DURA PHARMACEUTICALS INC
DEF 14A, 1999-04-16
PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS
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                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                            [AMENDMENT NO. _________]


Filed by the registrant  /X/
Filed by a party other than the registrant  / /


Check the appropriate box:

/ /  Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ /  Confidential, for use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
     14a-6(e)(2))
/X/  Definitive Proxy Statement
/ /  Definitive Additional Materials
/ /  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12


                           DURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

      Mitchell R. Woodbury, Sr. Vice President General Counsel & Secretary
         DURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 7475 LUSK BLVD., SAN DIEGO, CA 92121
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)



Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):

/X/  No fee required.

/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:_______
     (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transactions applies:_________
     (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
         pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which 
         the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):________
     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transactions:_____________________
     (5) Total fee paid:_______________________________________________________

/ /  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

/ /  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
     previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
     or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

     (1) Amount previously paid:  _____________________________________________
     (2) Form, schedule or registration statement no.:_________________________
     (3) Filing party:  _______________________________________________________
     (4) Date filed:  _________________________________________________________

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                                     [LOGO]





                           DURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                                 7475 LUSK BLVD.
                           SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121


                                 April 16, 1999



Dear Stockholder:

     You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders 
of Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which will be held at the offices of the 
Company at 7475 Lusk Blvd., San Diego, California, on Thursday, May 20, 1999 
at 10:00 a.m.

     Details of the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting are given 
in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement.

     In order for us to have an efficient meeting, please sign, date and 
return the enclosed proxy promptly in the accompanying reply envelope, or 
vote by telephone or using the internet, where available. If you are able to 
attend the Annual Meeting and wish to change your proxy vote, you may do so 
simply by voting in person at the Annual Meeting.

     We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.

                                Sincerely,


                                /s/ CAM L. GARNER

                                CAM L. GARNER
                                CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

     In order to assure your representation at the meeting, you are requested to
     complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy as promptly as possible and
     return it in the enclosed envelope. No postage need be affixed if mailed in
     the United States. If your shares are held through your broker, you may be
     able to vote by telephone or using the internet; see the voting
     instructions included with your proxy card. If you vote by telephone or
     using the internet, you do not need to return your proxy card.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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                                     [LOGO]





                           DURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                                 7475 LUSK BLVD.
                           SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

                                  MAY 20, 1999

     The Annual Meeting (the "Annual Meeting") of Stockholders of Dura 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the offices of the 
Company, 7475 Lusk Blvd., San Diego, California, on Thursday, May 20, 1999 at 
10:00 a.m., for the following purposes:

     1.   To elect three (3) directors to serve two-year terms to expire at 
          the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2001.

     2.   To approve an amendment to the 1992 Stock Option Plan (the "Option 
          Plan") to increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock 
          available for issuance under the Option Plan and to adjust the 
          automatic grant provisions of the Option Plan.

     3.   To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's 
          independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 
          31, 1999.

     4.   To transact any other business which may properly come before the 
          meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.

     Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 22, 1999 are 
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. A list of stockholders entitled to 
vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for inspection at the offices of 
the Company. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, please 
sign, date and return the enclosed proxy in the reply envelope provided. If 
your shares are held through your broker, you may be able to vote by 
telephone or using the internet; see the voting instructions included with 
your proxy card. If you attend the Annual Meeting and vote by ballot, your 
proxy will be revoked automatically and only your vote at the Annual Meeting 
will be counted. The prompt return of your proxy will assist us in preparing 
for the Annual Meeting.

                            By Order of the Board of Directors

                            /s/ MITCHELL R. WOODBURY


Dated:  April 16, 1999      MITCHELL R. WOODBURY
                            SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY

<PAGE>




                           DURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                                PROXY STATEMENT


                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                             TO BE HELD MAY 20, 1999




     These proxy materials and the enclosed proxy card are being mailed in 
connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Dura 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), for the Annual 
Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held at 10:00 a.m. on 
May 20, 1999 and at any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting. 
These proxy materials were first mailed to stockholders of record beginning 
on approximately April 16, 1999. A stockholder may vote in person, by mail, 
or through the valid appointment of a proxy. In addition, telephone or 
internet voting may be available depending on the voting process of each bank 
or broker, and if applicable, instructions for voting are enclosed with the 
proxy card.

     The mailing address of the principal executive office of the Company is 
7475 Lusk Blvd., San Diego, California 92121.


                             PURPOSE OF THE MEETING

     The specific proposals to be considered and acted upon at the Annual 
Meeting are summarized in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of 
Stockholders. Each proposal is described in more detail in this Proxy 
Statement.


                         VOTING RIGHTS AND SOLICITATION

     Any stockholder executing a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time 
before it is voted by delivering written notice of such revocation to the 
Secretary of the Company before the Annual Meeting or by properly executing 
and delivering a proxy bearing a later date. Proxies may also be revoked by 
any stockholder present at the Annual Meeting who elects to vote his or her 
shares in person. The cost of soliciting proxies will be paid by the Company 
and may include reimbursement paid to brokerage firms and others for their 
expense in forwarding solicitation material. Solicitation will be made 
primarily through the use of the mail, but regular employees of the Company 
may, without additional remuneration, solicit proxies personally by 
telephone, telegram, electronic mail or facsimile. In addition, the Company 
has retained Georgeson & Company Inc. to assist in the solicitation of 
proxies, for which they will be paid a fee of approximately $9,000, plus 
reasonable expenses incurred.

     The record date for determining those stockholders who are entitled to 
notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting has been fixed as March 22, 
1999 (the "Record Date"). At the close of business on the Record Date, the 
Company had 44,103,633 issued and outstanding shares of common stock, $.001 
par value per share (the "Common Stock"). There were no outstanding shares of 
preferred stock, $.001 par value per share. Each stockholder is entitled to 
one vote on matters brought before the Annual Meeting for each share of 
Common Stock held by the stockholder at the Record Date. Cumulative voting is 
not permitted. Both abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present 
for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the 
transaction of business. For purposes of determining the number of shares 
voting on a particular proposal, abstentions are counted as shares voting, 
whereas broker non-votes are not counted as shares voting. Thus, broker 
non-votes can have the effect of preventing approval of certain proposals 
where the number of affirmative votes, though a majority of the votes cast, 
does not constitute a majority of the required quorum. ChaseMellon 
Shareholder Services, LLC, the Company's transfer agent, will tabulate the 
votes.

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                                   PROPOSAL 1

                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     The Board of Directors of the Company is currently composed of eight 
members. The Company's Certificate of Incorporation divides the Board into 
two classes of directors serving staggered two-year terms, with one class of 
directors to be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders. All of the 
nominees are now serving as directors of the Company. Unless individual 
stockholders specify otherwise, each returned proxy will be voted for the 
election of Messrs. Conrad and Ramseier and Dr. Smith, who have each agreed 
to stand for election to hold office for a term of two years, expiring at the 
Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2001, or until a successor is elected and 
has qualified. The three candidates receiving the highest number of 
affirmative votes by holders of Common Stock represented and voting at the 
Annual Meeting will be elected directors of the Company.

     If, however, any of those named are unable to serve, or for good cause 
decline to serve at the time of the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the 
enclosed proxy will exercise discretionary authority to vote for substitutes. 
The Board of Directors is not aware of any circumstances that would render 
any nominee unavailable for election.

                  THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY
                RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED HEREIN.

NOMINEES FOR ELECTION TO TERMS WHICH EXPIRE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF 
STOCKHOLDERS IN 2001

     HERBERT J. CONRAD, 66, served as President of the Pharmaceuticals 
Division and Senior Vice President of Hoffmann-LaRoche Inc. ("Roche") from 
1982 until his retirement in 1993. Mr. Conrad joined Roche in 1960 and held 
various positions, including Senior Vice President of the Pharmaceuticals 
Division, Chairman of the Board of Medi-Physics, Inc. and Vice President, 
Public Affairs and Planning Division. Mr. Conrad was first elected director 
of the Company in 1994 and currently serves as a member of the Company's 
Compensation Committee. Mr. Conrad is a director of Gensia Sicor Inc. 
("Gensia"), a biopharmaceutical company, Biotechnology General Corp., a 
biotechnology company, and UroCor, Inc., a urological diagnostics and 
therapeutics company.

     GORDON V. RAMSEIER, 54, has been Executive Director of a private 
consulting company, The Sage Group, since 1995. The Sage Group provides 
consulting services to companies in the health care field. Mr. Ramseier has 
operated a private consulting company since 1994, and also performed such 
consulting work from 1990 to 1992. Mr. Ramseier served as President and Chief 
Executive Officer of Onco Therapeutics, Inc. from 1992 until 1994. From 1986 
to 1990, Mr. Ramseier served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the 
Company. Mr. Ramseier was first elected director of the Company in 1986 and 
currently serves as a member of the Company's Audit Committee.

     CHARLES G. SMITH, PH.D., 71, has operated a private consulting company 
since 1986 and is currently a consultant for several health care companies. 
Prior to his consulting work, Dr. Smith served with Revlon Health Care Group 
as Vice President of Research and Development from 1975 to 1986. Dr. Smith 
was first elected director of the Company in 1988 and also serves as a 
consultant to the Company.

DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS IN 2000

     JAMES C. BLAIR, PH.D., 59, has served as a managing member of Domain 
Associates, LLC, a venture capital management company, since 1985. Dr. Blair 
was first elected director of the Company in 1986 and currently serves as a 
member of the Company's Compensation, Audit, and Nominating Committees. Dr. 
Blair is currently a director of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Amylin"), 
Aurora Biosciences Corp., CoCensys, Inc., Trega Biosciences, Inc. ("Trega"), 
all biopharmaceutical companies, and Vista Medical Technologies, Inc., a 
medical device company.

     JOSEPH C. COOK, JR., 57, has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 
of Amylin since 1998. Mr. Cook is a founder and Chairman of Microbia, Inc. He 
is also a founder of Clinical Products, Ltd., Life Science Advisors, LLC, 
Cambrian Associates, LLC and Mountain Ventures, Inc. Mr. Cook retired as 
Group Vice President, Global Manufacturing, Engineering and Corporate Quality 
at Eli Lilly and Company ("Lilly") in 1993. During his 28 years with Lilly, 
Mr. Cook was Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Chief Financial Officer 
for Elanco Products Company, and General Manager of a worldwide business unit 
of Lilly. Mr. Cook joined the Company's Board of Directors in 1995 and 
currently serves as a


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member of both the Company's Audit and Nominating Committees. He is currently 
a director of both Amylin and NABI, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company.

     CAM L. GARNER, 50, joined the Company in 1989 as Executive Vice 
President of the Company (formerly Immunetech Pharmaceuticals), President of 
the Company's former subsidiary and a director. He was named Chairman of the 
Board in 1995, has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company since 
1990 and served as President from 1990 to 1998. Prior to joining the Company, 
Mr. Garner served as President of Syntro Corporation, a biotechnology 
company, from 1987 to 1989. Mr. Garner is currently a director of Safeskin 
Corporation, a manufacturer of medical supplies, Spiros Development 
Corporation II, Inc. ("Spiros Corp. II"), a developer of pulmonary drug 
delivery systems, CardioDynamics International Corporation, a manufacturer of 
medical devices, and Nanogen, Inc., a biotechnology company.

     DAVID F. HALE, 50, has served as President and Chief Executive Officer 
of Women First HealthCare, Inc. since 1998 and is currently a director. Mr. 
Hale was first elected director of the Company in 1986 and currently serves 
as a member of the Company's Compensation Committee. He served as President 
and Chief Executive Officer of Gensia from 1987 until 1997 and as Chairman 
from 1991 to 1997. Prior to joining Gensia, Mr. Hale was President and Chief 
Executive Officer of Hybritech Incorporated ("Hybritech"), a biotechnology 
company which was acquired by Lilly in 1986. Mr. Hale is currently a director 
of Collateral Therapeutics, Inc., a cardiovascular gene therapy company.

     DAVID S. KABAKOFF, PH.D., 51, joined the Company in 1996 as Executive 
Vice President and as a director and was named President, Dura Technologies 
in 1998. Dr. Kabakoff has served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and 
President of Spiros Corp. II since 1997. He served as Chief Executive Officer 
and President of Spiros Development Corporation ("Spiros Corp.") from 1996 to 
1997, prior to the Company's exercise of its purchase option to acquire all 
of the outstanding stock of Spiros Corp. From 1989 to 1996, he was employed 
by Corvas International, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, and served in a 
number of capacities during that time period, including Chief Executive 
Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer and Chairman of the Board. From 
1983 to 1989, Dr. Kabakoff was employed by Hybritech, most recently as Senior 
Vice President of Research and Development-Diagnostics. Dr. Kabakoff 
currently serves as a director of Spiros Corp. II.

BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES

     The Company's Board of Directors met a total of ten times and took 
action by unanimous written consent a total of eight times during the fiscal 
year ended December 31, 1998. Each director attended at least 75% of the 
aggregate of (i) the total meetings of the Board of Directors (held during 
the period for which he has been a director) and (ii) the total number of 
meetings held by all committees of the board on which he served (during the 
periods that he served).

     The Company has a standing Compensation Committee currently composed of 
three non-employee directors: Dr. Blair, Mr. Conrad and Mr. Hale. The 
Compensation Committee met once and took action by unanimous written consent 
a total of four times in fiscal 1998. The Compensation Committee reviews and 
acts on matters relating to compensation levels and benefit plans for 
executive officers and key employees of the Company, including salary and 
stock options. The Committee is also responsible for granting stock awards, 
stock options, stock appreciation rights and other awards to be made under 
the Company's existing incentive compensation plans. The Company also has a 
standing Audit Committee currently composed of the following three 
non-employee directors: Dr. Blair, Mr. Cook and Mr. Ramseier. During fiscal 
1998, the Audit Committee met twice. The Audit Committee assists in selecting 
the independent auditors, designating services they are to perform and 
maintaining effective communication with those auditors. The Company also has 
a standing Nominating Committee currently composed of the following two 
non-employee directors: Dr. Blair and Mr. Cook. The Nominating Committee did 
not meet during fiscal 1998 as all such matters were considered at meetings 
of the full Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee recommends qualified 
candidates to the Board for election as directors of the Company and will 
consider nominees recommended by stockholders. Such recommendations should be 
submitted to the Secretary of the Company.


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                                   PROPOSAL 2

                     APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S
                             1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN

GENERAL

     The stockholders are being asked to approve the following amendments to 
the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan"), which were approved 
by the Company's Board of Directors on March 3, 1999, subject to stockholder 
approval. The amendments will effect the following changes: (i) increase the 
number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Option Plan 
by an additional 1,500,000, (ii) decrease the number of shares of Common 
Stock subject to the automatic option grants made to newly-elected or 
newly-appointed non-employee Board members under the Automatic Option Grant 
Program from 30,000 shares to 15,000 shares effective May 20, 1999, (iii) 
decrease the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the automatic option 
grants made to continuing non-employee Board members under the Automatic 
Option Grant Program from 8,000 to 6,000 shares per year effective with the 
2000 Annual Meeting, and (iv) effect a one-time automatic option grant for 
15,000 shares on May 20, 1999 to each individual serving as a non-employee 
Board member on that date, with such grant to be in substitution for the 
8,000-share option grant which would otherwise be made at the Annual Meeting.

     Prior to the amendment, 8,607,360 shares were available for issuance 
under the Option Plan. The amendment as it relates to the increase in the 
number of shares available for issuance was adopted by the Board principally 
as the result of the significant growth in the number of employees in the 
Company in 1998, and with the expectation that the Company will, in order to 
achieve its objectives, need to continue to attract, retain and motivate high 
caliber employees. It is the intention of the Board of Directors that every 
employee of the Company be granted stock options in order to motivate 
employees to build stockholder value and to align the interests of the 
employees with those of the Company's stockholders. In fiscal 1998, the 
number of employees of the Company increased from 644 to 942. In 1999 alone, 
the Company expects to add approximately 246 employees, including 
approximately 160 employees in its Acute Care unit in support of products 
acquired in December 1998, together with additional products which may be 
acquired in the hospital market segment. The amendment as it relates to the 
adjustment of automatic option grants for the non-employee directors was 
adopted in anticipation of certain changes in the compensation paid to the 
Company's Board of Directors.

SUMMARY OF  STOCK OPTION PLAN

     The following is a summary of all material terms and provisions of the 
Option Plan, assuming the amendment discussed above is approved. The summary, 
however, is not intended to be a complete description of all of the 
provisions of the Option Plan. Copies of the actual Option Plan documents may 
be obtained by any stockholder upon written request to the Secretary of the 
Company at the Company's headquarters in San Diego, California.

     PLAN STRUCTURE. The Plan is divided into two separate components:

          OPTION GRANT PROGRAM. Officers, employees, non-employee Board 
members and independent consultants may, at the discretion of the plan 
administrator, be granted options to purchase shares of Common Stock at an 
exercise price based on the fair market value of the option shares on the 
grant date. One or more granted options may also include stock appreciation 
rights which will allow the holders to surrender those options for payments 
from the Company based on the appreciation in the market value of the Common 
Stock over the period the options are outstanding.

          AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANT PROGRAM. Eligible non-employee Board members 
will automatically receive option grants under the program to purchase shares 
of Common Stock at designated intervals over their period of Board service.

     OPTION PLAN ADMINISTRATION. The Option Plan is administered by a 
committee or committees (the "Committee") appointed by the Board from among 
its members (the "Option Plan Administrator"). Administration of the Option 
Plan with respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), will comply with the applicable 
requirements of Rule 16b-3. The Option Plan Administrator is generally 
authorized to construe and interpret the Option Plan, to establish 
appropriate rules and regulations, to select key employees, consultants and 
independent contractors of the Company and its subsidiaries for 
participation, and to specify the terms of the options granted under the 
Option Plan. Members of the Committee may be removed by the Board. The 
Company will pay all costs of


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administration of the Option Plan. The cash proceeds received by the Company 
from the issuance of shares pursuant to the Option Plan will be used for 
general corporate purposes.

     SHARE RESERVE. The maximum number of shares available for issuance over 
the term of the Option Plan may not exceed 10,107,360 shares of Common Stock, 
including the 1,500,000-share increase for which stockholder approval is 
being sought as a part of Proposal 2.

     Should any option under the Option Plan expire or terminate for any 
reason prior to exercise or surrender in full (including any option 
incorporated into the Option Plan from the Company's prior stock option 
plans), the shares subject to the portion of the option not so exercised or 
surrendered will be available for subsequent option grants. Shares subject to 
any option surrendered or cancelled in accordance with the option surrender 
or cash-out provisions of the Option Plan will NOT be available for 
subsequent grants.

     ADJUSTMENTS IN CAPITALIZATION. If any change is made to the Common Stock 
issuable under the Option Plan by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, 
recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change 
affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without receipt of 
consideration, then appropriate adjustments will be made to (i) the number 
and/or class of securities issuable under the Option Plan, (ii) the number 
and/or class of securities and price per share in effect under each 
outstanding option under the Option Plan, (iii) the maximum number and/or 
class of securities for which any one participant may be granted stock 
options and separately exercisable stock appreciation rights in any fiscal 
year or over the term of the Option Plan, (iv) the number and/or class of 
securities for which option grants are to be made to newly-elected or 
continuing non-employee Board members under the Automatic Option Grant 
Program and (v) the number and/or class of securities and price per share in 
effect under each outstanding option incorporated into this Option Plan from 
any predecessor plan. The purpose of these adjustments will be to preclude 
the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under the options.

     ELIGIBILITY. The persons eligible to receive discretionary stock options 
include all employees of the Company or its subsidiaries, non-employee 
members of the Board or the board of directors of any subsidiary, and 
consultants and other independent advisors who provide services to the 
Company or its subsidiary. Only non-employee members of the Board will be 
eligible to receive automatic option grants. As of March 31, 1999, six 
non-employee Board members, eight executive officers, and approximately 928 
other employees were eligible to participate in the Option Plan, and the six 
non-employee Board members were also eligible to participate in the Automatic 
Option Grant Program.

     VALUATION. For purposes of establishing the option exercise price and 
for other valuation purposes under the Option Plan, the fair market value per 
share of Common Stock on any relevant date under the Option Plan will be the 
closing selling price per share on that date on the Nasdaq National Market. 
On March 31, 1999, the closing selling price of the Company's Common Stock 
was $14.125 per share.

     PER-EMPLOYEE LIMITATION. Options for not more than 1,500,000 shares may 
be granted to any one optionee over the lifetime of the Option Plan and no 
more than 400,000 shares may be granted to any one optionee in any fiscal 
year. Stockholder approval of this Proposal will constitute re-approval of 
these limitations.

     REPURCHASE RIGHTS. The Committee may include as an option term that the 
Company (or its assigns) will have the right, exercisable on the optionee's 
separation from service, to repurchase Common Stock acquired by the optionee 
upon the exercise of an option. The Committee may also provide for the 
automatic termination of such a repurchase right.

     GRANTS. Under the general terms of the Option Plan, the Committee may 
grant either an incentive stock option ("ISO"), which satisfies the 
requirements of Section 422 of the IRS Code of 1986, as amended (the "IRS 
Code"), or a non-qualified option ("NQO"), which is not intended to satisfy 
the requirements of Section 422 of the IRS Code. The Committee may also 
determine the number of shares of Common Stock issuable under an option as 
well as the exercise date, the exercise price, and the exercise period of an 
option. The duration of an option may not exceed ten years, and the exercise 
price for options may not be less than the fair market value (as defined in 
the Option Plan) of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the option, 
provided that the Option Plan Administrator may fix the exercise price at 
less than 100% of the fair market value to the extent that the optionee has 
made a payment to the Company at the time of the grant of the option 
(including by means of a salary reduction agreement) equal to the amount by 
which the fair market value exceeds the exercise price.


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<PAGE>

     Upon exercise, the price of an option is generally payable in full in 
cash. In the Committee's discretion, the purchase price may be paid: (i) in 
shares of the Company's Common Stock ("Previously Owned Shares") held for 
such period of time as may be required in order to avoid a charge to the 
Company's earnings; (ii) by means of a same-day sale program, pursuant to 
which a designated brokerage firm immediately sells shares purchased under 
the option and pays over to the Company, out of the sale proceeds available 
on the settlement date, funds to cover the option price plus all applicable 
withholding taxes; or (iii) by means of a promissory note. The Committee may 
also permit an optionee to elect to have any withholding tax obligation paid 
through withholding of shares or by delivery of Previously Owned Shares. In 
order to assist an optionee (other than the recipient of an Automatic Grant, 
as hereinafter defined) in the acquisition of Common Stock pursuant to an 
option, the Committee may also authorize the Company to extend secured or 
unsecured credit, in an amount sufficient to cover the exercise price and any 
employment tax liability incurred upon exercise of the option, to an optionee 
who is also an employee.

     During the lifetime of an optionee, an ISO is exercisable only by the 
optionee and is not assignable or transferable other than by will or by the 
laws of descent and distribution following the optionee's death. However, an 
NQO may be assigned in whole or in part during the optionee's lifetime. The 
terms applicable to the assigned portion are the same as those in effect for 
the option immediately prior to such assignment.

     AUTOMATIC GRANTS. Each person who is newly elected or appointed as a 
non-employee director after May 20, 1999 will receive, on the date of such 
election or appointment, an NQO for 15,000 shares of Common Stock. On the 
date of each Annual Stockholders' Meeting, beginning with the 2000 Annual 
Meeting, each person who (i) (A) is a continuing non-employee director or (B) 
is re-elected at the Annual Meeting and (ii) has served as a non-employee 
director for the immediately preceding 180 days, will receive an NQO for 
6,000 shares of Common Stock. In addition, each individual serving as a 
non-employee director on May 20, 1999 will receive a one-time NQO for 15,000 
shares of Common Stock on that date. Collectively, such grants will be 
referred to herein as "Automatic Grants." Stockholder approval of this 
Proposal will also constitute pre-approval of each Automatic Grant made on or 
after the date of the 1999 Annual Meeting and the subsequent exercise of that 
grant in accordance with the terms summarized below.

     The exercise price of each Automatic Grant will be equal to 100% of the 
fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The exercise 
price of an Automatic Grant will be payable in cash or in Common Stock held 
for such period of time as may be required to avoid a charge to the Company's 
earnings or by means of a same day sale program, pursuant to which a 
designated brokerage firm immediately sells shares purchased under the 
Automatic Grant and pays over to the Company, out of the sales proceeds 
available on the settlement date, funds to cover the option price plus all 
applicable withholding taxes. The term of the Automatic Grant will be ten 
years. The Automatic Grant will become fully exercisable one year after the 
grant date (or immediately upon a Corporate Transaction as described below). 
Finally, the Automatic Grant will be granted in tandem with a limited stock 
appreciation right as described below. Options granted under the Automatic 
Grant program will expire if not exercised within six months after the 
optionee ceases to serve as a director or within twelve months after the 
optionee ceases to serve as a director due to the optionee's death.

     ACCELERATION OF OPTIONS. In the event of any of the following 
transactions to which the Company is a party (a "Corporate Transaction"):

     (i) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving 
     entity (except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to 
     change the state of the Company's incorporation),

     (ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all 
     of the assets of the Company in complete liquidation or dissolution of 
     the Company,

     (iii) a reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in
     which the holders of securities possessing more than 50% of the combined
     voting power of the Company's outstanding securities (as determined
     immediately prior to such merger) transfer their ownership of those
     securities to a person or persons not otherwise part of the transferor
     group, or

     (iv) a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Company's stockholders
     in which any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or
     any affiliate) acquires beneficial ownership of securities possessing more
     than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company's outstanding
     securities,


                                      6

<PAGE>

     each outstanding option will automatically vest and become exercisable for
     all of the option shares and may be exercised for any or all of such
     shares. The Company's outstanding repurchase rights under the Option Plan
     will also terminate, and the shares subject to such terminated rights will
     become fully vested, upon the Corporate Transaction. Upon the consummation
     of the Corporate Transaction, all outstanding options under the Option Plan
     will terminate and cease to be exercisable, except to the extent assumed by
     the successor corporation.

     The acceleration of options in the event of a Corporate Transaction may 
be seen as an anti-takeover provision and may have the effect of discouraging 
a merger proposal, a takeover attempt or other efforts to gain control of the 
Company.

     TERMINATION OF SERVICE. Upon the optionee's cessation of employment or 
service, the optionee will have a limited period of time in which to exercise 
his or her outstanding options for any shares in which the optionee is vested 
at that time. However, at any time while the options remain outstanding, the 
Plan Administrator will have complete discretion to extend the period 
following the optionee's cessation of employment or service during which his 
or her outstanding options may be exercised. The Plan Administrator will also 
have complete discretion to accelerate the exercisability or vesting of those 
options in whole or in part at any time.

     CANCELLATION/REGRANT PROGRAM. The Plan Administrator will have the 
authority to effect the cancellation of outstanding options which have 
exercise prices in excess of the then current market price of the Common 
Stock and to issue replacement options with an exercise price based on the 
market price of the Common Stock at the time of the new grant. Automatic 
Grants are not subject to the cancellation and regrant provisions.

     STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The Option Plan includes a stock appreciation 
rights program, pursuant to which one or more optionees may, subject to 
Committee approval, surrender their outstanding options in return for a 
payment from the Company in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the fair 
market value (on the option surrender date) of the shares of Common Stock 
subject to the surrendered option over (ii) the aggregate option price 
payable for such shares. The payment may, at the discretion of the Committee, 
be made either in cash or in shares of Common Stock.

     One or more officers of the Company subject to the short-swing profit 
restrictions of the federal securities laws may, in the Committee's 
discretion, be granted limited stock appreciation rights in tandem with their 
outstanding options. In addition, all Automatic Grants will be made in tandem 
with the grant of a limited stock appreciation right. Any option with such a 
limited stock appreciation right in effect for at least six months will 
automatically be cancelled upon the occurrence of a Hostile Takeover (as 
defined below), and the optionee will in return be entitled to a cash 
distribution from the Company in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the 
Takeover Price of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to the 
cancelled option (whether or not the option is otherwise at the time 
exercisable for such shares) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable 
for such shares.

     For purposes of these option cancellation provisions, the following 
definitions are in effect under the Option Plan:

          A Hostile Takeover shall be deemed to occur upon the acquisition by
     any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or a person
     that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common
     control with, the Company) of ownership of more than 50% of the Company's
     outstanding Common Stock (excluding the Common Stock holdings of officers
     and directors of the Company who participate in this Option Plan) pursuant
     to a tender or exchange offer which the Board does not recommend the
     Company's stockholders accept.

          The Takeover Price per share shall be deemed to be equal to the
     GREATER of (a) the Fair Market Value per share on the date of cancellation,
     or (b) the highest reported price per share paid in effecting the Hostile
     Takeover. However, if the cancelled option is an ISO, the Takeover Price
     shall not exceed the clause (a) price per share.

     AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE OPTION PLAN. The Board may amend, suspend
or discontinue the Option Plan at any time. Stockholder approval of amendments
to the Option Plan will be required when the amendments are made conditional on
such approval by the Board or when such approval is required by law or
regulation. Generally, the provisions of the Option Plan concerning Automatic
Grants may only be amended once every six months. The Option Plan will terminate
December 8, 2002 unless sooner terminated by the Board.


                                      7

<PAGE>

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

     Options granted under the Plan may be either ISOs which satisfy the 
requirements of Section 422 of the IRS Code or NQOs which are not intended to 
satisfy such requirements. The Federal income tax treatment for the two types 
of options differ as follows:

     INCENTIVE OPTIONS. No taxable income is recognized by the optionee at 
the time of the option grant, and no taxable income is generally recognized 
at the time the option is exercised. The optionee will, however, recognize 
regular taxable income in the year in which the purchased shares are sold or 
otherwise made the subject of disposition. For Federal tax purposes, 
dispositions are divided into two categories: (i) qualifying and (ii) 
disqualifying. A qualifying disposition occurs if the sale or other 
disposition is made after the optionee has held the shares for more than two 
years after the option grant date and more than one year after the exercise 
date. If either of these two holding periods is not satisfied, then a 
disqualifying disposition will result.

     Upon a qualifying disposition, the optionee will recognize long-term 
capital gain in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the amount realized upon 
the sale or other disposition of the purchased shares over (ii) the exercise 
price paid for the shares. If there is a disqualifying disposition of the 
shares, then the excess of (i) the fair market value of those shares on the 
exercise date over (ii) the exercise price paid for the shares will be 
taxable as ordinary income to the optionee. Any additional gain or loss 
recognized upon the disposition will be recognized as a capital gain or loss 
by the optionee.

     If the optionee makes a disqualifying disposition of the purchased 
shares, then the Company will be entitled to an income tax deduction, for the 
taxable year in which such disposition occurs, equal to the excess of (i) the 
fair market value of such shares on the option exercise date over (ii) the 
exercise price paid for the shares. In no other instance will the Company be 
allowed a deduction with respect to the optionee's disposition of the 
purchased shares.

     NON-STATUTORY OPTIONS. No taxable income is recognized by an optionee 
upon the grant of an NQO. The optionee will in general recognize ordinary 
income in the year in which the option is exercised equal to the excess of 
the fair market value of the purchased shares on the exercise date over the 
exercise price paid for those shares, and the optionee will be required to 
satisfy the tax withholding requirements applicable to such income.

     Special provisions of the IRS Code apply to the acquisition of shares 
under an NQO if the purchased shares are subject to repurchase by the Company 
or other substantial risk of forfeiture. These special provisions may be 
summarized as follows:

          If the shares acquired upon exercise of the NQO are subject to
     repurchase by the Company, at the original exercise price paid per share,
     in the event the optionee's service terminates prior to vesting in the
     shares, then the optionee will not recognize any taxable income at the time
     of exercise. The optionee will have to report as ordinary income, as and
     when the Company's repurchase right lapses, an amount equal to the
     difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date the
     repurchase right lapses and the option exercise price paid for those
     shares.

          The optionee may, however, elect under Section 83(b) of the IRS Code
     to include as ordinary income in the year of exercise an amount equal to
     the difference between the fair market value of the purchased shares on the
     date of exercise (determined as if the shares were not subject to the
     Company's repurchase right) and the option exercise price paid for the
     shares. If the Section 83(b) election is made, the optionee will not
     recognize any additional income as and when the Company's repurchase right
     lapses.

          The Company will be entitled to a business expense deduction equal to
     the amount of ordinary income recognized by the optionee in connection with
     the exercise of the NQO. The deduction will in general be allowed for the
     taxable year of the Company in which such ordinary income is recognized by
     the optionee.

     STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. An optionee who is granted a stock 
appreciation right will recognize ordinary income in the year of exercise 
equal to the amount of the appreciation distribution. The Company will be 
entitled to an income tax deduction equal to such distribution for the 
taxable year in which the ordinary income is recognized by the optionee.


                                      8

<PAGE>

     DEDUCTIBILITY OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION. The Company anticipates that 
any compensation deemed paid by it in connection with disqualifying 
dispositions of ISO shares or exercises of NQOs granted with exercise prices 
equal to the fair market value of the shares on the grant date will qualify 
as performance-based compensation for purposes of IRS Code Section 162(m) and 
will not have to be taken into account for purposes of the $1 million 
limitation per covered individual on the deductibility of the compensation 
paid to certain executive officers of the Company.

     PARACHUTE PAYMENT. If the exercisability of an option is accelerated as 
a result of a change of control of the Company, all or a portion of the value 
of the option at that time may be a "parachute" payment for purposes of the 
IRS Code's "excess parachute" provisions. Those provisions generally provide 
that if "parachute" payments exceed three times an employee's average 
compensation for the five tax years preceding the change of control, the 
Company loses its deduction and the recipient is subject to a 20% excise tax 
for the amount of the "parachute" payments in excess of such average 
compensation.

ACCOUNTING TREATMENT

     Option grants or stock issuances with exercise or issue prices less than 
the fair market value of the shares on the grant or issue date will result in 
a direct compensation expense to the Company's earnings equal to the 
difference between the exercise or issue price and the fair market value of 
the shares on the grant or issue date. Such expense will be accruable by the 
Company over the period that the option shares or issued shares are to vest. 
Option grants or stock issuances with exercise or issue prices not less than 
the fair market value of the shares on the grant or issue date will not 
result in any direct charge to the Company's earnings. However, the fair 
value of those options is required to be disclosed in the notes to the 
Company's financial statements, and the Company must also disclose, in 
pro-forma statements to the Company's financial statements, the impact those 
options would have upon the Company's reported earnings were the value of 
those options at the time of grant treated as compensation expense. Whether 
or not granted at a discount, the number of outstanding options may be a 
factor in determining the Company's earnings per share on a fully-diluted 
basis.

     The Financial Accounting Standards Board recently announced its 
intention to issue an exposure draft of a proposed interpretation of APB 
Opinion 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." Under the proposed 
interpretation, option grants made to non-employee Board members or 
independent consultants after December 15, 1998 will result in a direct 
charge to the Company's reported earnings based upon the fair value of the 
option measured initially as of the grant date and then subsequently on the 
vesting date of each installment of the option shares. Accordingly, such 
charge will include the appreciation in the value of the option shares over 
the period between the grant date of the option (or, if later, the effective 
date of the final interpretation) and the vesting date of each installment of 
the option shares. In addition, if the proposed interpretation is adopted, 
any options which are repriced after December 15, 1998 will also trigger a 
direct charge to the Company's reported earnings measured by the appreciation 
in the value of the underlying shares over the period between the grant date 
of the option (or, if later, the effective date of the final interpretation) 
and the date the option is exercised for those shares.

     Should one or more optionees be granted stock appreciation rights which 
have no conditions upon exercisability other than a service or employment 
requirement, then such rights will result in compensation expense to be 
charged against the Company's earnings. Accordingly, at the end of each 
fiscal quarter, the amount (if any) by which the fair market value of the 
shares of common stock subject to such outstanding stock appreciation rights 
has increased from prior quarter-end will be accrued as compensation expense, 
to the extent such fair market value is in excess of the aggregate exercise 
price in effect for such rights.


                                      9

<PAGE>

OUTSTANDING OPTION GRANTS UNDER THE OPTION PLAN

     The following table shows, as to the Company's Chairman and Chief 
Executive Officer and each of the other four most highly compensated 
executive officers of the Company (collectively, the "Named Executive 
Officers") and as to the various indicated groups, information with respect 
to stock options granted from inception of the Option Plan on December 9, 
1992 through February 28, 1999.

                      OPTIONS GRANTED UNDER THE OPTION PLAN
                      -------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         For the Period 12-9-92 Through 2-28-99
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                        Net Number
                                                                                        of Options      Weighted Average
                                                                  Total Number          Held After       Exercise Price
                                                                   of Options         Cancellations/        for Total
         Name or Group                                               Granted             Regrants        Options Granted
         -------------                                               -------             --------        ---------------
         <S>                                                      <C>                 <C>               <C>
         Cam L. Garner                                              1,570,980           1,133,705            $13.55
         Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

         David S. Kabakoff                                            573,077             263,077            $22.24
         Director, President, Dura Technologies

         Charles W. Prettyman                                         421,483             300,055            $13.69
         Senior Vice President, Clinical
         Development and Regulatory Affairs

         Julia Brown                                                  383,262             222,021            $18.70
         Executive Vice President

         Mitchell R. Woodbury                                         327,692             222,692            $17.50
         Senior Vice President, General Counsel
         and Secretary

         All current non-employee directors who are not               561,000(1)          561,000(1)         $12.93
         executive officers as a group (6 persons)
 
         All current executive officers as a group                  4,105,198           2,823,238            $16.41
          (8 persons)

         All employees who are not                                  6,268,509           3,819,142            $16.97
         executive officers as a group
</TABLE>

- -------------------

(1)  Includes an option to purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock granted to
     Life Science Advisors, of which Mr. Cook is a principal, pursuant to a
     consulting arrangement between Life Science Advisors and the Company. See
     "Executive Compensation and Other Information -- Director Compensation."

     In accordance with the provisions of the Option Plan, the Company has 
effected selected cancellation and regrant programs for its employees during 
the last two years. The column entitled "Total Number of Options Granted" 
shown in the above table reflects all options granted under the Option Plan 
to the respective individuals or groups, without giving effect to the 
cancellation of the underlying options. Each cancellation/regrant program 
required the surrender and cancellation of the underlying option in exchange 
for the optionee receiving a new option. The column entitled "Net Number of 
Options Held After Cancellations/Regrants" reflects the actual number of 
options granted to each individual or group after cancellation of the 
underlying option which is no longer outstanding.


                                      10

<PAGE>

     The terms of each cancellation/regrant program detailed below consisted 
of (i) the cancellation of the underlying option in exchange for (ii) a new 
option for the SAME NUMBER of shares (with the exception of the November 1998 
program described below) with (iii) a new exercise price which constituted 
the fair market value of the Common Stock on the new grant date where (iv) 
vesting of the underlying option was forfeited and (v) the replacement option 
vests over a new four-year period commencing on the new grant date and (vi) 
the option remains valid for a new 10-year term.

     On April 25, 1997, the Company implemented an option 
cancellation/regrant program for all current employees, including executive 
officers, who held stock options granted during the period from August 22, 
1996 through April 24, 1997. Regranted options had a new exercise price of 
$25.00 per share. The options cancelled and regranted pursuant to this 
program were as follows: Mr. Garner, 150,000 shares; Dr. Kabakoff, 20,000 
shares; Mr. Prettyman, 35,000 shares; Ms. Brown, 40,000 shares, Mr. Woodbury, 
30,000 shares; all current executive officers as a group, 285,000 shares; all 
employees who are not executive officers as a group, 469,350 shares; total 
number of options cancelled and regranted, 754,350 shares.

     On February 25, 1998 the Company implemented an option 
cancellation/regrant program for all employees, excluding all officers of the 
Company, who held stock options granted during the period from April 28, 1997 
through February 24, 1998. Regranted options had a new exercise price of 
$23.94 per share. A total of 440,001 options were cancelled and regranted 
under this program. On October 7, 1998, the Company implemented a similar 
program for the same group of employees who held stock options granted from 
June 23, 1995 through October 7, 1998. Regranted options had a new exercise 
price of $8.88 per share. A total of 955,906 options were cancelled and 
regranted pursuant to this program. No executive officer was eligible for, or 
participated in, either the February 1998 or October 1998 
cancellation/regrant programs.

     On November 9, 1998, the Company implemented an option 
cancellation/regrant program for all officers who held stock options with an 
exercise price greater than $10.31 per share, the fair market value of the 
Common Stock on November 9, 1998. The number of new options granted was 
subject to a reduction by a ratio of 1.3 options forfeited for each 1 new 
option granted. An aggregate of 287,762 options were forfeited and not 
regranted pursuant to this program. The options cancelled and regranted 
pursuant to this program were as follows: Mr. Garner, 287,275 cancelled, 
220,980 granted; Dr. Kabakoff, 290,000 cancelled, 223,077 granted; Mr. 
Prettyman, 86,428 cancelled, 66,483 granted; Ms. Brown, 121,241 cancelled, 
93,262 granted, Mr. Woodbury, 75,000 cancelled, 57,692 granted; all current 
executive officers as a group, 1,246,960 cancelled, 959,198 granted; all 
employees who are not executive officers as a group, 584,110 cancelled, 
496,316 granted; total number of options cancelled, 1,831,070, total 
regranted, 1,408,514 shares.

     The Compensation Committee determined that the November 1998 program was 
necessary because equity incentives are a significant component of the total 
compensation for each employee and play a substantial role in the Company's 
ability to retain the services of the individuals essential to the Company's 
long-term financial success. Prior to implementation of the program, the 
market price of the Common Stock had fallen and did not necessarily reflect 
the progress made by the Company in financing operations, product 
acquisitions, research and development programs and collaborative programs. 
The Compensation Committee felt that the Company's ability to retain key 
employees would be significantly impaired unless value was restored in the 
form of regranted options for the Common Stock at the then current market 
price. The program, and the "reduction ratio" of 1.3 to 1, was recommended by 
and implemented after consultation with a nationally-recognized executive 
management compensation firm.

     The "Weighted Average Exercise Price for Total Options Granted" shown in 
the above table is calculated based on all options granted since inception of 
the Option Plan, irrespective of cancellations which were effected pursuant 
to the option cancellation/regrant programs discussed above.

     See the discussion concerning the April 1997 and November 1998 option 
cancellation/regrant programs contained in "Executive Compensation and Other 
Information -- Ten-Year Information Regarding Repricing, Cancellation and 
Regrant of Options" and "Board Compensation Committee Report on Executive 
Compensation -- Compensation Committee Report on 1998 Cancellation and 
Regrant of Options."

     As of February 28, 1999, options covering 4,107,360 shares of Common 
Stock were outstanding under the Option Plan, 1,148,748 shares remained 
available for future option grants and 3,351,252 shares have been issued 
pursuant to the exercise of outstanding options under the Option Plan.


                                      11

<PAGE>

NEW BENEFITS UNDER THE OPTION PLAN

     Effective as of the Annual Meeting, the amendment will increase the 
number of shares authorized for issuance under the Option Plan by 1,500,000 
shares to a total of 10,107,360 shares. No option for any of such 1,500,000 
shares will have been granted prior to the date of the Annual Meeting. 
However, if this Proposal is approved by the stockholders, then at the Annual 
Meeting, each of the individuals serving as a non-employee Board member will 
receive a one-time Automatic Grant for 15,000 shares under the Automatic 
Option Grant Program. Each option will have an exercise price equal to the 
fair market value per share of the Common Stock on such grant date and will 
be in substitution for the 8,000-share Automatic Grant which would otherwise 
be made to each continuing non-employee Board member at the Annual Meeting. 
Effective May 20, 1999, newly-appointed or newly-elected non-employee Board 
members will receive Automatic Grants for 15,000 shares, and commencing with 
the 2000 Annual Meeting, Automatic Grants to continuing non-employee 
Directors will be in the amount of 6,000 shares per year.

VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE OPTION PLAN

     The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of 
Common Stock represented and voting at the Annual Meeting is necessary to 
approve the amendment to the Option Plan. The Option Plan, as amended, will 
become effective immediately upon approval by the stockholders at the Annual 
Meeting.

                 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A
             VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE OPTION PLAN.





                                   PROPOSAL 3

                     RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

     The Company is asking the stockholders to ratify the selection of 
Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent public accountants for the 
year ending December 31, 1999. In the event that the stockholders fail to 
ratify the appointment, the Board of Directors will reconsider its selection. 
Even if the selection is ratified, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, 
may direct the appointment of a different independent accounting firm at any 
time during the year if the Board of Directors feels that such a change would 
be in the Company's and the stockholders' best interest.

     A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP is expected to be present at 
the Annual Meeting to respond to questions and will have the opportunity to 
make a statement if he or she desires to do so.

     The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of shares of Common 
Stock represented and voting at the Annual Meeting will be required to ratify 
the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

                  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
                           A VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION
                            OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
                    AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS.






                                      12

<PAGE>

                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

     The following are the only persons known by the Company to beneficially 
own more than five percent of the outstanding shares of its Common Stock as 
of January 31, 1999. Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table, the 
entities named in the table have sole voting and investment power with 
respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them. 
Percentage of ownership is calculated pursuant to SEC Rule 13d-3(d)(1).



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     Number         Percentage
  Name and Address                                  of Shares        of Shares
  of Beneficial Owner                                 Owned         Outstanding
  -------------------                                 -----         -----------
  <S>                                               <C>             <C>
  Safeco Corporation (1)                            2,928,300          6.64%
  Safeco Plaza
  Seattle, WA  98185

  Crabbe Huson Group, Inc. (2)                      2,269,500          5.15%
  121 SW Morrison, Suite  1400
  Portland, OR  97204
</TABLE>
- -------------------

(1)  Pursuant to Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13G dated February 11, 1999 filed
     by Safeco Common Stock Trust, Safeco Asset Management Company ("Safeco
     Asset") and Safeco Corporation ("Safeco Corp."). Safeco Asset is a
     subsidiary and Safeco Corp. is a parent holding company. Safeco Asset is an
     investment adviser and reported shares owned beneficially by registered
     investment companies for which Safeco Asset serves as investment adviser.
(2)  Pursuant to Form 13F dated February 16, 1999.








                                      13

<PAGE>

                      COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT

     The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of shares of 
Common Stock of the Company as of January 31, 1999 by each director and 
nominee, by the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and by the 
directors and executive officers as a group. Options shown in the table were 
granted pursuant to the Company's Option Plan and represent the shares 
issuable upon exercise of outstanding options, now exercisable or exercisable 
within 60 days of January 31, 1999. The address for each beneficial owner 
listed below is 7475 Lusk Blvd., San Diego, California 92121. Except as 
indicated in the footnote to this table, the persons named in the table have 
sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock 
shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws, 
where applicable. Percentage of ownership is calculated pursuant to SEC Rule 
13d-3(d)(1).


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                Number
                                            Number             of Shares           Percentage
                                           of Shares           Underlying           of Shares
 Name                                       Owned           Options/Warrants       Outstanding
 ----                                       -----           ----------------       -----------
<S>                                        <C>              <C>                    <C>
James C. Blair                              14,900            256,000 (1)               *

Herbert J. Conrad                                0             34,000                   *

Joseph C. Cook, Jr                          26,999             46,000                   *

David F. Hale                                    0             26,000                   *

Gordon V. Ramseier                               0             58,000                   *

Charles G. Smith                             9,000             54,000                   *

Cam L. Garner                               30,734            103,050                   *

David S. Kabakoff                            3,593             24,216                   *

Charles W. Prettyman                             0             15,896                   *

Julia Brown                                 17,726             34,001                   *

Mitchell R. Woodbury                         2,032             44,342                   *

Directors and executive officers           108,834            767,797                 1.95%
as a group (14 persons)
</TABLE>

- -------------------

*Less than 1%
(1)  Includes 240,000 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon the
     exercise of Series S Warrants, now exercisable or exercisable within 60
     days, held by Domain Partners III, LP and DP III Associates, LP. Dr. Blair
     is one of several general partners of (a) the sole general partner of
     Domain Partners III, LP and (b) the sole general partner of DP III
     Associates, LP. Dr. Blair disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities,
     and any proceeds thereof, that exceed his pecuniary interest therein,
     and/or that are not actually distributed to him.


                                      14

<PAGE>

                               EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

     The Company's executive officers are:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

     Name                            Age       Position Held With the Company
     ----                            ---       ------------------------------
     <S>                             <C>       <C>
     Cam L. Garner                   50        Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and director

     Robert S. Whitehead             49        President

     David S. Kabakoff               51        President, Dura Technologies and director

     Julia Brown                     51        Executive Vice President

     Michael T. Borer                40        Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

     Lloyd E. Flanders               58        Senior Vice President, Program Management
                                               and R&D Planning

     Charles W. Prettyman            53        Senior Vice President, Clinical Development
                                               and Regulatory Affairs

     Mitchell R. Woodbury            57        Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
                                               Secretary
</TABLE>

     MR. GARNER and DR. KABAKOFF are directors of the Company. See "Election 
of Directors" for a discussion of each individual's business experience.

     ROBERT S. WHITEHEAD joined the Company in 1998 as President. Prior to 
joining the Company, Mr. Whitehead served as Chairman and Chief Executive 
Officer of Trega. He joined Trega in 1993 as President and Chief Executive 
Officer and was named Chairman in 1998. From 1992 to 1993, Mr. Whitehead was 
Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, of Solvay Pharmaceuticals. He 
was previously with Searle Pharmaceuticals from 1979 to 1992, during which 
period he held several positions, including President and General Manager, 
Searle Canada. Mr. Whitehead served as a director of Spiros Corp. II in 1998. 
He also served as a director of Spiros Corp. and its predecessor from 1993 
through 1997.

     JULIA BROWN joined the Company in 1995 as Vice President, Business 
Planning and shortly thereafter became Vice President, Business Development. 
She was named a Senior Vice President in 1997 and Executive Vice President in 
1998. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Brown spent over 25 years with Lilly 
and certain subsidiaries dealing with pharmaceuticals, medical devices and 
diagnostics. From 1992 to 1994, she was general manager of IVAC Corporation's 
Vital Signs Division. From 1986 to 1992, Ms. Brown held several marketing 
positions with Hybritech, including Division Vice President of Marketing.

     MICHAEL T. BORER joined the Company in 1994 as Director of Finance and 
became Senior Director, Finance in 1996. He served as General Manager of the 
Company's Health Script division from 1996 to 1998, when he was then named 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. From 1993 
to 1994, he was Project Leader with San Diego Gas & Electric. From 1981 to 
1993, he held various positions, the last of which was Senior Manager, with 
the accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

     LLOYD E. FLANDERS, PH.D., joined the Company in 1998 as Senior Vice 
President, Program Management and R&D Planning. Prior to joining the Company, 
Dr. Flanders served as Senior Vice President, Preclinical Development and R&D 
Administration at Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. from 1992 to 1998. From 1985 
until 1992, he was employed by the Parke-Davis Division of Warner-Lambert 
Company as Director, Research Planning and then Vice President, Drug 
Development. From 1971 to 1985, Dr. Flanders worked at Searle R&D in a number 
of capacities, including Director of Project Management.


                                      15

<PAGE>

     CHARLES W. PRETTYMAN joined the Company in 1991 as Vice President, 
Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs and was named a Senior Vice 
President in 1996. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Prettyman served as Vice 
President, Regulatory Affairs and Compliance at The Purdue Frederick Company, 
a privately held pharmaceutical company, from 1988 to 1991. In 1988, Mr. 
Prettyman served as Executive Director, Drug Regulatory Affairs, Central 
Nervous System Development at Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals. From 1977 until 
1987, Mr. Prettyman held various positions with the United States Food and 
Drug Administration, including Director, Program Management, Office of the 
Commissioner.

     MITCHELL R. WOODBURY joined the Company in 1994 as Vice President, 
General Counsel and Secretary and was named a Senior Vice President in 1997. 
Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Woodbury served as Vice President, General 
Counsel and Secretary at Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc., a biomedical company 
from 1992 to 1994. From 1991 until 1992, Mr. Woodbury served as Senior Vice 
President and General Counsel of Intermark, Inc., a publicly held 
operating/holding company. He was elected Vice President and Corporate 
Counsel of Intermark in 1980 and had served as Corporate Secretary from 1981 
through 1992.








                                      16

<PAGE>

                  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

SUMMARY OF CASH AND CERTAIN OTHER COMPENSATION

     The following table provides certain summary information concerning the 
compensation earned by the Named Executive Officers for services rendered in 
all capacities to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1998, 
1997 and 1996. Dr. Kabakoff joined the Company in May 1996 and Ms. Brown 
became an executive officer of the Company in January 1997.

                                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                              Long-Term
                                                    Annual Compensation                  Compensation Awards
                                       --------------------------------------------  ----------------------------
                                                                                        Total
                                                                                        Number      Net Number
                                                                                          of        of Options
                                                                          Other       Securities    Held After          All
Name and                                                                  Annual      Underlying   Cancellations/      Other
Principal Position              Year         Salary          Bonus     Compensation  Options/SARs    Regrants      Compensation
- ------------------              ----         ------          -----     ------------  ------------    --------      ------------
<S>                             <C>         <C>            <C>         <C>           <C>           <C>             <C>
Cam L. Garner                   1998        $408,846       $230,000         $--        220,980       220,980          $99,910
     Chairman and               1997        $395,000       $475,000         $--        275,000          0             $31,540
     Chief Executive Officer    1996        $345,000       $610,000         $--        170,000         7,725          $21,093

David S. Kabakoff               1998        $271,923       $ 70,000         $--        223,077       223,077          $10,698
     President, Dura            1997        $265,000          (1)           $--         60,000          0             $10,406
     Technologies               1996        $170,000       $105,000         $--        250,000          0             $ 3,466

Charles W. Prettyman            1998        $214,332       $ 50,000         $--         66,483        66,483          $   0
     Senior Vice President,     1997        $190,000          (1)           $--         65,000         2,057          $   0
     Clinical Development and   1996        $180,000       $190,000         $--         55,000         8,040          $   0
     Regulatory Affairs

Julia Brown                     1998        $185,577       $ 70,000         $--        103,262         93,262         $24,069
     Executive Vice President   1997        $170,000       $150,000         $--         80,000          0             $12,157

Mitchell R. Woodbury            1998        $175,192       $ 65,000         $--         57,692        57,692          $17,386
     Senior Vice President,     1997        $170,000       $135,000         $--         65,000          0             $ 7,356
     General Counsel and        1996        $150,000       $135,000         $--         40,000          0             $ 1,445
     Secretary
</TABLE>

- -------------------

(1)  Bonuses were paid in November 1997 by Spiros Corp., a separate company, to
     Dr. Kabakoff and Mr. Prettyman in the amounts of $150,000 and $140,000,
     respectively. Dura exercised its purchase option to acquire all of the
     callable common stock of Spiros Corp. in December 1997.

     Bonus amounts shown in the table include amounts deferred under the 
Company's 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the "401(k) Plan") pursuant to Section 
401(k) of the IRS Code and the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan (the 
"Deferred Comp. Plan"). Perquisites and other personal benefits paid to the 
Named Executive Officers are less than the minimum reporting threshold of 
$50,000 or 10% of the total annual salary plus bonus for the Named Executive 
Officer, and such amounts paid, if any, are represented in the table by "--".

     The "Total Number of Securities Underlying Options/SARs" shown in the 
table includes all options granted under the Option Plan in each year without 
giving effect to the cancellation/regrant programs described in "Proposal 2, 
Approval of Amendment to the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan, Outstanding 
Option Grants Under the Option Plan." Each cancellation/regrant program 
required the surrender and cancellation of the underlying option in exchange 
for the regranted option. The column entitled "Net Number of Options Held 
After Cancellations/Regrants" reflects the actual number of options granted 
to each individual or group after cancellation of the underlying option which 
is no longer outstanding and after giving effect to the reduction in new 
options received which was required by the November 1998 program discussed in 
the next paragraph.

     Options which were cancelled and regranted pursuant to the April 1997 
program were as follows: Mr. Garner, 150,000 shares; Dr. Kabakoff, 20,000 
shares; Mr. Prettyman, 35,000 shares; Ms. Brown, 40,000 shares, Mr. Woodbury, 

                                      17
<PAGE>

30,000 shares. The November 1998 cancellation/regrant program required a 
reduction in the number of new options granted by a ratio of 1.3 options 
forfeited for each 1 new option granted. Options which were cancelled and 
regranted pursuant to the November 1998 program were as follows: Mr. Garner, 
287,275 cancelled, 220,980 granted; Dr. Kabakoff, 290,000 cancelled, 223,077 
granted; Mr. Prettyman, 86,428 cancelled, 66,483 granted; Ms. Brown, 121,241 
cancelled, 93,262 granted, Mr. Woodbury, 75,000 cancelled, 57,692 granted. 
Options originally granted in 1995, 1996 and 1997 were among those which were 
cancelled and regranted in the November 1998 program. Other than the 
cancelled and regranted options, there were no additional options granted in 
1998 to the Named Executive Officers.

     See the discussion concerning the April 1997 and November 1998 option 
cancellation/regrant programs contained in Proposal 2 above and in "Executive 
Compensation and Other Information -- Ten-Year Information Regarding 
Repricing, Cancellation and Regrant of Options" and "Board Compensation 
Committee Report on Executive Compensation -- Compensation Committee Report 
on 1998 Cancellation and Regrant of Options."

     All Other Compensation includes: (1) contributions made by the Company 
pursuant to the 401(k) Plan which were earned by the participants for the 
1998, 1997 and 1996 fiscal years, respectively, and which were used to 
purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock as follows: Mr. Garner $5,400, 
$6,650 and $6,750; Dr. Kabakoff $5,400, $6,650 and $3,150; Ms. Brown $5,400, 
$6,650 and n/a; and Mr. Woodbury $5,400, $6,650 and $6,750; and (2) 
above-market interest earned by the participants on their Deferred Comp. Plan 
account for the 1998, 1997 and 1996 fiscal years, respectively, as follows: 
Mr. Garner $47,277, $24,890 and $14,343; Dr. Kabakoff $6,626, $3,756 and 
$316; Ms. Brown $24,069, $12,157 and n/a; and Mr. Woodbury $17,386, $7,356 
and $1,445.

STOCK OPTIONS

     The following table contains information concerning the grant of stock 
options under the Company's Option Plan to the Named Executive Officers. No 
stock appreciation rights ("SARs") were granted under the Option Plan to the 
Named Executive Officers in fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.

                                           OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       Individual Grants
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------          Potential Realizable
                            Number of        Percent of                                                Value at Assumed
                            Securities         Total                                                 Annual Rates of Stock
                            Underlying      Options/SARs                                            Price Appreciation for
                             Options/        Granted to       Exercise or                                 Option Term
                               SARs         Employees in      Base Price       Expiration       ------------------------------
         Name                Granted        Fiscal Year        ($/Share)          Date                5%                10%
- ---------------------     --------------  ----------------  ---------------  --------------     ------------------------------
<S>                         <C>             <C>               <C>              <C>                <C>               <C>
 Cam L. Garner               220,980           5.40%            $10.31           11-9-08          $1,432,813        $3,631,030

 David S. Kabakoff           223,077           5.45%            $10.31           11-9-08          $1,446,410        $3,665,486

 Charles W. Prettyman         66,483           1.62%            $10.31           11-9-08          $  431,069        $1,092,414

 Julia Brown                  93,262           2.28%            $10.31           11-9-08          $  604,720        $1,532,433

 Mitchell R. Woodbury         57,692           1.41%            $10.31           11-9-08          $  374,069        $  947,965
</TABLE>


     All options shown in the table were granted pursuant to the November 
1998 cancellation and regrant program, the terms of which required the 
optionee to surrender for cancellation 1.3 options for each 1 new option 
granted. An aggregate of 287,762 options were forfeited and not regranted 
pursuant to the November 1998 program. The "Percent of Total Options/SARs 
Granted to Employees in Fiscal Year" in the above table is calculated based 
on all options granted in the last fiscal year, irrespective of cancellations 
which were effected pursuant to the option cancellation/regrant programs 
discussed in Proposal 2 above. Other than the cancelled and regranted 
options, there were no additional options granted in 1998 to the Named 
Executive Officers. See also "Executive Compensation and Other Information -- 
Ten-Year Information Regarding


                                      18

<PAGE>

Repricing, Cancellation and Regrant of Options" and "Board Compensation 
Committee Report on Executive Compensation -- Compensation Committee Report 
on 1998 Cancellation and Regrant of Options."

     Each option becomes exercisable ratably over a four-year period and has 
a term of ten years from the date of grant, November 9, 1998. The exercise 
price per share of options granted represented the fair market value of the 
underlying shares of Common Stock on the date the option was granted. The 
exercise price may be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock valued at 
fair market value on the exercise date or a combination of cash or shares or 
any other form of consideration approved by the Board of Directors. The 
Option Plan provides for acceleration of outstanding options in the event of 
certain corporate transactions, including a merger, sale, or change of 
control.

     There is no assurance provided to any executive officer or any other 
holder of the Company's securities that the actual stock price appreciation 
over the ten-year option term will be at the assumed 5% and 10% levels or at 
any other defined level. Unless the market price of the Common Stock does in 
fact appreciate over the option term, no value will be realized from the 
option grants made to the executive officers.


OPTION EXERCISES AND HOLDINGS

     The following table provides information, with respect to the Named 
Executive Officers, concerning the exercise of options pursuant to the Option 
Plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 and unexercised options 
held as of the end of the fiscal year. Value is defined as market price of 
the Company's Common Stock at fiscal year end less exercise price. The market 
price of the Company's Common Stock at December 31, 1998 was $15.19.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    AGGREGATE OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                                           AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES

                                                                     Number of Securities                 Value of Unexercised
                                                                    Underlying Unexercised                    in-the-Money
                                Shares                                  Options/SARs at                    Options/SARs at
                               Acquired                                December 31, 1998                  December 31, 1998
                                 Upon           Value            ------------------------------    ------------------------------
           Name                Exercise        Realized          Exercisable      Unexercisable    Exercisable      Unexercisable
           ----                --------        --------          -----------      -------------    -----------      -------------
<S>                            <C>             <C>               <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>
Cam L. Garner                    4,643         $ 88,797            83,128           219,874          $540,550        $1,049,133

David S. Kabakoff                  0               0                7,939           215,138          $ 38,742        $1,049,873

Charles W. Prettyman               0               0               10,266            64,117          $ 85,194        $  312,891

Julia Brown                     14,486         $184,179            24,729            91,023          $181,482        $  447,259

Mitchell R. Woodbury               0               0               37,113            62,899          $221,897        $  285,277
</TABLE>

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

     The Company does not presently pay fees to its directors, other than 
reimbursement for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings 
of the Board of Directors and its committees. In addition, each non-employee 
director is entitled to receive options under the Option Plan in connection 
with his service on the Board of Directors. The Company is re-evaluating its 
compensation program for Directors, and in anticipation of certain changes, 
has adopted amendments to the Option Plan, subject to stockholder approval, 
which are set forth in "Proposal 2, Approval of Amendment to the Company's 
1992 Stock Option Plan." If the amendments are approved, the Automatic Grant 
of a non-qualified stock option to be received by newly-appointed 
non-employee Directors would be decreased from 30,000 shares to 15,000 shares 
effective May 20, 1999. In addition, the Automatic Grant to be received by 
each person who (i)(A) is a continuing non-employee director or (B) is 
re-elected at an annual meeting, and (ii) has served as a non-employee 
director for the


                                      19

<PAGE>

immediately preceding 180 days, would be decreased from 8,000 shares to 6,000 
shares, effective with the 2000 Annual Meeting. Lastly, a special one-time 
Automatic Grant for 15,000 shares would be made on May 20, 1999 to each 
individual serving as a non-employee Board member on that date, with such 
grant to be in substitution for the 8,000-share Automatic Grant which would 
otherwise be made at the 1999 Annual Meeting. The exercise price for the 
option is the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant and 
each option has a term of 10 years. Automatic Grants are granted in tandem 
with limited stock appreciation rights which become effective in the event of 
a Hostile Takeover, as defined in the Option Plan.

     The Company entered into a one-year Consulting Agreement with Mr. Conrad 
in April 1995, pursuant to which Mr. Conrad provides certain consulting 
services to the Company related to marketing and licensing strategies, and 
for which Mr. Conrad receives compensation of $1,000 per month, plus 
reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. Such agreement has been extended for 
subsequent periods and currently expires May 1999.

     The Company engaged Life Science Advisors, LLC, of which Mr. Cook is a 
principal, in May 1995 to provide certain strategic consulting services on a 
limited basis, for which it received compensation during the 1998 fiscal year 
of $31,853, plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.

TEN-YEAR INFORMATION REGARDING REPRICING, CANCELLATION AND REGRANT OF OPTIONS

     As discussed in "Board Compensation Committee Report on Executive 
Compensation -- Compensation Committee Report on 1998 Cancellation and 
Regrant of Options," during the last fiscal year the Company implemented an 
option cancellation/regrant program for officers holding stock options at 
exercise prices greater than $10.31 per share. At each individual's election, 
options then outstanding with an exercise price greater than $10.31 per share 
were cancelled in exchange for options with an exercise price of $10.31 per 
share, the fair market value of the Common Stock on November 9, 1998, the 
date the program was effected. The number of new options granted was subject 
to reduction by a ratio of 1 new option issued for each 1.3 options 
forfeited. Vesting on the underlying option was forfeited and the replacement 
option vests over a new four-year period, commencing November 9, 1998, and 
remains valid for a ten-year term. Options originally granted in 1995, 1996 
and 1997 were among those which were cancelled and regranted.

     The Compensation Committee determined that this program was necessary 
because equity incentives are a significant component of the total 
compensation for each employee and play a substantial role in the Company's 
ability to retain the services of the individuals essential to the Company's 
long-term financial success. Prior to implementation of the program, the 
market price of the Common Stock had fallen and did not necessarily reflect 
the progress made by the Company in financing operations, product 
acquisitions, research and development programs and collaborative programs. 
The Compensation Committee felt that the Company's ability to retain key 
employees would be significantly impaired unless value was restored in the 
form of regranted options for the Common Stock at the then current market 
price. The program, and the "reduction ratio" of 1.3 to 1, was recommended by 
and implemented after consultation with a nationally-recognized executive 
management compensation firm.

     On April 25, 1997, the Company implemented a similar option 
cancellation/regrant program for all current employees, including executive 
officers, who held stock options granted during the period from August 22, 
1996 through April 24, 1997. For each option cancelled, a new option for the 
same number of shares was regranted at an exercise price of $25.00 per share, 
the fair market value of the Common Stock on the new grant date. Vesting on 
the underlying option was forfeited and the replacement option vests over a 
new four-year period, commencing on the new grant date, and the option 
remains valid for a ten-year term.

     The following table sets forth information with respect to each 
executive officer of the Company who held an option which was subject to an 
option repricing program during the last ten fiscal years ended December 31, 
1998. The table details his or her participation in the Company's option 
cancellation/regrant programs which were effected April 25, 1997 and November 
9, 1998.


                                      20

<PAGE>

                                                TEN-YEAR OPTION/SAR REPRICINGS
                                                             1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                    Length of
                                                                                                                    Original
                                        Number of        Net                                                         Option
                                       Securities     Number of     Market Price                                      Term
                                       Underlying    Replacement    of Stock at    Exercise Price                  Remaining
                                      Options/SARs     Options        Time of        at Time of          New       at Date of
                                       Repriced or    Issued (#)    Repricing or    Repricing or      Exercise    Repricing or
          Name               Date      Amended (#)       (1)       Amendment ($)    Amendment ($)     Price ($)     Amendment
          ----               ----      -----------    ----------   -------------    -------------     ---------   ------------
<S>                        <C>        <C>            <C>           <C>             <C>                <C>         <C>
Michael T. Borer           4-25-97      8,718 (2)        8,718           $25.00          $37.63          $25.00      9 1/2 years
Senior Vice President      11-9-98      2,000            1,538           $10.31          $26.00          $10.31      7 1/2 years
and Chief Financial        11-9-98      6,298            4,845           $10.31          $26.88          $10.31      7 1/2 years
Officer                    11-9-98      8,718 (2)        6,706           $10.31          $25.00          $10.31      8 1/2 years
                           11-9-98     30,000           23,077           $10.31          $44.88          $10.31          9 years
                           11-9-98     10,000            7,692           $10.31          $43.25          $10.31          9 years

Julia Brown                4-25-97     40,000 (2)       40,000           $25.00          $37.63          $25.00      9 1/2 years
Executive Vice President   11-9-98     31,241           24,032           $10.31          $13.94          $10.31          7 years
                           11-9-98     40,000 (2)       30,769           $10.31          $25.00          $10.31      8 1/2 years
                           11-9-98     40,000           30,769           $10.31          $44.88          $10.31          9 years
                           11-9-98     10,000            7,692           $10.31          $17.63          $10.31      9 3/4 years

Lloyd E. Flanders          11-9-98     80,000           61,538           $10.31          $21.68          $10.31      9 1/2 years
Sr V.P., Program Mgmt
and R&D Planning

Cam L. Garner              4-25-97    150,000 (2)      150,000           $25.00          $37.63          $25.00      9 1/2 years
Chairman and               11-9-98     12,275            9,442           $10.31          $19.38          $10.31      7 1/4 years
Chief Executive Officer    11-9-98    150,000 (2)      115,385           $10.31          $25.00          $10.31      8 1/2 years
                           11-9-98    125,000           96,153           $10.31          $44.88          $10.31          9 years

David S. Kabakoff          4-25-97     20,000 (2)       20,000           $25.00          $37.63          $25.00      9 1/2 years
President, Dura            11-9-98    230,000          176,923           $10.31          $29.63          $10.31      7 1/2 years
Technologies               11-9-98     20,000 (2)       15,385           $10.31          $25.00          $10.31      8 1/2 years
                           11-9-98     40,000           30,769           $10.31          $44.88          $10.31          9 years

Charles W. Prettyman       4-25-97     35,000 (2)       35,000           $25.00          $37.63          $25.00      9 1/2 years
Senior Vice President,     11-9-98     11,525            8,865           $10.31          $13.94          $10.31          7 years
Clinical Development and   11-9-98     11,960            9,200           $10.31          $19.38          $10.31      7 1/4 years
Regulatory Affairs         11-9-98     32,943 (2)       25,341           $10.31          $25.00          $10.31      8 1/2 years
                           11-9-98     30,000           23,077           $10.31          $44.88          $10.31          9 years

Robert S. Whitehead,       11-9-98    250,000          192,308           $10.31          $21.94          $10.31      9 1/2 years
President

Mitchell R. Woodbury       4-25-97     30,000 (2)       30,000           $25.00          $37.63          $25.00      9 1/2 years
Senior Vice President,     11-9-98     10,000            7,692           $10.31          $19.38          $10.31      7 1/4 years
General Counsel &          11-9-98     30,000 (2)       23,077           $10.31          $25.00          $10.31      8 1/2 years
Corporate Secretary        11-9-98     35,000           26,923           $10.31          $44.88          $10.31          9 years
</TABLE>

- -------------------

(1)  The November 9, 1998 cancellation/regrant program required the participant
     to forfeit 1.3 options for each 1 new replacement option issued.
(2)  The options issued in the April 25, 1997 cancellation/regrant program were
     cancelled and regranted in the November 9, 1998 cancellation/regrant
     program. Only the November 9, 1998 option is currently outstanding.

     An aggregate of 285,000 options granted to the executive officers were 
cancelled and regranted under the April 1997 program. An aggregate of 
1,246,960 options were cancelled and 959,198 options were reissued (resulting 
in 287,762 options being forfeited and not reissued) to the executive 
officers under the November 1998 program. The option cancellation/regrant 
programs were conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions of the 
Option Plan.

     See also "Proposal 2, Approval of Amendment to the Company's 1992 Stock 
Option Plan--Outstanding Option Grants Under the Option Plan.


                                      21

<PAGE>

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS, SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS AND CHANGE OF CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS

     In May 1990, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. 
Garner pursuant to which he was employed as President and Chief Executive 
Officer. He currently serves as Chairman and CEO. The current employment term 
ends May 31, 2000 and will automatically renew for successive one-year 
periods, unless either Mr. Garner or the Company elect otherwise. The 
agreement allows for termination of employment upon Mr. Garner's death or 
disability and for cause or without cause upon sixty days' written notice. 
During the employment term, Mr. Garner will receive an annual base salary 
(currently $460,000) subject to increase by the Company's Board of Directors 
annually, with a minimum increase of at least 5%. In the event of termination 
of employment by the Company without cause, the Company is obligated to pay 
Mr. Garner six months' base salary. Mr. Garner is entitled to nine months' 
base salary if there has been a change of control of the Company and he is 
terminated without cause, or following: (i) a change in position with the 
Company that materially reduces Mr. Garner's level of responsibility; (ii) a 
10% or more reduction of Mr. Garner's compensation; or (iii) a change in Mr. 
Garner's place of employment to more than 20 miles from the Company's current 
facility in San Diego, California, unless Mr. Garner otherwise agrees in 
writing.

     In May 1996, Dr. Kabakoff entered into an employment agreement with the 
Company upon substantially the same terms and conditions as described above 
for Mr. Garner. The current employment term ends April 30, 2000 and will 
automatically renew for successive one-year terms. Dr. Kabakoff's current 
annual base salary is $295,000 and is subject to annual review and increase 
at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors.

     "Proposal 2, Approval of Amendment to the Company's 1992 Stock Option 
Plan," contains a summary of the material terms and provisions of the Option 
Plan, pursuant to which, under certain circumstances, the exercisability of 
certain options granted to Named Executive Officers is accelerated in the 
event of certain corporate transactions, changes of control and changes in 
the composition of the Board of Directors. In addition, as described in the 
Option Plan summary, in the event of certain changes of control, certain 
options granted to Named Executive Officers may be, to the extent exercisable 
and outstanding for at least six months, automatically cancelled in return 
for a payment to the optionee equal to the difference between the market 
price of the optioned shares (or the highest tender price, if applicable), 
less the exercise price.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

     In fiscal 1998, Dr. Blair and Messrs. Conrad and Hale served as the 
members of the Company's Compensation Committee. The Company has no insider 
relationships reportable pursuant to this item.

     NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY SET FORTH IN ANY OF THE COMPANY'S
     PREVIOUS OR FUTURE FILINGS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR
     THE EXCHANGE ACT THAT MIGHT INCORPORATE FUTURE FILINGS, INCLUDING THIS
     PROXY STATEMENT, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, THE FOLLOWING BOARD COMPENSATION
     COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND THE PERFORMANCE GRAPH
     INCLUDED HEREIN SHALL NOT BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO ANY SUCH
     FILINGS.

BOARD COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

          GENERAL COMPENSATION POLICY. The fundamental policy of the Company is
     to offer the executive officers competitive compensation opportunities
     based upon their contribution to the financial success of the Company and
     their personal performance. It is our objective to have a substantial
     portion of each officer's compensation contingent upon the Company's
     performance, as well as upon his or her own level of performance.
     Accordingly, each executive officer's compensation package is comprised of
     three elements: (i) base salary which reflects individual performance and
     is designed primarily to be competitive with salary levels in the industry,
     (ii) annual variable performance awards payable in cash and tied to the
     achievement of financial and individual performance goals established by
     management and approved by the Board of Directors, and (iii) long-term
     stock-based incentive awards which strengthen the mutuality of interests
     between the executive officers and the Company's stockholders. As an
     officer's level of responsibility increases, it is our intent to have a
     greater portion of his or her total compensation be dependent upon Company
     performance and stock price appreciation rather than base salary.

          FACTORS. Several of the more important factors which we considered in
     establishing the components of each executive officer's compensation
     package for the 1998 fiscal year are summarized below. Additional factors


                                      22

<PAGE>

were also taken into account, and we may in our discretion apply entirely 
different factors, particularly different measures of financial performance, 
in setting executive compensation for future fiscal years; all compensation 
decisions will be designed to further the general compensation policy 
indicated above.

- -    BASE SALARY. The base salary for each officer is set on the basis of
     personal performance and the salary levels in effect for comparable
     positions at similarly situated biopharmaceutical and biomedical companies
     headquartered in the same geographical region as the Company. This group of
     companies is believed to be more relevant for establishing compensation,
     and is therefore not the same as the "peer group" of companies referred to
     in the Performance Graph included in this Proxy Statement which displays
     comparative total stockholder returns. As a general rule, we focus on the
     mid-range of compensation for comparable positions at such similarly
     situated companies in establishing base salary amounts for the Company's
     executive officers. See "Executive Compensation and Other Information --
     Employment Contracts, Severance Agreements and Change of Control
     Arrangements" and "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions -
     Transactions with Management and Others" regarding the employment
     agreements in effect between the Company and each Dr. Kabakoff and Mr.
     Whitehead.

- -    ANNUAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATION. Annual bonuses may be earned by each
     executive officer on the basis of the Company's and each officer's
     achievement of corporate and individual performance targets, respectively,
     which we establish at the beginning of the fiscal year. We do not assign a
     defined weight to each component of the incentive compensation opportunity.
     For fiscal year 1998, while corporate financial performance targets were
     not achieved, the Compensation Committee believed that many of the factors
     which adversely impacted the Company's earnings per share results were
     unrelated to the performance of the Company's executive management team and
     that the management team successfully implemented significant initiatives
     designed to benefit the Company and its stockholders. Accordingly, the
     Compensation Committee approved the award of bonuses to executive
     management; however, in recognition of the reduction in the Company's
     year-over-year earnings per share results, such bonuses in the aggregate
     averaged less than 53% of the bonuses awarded at the end of the 1997 fiscal
     year. There is no fixed percentage of base salary utilized in calculating
     or setting annual incentive compensation targets.

          LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION. From time to time, the 
Compensation Committee grants stock options to certain of the Company's 
executive officers pursuant to the Option Plan. The grants are designed to 
consistently align the interests of each executive officer with those of the 
stockholders and to provide each individual with a significant incentive to 
manage the Company from the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in 
the business. The number of shares subject to each option grant was based on 
the officer's level of responsibilities, relative position in, and length of 
service with, the Company. Each grant allows the officer to acquire shares of 
Common Stock at a fixed price per share (the market price on the grant date) 
over a specified period of time (up to ten years). Accordingly, the option 
will provide a return to the executive officer only if the market price of 
the Common Stock appreciates over the option term. Other than the November 
1998 option cancellation/regrant program discussed later in this report, 
there were no additional options granted in 1998 to the Named Executive 
Officers.

          CEO COMPENSATION. In setting the compensation payable to the 
Company's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Garner, the Compensation Committee has 
sought to be competitive with other similarly situated companies in the 
industry as referred to above, while at the same time tying a significant 
percentage of such compensation to Company performance.

          Mr. Garner's 1998 base salary was established based on our 
evaluation of his personal performance and the objective of the Compensation 
Committee to have his base salary keep pace with salaries being paid to 
similarly situated chief executive officers. See "Executive Compensation and 
Other Information -- Employment Contracts, Severance Agreements and Change of 
Control Arrangements" regarding the employment agreement in effect between 
the Company and Mr. Garner.

          Historically, much of Mr. Garner's bonus (with no specific 
weighting or other formula application) has been dependent upon a variety of 
Company performance factors including, but not limited to, financial 
performance, with no dollar guarantees. While the Company's performance in 
1998 in terms of earnings per share

                                      23
<PAGE>

significantly lagged such results for 1997, the Compensation Committee 
determined that Mr. Garner's performance and leadership in effecting a number 
of initiatives designed to achieve long-term Company success merited payment 
of a bonus. However, in recognition of the reduction in the Company's 
year-over-year earnings per share results, the bonus awarded to Mr. Garner in 
fiscal year 1998 was 48% of the bonus awarded in fiscal year 1997.

     Options granted to Mr. Garner are intended to place a significant 
portion of his total compensation at risk, since the options will have no 
value unless there is appreciation in the value of the Common Stock over the 
option term. Other than the November 1998 option cancellation/regrant program 
discussed later in this report, there were no additional options granted in 
1998 to Mr. Garner.

     COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON 1998 CANCELLATION AND REGRANT OF 
OPTIONS. During the 1998 fiscal year, the Compensation Committee determined 
that factors affecting the stock price of the Company unrelated to 
performance and accomplishments of the executive management team made it 
appropriate and necessary for the Company to implement a program to cancel 
and regrant certain options to purchase Common Stock held by the Company's 
executive officers. A cancellation/regrant program was implemented, whereby 
certain outstanding options were cancelled and new options were granted with 
a lower exercise price per share equal to the fair market price of the Common 
Stock on the regrant date. The number of new options granted was also subject 
to a reduction by a 1.3 to 1 ratio; that is, for every option regranted the 
recipient was required to forfeit and have cancelled 1.3 options. The 
program, and the "reduction ratio" of 1.3 to 1, was recommended by and 
implemented after consultation with a nationally-recognized executive 
management compensation firm.

     The Compensation Committee determined that this program was necessary 
because equity incentives are a significant component of the total 
compensation of each employee and play a substantial role in the Company's 
ability to retain the services of the individuals essential to the Company's 
long-term financial success. Prior to implementation of the program, the 
market price of the Common Stock had fallen and did not necessarily reflect 
the progress made by the Company in financing operations, product 
acquisitions, research and development programs and collaborative programs. 
The Compensation Committee felt that the Company's ability to retain key 
employees would be significantly impaired unless value was restored in the 
form of regranted options for the Common Stock at the then current market 
price.

     Accordingly, on November 9, 1998, the Compensation Committee approved 
the cancellation and regrant of any outstanding option with an exercise price 
greater than $10.31 per share held by the executive officers, at their 
individual election. Each optionee holding such an option had the opportunity 
to (i) elect to retain the old option or (ii) accept a new option with an 
exercise price of $10.31 per share, the fair market price of the Common Stock 
on that date, with a reduction in the number of new options granted by a 
ratio of 1.3 options cancelled for every 1 new option granted. Vesting on the 
underlying option was forfeited and the option was cancelled. The replacement 
option vests over a new four-year period and has a ten-year term.

     The Compensation Committee believes the regranted options and new 
vesting schedule strike an appropriate balance between the interests of the 
option holders and those of the stockholders. The lower exercise prices in 
effect under the regranted options make those options valuable once again to 
the executive officers and key employees critical to the Company's financial 
performance. However, those individuals will enjoy the benefits of the 
regranted options only if they remain in the Company's employ and contribute 
to the Company's and its stockholders' financial success.

     We conclude our report with the acknowledgment that no member of the 
Compensation Committee is a former or current officer or employee of the 
Company or any of its subsidiaries.

                                            COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
                                                    JAMES C. BLAIR
                                                 HERBERT J. CONRAD
                                                     DAVID F. HALE


                                      24

<PAGE>

PERFORMANCE GRAPH

     The following graph compares total stockholder returns of the Company 
over the last five years to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (the "S&P 500") 
and to a peer group comprised of the Pharmaceutical Companies in the S&P 500. 
The graph is constructed on the assumption that $100 was invested on December 
31, 1993 in each (a) the Company's Common Stock, (b) the S&P 500, and (c) the 
Pharmaceutical Companies in the S&P 500, and that all dividends were 
reinvested, although dividends have not been declared on the Company's Common 
Stock. The Pharmaceutical Companies in the S&P 500 consist of the following 
pharmaceutical companies: Eli Lilly and Company, Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer 
Inc., Schering-Plough Corp. and Upjohn Co. The stockholder return shown on 
the graph below is not necessarily indicative of future performance, and the 
Company will not make or endorse any predictions as to future stockholder 
returns.


EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                   Dura         S & P 500     S & P Pharmaceutical Companies
     <S>         <C>           <C>            <C>
     12/31/93     59.18367     113.4666375         74.43925062
      6/30/94     85.71429     108.0712253         68.15506418
     12/31/94    118.3673      111.7200613         83.60825247
      6/30/95    153.551       132.5135615        102.8566709
     12/31/95    283.6735      149.8285047        137.3055885
      6/30/96    457.1429      163.1345934        148.2789002
     12/31/96    779.5918      180.189253         175.2670672
      6/30/97    651.102       215.3153811        228.0441992
     12/31/97    749.0612      236.0626627        264.3800247
      6/30/98    365.3061      275.8130823        337.205859
     12/31/98    247.9673      299.0172468        398.962323

</TABLE>


                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS

     See "Executive Compensation and Other Information -- Employment 
Contracts, Severance Agreements and Change of Control Arrangements" for a 
discussion of the employment agreements between the Company and each Mr. 
Garner and Dr. Kabakoff. In June 1998, Mr. Whitehead entered into an 
employment agreement with the Company upon substantially the same terms and 
conditions as those agreements in place with Mr. Garner and Dr. Kabakoff. The 
current employment term ends July 2000, subject to automatic renewals for a 
one-year term. Mr. Whitehead's current annual base salary is $295,000 and is 
subject to annual review and increase at the sole discretion of the Board of 
Directors.

     Officers and directors of the Company are indemnified pursuant to 
certain provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Company's 
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to the fullest extent permitted under 
Delaware law, in addition to Indemnification Agreements in effect between the 
Company and its officers and directors.

CERTAIN BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS

     Dr. Kabakoff currently serves as a director, Chairman, President and 
Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Garner also serves as a director, of Spiros 
Corp. II, a separate company which has engaged the Company through various 
agreements to further develop certain products to which Spiros Corp. II has 
rights, for delivery through Spiros-Registered Trademark-, the Company's 
proprietary dry powder pulmonary drug delivery system. During 1998, the 
Company recorded contract revenues from Spiros Corp. II of $47,800,000.

     The Company has a purchase option which entitles it to purchase all, but 
not less than all, of the callable common stock of Spiros Corp. II. The 
purchase option is exercisable at any time before December 31, 2002 (which 
exercise period may be shortened or lengthened in certain circumstances). If 
the purchase option is exercised, the per share exercise price will be $24.01 
through December 31, 1999, increasing on a quarterly basis to $45.95 per 
share through December 31, 2002. The purchase option exercise price may be 
paid in cash or shares of the Company's common stock, or any combination of 
the foregoing, at the Company's sole discretion. The Company has no legal 
obligation to exercise the purchase option. The Company owns all of the 
issued and outstanding special common stock of Spiros Corp. II, which confers 
certain voting and


                                      25

<PAGE>

other rights, including the right to elect two directors of Spiros Corp. II. 
In addition, Dura holds an option to acquire Spiros Corp. II's exclusive 
rights for the use of the Spiros-Registered Trademark- system with albuterol 
and with a second product other than albuterol. The purchase price for these 
options is payable in cash.


             SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's officers and 
directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the 
Company's equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in 
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the 
Nasdaq National Market. Officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial 
owners are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of 
all Section 16(a) forms they file.

     Based solely on review of the copies of such forms furnished to the 
Company or written representations from certain reporting persons that no 
Forms 5 were required, the Company believes that, during the 1998 fiscal 
year, its officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners complied 
with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements.


                                    FORM 10-K

     THE COMPANY WILL MAIL WITHOUT CHARGE, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, A COPY OF 
THE ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND LIST 
OF EXHIBITS. REQUESTS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE ATTENTION OF INVESTOR RELATIONS, 
DURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., 7475 LUSK BLVD., SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121.


                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

     Under the present rules of the SEC, the deadline for stockholders to 
submit proposals to be considered for inclusion in the Company's Proxy 
Statement for next year's Annual Meeting of Stockholders is expected to be 
January 20, 2000 (120 days prior to May 20, 2000). Such proposals may be 
included in next year's Proxy Statement if they comply with certain rules and 
regulations promulgated by the SEC and the Bylaws of the Company. In 
addition, the proxy solicited by the Board of Directors for the next year's 
Annual Meeting of Stockholders will confer discretionary authority to vote on 
any stockholder proposal presented at that meeting, unless the Company 
receives notice of such proposal not later than January 20, 2000.


                                  OTHER MATTERS

     The Board of Directors is not aware of any matter to be presented for 
action at the Annual Meeting other than the matters set forth in this Proxy 
Statement. Should any other matter requiring a vote of the stockholders 
arise, the persons named as proxies on the enclosed proxy card will vote the 
shares represented thereby in the interests of the Company in accordance with 
their best judgment. Discretionary authority with respect to such other 
matters is granted by the execution of the enclosed proxy card.

                            By Order of the Board of Directors


                            /s/ MITCHELL R. WOODBURY

Dated:  April 16, 1999      MITCHELL R. WOODBURY
                            SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY


                                      26

<PAGE>

                                    APPENDIX

                           DURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                             1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                      AS AMENDED AND RESTATED MARCH 3, 1999
                                  ARTICLE ONE

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

I.       PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

          A. IMPLEMENTATION. This 1992 Stock Option Plan ("Plan") was
implemented as of December 9, 1992 ("Effective Date"), to enable Dura
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Company") to grant options to the following eligible
individuals ("Eligible Individuals") in order to attract them and to retain
their services: (a) key employees (including officers and directors) of the
Company or its subsidiaries or any parent corporation who are primarily
responsible for the management, growth and financial success of the Company or
its subsidiaries, (b) non-employee members of the Board of Directors ("Board")
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and (c) consultants and independent
contractors who perform valuable services for the Company or its subsidiaries.

          B. SUCCESSOR PLAN. This Plan is a successor to the Company Stock
Option Plan that was adopted by the Board in 1983 ("1983 Plan"). No further
option grants (including, but not limited to automatic option grants) will be
made under the 1983 Plan on and after the Effective Date of this Plan. All
options outstanding under the 1983 Plan on the Effective Date have been
incorporated into this Plan and will be treated as outstanding options under
this Plan. Each outstanding option so incorporated will continue to be governed
solely by the express terms and conditions of the instruments evidencing such
grant. No provision of this Plan will be deemed to affect or otherwise modify
the rights or obligations of the holders of such incorporated options with
respect to their acquisition of shares of the Company's Common Stock under the
terms of the incorporated options.

II.      ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

          A. COMMITTEE. The Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors
or by a committee or committees appointed by the Board, and consisting of two or
more members of the Board. The Board may delegate the responsibility for
administration of the Plan with respect to designated classes of optionees to
different committees, subject to such limitations as the Board deems
appropriate. With respect to any matter, the term "Committee," when used in this
Plan, will refer to the committee that has been delegated authority with respect
to such matter. Members of a committee will serve for such term as the Board may
determine, and will be subject to removal by the Board at any time.

          B. SECTION 16(B) COMMITTEE. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, each grant of an option or other transaction between the Company
and any Section 16 Insider shall be valid and enforceable only if approved by
the Board of Directors or by a committee composed exclusively of two or more
Non-Employee Directors. For this 

<PAGE>

purpose, a "Section 16 Insider" shall mean an officer or director of the 
Corporation subject to the short-swing profit liabilities of Section 16 of 
the 1934 Act, and a Non-Employee Director shall have the meaning set forth in 
Rule 16b-3(b)(3).

          C. AUTHORITY. Any Committee will have full authority to administer the
Plan within the scope of its delegated responsibilities, including authority to
interpret and construe any relevant provision of the Plan, to adopt such rules
and regulations as it may deem necessary, and to determine the terms of grants
made under the Plan (which need not be identical). Decisions of a Committee made
within the discretion delegated to it by the Board will be final and binding on
all persons.

III.     STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

          A. NUMBER OF SHARES. Shares of the Company's Common Stock available
for issuance under the Plan shall be drawn from either the Company's authorized
but unissued shares of Common Stock or from reacquired shares of Common Stock,
including shares repurchased by the Company on the open market. The maximum
number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued over the term of the Plan
shall not exceed 10,107,360 shares, subject to adjustment from time to time in
accordance with the provisions of this Section. To the extent one or more
outstanding options under the 1983 Plan that have been incorporated into this
Plan are subsequently exercised, the number of shares issued with respect to
each such option will reduce, on a share-for-share basis, the number of shares
available for issuance under this Plan.

          B. EXPIRED OPTIONS. Should an outstanding option under this Plan
(including any outstanding option under the 1983 Plan incorporated into this
Plan) expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise in full (including
any option cancelled in accordance with the cancellation-regrant provisions of
this Plan), the shares subject to the portion of the option not so exercised
will be available for subsequent option grant under this Plan. Shares subject to
any option or portion thereof cancelled in accordance with the stock
appreciation (or limited stock appreciation) rights provisions of this Plan will
not be available for subsequent option grant under the Plan.

          C. ADJUSTMENTS. If any change is made to the Common Stock issuable
under the Plan (including Common Stock issuable under an Automatic Option Grant)
by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of
shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common
Stock as a class without the Company's receipt of consideration, then
appropriate adjustments will be made to (i) the number and/or class of shares
issuable under the Plan, (ii) the number and/or class of shares and price per
share in effect under each outstanding option under the Plan, (iii) the maximum
number and/or class of shares for which any one participant may be granted stock
options and separately exercisable stock appreciation rights in any fiscal year
or over the term of the Plan and (iv) the number and/or class of shares and
price per share in effect under each outstanding option incorporated into this
Plan from the 1983 Plan. The purpose of these adjustments will be to preclude
the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under the options.

                                      2

<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE TWO

                           STANDARD OPTION PROVISIONS

I.       TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS

          A. COMMITTEE DISCRETION.

               (1) Except as provided under the Automatic Option Grant
provisions of this Plan, the Committee will have full authority to determine
which Eligible Individuals are to receive option grants under the Plan, the
number of shares to be governed by each such grant, whether the option is to be
an incentive stock option ("Incentive Option") that satisfies the requirements
of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code or a non-qualified option not
intended to satisfy such requirements ("Non-Qualified Option"), the time or
times at which each such option is to become exercisable, and the maximum term
for which the option is to remain outstanding.

               (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, no
individual shall be granted stock options or separately exercisable stock
appreciation rights for more than 400,000 shares in the aggregate in any fiscal
year or for more than 1,500,000 shares in the aggregate over the lifetime of the
Plan.

          B. TERM. No option granted under the Plan will be exercisable after
the expiration of 10 years from the date the option was granted.

          C. PRICE. The exercise price per share shall be fixed by the Plan
Administrator but shall not be less than 100% percent of the Fair Market Value
per share of Common Stock on the option grant date, provided that the Plan
Administrator may fix the exercise price at less than 100% if the optionee, at
the time of the option grant, shall have made a payment to the Company
(including payment made by means of an agreed salary reduction) equal to the
excess of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the option grant date
over such exercise price.

          D. EXERCISE AND PAYMENT. After any option granted under the Plan
becomes exercisable, it may be exercised by notice to the Company at any time
prior to the termination of such option. The option price will be payable in
full in cash or check made payable to the Company; provided, however, that the
Committee may, either at the time the option is granted or at the time it is
exercised and subject to such limitations as it may determine, authorize payment
of all or a portion of the option price in one or more of the following
alternative forms:

              (1) a promissory note authorized pursuant to Section IV of this
Article; or

              (2) full payment in shares of Common Stock valued as of the 
exercise date and held for the requisite period to avoid a charge to the 
Company's earnings; or

              (3) full payment through a sale and remittance procedure under 
which the option holder delivers a properly executed exercise notice together 
with irrevocable instructions 

                                      3

<PAGE>

to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company the amount of sale proceeds to 
pay the option prices.

          For purposes of Subparagraphs (1) and (3) immediately above, the
Exercise Date shall be the date on which written notice of the exercise of the
option is delivered to the Company. In all other cases, the Exercise Date will
be the date on which written notice and actual payment is received by the
Company.

          The sale and remittance procedure authorized for the exercise of
outstanding options under this Plan shall be available for all options granted
under this Plan on or after the Effective Date and for all non-qualified options
outstanding under the 1983 Plan and incorporated into this Plan. The Plan
Administrator may also allow such procedure to be utilized in connection with
one or more disqualifying dispositions of Incentive Option shares effected after
the Effective Date, whether such Incentive Options were granted under this Plan
or the 1983 Stock Option Plan.

          E. SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS. An option holder will have no shareholder
rights with respect to any shares covered by an option (including an Automatic
Option Grant) prior to the Exercise Date of the option, as defined in the
immediately preceding Paragraph and in the Automatic Option Grant provisions of
Section II of Article Three of this Plan.

          F. SEPARATION FROM SERVICE. The Committee will determine whether
options will continue to be exercisable, and the terms of such exercise, on and
after the date that an optionee ceases to be employed by, or to provide services
to, the Company or its subsidiaries provided, however, that in no event will an
option be exercisable after the specified expiration date of the option term.
The date of termination of an optionee's employment or services will be
determined by the Committee, which determination will be final.

          G. INCENTIVE OPTIONS. Options granted under the Plan that are intended
to be Incentive Options will be subject to the following additional terms:

             (1) DOLLAR LIMITATION. The aggregate fair market value (determined
as of the respective date or dates of grant) of the Common Stock for which one 
or more options granted to any Employee after December 31, 1986 under this 
Plan (or any other option plan of the Company or its parent or subsidiary 
corporations) may for the first time become exercisable as incentive stock 
options under the Federal tax laws during any one calendar year shall not 
exceed the sum of $100,000. To the extent the Employee holds two or more such
options which become exercisable for the first time in the same calendar year, 
the foregoing limitation on the exercisability of such options as incentive 
stock options under the Federal tax laws shall be applied on the basis of the 
order in which such options are granted.

          (2) 10% SHAREHOLDER. If any employee to whom an Incentive Option is to
be granted pursuant to the provisions of the Plan is, on the date of grant, the
owner of stock (determined with application of the ownership attribution rules
of Section 424(d) of the Internal Revenue Code) possessing more than 10% of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock of his or her employer
corporation or of its parent or subsidiary corporation ("10% 

                                      4

<PAGE>

Shareholder"), then the following special provisions will apply to the option 
granted to such individual:

               (i) The option price per share of the stock subject to such
Incentive Option will not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the
option shares on the date of grant; and

               (ii) The option will not have a term in excess of 5 years from
the date of grant.

          (3) PARENT AND SUBSIDIARY. For purposes of this Section, "parent
corporation" and "subsidiary corporation" will have the meaning attributed to
those terms, as they are used in Section 422(b) of the Internal Revenue Code.

          (4) EMPLOYEES. Incentive Options may only be granted to employees of
the Company or its subsidiaries.

          H. FAIR MARKET VALUE. For all purposes under this Plan (including, but
not limited to Automatic Option Grants) the fair market value per share of
Common Stock on any relevant date under the Plan ("Fair Market Value") will be
determined as follows:

          (1) If the Common Stock is not at the time listed or admitted to
trading on any national stock exchange but is traded in the over-the-counter
market, the fair market value will be the mean between the highest bid and
lowest asked prices (or, if such information is available, the closing selling
price) per share of Common Stock on the date in question in the over-the-counter
market, as such prices are reported by the National Association of Securities
Dealers on the Nasdaq National Market. If there are no reported bid and asked
prices (or closing selling price) for the Common Stock on the date in question,
then the mean between the highest bid price and lowest asked price (or the
closing selling price) on the last preceding date for which such quotations
exist will be determinative of fair market value.

          (2) If the Common Stock is at the time listed or admitted to trading
on any national stock exchange, then the fair market value will be the closing
selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question on the stock
exchange determined by the Committee to be the primary market for the Common
Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions
on such exchange. If there is no reported sale of Common Stock on such exchange
on the date in question, then the fair market value will be the closing selling
price on the exchange on the last preceding date for which such quotation
exists.

          (3) If the Common Stock is at the time neither listed nor admitted to
trading on any stock exchange nor traded in the over-the-counter market, then
the fair market value will be determined by the Committee after taking into
account such factors as the Committee shall deem appropriate.

          I. LIMITED TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. During the lifetime of the
Optionee, Incentive Options shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall
not be assignable or transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution following the Optionee's death. However, a Non-Qualified Option
may be assigned in whole or in part during the 

                                      5

<PAGE>

Optionee's lifetime. The assigned portion may only be exercised by the person 
or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the option pursuant to the 
assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as 
those in effect for the option immediately prior to such assignment and shall 
be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Plan 
Administrator may deem appropriate.

II.      STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

                  If, and only if the Committee, in its discretion, elects to
implement an option surrender program under the Plan, one or more option holders
may, upon such terms as the Committee may establish at the time of the option
grant or at any time thereafter, be granted the right to surrender all or part
of an unexercised option in exchange for a distribution equal in amount to the
excess of (i) the Fair Market Value (at date of surrender) of the shares for
which the surrendered option or portion thereof is at the time exercisable over
(ii) the aggregate option price payable for such shares. The distribution to
which an option holder becomes entitled under this Section may be made in shares
of Common Stock, valued at Fair Market Value at the date of surrender, in cash,
or partly in shares and partly in cash, as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, deems appropriate.

III.     CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE OF CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKEOVER

          A. CORPORATE TRANSACTION. In the event of any of the following
transactions ("Corporate Transaction"):

          (1) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the
surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to
change the state of the Company's incorporation,

          (2) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company in liquidation or dissolution of the Company,

          (3) any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity
but in which fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company's outstanding voting
stock is transferred to holders different from those who held such securities
immediately prior to such merger, or

          (4) an acquisition by any person or related group of persons (other
than the Company or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled
by or is under common control with, the Company) of ownership of more than fifty
percent (50%) of the Company's outstanding Common Stock, pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer,

                  the exercisability of each option at the time outstanding
under this Article Two shall automatically accelerate so that each such option
shall, immediately prior to the specified effective date for the Corporate
Transaction, become fully exercisable with respect to the total number of shares
of Common Stock at the time subject to such option and may be exercised for all
or any portion of such shares. Upon the consummation of the Corporate
Transaction, all outstanding options under this Article Two shall terminate and
cease to be outstanding.

                                      6

<PAGE>

          B. HOSTILE TAKEOVER. One or more officers of the Company subject to 
the short-swing profit restrictions of the Federal securities laws may, in 
the Committee's sole discretion, be granted, in tandem with their outstanding 
options, limited stock appreciation rights as described below. In addition 
all Automatic Option Grants under this Plan will be made in tandem with 
limited stock appreciation rights as described below.

          (1) Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Takeover, each outstanding option
with such a limited stock appreciation right in effect for at least six (6)
months will automatically be cancelled in return for a cash distribution from
the Company in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Takeover Price (defined
below) of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to the cancelled option
(whether or not the option is otherwise at the time exercisable for such shares)
over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. The cash
distribution payable upon such cancellation shall be made within five (5) days
following the consummation of the Hostile Takeover. Neither the approval of the
Committee nor the consent of the Board shall be required in connection with such
option cancellation and cash distribution.

          (2) For purposes of the limited stock appreciation rights described
above, the following definitions shall be in effect:

              (i) A Hostile Takeover shall be deemed to occur upon the 
acquisition by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company 
or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is 
under common control with, the Company) of ownership of more than 50% of the 
Company's outstanding Common Stock (excluding the Common Stock holdings of 
officers and directors of the Company who participate in this Plan) pursuant 
to a tender or exchange offer which the Board does not recommend the 
Company's shareholders accept.

              (ii) The Takeover Price per share shall be deemed to be equal 
to the greater of (a) the Fair Market Value per share on the date of 
cancellation, or (b) the highest reported price per share paid in effecting 
the Hostile Takeover. However, if the cancelled option is an Incentive 
Option, the Takeover Price shall not exceed the clause (a) price per share.

          C. COMPANY RIGHTS. The grant of options (including Automatic Option
Grants) under this Plan shall in no way affect the right of the Company to
adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business
structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all
or any part of its business or assets.

IV.      LOANS OR GUARANTEE OF LOANS

                  The Committee may assist any optionee (including any officer)
in the exercise of one or more outstanding options under this Article by (a)
authorizing the extension of a loan to such optionee from the Company, (b)
permitting the optionee to pay the option price for the purchased Common Stock
in installments over a period of years or (c) authorizing a guarantee by the
Company of a third-party loan to the optionee. The terms of any loan,
installment method of payment or guarantee (including the interest rate and
terms of repayment) will be established by the Committee in its sole discretion.
Loans, installment payments and guarantees may be 

                                      7

<PAGE>

granted without security or collateral (other than to optionees who are 
consultants or independent contractors, in which event the loan must be 
adequately secured by collateral other than the purchased shares), but the 
maximum credit available to the optionee shall not exceed the sum of (i) the 
aggregate option price (less par value) of the purchased shares plus (ii) any 
federal and state income and employment tax liability incurred by the 
optionee in connection with the exercise of the option. Automatic Option 
Grants will not be subject to these loan and loan guarantee provisions.

V.       CANCELLATION AND REGRANT OF OPTIONS

                  The Committee shall have the authority to effect, at any time
and from time to time, with the consent of the affected optionees, the
cancellation of any or all outstanding options under this Article (including
outstanding options under the 1983 Plan incorporated into this Plan) and to
grant in substitution new options under the Plan covering the same or different
numbers of shares of Common Stock but having an option price per share not less
than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the new grant date.
Automatic Option Grants will not be subject to these cancellation and regrant
provisions.

VI.      REPURCHASE RIGHTS

                  The Committee may in its discretion determine that it shall be
a term and condition of one or more options exercised under the Plan that the
Company (or its assigns) shall have the right, exercisable upon the optionee's
separation from service with the Company and its subsidiaries, to repurchase any
or all of the shares of Common Stock previously acquired by the optionee upon
the exercise of such option. Any such repurchase right shall be exercisable upon
such terms and conditions (including the establishment of the appropriate
vesting schedule and other provisions for the expiration of such right in one or
more installments) as the Committee may specify in the instrument evidencing
such right. The Committee shall also have full power and authority to provide
for the automatic termination of these repurchase rights, in whole or in part,
and thereby accelerate the vesting of any or all of the purchased shares.

                                      8

<PAGE>

                               ARTICLE THREE

                      AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANT PROGRAM

                  The provisions of this Article Three reflect the amendments 
to the Automatic Option Grant Program authorized by the Board on March 3, 
1999, subject to stockholder approval at the 1999 Annual Meeting.

I.       GRANTS

        A. AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANTS. Non-employee members of the Board will 
automatically be granted Non-Qualified Options to purchase the number of 
shares of Common Stock set forth below (subject to adjustment under Section 
III(D) of Article One of this Plan) on the dates and pursuant to the terms 
set forth below ("Automatic Option Grants").

        B. CONTINUING DIRECTORS. On the date of each Annual Stockholders 
Meeting, beginning with the Annual Meeting in calendar year 2000, each 
continuing non-employee member of the Board will receive an Automatic Option 
Grant to purchase 6,000 shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that an 
individual who has not served as a non-employee member of the Board for the 
immediately preceding 180 days will not receive such a grant.1

        C. NEW DIRECTORS. Each individual person who is first elected or 
appointed as a non-employee member of the Board on or after May 20, 1999 will 
receive, on the effective date of such initial election or appointment, an 
Automatic Option Grant to purchase 15,000 shares of Common Stock.2

        D. SPECIAL OPTION GRANT. Each individual serving as a non-employee 
Board member on May 20, 1999 shall receive at that time a one-time Automatic 
Option Grant for 15,000 shares. Such grant shall be in substitution for the 
Automatic Option Grant which would otherwise be made to such individual at 
the 1999 Annual Stockholders Meeting pursuant to the provisions of Section 
I(B) of this Article Three.

II.      TERMS

                  The terms applicable to each Automatic Option Grant will be as
follows:

          A. PRICE. The option price per share will be equal to 100% of the Fair
Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.

- -------------------
            (1)  The reduction in the number of shares subject to this grant 
from 8,000 to 6,000 shares was authorized by the Board on March 3, 1999, 
subject to stockholder approval at the 1999 Annual Meeting. If so approved, 
this change shall become effective as of the Annual Meeting in calendar year 
2000.

            (2)  The reduction in the number of shares subject to this grant 
from 30,000 to 15,000 shares was authorized by the Board on March 3, 1999, 
subject to stockholder approval at the 1999 Annual Meeting. If so approved, 
this change shall become effective on May 20, 1999.

                                      9

<PAGE>

         B. OPTION TERM. Each Automatic Option Grant will have a maximum term 
of 10 years measured from the automatic grant date.

         C. EXERCISABILITY. Each Automatic Option Grant will become 
exercisable for all Automatic Option Grant shares one (1) year after the 
automatic grant date, provided the optionee continues to serve as a Board 
member throughout that one (1)-year period.

         D. PAYMENT. Upon exercise of the option, the option price for the 
purchased shares will become payable immediately in one or more of the 
following alternative forms: cash, shares of Common Stock held for the 
requisite period to avoid a charge to the Company's reported earnings and 
valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date (as defined below), or 
pursuant to a sale and remittance procedure under which the option holder 
delivers a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable 
instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company the amount of 
sale proceeds to pay the option price. For these purposes, the Exercise Date 
shall be the date on which written notice of the exercise of the option is 
delivered to the Company. Except to the extent the sale and remittance 
procedure specified above is utilized for the exercise of the option, payment 
of the exercise price for the purchased shares must accompany the notice.

        E. EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF BOARD MEMBERSHIP.

          (1) Should the optionee cease to be a Board member for any reason
(other than death) while holding one or more Automatic Option Grants, then the
optionee will have 6 months following the date of such cessation of Board
membership in which to exercise each such option for any or all of the shares of
Common Stock for which the option is exercisable at the time Board membership
ceases; provided however, that in no event may such an option be exercised after
the expiration of its 10-year term.

          (2) Should the optionee die while holding one or more Automatic Option
Grants, then each such option may subsequently be exercised, for any or all of
the shares of Common Stock for which the option is exercisable at the time of
the optionee's death, by the personal representative of the optionee's estate or
by the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the
optionee's will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution
following optionee's death. Any such exercise must, however, occur before the
earlier of (i) the expiration of the option's 10-year term, or (ii) 12 months
after the date of the optionee's death.

         F. ACCELERATION. Automatic Option Grants will be subject to 
acceleration and termination in the event of a Corporate Transaction as 
described in Article Two, Section III(A) of this Plan.

        G. HOSTILE TAKEOVER. Automatic Option Grants will be granted in 
tandem with limited stock appreciation rights, as described in the Hostile 
Takeover provisions contained in Article Two, Section III(B) of this Plan.

                                      10

<PAGE>

                                 ARTICLE FOUR

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

I.       AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

          A. GENERAL RULES. The Board shall have complete and exclusive power
and authority to amend or modify the Plan in any or all respects whatsoever.
However, no such amendment or modification shall, without the consent of the
option holders, adversely affect rights and obligations with respect to options
at the time outstanding under the Plan. In addition, certain amendments may be
made conditional on first having obtained stockholder approval if required by
the Board or pursuant to any applicable laws or regulations.

          B. AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANTS. Amendment of the Automatic Option Grant
provisions of this Plan is subject to the requirements outlined above. In
addition, the Automatic Option Grant provisions of this Plan may not be amended
more than once every 6 months, other than to comport with changes in the
Internal Revenue Code or rules thereunder.

          C. AMENDMENT OF OPTIONS. The Committee shall have full power and
authority to modify or waive any or all of the terms, conditions or restrictions
applicable to any outstanding option, to the extent not inconsistent with the
Plan; provided, however, that no such modification or waiver shall (1) without
the consent of the option holder, adversely affect the holder's rights
thereunder or (2) affect any outstanding option granted pursuant to the
Automatic Option Grant provisions of this Plan except to the extent necessary to
conform to any amendment to this Plan.

II.      TAX WITHHOLDING

          A. OBLIGATION. The Company's obligation to deliver shares or cash 
upon the exercise of stock options or stock appreciation rights granted under 
the Plan is subject to the satisfaction of all applicable Federal, State and 
local income and employment tax withholding requirements.

          B. STOCK WITHHOLDING. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion 
and upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate (including the 
applicable safe-harbor provisions of SEC Rule 16b-3) provide any or all 
holders of outstanding option grants under the Plan with the election to have 
the Company withhold, from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon 
the exercise of such options, one or more of such shares with an aggregate 
fair market value equal to the designated percentage (any multiple of 5% 
specified by the optionee) of the Federal and State income and employment 
withholding taxes ("Withholding Taxes") incurred in connection with the 
acquisition of such shares. In lieu of such direct withholding, one or more 
optionees may also be granted the right to deliver shares of Common Stock to 
the Company in satisfaction of such Withholding Taxes. The withheld or 
delivered shares shall be valued at the Fair Market Value on the applicable 
determination date for such Taxes or such other date required by the 
applicable safe-harbor provisions of SEC Rule 16b-3.

                                      11

<PAGE>

III.     EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN

          A. IMPLEMENTATION. This Plan, as successor to the Company's 1983 
Stock Option Plan, became effective as of the Effective Date, and no further 
option grants shall be made under the 1983 Plan on or after the Effective 
Date of this Plan. The Plan was amended on March 3, 1999 (the "1999 
Amendment") to effect the following changes: (i) increase the number of 
shares of Common Stock available for issuance by an additional 1,500,000 
shares, (ii) reduce the number of shares of Common Stock for which an 
Automatic Option Grant is to be made to a newly-elected or appointed 
non-employee Board member under Section I(C) of Article Three from 30,000 
shares to 15,000 shares, effective May 20, 1999, (iii) reduce the number of 
shares of Common Stock for which an Automatic Option Grant is to be made on 
an annual basis to each continuing non-employee Board member under Section 
I(B) of Article Three from 8,000 shares to 6,000 shares, effective as of the 
calendar year 2000 Annual Stockholders Meeting, and (iv) effect a one-time 
Automatic Option Grant of 15,000 shares to each individual serving as a 
non-employee Board member on May 20, 1999 pursuant to Section I(D) of Article 
Three. The 1999 Amendment is subject to stockholder approval at the 1999 
Annual Meeting, and no option grants made on the basis of the share increase 
authorized by that amendment shall become exercisable in whole or in part 
unless and until the 1999 Amendment is approved by the stockholders. Should 
such stockholder approval not be obtained at the 1999 Annual Meeting, then 
the 1,500,000 share increase shall not be implemented, and none of the 
revisions to the Automatic Option Grant Program under Article Three shall 
become effective. Subject to the foregoing limitations, options may be 
granted under the Plan at any time before the date fixed herein for the 
termination of the Plan.

          B. TERMINATION. Unless sooner terminated due to a Corporate
Transaction or a Change in Control, the Plan will terminate upon the earlier of
(i) December 8, 2002, or (ii) the date on which all shares available for
issuance under the Plan have been issued or cancelled pursuant to exercise,
surrender or cash-out of options. If the date of termination is determined under
clause (i) above, then options outstanding on such date shall thereafter
continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the
instruments evidencing those options.

          C. ADDITIONAL SHARES. Options to purchase shares of Common Stock may
be granted under the Plan which are in excess of the number of shares then
available for issuance under the Plan, provided any excess shares actually
issued are held in escrow until shareholder approval is obtained for a
sufficient increase in the number of shares available for issuance under the
Plan. If such shareholder approval is not obtained within twelve (12) months
after the date the first such excess option grants are made, then (i) any
unexercised excess options shall terminate and cease to be exercisable and (ii)
the Corporation shall promptly refund the purchase price paid for any excess
shares actually issued under the Plan and held in escrow, together with interest
(at the applicable Short Term Federal Rate) for the period the shares were held
in escrow.

IV.      USE OF PROCEEDS

          Any cash proceeds received by the Company from the sale of shares 
pursuant to options granted under the Plan shall be used for general 
corporate purposes.

                                      12

<PAGE>

V.       REGULATORY APPROVALS

          The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any option under 
the Plan, and the issuance of stock upon the exercise or surrender of any 
such option shall be subject to the procurement by the Company of all 
approvals and permits required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction 
over the Plan, the options granted under it and the stock issued pursuant to 
it.

VI.      NO EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS

          Neither the establishment of this Plan, nor any action taken under the
terms of this Plan, nor any provision of this Plan shall be construed so as to
grant any individual the right to remain in the employ or service of the Company
(or any parent or subsidiary corporation) for any period of specific duration,
and the Company (or any parent or subsidiary corporation retaining the services
of such individual) may terminate such individual's employment or service at any
time and for any reason, with or without cause.

                                      13

<PAGE>

                                    PROXY

                          DURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                  PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby appoints Mitchell R. Woodbury and Michael T. Borer, 
jointly and severally, as proxies, with power to act without the other and 
with power of substitution, and hereby authorizes them to represent and vote 
all of the shares of Common Stock of Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. standing in 
the name of the undersigned, as designated on the other side, with all powers 
which the undersigned would possess if present at the Annual Meeting of 
Stockholders to be held May 20, 1999, or any postponements or adjournments 
thereof, and to vote in his or her discretion on such other business as may 
properly come before the Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

     (CONTINUED, AND TO BE MARKED, DATED AND SIGNED, ON THE OTHER SIDE)

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                           [DURA PHARMACEUTICALS LOGO]
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S><C>

                                                                                                       Please mark
                                                                                                       your votes as  /X/
                                                                                                       indicated in 
                                                                                                       this example

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ITEMS 1, 2 AND 3.

                                          WITHHELD
                                  FOR     FOR ALL                                FOR  AGAINST   ABSTAIN
ITEM 1-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS      / /       / /        ITEM 2-APPROVAL OF        / /    / /       / /   Unless otherwise specified  
       Nominees:                                       AMENDMENT TO 1992                                by the undersigned, this    
       Herbert J. Conrad                               STOCK OPTION PLAN                                proxy will be voted FOR     
       Gordon V. Ramseier                                                                               proposals 1, 2 and 3 and    
       Charles G. Smith                                ITEM 3-RATIFICATION       / /    / /       / /   will be voted by the        
                                                       OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE                             proxy-holder at his         
                                                       LLP AS INDEPENDENT                               discretion as to any other  
                                                       ACCOUNTANTS                                      matters properly transacted 
                                                                                                        at the Meeting or any       
WITHHELD FOR:  (write that nominee's name in the space                                                  adjournments thereof. To    
provided below).                                                                                        vote in accordance with the 
                                                                                                        Board of Directors'         
- --------------------------------------------------------                                                recommendations, just sign  
                                                                                                        below, no boxes need to be  
                                                                                                        checked.                    







Signature                                        Signature                                         Date
          --------------------------------------           --------------------------------------       ---------------------------
NOTE: Please sign as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, 
trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.

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</TABLE>



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