THIRD AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE

                               THIRD AMENDMENT TO
                  AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE


$277,500                                                         August 31, 2000


         This THIRD AMENDMENT to that certain Xxxxxxx and Restated Secured
Promissory Note dated August 28, 1997, as amended by that First Amendment to
Amended and Restated Secured Promissory Note dated September 17, 1998, and by
that Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Secured Promissory Note dated July
7, 1999 (as so amended, the "Amended Promissory Note"), by and between Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx and Xxxxx Saint Xxxxx, a married couple residing in the State of
California ("Borrowers") and Corvas International, Inc. ("Lender"), is entered
into effective as of September 12, 2000 (the "Effective Date") by and between
Borrowers and Lender (the "Third Amendment").

         WHEREAS, on August 28, 1997, Xx. Xxxxx executed the Amended and
Restated Secured Promissory Note in the principal amount of $152,500;

         WHEREAS, on September 17, 1998, Xxxxxxxxx executed the First Amendment
to the Amended and Restated Secured Promissory Note;

         WHEREAS, on July 7, 1999, Xxxxxxxxx executed the Second Amendment to
the Amended and Restated Secured Promissory Note;

         WHEREAS, Borrowers and Lender desire to further amend the Amended
Promissory Note to extend the Maturity Date; and

         WHEREAS, except as otherwise provided herein, all capitalized terms
used in this Third Amendment shall have the meanings set forth in Amended
Promissory Note.

         NOW THEREFORE, for value received and in consideration of the promises
and mutual agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.       AMENDMENT OF MATURITY DATE.

         (a) The following new Section G is added to the Amended Promissory
Note, immediately following Section F:

         "G. As approved by resolution of the Board of Directors of Lender at a
meeting of the Human Resources Committee of the Board held September 12, 2000,
Borrowers and Lender desire to further amend the Amended Promissory Note to
provide that the final maturity date of the Amended Promissory Note is extended
to the earliest of (i) August 31, 2001 and (ii) the date which is ninety days
after any termination of employment by Xx. Xxxxx with Lender for any reason or
no reason (with or without cause)."

                                       1.


         (b) Section 1 is of the Amended Promissory Note is hereby amended and
restated as follows:

         "REPAYMENT; PREPAYMENT. The outstanding principal amount of the Loan
shall be due and payable on the earliest of (i) August 31, 2001 and (ii) the
date which is ninety days after any termination of employment by Xx. Xxxxx with
Lender for any reason or no reason (with or without cause). The Loan may be
prepaid at any time without penalty. Amounts so prepaid shall not be
re-borrowed."

         Other than expressly amended and stated herein, no other aspect of the
Amended Promissory Note, as amended, is altered by this Third Amendment,
including, without limitation, the security interest granted in Section 3 of the
Amended Promissory Note, and Borrowers expressly agree that the Collateral is
security for all obligations under the Amended Promissory Note, as amended
hereby.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Xxxxxxxxx have executed this Third Amendment as of
the date and year first above written.


                                            BORROWERS:



                                            /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXX
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx


                                            /s/ XXXXX SAINT XXXXX
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Xxxxx Saint Xxxxx



                                       2.