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
  
  
  
                                 November 18, 1999
                 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)
                     ________________________________________
                               1900 Charleston Road
                                   P.O. Box 7210
                       Mountain View, California 94039-7210
  
                (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
  
  
  
        Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (650) 494-5000
  
  
               _____________________________________________________
  <PAGE>
  
  Item 5.   Other Events.
  
       On November 18, 1999, ALZA Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("ALZA"),
  and Abbott Laboratories, an Illinois corporation ("Abbott"), entered into a
  letter agreement (the "Letter Agreement") related to the Agreement and Plan of
  Merger (the "Merger Agreement")  which ALZA, Abbott and AC Merger Sub Inc., a
  Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abbott (the "Merger Sub"),
  entered into on June 21, 1999.  Pursuant to the terms of the Letter Agreement,
  Abbott and ALZA have agreed that the merger of ALZA with and into Merger Sub
  pursuant to the Merger Agreement would not occur unless new proxy materials are
  issued and a new meeting is held at which ALZA stockholders approve the merger.
  Closing of the merger would also remain subject to obtaining Federal Trade
  Commission clearance and other closing conditions.  As disclosed in previous SEC
  filings, ALZA is also continuing to review previously reported information as
  part of its due diligence process.
  
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  
       (c)  Exhibits.
  
  Exhibit No.    Description
  -----------    -----------
  
  Exhibit 2.1    Letter Agreement by and among ALZA Corporation, a Delaware
                 corporation, and Abbott Laboratories, an Illinois corporation,
                 dated as of November 18, 1999.
  
  Exhibit 99.1   Press Release dated November 19, 1999.
  <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:  November 19, 1999
  <PAGE>
  
                                   EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
  Exhibit  2.1   Letter Agreement by and among ALZA Corporation, a Delaware
                 corporation, and Abbott Laboratories, an Illinois corporation,
                 dated as of November 18, 1999.
  
  Exhibit 99.1   Press Release dated November 19, 1999.
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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
  
                                 November 18, 1999
                 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)
                     ________________________________________
                               1900 Charleston Road
                                   P.O. Box 7210
                       Mountain View, California 94039-7210
  
                (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
  
        Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (650) 494-5000
  
               _____________________________________________________
  Item 5.   Other Events.
  
       On November 18, 1999, ALZA Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("ALZA"),
  and Abbott Laboratories, an Illinois corporation ("Abbott"), entered into a
  letter agreement (the "Letter Agreement") related to the Agreement and Plan of
  Merger (the "Merger Agreement")  which ALZA, Abbott and AC Merger Sub Inc., a
  Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abbott (the "Merger Sub"),
  entered into on June 21, 1999.  Pursuant to the terms of the Letter Agreement,
  Abbott and ALZA have agreed that the merger of ALZA with and into Merger Sub
  pursuant to the Merger Agreement would not occur unless new proxy materials are
  issued and a new meeting is held at which ALZA stockholders approve the merger.
  Closing of the merger would also remain subject to obtaining Federal Trade
  Commission clearance and other closing conditions.  As disclosed in previous SEC
  filings, ALZA is also continuing to review previously reported information as
  part of its due diligence process.
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  
       (c)  Exhibits.
  
  Exhibit No.    Description
  -----------    -----------
  
  Exhibit 2.1    Letter Agreement by and among ALZA Corporation, a Delaware
                 corporation, and Abbott Laboratories, an Illinois corporation,
                 dated as of November 18, 1999.
  
  Exhibit 99.1   Press Release dated November 19, 1999.
  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:  November 19, 1999
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit  2.1   Letter Agreement by and among ALZA Corporation, a Delaware
                 corporation, and Abbott Laboratories, an Illinois corporation,
                 dated as of November 18, 1999.
  
  Exhibit 99.1   Press Release dated November 19, 1999.