993, the Company merged with Syntello Vaccine Development AB 
("SVD"), a Swedish biopharmaceutical company, in an exchange of stock 
accounted for as a reverse acquisition (the "Reorganization"). Upon 
completion of the Reorganization, the Company changed its name to "Syntello, 
Inc." and commenced its operations as a biopharmaceutical company. The 
Company's proprietary technologies, which provide the basis for certain drugs 
and vaccines for cancer and infectious disease, were acquired during and 
following the Reorganization. The Company sold its medical diagnostic 
division in 1994 and sold SVD in July 1996. Since December 1995, the Company 
has operated under the name "Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc." The statements of 
operations' inception-to-date information reflects the cumulative operations 
of SVD from the date of its inception (October 23, 1989). The statement of 
stockholders' equity (deficit) for the periods from inception to the date of 
the Reorganization reflects the equity activity of SVD.

Since the Reorganization, the Company has devoted substantially all of its
resources to its MAXAMINE(TM) and MAXVAX(TM) product development programs. The
Company conducts its research and other product development efforts through a
combination of internal and collaborative programs. For MAXAMINE, in addition to
internal management and staff, the Company relies upon arrangements with
universities, other clinical research sites and contract research organizations
for a significant portion of its product development efforts. The majority of
the basic research and development efforts related to MAXVAX were transferred to
the Company's internal facilities during 1997. Oversight of all external and
collaborative programs is conducted by the Company's executive officers and
other staff from its headquarters located in San Diego, California.

The Company expects to incur substantial losses as it expands its research and
development activity and sponsorship of clinical trials. The future success of
the Company is likely to be dependent on its ability to obtain additional
capital to develop and commercialize its proposed products and, ultimately, upon
its ability to attain future profitable operations. There can be no assurance
that the Company will be successful in obtaining such financing, or that it will
attain positive cash flow from operations.

2.     SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

DEVELOPMENT STAGE - The Company has not earned significant revenues from planned
principal operations. Accordingly, the Company's activities have been accounted
for as those of a "Development Stage Enterprise" as set forth in Financial
Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 7 ("SFAS 7"). Among the disclosures
required by SFAS 7 are that the Company's financial statements be identified as
those of a development stage company, and that the statements of operations,
stockholders' equity (deficit) and cash flows disclose activity since the date
of the Company's inception.

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK - The Company invests its excess cash in U.S.
government securities and other highly liquid debt instruments of financial
institutions and corporations with strong credit ratings. The Company has
established guidelines relative to diversification and maturities to safely
maintain an adequate level of liquidity.

CASH EQUIVALENTS AND INVESTMENTS IN MARKETABLE SECURITIES - Investments with
original maturities of less than 90 days are considered cash equivalents, and
all other investments which mature within one year are classified as short-term
investments. All investments are classified and recorded as held to maturity.
Investments are carried at cost, which approximates market. The investments
mature at various dates through May, 2000.

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT - Property and equipment are recorded at cost.
Depreciation on property and equipment is calculated on the straight-line method
over the estimated useful lives of the assets.


                                      26
<PAGE>

PATENTS AND LICENSES - The Company capitalizes certain legal costs and
acquisition costs related to patents and licenses. Accumulated costs are
amortized over the lesser of the legal lives or the estimated economic lives of
the proprietary rights, generally seven to ten years, using the straight-line
method and commencing at the time the patents are issued or the license is
acquired.

CAPITAL STOCK - On January 5, 1996, the Company effected a 1-for-2000 reverse
stock split and changed the par value of the common stock from $.0001 per share
to $.001 per share and changed the par value of the preferred stock from $.01
per share to $.001 per share. On May 9, 1996, the Company effected a 100-for-1
stock split. On July 10, 1996, upon the effective date of its initial public
offering (Note 8), the Company effected a 2-for-3 reverse stock split of its
common stock. All common and preferred stock share amounts, par values and the
additional paid-in capital amounts have been restated to reflect the above
transactions.

LOSS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK - Effective October 1, 1997, the Company 
adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 128, "Earnings per 
Share" (SFAS 128). Net loss per share of common stock is computed by dividing 
the net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock 
outstanding during the period. Dilutive loss per share, calculated by 
including the additional common shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding 
options and warrants in the weighted average share calculation, is not 
presented as these securities are antidilutive. In accordance with Securities 
and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 83, for periods 
preceding the effective date of the initial public offering, all common and 
common equivalent shares issued during the twelve-month period prior to the 
effective date have been included in the calculation as if they were 
outstanding for all such periods, using the treasury stock method and the 
public offering price of common stock.

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION - The Company accounts for translation of foreign
currency in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 52
"Foreign Currency Translation." During the periods in which the Company owned
SVD, the U.S. dollar was considered the functional currency of this Swedish
subsidiary. Monetary assets and liabilities were translated using the exchange
rate in effect at the balance sheet date, and non-monetary assets and
liabilities were translated at historical rates. Revenues and expenses were
translated at the average rates in effect during the year. All translation
adjustments and transaction gains and losses were recognized in operations as
other income or expense.

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - The carrying amount of cash, cash
equivalents, investments in marketable securities, accounts payable and accrued
expenses are considered to be representative of their respective fair values
because of the short-term nature of these financial instruments. The carrying
amount of the notes payable and long-term debt are reasonable estimates of fair
value as the loans bear interest based on market rates currently available for
debt with similar terms.

USE OF ESTIMATES - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.
Actual results could differ from these estimates.

RECLASSIFICATIONS - Certain amounts in the prior years' financial statements
have been reclassified to conform with current year classifications.


                                      27
<PAGE>

3.     PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment consist of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         September 30
                                                       1998           1997
                                                       ----           ----
<S>                                              <C>            <C>
Laboratory equipment                                $548,433       $454,115
Office equipment and furniture                     1,203,565        365,239
Leasehold improvements                               263,097         25,963
                                                   ---------       --------
                                                   2,015,095        845,317
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization      (321,693)      (126,329)
                                                    ---------      ---------
                                                  $1,693,402       $718,988
                                                   ---------       --------
                                                   ---------       --------
</TABLE>

At September 30, 1998, property and equipment included equipment under capital
leases of $251,283 with related amortization of $2,094. For the year ended
September 30, 1997, property and equipment included equipment under capital
leases of $23,059 with related amortization of $1,601.

4.     SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Year Ended September 30             From Inception
                                                          ---------------------------------------         Through
                                                              1998          1997          1996       September 30,1998
                                                          -----------   -----------   -----------    -----------------
<S>                                                       <C>           <C>           <C>            <C>
Noncash investing and financing activities:
  Fixed assets acquired via capital lease                   $ 220,199     $             $              $    220,199
  Other asset acquired via note payable                       192,487                                       192,487
     Issuance of common stock
       to convert debt                                              -             -             -         7,593,770
     Sale of subsidiary:
       Net patents sold                                             -             -       154,296           154,296
       Other liabilities transferred                                -             -      (121,210)         (121,210)
       Note payable transferred                                     -             -    (2,421,560)       (2,421,560)
       Other accruals                                               -             -       100,000           100,000
Acquisition of subsidiary:
       Assets acquired                                              -             -             -         4,917,359
       Liabilities assumed                                          -             -             -        (5,911,481)
       Net equity effect of acquisition                             -             -             -          (994,122)
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
     Cash paid for interest                                    84,260        83,167       341,126         1,560,551
</TABLE>

5.     ACCRUED INTEREST AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

Accrued interest and other current assets consist of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          September 30
                                                     1998                1997
                                                     ----                ----
         <S>                                    <C>                  <C>
         Prepaid clinical trial costs           $1,590,800           $       -
         Accrued interest                          583,070             384,816
         Prepaid insurance                         214,761             128,707
         Consultant fees                            29,333              29,333
         Other                                      73,344              33,980
                                                ----------            --------
                                                $2,491,308           $ 576,836
                                                ----------            --------
                                                ----------            --------
</TABLE>

                                      28
<PAGE>



6.       ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accrued expenses consist of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          September 30
                                                     1998                1997
                                                     ----                ----
         <S>                                      <C>                 <C>
         Compensation                             $316,942            $185,848
         Professional fees                          17,985             167,985
         Collaborator fees                               -             130,000
         Other                                      39,725             113,555
                                                   -------            --------
                                                  $374,652            $597,388
                                                  --------            --------
                                                  --------            --------
</TABLE>

7.       LINE OF CREDIT AGREEMENT AND LONG-TERM DEBT

In March 1997 the Company entered into a line of credit agreement with a bank.
Under the agreement the Company was permitted to borrow up to $900,000 during
1997 to fund qualified equipment purchases. At January 1, 1998, $718,620 in
outstanding advances under the line of credit converted to a term loan payable
in equal installments over 48 months, including interest at prime plus 0.5%. In
1998 the line of credit agreement was amended to permit the Company to borrow up
to an additional $1,000,000 during 1998. On January 1, 1999, any outstanding
advances under the amended line of credit will convert to a term loan payable in
48 equal installments, including interest at prime plus 0.25%. At September 30,
1998, advances under the line of credit totaled $539,184. The term loan and
borrowings under the amended line of credit are both secured by all assets of
the Company.

Long-term debt consists of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            September 30
                                                                     1998                 1997
                                                                     ----                 ----
         <S>                                                    <C>                    <C>
         Credit agreement with bank, secured
           by all assets of the Company                         $ 1,138,034            $  660,965
         Capital lease agreement, secured by
           certain equipment                                        200,854                21,976
                                                                  ---------            ----------
                                                                  1,338,888               682,941
         Less current portion                                      (361,675)             (127,712)
                                                                   --------              --------
                                                                $   977,213            $  555,229
                                                                    -------             ---------
                                                                    -------             ---------
</TABLE>

8.     STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY


OCTOBER 1997 FOLLOW-ON PUBLIC OFFERING - During October 1997 the Company 
completed a follow-on public offering in which it sold 2,500,000 shares of 
common stock at a price of $15.25 per share. The Company received net 
proceeds of approximately $34,713,439 after underwriting discounts and other 
issuance costs of $1,124,061.

JULY 1996 INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING - During July 1996 the Company completed an
initial public offering in which it sold 2,875,000 shares of common stock and
2,875,000 detachable warrants to purchase common stock ("Redeemable Warrants").
The Company received net proceeds of $18,220,090 after underwriting discounts
and other issuance costs of $3,629,910.

WARRANTS - At September 30, 1998, warrants to purchase 2,847,181 shares of the
Company's common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $9.88 per share
are outstanding, of which warrants to purchase 2,760,515 shares are exercisable.

Included in the above total warrants outstanding are 2,483,000 Redeemable
Warrants issued in connection with the initial public offering. Each Redeemable
Warrant allows the holder thereof to purchase one share of common stock at an
exercise price of $10.50. The Redeemable Warrants may be exercised at any time
during the period commencing July 10, 1997 and terminating July 10, 2001. The
Company may redeem the Redeemable Warrants at


                                      29
<PAGE>

$0.01 per warrant upon 30 days prior written notice to the holders (i) if the 
average closing bid price of the common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per 
share for any 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days 
ending on the fifth trading day prior to the date of the notice of 
redemption, and (ii) the holder fails to exercise the warrant within the 
30-day notice period. In connection with the initial public offering the 
Company also issued warrants to the underwriter under which the underwriter 
and/or its designees had the right to purchase up to 250,000 shares of common 
stock at a price of $9.00 per share and up to 250,000 shares of common stock 
at a price of $12.50 per share. At September 30, 1998, warrants to purchase 
13,601 shares at $9.00 per share and warrants to purchase 92,225 shares at 
$12.50 per share are outstanding.

The Company has also issued warrants to purchase common stock to certain
consultants of the Company and in connection with private placements of equity
securities. These warrants generally have terms ranging from five to seven
years, and some include vesting provisions. Such warrants to purchase 258,355
shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share are
outstanding at September 30, 1998, of which warrants to purchase 171,689 shares
were exercisable.

STOCK OPTIONS - In 1993, the Company established a stock option plan (the "1993
Plan") under which incentive and nonqualified stock options have been granted to
key employees, directors and consultants of the Company. Under the 1993 Plan, as
amended, options may be granted to purchase up to 1,300,000 shares of common
stock; options that are granted generally vest over four years and have a
maximum term of ten years.

The Company applies the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" (SFAS
No. 123). As allowed under the provisions of SFAS No. 123, the Company applies
Accounting Principals Board Opinion No. 25 and related interpretation in
accounting for its stock option plans. In May 1996, the Company issued options
to purchase 526,665 shares of common stock under the 1993 Plan at an exercise
price of $3.75 per share to members of management, directors and consultants.
Concurrently, the Company also canceled previously issued options held by
certain of these persons. Of the options issued, 305,833 were immediately
exercisable with the remaining options vesting over a period of two to five
years. In accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, as a
result of the issuance the Company expects to record compensation expense of
approximately $395,000 over the vesting period of the options. Such compensation
expense recorded during the fiscal years ended September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996
totaled $36,755, $67,826 and $276,260, respectively.

The following table summarizes stock option activity under the Plan:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                Number                Exercise Price
                                                               of Shares                Per Share
                                                               ---------                ---------
     <S>                                                       <C>                   <C>
     Outstanding September 30, 1995                              36,867                    $7.50
         Granted                                                527,334                    $3.75
         Exercised                                                 (400)                   $7.50
         Canceled                                               (53,134)               $3.75 - $7.50
                                                                -------
     Outstanding September 30, 1996                              510,667                   $3.75
         Granted                                                271,665               $7.00 - $14.50
         Exercised                                                    -                      -
         Canceled                                                     -                      -
                                                                -------
     Outstanding September 30, 1997                             782,332               $3.75 - $14.50
         Granted                                                193,834              $14.375 - $20.25
         Exercised                                              (91,957)              $3.75 - $10.125
         Canceled                                               (16,893)             $3.75 - $18.3125
                                                                -------
     Outstanding September 30, 1998                             867,316
                                                                -------
                                                                -------
</TABLE>


                                      30
<PAGE>

At September 30, 1998, options for 551,542 shares of common stock are
exercisable and the remaining 315,774 become exercisable at various dates
through August 20, 2002. The options expire at various dates through August 20,
2005. The following table summarizes information concerning outstanding and
exercisable options as of September 30, 1998.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   Options Outstanding                         Options Exercisable
                     ------------------------------------------------    ---------------------------------
                                                           Weighted-
                                         Weighted-           Average                            Weighted-
                                           Average         Remaining                              Average
Price Range             Shares      Exercise Price  Contractual Life         Shares        Exercise Price
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                  <C>            <C>             <C>                  <C>               <C>
$3.75                     451,666          $  3.75        4.59 years            415,332           $  3.75
$7.00 - $9.99             197,066          $  8.91        5.42 years             78,151           $  8.94
$10.00 - $14.99           139,084           $14.15        6.10 years             29,059            $13.99
$15.00 - $20.25            79,500           $16.41        6.55 years             29,000            $15.74
</TABLE>

If the Company had elected to account for its stock options under the fair 
value method prescribed by SFAS 123, the net losses for the years ended 
September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996 would have been increased by $1,082,000 
($0.12 per share), $742,000 ($0.12 per share) and $839,000 ($0.21 per share), 
respectively. The fair value of these options was estimated at the date of 
grant using the "Black-Scholes" method for option pricing and the following 
weighted average assumptions for 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively: risk-free 
interest rates of 4.20%, 5.80% and 5.76%; dividend yield of 0%; volatility 
factors of the expected market price of the Company's common stock of 64%, 
73% and 73%; and an expected life of the option of five years. These 
assumptions resulted in weighted-average fair values of $7.50, $5.00 and 
$2.51 per share for stock options granted in the fiscal years ended September 
30, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

401(K) PLAN - In July 1997 the Company established a 401(k) retirement plan (the
"401(k) Plan") under which employees meeting eligibility requirements may elect
to participate and contribute to the 401(k) Plan. The 401(k) Plan provides for
matching contributions by the Company in an amount equal to the lesser of 50% of
the employees' deferral or 3% of the employees' qualifying compensation. The
Company contribution may be made in the form of either the common stock of the
Company or cash at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors. Company
contributions to the 401(k) plan for the fiscal years ended September 30, 1998,
1997 and 1996 were $38,194, $5,031 and $0, respectively.

9.     INCOME TAXES

The Company has deferred income taxes which have been fully reserved as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           September 30
                                                                     1998                  1997
                                                                     ----                  ----
         <S>                                                     <C>                  <C>
         Deferred tax assets:
             Net operating loss carryforwards                   $19,262,000           $10,665,000
             General business credit carryforwards                1,240,000               453,000
             Other                                                   88,000               149,000
                                                                  ---------            ----------
                Total net deferred tax assets                    20,590,000            11,267,000
         Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets            (20,590,000)          (11,267,000)
                                                                -----------           -----------
                Net deferred tax assets                         $         -           $         -
                                                                 ----------            ----------
                                                                 ----------            ----------
</TABLE>

At September 30, 1998, the Company has federal and California tax net operating
loss carryforwards of approximately $50,096,000 and $25,217,000, respectively.
The federal tax loss carryforwards will begin expiring


                                      31
<PAGE>

in fiscal 1999 unless previously utilized. The California tax loss carryforwards
began expiring in the current fiscal year.

As a result of the "change in ownership" provisions of the Tax Reform Act of
1986, utilization of the Company's tax net operating loss carryforwards and tax
credit carryforwards are subject to an annual limitation in future periods. As a
result of the annual limitation, a portion of these carryforwards may expire
before ultimately becoming available to reduce future taxable income.

10.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

LEASE COMMITMENTS - In July 1998 the Company entered into a five-year 
operating lease commencing in September 1998 for approximately 25,400 square 
feet of office facilities located in San Diego, California. The Company also 
leases laboratory facilities under a five-year operating lease agreement that 
commenced in December 1996. Future minimum lease commitments for all building
leases approximate the following for each of the five years ending September 
30, 2003, and thereafter: 1999 - $921,000; 2000 - $984,000; 2001 - 
$1,024,000; 2002 -$786,000; 2003 - $762,000; and $64,000 thereafter. Total 
rent expense for the fiscal years ended September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996 was 
$519,376, $281,150 and $87,456, respectively.

In June 1998 the Company entered into a two-year sublease agreement, whereby the
Company sublet approximately 4,800 square feet of its laboratory facilities.
Future minimum lease income approximates the following for each of the two years
ending September 30, 2000: 1999 - $244,000; 2000 - $169,000. Total rent revenue
for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 was $32,899.


11.    LICENSES AND COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS

The Company's strategy for development of its technologies includes the
acquisition and the in-licensing of technologies, and the establishment of
collaborative relationships with university, governmental and other entities.
Material licensing and collaborative agreements are described below.

In 1993, the Company entered into a technology transfer agreement with a 
Liechtenstein corporation pursuant to which the Company purchased 
intellectual property and patent rights related to its MAXAMINE cancer and 
infectious disease technology. The total purchase price under the agreement 
was $700,000, of which $600,000 was paid pursuant to a promissory note issued 
by the Company and secured by the purchased technology. At September 30, 
1997, all obligations under the promissory note have been satisfied. The 
technology transfer agreement also requires that the Company pay certain 
royalty obligations to an inventor of the technology.

In 1993, the Company entered into an agreement with two Swedish companies, Vitec
AB and SBL Vaccin AB ("SBL"), pursuant to which the Company obtained an
exclusive, worldwide license to certain vaccine carrier technology, including
two patent applications, for the treatment of chlamydia. Under the agreement,
the Company is required to use its best efforts to engage SBL to manufacture any
products which result from the application of the licensed technology. The
Company has made payments of $150,000 to Vitec AB under this agreement, and has
agreed to make royalty payments on the net sales of products using the licensed
technology and to make additional license and milestone payments to Vitec AB
upon the execution of any sublicenses.

In 1994, the Company entered into a second license agreement with Vitec AB and
SBL for an exclusive, worldwide license to rights related to the carrier
technology for all infectious diseases with the exception of (i) chlamydia
(governed by the agreement discussed above), (ii) HIV (governed by a sublicense
agreement held by the Company) and (iii) cholera and bacterial-related
diarrheas. Under the agreement, the Company has agreed to use its best efforts
to engage SBL to manufacture any products which result from the application of
licensed technology, and both Vitec AB and the Company shall receive a
percentage of any profits that SBL derives from manufacturing such products. The
Company paid an initial license fee of $100,000, and in 1996 paid a minimum
milestone payment of $400,000 under the agreement. The agreement also requires
the Company to make royalty payments based on net sales of products which
utilize the licensed technology.


                                      32
<PAGE>

12.    RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

In February 1996, the Company entered into an agreement with a business 
consulting firm to provide strategic planning and advisory services for 
$10,000 per month for three years, and warrants to purchase up to 173,333 
shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share vesting over 
36 months. In April 1996, the chief executive officer of this firm was 
elected as a director of the Company. Effective August 1998 the Company 
terminated the above referenced consulting agreement. The Company made 
payments totaling $30,000, $120,000 and $80,000 in connection with the 
consulting agreement during the years ended September 30, 1998, 1997 and 
1996, respectively.

In September 1996 the Company repaid a $250,000 note payable, and paid interest
in the amount of $39,056, to a shareholder of the Company.

On July 5, 1996, the Company sold its ownership interest in its Swedish
subsidiary, SVD, to a former Swedish collaborating scientist and former director
and shareholder of the Company for $1.00. The Company recorded a gain on the
disposal of SVD of $2,288,474, representing the excess of SVD's liabilities over
its assets as of the date of sale. SVD's primary liability at the date of sale
was a $2,421,560 Swedish Industrial Fund loan from the Swedish government. SVD's
assets consisted primarily of capitalized patent costs. The sale transferred
certain technology rights related to certain peptides for use in vaccination and
induction of neutralizing antibodies against HIV. In connection with the sale,
the Company received a non-exclusive sublicense to the MAXVAX mucosal vaccine
carrier for development of vaccines for the treatment of HIV infection.

As part of its program of research and development, the Company has retained
certain scientists and other consultants to consult with the Company and perform
research and development services. Certain of these consultants were considered
related parties as they were holders of the Company's common stock (or warrants,
or options, to purchase common stock), and one such consultant was formerly a
director of the Company.


13.    QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)

Summarized quarterly results of operations for the years ended September 30,
1998 and 1997 were as follows (in thousands except per share amounts):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Year ended September 30, 1998
                                                  -------------------------------------------------
                                                      First       Second       Third       Fourth
                                                      -----       ------       -----       ------
<S>                                               <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>
Research and development expenses                  $2,909,584   $3,493,278  $6,075,063  $7,668,724
Net loss                                           (3,150,306)  (3,768,447) (6,709,516) (8,226,303)
Net loss per share of common stock                     $(0.37)      $(0.41)     $(0.72)     $(0.85)

<CAPTION>

                                                           Year ended September 30, 1997
                                                  -------------------------------------------------
                                                      First       Second       Third       Fourth
                                                      -----       ------       -----       ------
<S>                                               <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>
Research and development expenses                    $539,592   $1,215,456  $1,538,480  $2,059,637
Net income (loss)                                    (764,560)  (1,596,618) (1,953,443) (2,580,528)
Net income (loss) per share of common stock            $(0.11)      $(0.24)     $(0.29)     $(0.39)
</TABLE>


                                      33
<PAGE>

14.  PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK (UNAUDITED)

     The Company's common stock currently trades on both the American Stock 
Exchange ("AMEX") and the Stockholm Stock Exchange ("SSE"). Concurrent with 
the Company's initial public offering, the Company's common stock began 
trading on the AMEX under the symbol "MMP" on July 10, 1996. Prior to date 
there was no established public trading for the common stock. On October 24, 
1997, concurrent with the completion of a follow-on public offering, the 
Company's common stock commenced trading on the SSE under the symbol "MAXM." 
The following table shows the high and low sales price for the common stock 
by quarter, as reported by the AMEX, for the periods indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Price Range
                          Period                      High              Low
                          ------                      ----              ---
     <S>                                           <C>              <C>
     Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1997
         First Quarter                             $10-5/8               $7
         Second Quarter                             11-1/4            6-3/4
         Third Quarter                               9-3/4            7-7/8
         Fourth Quarter                             16-1/2            8-1/2
     Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1998
         First Quarter                             $19-1/4          $12-1/4
         Second Quarter                             16-5/8           13-3/4
         Third Quarter                                  23           14-1/8
         Fourth Quarter                             20-1/2               14
</TABLE>


     On December 28, 1998 the last reported sales price of the Common Stock, 
as reported by the AMEX, was $15.375 per share. As of such date, there were 
approximately 5,000 holders of record of the Common Stock. The Company has 
not paid cash dividends and has no intention to do so in the foreseeable 
future. The Company has entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with 
Silicon Valley Bank which restricts the payment of dividends by the Company.

                                       34

<PAGE>

15.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

     Selected financial data in thousands except per share data.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                    Year Ended September 30
                                                                       ------------------------------------------------
                                                                       1998       1997       1996       1995       1994
                                                                       ----       ----       ----       ----       ----
<S>                                                                  <C>         <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>
SELECTED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
    Research and development expenses                                $20,147     $5,353     $1,609        $985      $999
    Net loss                                                         (21,855)    (6,895)      (833)     (2,790)   (2,433)
    Net loss per share                                                $(2.37)    $(1.03)    $(0.20)     $(0.87)   $(0.82)
    Weighted average shares outstanding                                9,215      6,671      4,075       3,209     2,961
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      As of September 30
                                                                       ------------------------------------------------
                                                                        1998      1997       1996       1995       1994
                                                                        ----      ----       ----       ----       ----
<S>                                                                 <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>       <C>
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
    Cash, cash equivalents and investments                           $35,769    $12,160    $19,144       $513      $119
    Total assets                                                      42,022     15,858     21,255      2,454     1,878
    Long-term debt, less current portion                                 977        555          -        247       640
    Deficit accumulated during the development stage                 (42,687)   (20,832)   (13,937)   (13,103)  (10,313)
    Stockholders' equity (deficit)                                    31,116     13,393     20,124     (3,644)   (2,513)
</TABLE>


                                      35
<PAGE>

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT


Board of Directors
Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(a development stage company) as of September 30, 1998 and 1997, and the related
statements of operations, stockholders' equity (deficit), and cash flows for
each of the years in the three-year period ended September 30, 1998 and for the
period from inception (October 23, 1989) through September 30, 1998. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.

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

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a
development stage company) as of September 30, 1998 and 1997, and the results of
their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended September 30, 1998 and for the period from inception (October 23,
1989) through September 30, 1998, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.


/s/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP

San Diego, California
November 5, 1998

                                       36


<PAGE>

CORPORATE INFORMATION

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS       
Larry G. Stambaugh            
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, 
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                          
Kurt R. Gehlsen, Ph.D.
VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT AND
CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER
               
Dale A. Sander
VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE,           
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER            
AND CORPORATE SECRETARY            

Geoffrey B. Altman
VICE PRESIDENT, 
MARKETING AND SALES
          
Ram B. Rastogi
VICE PRESIDENT, 
CLINICAL AFFAIRS
     
DIRECTORS                
Larry G. Stambaugh            
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, 
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Colin B. Bier, Ph.D.          
MANAGING DIRECTOR             
ABA BIORESEARCH     
               
Theodor H. Heinrichs          
RETIRED GENERAL PARTNER            
HAMBRECHT & QUIST LIFE SCIENCE VENTURE
               
Per-Olof Martensson      
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
KARO BIO AB
                    
F. Duwaine Townsen            
MANAGING PARTNER              
VENTANA GROWTH FUNDS               

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
8899 University Center Lane, Suite 400
San Diego, California  92122
tel. 619-453-4040
fax 619-453-5005

10-K AVAILABILITY
A copy of the Company's annual report to the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, without 
exhibits, will be made available to any stockholder upon written request to: 
Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 8899 University Center Lane, Suite 400 San Diego, 
California  92122

STOCK LISTING
The shares of the Company's common stock is traded on the American Stock 
Exchange under the symbol "MMP", and on the Stockholm Stock Exchange under 
the symbol "MAXM".  The Company's redeemable common stock purchase warrants 
are traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol "MMP.WS".

TRANSFER AGENT
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
40 Wall Street
New York, New York 10005

CORPORATE COUNSEL
Cooley Godward LLP
4365 Executive Drive, Suite 1100
San Diego, California 92121

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
KMPG Peat Marwick LLP
750 B Street, Suite 3000
San Diego, California  92101
                    


THIS ANNUAL REPORT CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND 
UNCERTAINTIES.  SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INCLUDE STATEMENTS REGARDING 
THE RESULTS OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND CLINICAL TRIALS, AND THE SCOPE 
AND SUCCESS OF FUTURE OPERATIONS. SUCH STATEMENTS ARE ONLY PREDICTIONS AND 
OUR ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED IN THESE 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.  FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE SUCH DIFFERENCES INCLUDE, 
BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE DISCUSSED UNDER "RISK FACTORS" AND ELSEWHERE IN 
THE OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998, AS 
FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, INCLUDING THE 
UNCERTAINTIES ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, THE RISK THAT PRODUCTS 
THAT APPEARED PROMISING IN EARLY CLINICAL TRIALS DO NOT DEMONSTRATE EFFICACY 
IN LARGER-SCALE CLINICAL TRIALS, THE RISK THAT CLINICAL TRIALS WILL NOT 
COMMENCE WHEN PLANNED, THE RISK THAT WE WILL NOT OBTAIN APPROVAL TO MARKET 
OUR PRODUCTS, THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FINANCING, AND THE DEPENDENCE UPON 
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS.

                                      37

<PAGE>

                           INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
                                          

Board of Directors
Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement (No. 
333-11375) on Form S-8, registration statement (No. 333-35669) on Form S-8, 
registration statement (No. 333-47695) on Form S-8, registration statement 
(No. 333-65011) on Form S-3, registration statement (No. 333-52403) on Form 
S-3, and registration statement (No. 333-4854-LA) on Form S-3 of Maxim 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a development stage company) of our report dated 
November 5, 1998, relating to the balance sheets of Maxim Pharmaceuticals, 
Inc. as of September 30, 1998 and 1997, and the related statements of 
operations, stockholders' equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the 
years in the three-year period ended September 30, 1998, and from the period 
from inception (October 23, 1989) through September 30, 1998, which report 
appears in the September 30, 1998 annual report on Form 10-K of Maxim 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

/s/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP

San Diego, California
December 28, 1998


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                      11,217,429
<SECURITIES>                                21,031,568
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            34,740,305
<PP&E>                                       2,015,095
<DEPRECIATION>                               (321,693)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              42,021,585
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        9,927,942
<BONDS>                                        977,213
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,886
<OTHER-SE>                                  31,106,544
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                42,021,585
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     0
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            20,146,649
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              89,101
<INCOME-PRETAX>                           (21,854,572)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       (21,854,572)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                              (21,854,572)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.37
        

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
                                          

Board of Directors
Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Maxim Pharmaceuticals, 
Inc. (a development stage company) as of September 30, 1998 and 1997, and the 
related statements of operations, stockholders' equity (deficit), and cash 
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended September 30, 1998 
and for the period from inception (October 23, 1989) through September 30, 
1998.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's 
management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial 
statements based on our audits.

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

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in 
all material respects, the financial position of Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 
(a development stage company) as of September 30, 1998 and 1997, and the 
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the 
three-year period ended September 30, 1998 and for the period from inception 
(October 23, 1989) through September 30, 1998, in conformity with generally 
accepted accounting principles.



/s/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP

San Diego, California
November 5, 1998








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