content: <PAGE>
   
                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
  
                                  _______________
                                          
  
                                     FORM 8-K
  
                                  CURRENT REPORT
                      PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                          SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  
  
  
                                  OCTOBER 4, 1998
                 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
  
  
  
                                 ALZA CORPORATION
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
  
               _____________________________________________________
  
  
     DELAWARE                     1-6247                       77-0142070
  (State or other         (Commission File Number)          (I.R.S. Employer
  Jurisdiction of                                          Identification No.)
  Incorporation)
   
   
                     ________________________________________
  
                                950 PAGE MILL ROAD
                                  P.O. BOX 10950
                             PALO ALTO, CA  94303-0802
   
                (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
  
  
  
        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (650) 494-5000
  
  
               _____________________________________________________
  <PAGE>
   
  ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.
  
       On October 4, 1998, ALZA Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
  "Registrant"), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger
  Agreement") with SEQUUS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation
  ("SEQUUS"), and Argyle Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-
  owned subsidiary of the Registrant (the "Merger Sub").  Pursuant to the terms of
  the Merger Agreement, and subject to the conditions set forth therein (including
  approval of the transaction by the stockholders of SEQUUS), the Merger Sub will
  be merged with and into SEQUUS (the "Merger").  At the effective time of the
  Merger, the separate existence of the Merger Sub will cease, SEQUUS will become
  a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant and each outstanding share of
  SEQUUS common stock will be exchanged for 0.4 of a share of the Registrant's
  common stock. The Merger is intended to be a tax-free reorganization pursuant to
  Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and is intended
  to be treated as a pooling of interests for financial reporting purposes.
  
       A copy of the Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated
  herein by reference.
  
  
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
  
       (c)  Exhibits
  
  Exhibit No.  Description
  
  Exhibit  2.1  Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among ALZA Corporation, Argyle
                Acquisition Corp. and SEQUUS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dated as of
                October 4, 1998, including exhibits thereto.
  <PAGE>
   
                                     SIGNATURE
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
  
  
                                ALZA CORPORATION
  
  
  
                                   /s/ PETER D. STAPLE
                                -----------------------------------
                                By:  Peter D. Staple
                                     Senior Vice President and
                                      General Counsel
  
  Date:  October 15, 1998
  <PAGE>
   
                                   EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
  Exhibit  2.1  Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among ALZA Corporation, Argyle
                Acquisition Corp. and SEQUUS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dated as of
                October 4, 1998, including exhibits thereto.
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text: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
  
                                  _______________
                                          
  
                                     FORM 8-K
  
                                  CURRENT REPORT
                      PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                          SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  
                                  OCTOBER 4, 1998
                 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
  
                                 ALZA CORPORATION
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
  
               _____________________________________________________
  
     DELAWARE                     1-6247                       77-0142070
  (State or other         (Commission File Number)          (I.R.S. Employer
  Jurisdiction of                                          Identification No.)
  Incorporation)
   
   
                     ________________________________________
  
                                950 PAGE MILL ROAD
                                  P.O. BOX 10950
                             PALO ALTO, CA  94303-0802
   
                (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
  
        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (650) 494-5000
  
               _____________________________________________________
  ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.
  
       On October 4, 1998, ALZA Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
  "Registrant"), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger
  Agreement") with SEQUUS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation
  ("SEQUUS"), and Argyle Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-
  owned subsidiary of the Registrant (the "Merger Sub").  Pursuant to the terms of
  the Merger Agreement, and subject to the conditions set forth therein (including
  approval of the transaction by the stockholders of SEQUUS), the Merger Sub will
  be merged with and into SEQUUS (the "Merger").  At the effective time of the
  Merger, the separate existence of the Merger Sub will cease, SEQUUS will become
  a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant and each outstanding share of
  SEQUUS common stock will be exchanged for 0.4 of a share of the Registrant's
  common stock. The Merger is intended to be a tax-free reorganization pursuant to
  Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and is intended
  to be treated as a pooling of interests for financial reporting purposes.
  
       A copy of the Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated
  herein by reference.
  
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
  
       (c)  Exhibits
  
  Exhibit No.  Description
  
  Exhibit  2.1  Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among ALZA Corporation, Argyle
                Acquisition Corp. and SEQUUS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dated as of
                October 4, 1998, including exhibits thereto.
  SIGNATURE
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                ALZA CORPORATION
  
                                   /s/ PETER D. STAPLE
                                -----------------------------------
                                By:  Peter D. Staple
                                     Senior Vice President and
                                      General Counsel
  
  Date:  October 15, 1998
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit  2.1  Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among ALZA Corporation, Argyle
                Acquisition Corp. and SEQUUS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dated as of
                October 4, 1998, including exhibits thereto.