FILED BY CORVAS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                Filed Pursuant to Rule 425 promulgated under the
                Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and deemed filed pursuant to
  Rule 14a-12 promulgated Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


                                     Subject Company: Corvas International, Inc.
                                                    Commission File No.: 0-19732


                          [CORVAS INTERNATIONAL LOGO]


Corvas Contact:
- ---------------
Stephen Keane
Vice President, Corporate Development
(858) 455-9800
Stephen_keane@corvas.com


                CORVAS STOCKHOLDERS APPROVE MERGER WITH DENDREON


SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 28, 2003 - Corvas International (Nasdaq:CVAS) today
announced that its stockholders approved the proposed merger with Dendreon
Corporation. A majority of the outstanding shares of Corvas common stock was
voted in favor of the merger agreement. Votes in favor of the merger represented
greater than 90% of the votes cast. The transaction is expected to close
promptly following approval by Dendreon stockholders at tomorrow's annual
meeting of Dendreon stockholders.

Under the terms of the agreement first announced on February 25, 2003, each
share of Corvas common stock will be exchanged for a fixed ratio of 0.45 shares
of Dendreon common stock in a tax-free reorganization.

Corvas International, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the
development of new biotherapeutics that address large medical markets, including
cancer and cardiovascular disease. rNAPc2, Corvas' cardiovascular drug candidate
currently in Phase II clinical trials, is a novel anticoagulant intended for the
treatment of people affected by acute coronary syndromes, which include unstable
angina and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Corvas' cancer
research programs are focused on the development of new biotherapies, including
monoclonal antibodies and synthetic prodrugs, that target serine proteases
associated with the growth and spread of cancerous tumors.




                                              CORVAS STOCKHOLDERS APPROVE MERGER

Additional Information About the Combination and Where to Find It

Dendreon and Corvas have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC") a Registration Statement on Form S-4, which contains a joint proxy
statement/prospectus with respect to the combination and other relevant
materials. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF DENDREON AND CORVAS ARE URGED TO
READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ABOUT DENDREON, CORVAS AND THE COMBINATION. The joint proxy
statement/prospectus and other relevant materials, and any other documents filed
by Dendreon or Corvas with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's
web site at www.sec.gov .

In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the
documents filed with the SEC by Dendreon by directing a request to: Dendreon
Corporation, 3005 First Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, Attn: Investor Relations.
Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed
with the SEC by Corvas by contacting Corvas Investor Relations at 3030 Science
Park Road, San Diego, CA 92121.

Dendreon, Corvas and their respective executive officers and directors may be
deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders
of Dendreon and Corvas in favor of the combination. Information about the
executive officers and directors of Dendreon and their ownership of Dendreon
common stock is set forth in the preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Information about the executive officers and directors of Corvas and their
ownership of Corvas common stock is set forth in Corvas' Annual Report on Form
10-K, which was filed with the SEC on March 14, 2003. Certain directors and
executive officers of Corvas may have direct or indirect interests in the
combination due to securities holdings, pre-existing or future indemnification
arrangements, vesting of options, or rights to severance payments if their
employment is terminated following the combination. Additional information
regarding Dendreon, Corvas, and the interests of their respective executive
officers and directors in the combination is contained in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus.

Investors and security holders are urged to read the joint proxy
statement/prospectus and the other relevant materials, and any other documents
filed with the SEC by Dendreon and Corvas, before making any voting or
investment decision with respect to the combination.

Forward-looking statements

Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains
forward-looking statements, including statements about future performance, the
clinical and preclinical pipeline and financial resources of the combined
company, and Dendreon's anticipated acquisition of Corvas. These statements are
based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a
number of risks and uncertainties, particularly those risks and uncertainties
inherent in the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs
that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking
statements.


                                  Page 2 of 3

                                              CORVAS STOCKHOLDERS APPROVE MERGER

Statements of expected synergies, benefits, and execution of integration of the
combined companies and potential products are all forward-looking statements.
Risks and uncertainties include the possibility that the market for the sale of
certain products may not develop as expected; that development of these products
including the potential cancer and cardiovascular products, may not proceed as
planned; risks associated with completing ongoing clinical trials, including the
rNAPc2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with unstable angina and
non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; the risk that the results of one
clinical trial will not be repeated in another clinical trial; the risk that
results in preclinical studies including but not limited to studies in our
oncology program, may not be confirmed in clinical trials or that other
preclinical studies will reveal adverse characteristics that preclude further
development of a preclinical product candidate; the risk that the results of a
clinical trial, will not support applying for or approval of a biologics license
by the FDA; the acquisition of Corvas by Dendreon does not close; that Corvas
and Dendreon have forgone opportunities while the transition is pending; that
prior to the closing of the proposed acquisition, the businesses of the
companies, including the retention of key employees, suffer due to uncertainty;
that the parties are unable to successfully execute their integration strategies
or achieve planned synergies; risks related to Dendreon's limited operating
history; the risk that the companies may not secure or maintain relationships
with collaborators; dependence on intellectual property by Corvas and Dendreon;
and other risks and uncertainties that are described in the reports filed by
Dendreon and Corvas with the SEC. Further information on the risks and
uncertainties that could affect the companies' business, financial condition and
results of operations are contained in their respective filings with the SEC,
which are available at www.sec.gov .

For further information please contact Stephen F. Keane, Vice President,
Corporate Development of Corvas International, +1-858-455-9800.


                                       ##



                                  Page 3 of 3