<PAGE>   1
       As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 30, 1998
                                                 Registration No. 333-__________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                ----------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                ----------------

                               CORIXA CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

        DELAWARE                                        91-1654387
(State of incorporation)                   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                         1124 COLUMBIA STREET, SUITE 200
                                SEATTLE, WA 98104
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                             -----------------------

                        1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                   AMENDED AND RESTATED 1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                        1997 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plans)
                             -----------------------

                                  STEVEN GILLIS
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                               CORIXA CORPORATION
                         1124 COLUMBIA STREET, SUITE 200
                                SEATTLE, WA 98104
                                 (206) 667-5711
 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                             -----------------------
                                    Copy to:

                            William W. Ericson, Esq.
                                Venture Law Group
                           A Professional Corporation
                               4750 Carillon Point
                               Kirkland, WA 98033
                                 (425) 739-8700

 
               (Calculation of Registration Fee on following page)


<PAGE>   2
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Proposed      Proposed Maximum
                                                Maximum Amount        Maximum          Aggregate        Amount of
                                                     to be        Offering Price    Offering Price    Registration
    Title of Securities to be Registered         Registered(1)       Per Share                             Fee
---------------------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------- ------------------ --------------
<S>                                            <C>                <C>              <C>                <C>      

1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
   Common Stock,
   $0.001 par value.........................     2,625,000 Shares     $7.65 (2)       $20,081,250         $5,923.97


AMENDED AND RESTATED 1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN
   Common Stock,
   $0.001 par value.........................     1,324,942 Shares     $0.84 (3)       $1,112,951.28         $328.32
   Common Stock,
   $0.001 par value.........................     5,686,040 Shares     $9.00 (4)       $51,174,360        $15,096.44
1997 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
   Common Stock,
   $0.001 par value.........................        60,000 Shares    $11.98 (3)       $718,800              $212.05
   Common Stock,
   $0.001 par value.........................       140,000 Shares     $9.00 (4)       $1,260,000            $371.70

                  TOTAL                          9,835,982 Shares                     $74,347,361.28     $21,932.48
                  -----
</TABLE>

----------
(1)      This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
         Common Stock which become issuable under any of the Plans being
         registered pursuant to this Registration Statement by reason of any
         stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar
         transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results
         in an increase in the number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of
         Common Stock. In addition, this Registration Statement also covers (a)
         2,500,000 additional shares of Common Stock that will become issuable
         under the 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan pursuant to a provision
         that provides that the number of shares authorized under the 1997
         Employee Stock Purchase Plan will automatically increase on the first
         trading day of each of the twenty calendar years beginning in 1998 and
         ending in 2017. If the number of shares reserved for issuance at such
         time is less than one percent of the outstanding Common Stock, then 
         the number of shares reserved for issuance shall be increased until it
         equals one percent of the outstanding Common Stock (up to a maximum of
         125,000 in any calendar year), or such lower amount as determined by 
         the Board of Directors, and (b) 5,000,000 additional shares of Common 
         Stock that will become issuable under the Amended and Restated 1994 
         Stock Option Plan pursuant to a provision that provides that the number
         of shares authorized under the Amended and Restated 1994 Stock Option 
         Plan will automatically increase on the first trading day of each of 
         the ten calendar years beginning in 1998 and ending in 2007, in an 
         amount equal to three percent of the number of shares of Common Stock 
         outstanding on December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year,
         up to a maximum of 500,000 shares each year over the ten-year period.

                                       2
<PAGE>   3
(2)      Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of
         1933 (the "Securities Act") solely for the purpose of calculating the
         registration fee. The computation is based upon the average of the high
         and low sale prices of the Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq
         National Market on January 29, 1998, multiplied by 85%, which is the
         percentage of the trading purchase price applicable to purchases under
         the referenced Plan.

(3)      Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act solely
         for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. Computation based
         on the weighted average per share exercise price (rounded to nearest
         cent) of outstanding options under the referenced plan, the shares
         issuable under which are registered hereby.

(4)      Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act
         solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. The
         computation with respect to unissued options is based upon the average
         high and low sale prices of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq
         National Market on January 29, 1998.

                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference:

         (a) The Registrant's Prospectus filed with the Commission on October 2,
1997 pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act, which contains audited
financial statements for the Registrant's latest fiscal year for which such
statements have been filed.

         (b) The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1997, filed with the Commission on November 13, 1997.

         (c) The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the
Registrant's Registration Statement No. 000-22891 on Form 8-A filed with the
Commission on September 19, 1997 pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), including any amendment or report
filed for the purpose of updating such description.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have
been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be
part hereof from the date of filing such documents.

Item 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.  Not applicable.

Item 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.  Not applicable.

Item 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") authorizes
a court to award or a corporation's Board of Directors to grant indemnification
to directors and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit such
indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities (including
reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act. Article
VI, Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Registrant's Bylaws provides for mandatory
indemnification of its directors and officers and permissible indemnification of
employees to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL. The Registrant's
Certificate of Incorporation provides that, pursuant to Delaware law, its
directors shall not be liable for monetary damages to the Registrant and its
stockholders for breach of the directors' fiduciary duty. This provision in the
Certificate of Incorporation does not eliminate the directors' 


                                       3

<PAGE>   4
fiduciary duty, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as
injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available under
Delaware law. In addition, each director will continue to be subject to a
liability for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Registrant for
acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct, for
knowing violations of law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit to
the director, and for payment of dividends or approval of stock repurchases or
redemptions that are unlawful under Delaware law. The provision also does not
affect a director's responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal
securities laws or state or federal environmental laws. The Registrant has
entered into Indemnification Agreements with its officers and directors which
provide such officers and directors with further indemnification to the maximum
extent permitted by the DGCL.

Item 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.  Not applicable.

Item 8.  EXHIBITS.

         Exhibit
         Number

         5.1      Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation.
         23.1     Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation 
                  (included in Exhibit 5.1)
         23.2     Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP, Independent Auditors 
         23.3     Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Independent Auditors 
         24.1     Powers of Attorney


                                       4
<PAGE>   5
----------

Item 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1)      to file, during any period in which offers or sales
are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to
such information in the registration statement.

                  (2)      that, for purposes of determining any liability under
the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                  (3)      to remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
unsold at the termination of the offering.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         Insofar as the indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered hereunder, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.


                            [Signature Pages Follow]


                                       5
<PAGE>   6
                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, Corixa Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to
believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Seattle, State of
Washington, on this 30th day of January, 1998.

                                       Corixa Corporation


                                       By: /s/ Steven Gillis
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Steven Gillis
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer


                                       6
<PAGE>   7
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


        Exhibit                                                              
        Number                                                            

         5.1      Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation

         23.1     Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation
                  (included in Exhibit 5.1).

         23.2     Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP, Independent Auditors

         23.3     Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Independent Auditors 

         24.1     Powers of Attorney
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15745}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CORIXA CORP", "cik": "0001042561", "assigned-sic": "2836", "irs-number": "911654387", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-45375", "film-number": "98518829"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1124 COLUMBIA STREET SUIE 200", "city": "SEATTLE", "state": "WA", "zip": "98104", "phone": "2066675711"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1124 COLUMBIA STREET SUTIE200", "city": "SEATTLE", "state": "WA", "zip": "98104"}}
1
       As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 30, 1998
                                                 Registration No. 333-__________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                ----------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                ----------------

                               CORIXA CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

        DELAWARE                                        91-1654387
(State of incorporation)                   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                         1124 COLUMBIA STREET, SUITE 200
                                SEATTLE, WA 98104
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                             -----------------------

                        1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                   AMENDED AND RESTATED 1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                        1997 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plans)
                             -----------------------

                                  STEVEN GILLIS
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                               CORIXA CORPORATION
                         1124 COLUMBIA STREET, SUITE 200
                                SEATTLE, WA 98104
                                 (206) 667-5711
 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                             -----------------------
                                    Copy to:

                            William W. Ericson, Esq.
                                Venture Law Group
                           A Professional Corporation
                               4750 Carillon Point
                               Kirkland, WA 98033
                                 (425) 739-8700

 
               (Calculation of Registration Fee on following page)
2
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed      Proposed Maximum
                                                Maximum Amount        Maximum          Aggregate        Amount of
                                                     to be        Offering Price    Offering Price    Registration
    Title of Securities to be Registered         Registered(1)       Per Share                             Fee
---------------------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------- ------------------ --------------
1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
   Common Stock,
   $0.001 par value.........................     2,625,000 Shares     $7.65 (2)       $20,081,250         $5,923.97

AMENDED AND RESTATED 1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN
   Common Stock,
   $0.001 par value.........................     1,324,942 Shares     $0.84 (3)       $1,112,951.28         $328.32
   Common Stock,
   $0.001 par value.........................     5,686,040 Shares     $9.00 (4)       $51,174,360        $15,096.44
1997 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
   Common Stock,
   $0.001 par value.........................        60,000 Shares    $11.98 (3)       $718,800              $212.05
   Common Stock,
   $0.001 par value.........................       140,000 Shares     $9.00 (4)       $1,260,000            $371.70

                  TOTAL                          9,835,982 Shares                     $74,347,361.28     $21,932.48
                  -----
----------
(1)      This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
         Common Stock which become issuable under any of the Plans being
         registered pursuant to this Registration Statement by reason of any
         stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar
         transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results
         in an increase in the number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of
         Common Stock. In addition, this Registration Statement also covers (a)
         2,500,000 additional shares of Common Stock that will become issuable
         under the 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan pursuant to a provision
         that provides that the number of shares authorized under the 1997
         Employee Stock Purchase Plan will automatically increase on the first
         trading day of each of the twenty calendar years beginning in 1998 and
         ending in 2017. If the number of shares reserved for issuance at such
         time is less than one percent of the outstanding Common Stock, then 
         the number of shares reserved for issuance shall be increased until it
         equals one percent of the outstanding Common Stock (up to a maximum of
         125,000 in any calendar year), or such lower amount as determined by 
         the Board of Directors, and (b) 5,000,000 additional shares of Common 
         Stock that will become issuable under the Amended and Restated 1994 
         Stock Option Plan pursuant to a provision that provides that the number
         of shares authorized under the Amended and Restated 1994 Stock Option 
         Plan will automatically increase on the first trading day of each of 
         the ten calendar years beginning in 1998 and ending in 2007, in an 
         amount equal to three percent of the number of shares of Common Stock 
         outstanding on December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year,
         up to a maximum of 500,000 shares each year over the ten-year period.

                                       2
3
(2)      Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of
         1933 (the "Securities Act") solely for the purpose of calculating the
         registration fee. The computation is based upon the average of the high
         and low sale prices of the Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq
         National Market on January 29, 1998, multiplied by 85%, which is the
         percentage of the trading purchase price applicable to purchases under
         the referenced Plan.

(3)      Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act solely
         for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. Computation based
         on the weighted average per share exercise price (rounded to nearest
         cent) of outstanding options under the referenced plan, the shares
         issuable under which are registered hereby.

(4)      Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act
         solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. The
         computation with respect to unissued options is based upon the average
         high and low sale prices of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq
         National Market on January 29, 1998.

                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference:

         (a) The Registrant's Prospectus filed with the Commission on October 2,
1997 pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act, which contains audited
financial statements for the Registrant's latest fiscal year for which such
statements have been filed.

         (b) The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1997, filed with the Commission on November 13, 1997.

         (c) The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the
Registrant's Registration Statement No. 000-22891 on Form 8-A filed with the
Commission on September 19, 1997 pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), including any amendment or report
filed for the purpose of updating such description.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have
been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be
part hereof from the date of filing such documents.

Item 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.  Not applicable.

Item 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.  Not applicable.

Item 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") authorizes
a court to award or a corporation's Board of Directors to grant indemnification
to directors and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit such
indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities (including
reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act. Article
VI, Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Registrant's Bylaws provides for mandatory
indemnification of its directors and officers and permissible indemnification of
employees to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL. The Registrant's
Certificate of Incorporation provides that, pursuant to Delaware law, its
directors shall not be liable for monetary damages to the Registrant and its
stockholders for breach of the directors' fiduciary duty. This provision in the
Certificate of Incorporation does not eliminate the directors' 

                                       3
4
fiduciary duty, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as
injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available under
Delaware law. In addition, each director will continue to be subject to a
liability for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Registrant for
acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct, for
knowing violations of law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit to
the director, and for payment of dividends or approval of stock repurchases or
redemptions that are unlawful under Delaware law. The provision also does not
affect a director's responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal
securities laws or state or federal environmental laws. The Registrant has
entered into Indemnification Agreements with its officers and directors which
provide such officers and directors with further indemnification to the maximum
extent permitted by the DGCL.

Item 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.  Not applicable.

Item 8.  EXHIBITS.

         Exhibit
         Number

         5.1      Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation.
         23.1     Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation 
                  (included in Exhibit 5.1)
         23.2     Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP, Independent Auditors 
         23.3     Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Independent Auditors 
         24.1     Powers of Attorney

                                       4
5
----------

Item 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1)      to file, during any period in which offers or sales
are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to
such information in the registration statement.

                  (2)      that, for purposes of determining any liability under
the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                  (3)      to remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
unsold at the termination of the offering.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         Insofar as the indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered hereunder, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.

                            [Signature Pages Follow]

                                       5
6
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, Corixa Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to
believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Seattle, State of
Washington, on this 30th day of January, 1998.

                                       Corixa Corporation

                                       By: /s/ Steven Gillis
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Steven Gillis
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer

                                       6
7
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

        Exhibit                                                              
        Number                                                            

         5.1      Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation

         23.1     Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation
                  (included in Exhibit 5.1).

         23.2     Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP, Independent Auditors

         23.3     Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Independent Auditors 

         24.1     Powers of Attorney