EXHIBIT 10.1 BANK OF AMERICA AMENDMENT TO DOCUMENTS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO BUSINESS LOAN AGREEMENT This Amendment No. 1 (the "Amendment") dated as of May 8, 1997, is between Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association (the "Bank") and DURA...

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

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       BANK OF AMERICA                                    AMENDMENT TO DOCUMENTS

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                    AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO BUSINESS LOAN AGREEMENT

     This Amendment No. 1 (the "Amendment") dated as of May 8, 1997, is 
between Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association (the "Bank") 
and DURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (the "Borrower").

                                     RECITALS

     A.   The Bank and the Borrower entered into a certain Business Loan
          Agreement dated as of April 14, 1997 (the "Agreement").

     B.   The Bank and the Borrower desire to amend the Agreement.


                                    AGREEMENT

     1.   DEFINITIONS.   Capitalized terms used but not defined in this
          Amendment shall have the meaning given to them in the Agreement.

     2.   AMENDMENTS.    The Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

2.1  In Subparagraph 6.2(d) of the Agreement, the form of the compliance
     certificate required is amended in its entirety as set forth in the 
     compliance certificate attached hereto.

2.2  In Subparagraph 6.3(a) of the Agreement, the amount "One Hundred Thirty
     Million Dollars ($130,000,000)" is substituted for the amount "Two Hundred
     Million Dollars ($200,000,000)."

2.3  In Subparagraph 6.3(b)(i)(A) of the Agreement, the amount "One Hundred
     Eighty Million Dollars ($180,000,000)" is substituted for the amount "Two
     Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($250,000,000)."

2.4  Subparagraph 6.3(b)(ii)(B) is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

     "(B) The amount of purchases of intangible assets up to a maximum of Fifty
          Million Dollars ($50,000,000), excluding intangible assets related 
          to the Borrower's acquisition of Nasarel and Nasalide."

3.   EFFECT OF AMENDMENT.     Except as provided in this Amendment, all of
     the terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and 
     effect.

     This Amendment is executed as of the date stated at the beginning of
this Amendment.


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BANK OF AMERICA
NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION



X   /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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BY:     XXXXX X. XXXXXXX
TITLE:  VICE PRESIDENT


DURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.



X   /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
--------------------------------------
BY:     XXXXX X. XXXXXX
TITLE:  SR. V.P. FINANCE & ADMIN., CFO



X   /s/ Xxxx Xxxx
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BY:     XXXX XXXX
TITLE:  V.P. FINANCE


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