Exhibit 99.60
Contact:  Linda B. Preucil                         (AMEX) PHA
          Director of Business Relations           WWW.PACIFICPHARM.COM
          908/ 497-0160
          LBPREUCIL@AOL.COM

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
     
         PACIFIC PHARMACEUTICALS LICENSES CHEMOSENSITIZER FOR CANCER
     
- - RELATED COMPOUNDS AND TECHNOLOGIES TO OVERCOME CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE -
     
SAN DIEGO, CA, March 23, 1998 - Pacific Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced 
a worldwide exclusive license for O(6) Benzyl Guanine (BG) and a series of 
related compounds and technologies which enhance the effectiveness of a class 
of currently used chemotherapeutic agents (O(6) alkylators).  Multiple Phase 
I human clinical trials conducted at the University of Chicago, Duke 
University Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University are nearing 
completion in different cancer types, including brain, colon and renal 
carcinoma.  These technologies are licensed to Pacific from Pennsylvania 
State University on behalf of itself, National Institutes of Health and other 
universities.
     
Pre-clinical animal data show that treatment with BG results in increased 
survival and heightens the anti-tumor activity of chemotherapeutic agents.  
The Company's collaborators believe that BG works by inactivating the DNA 
repair protein AGT (O(6) alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase) present in tumor 
cells and known to be a significant source of resistance to treatment with 
0(6) alkylating agents.  Studies led by Pugh Scholar Dr. Anthony E. Pegg and 
his team have shown a correlation between low levels of the repair protein 
AGT in tumors and enhanced responsiveness to treatment.  
     
"O(6) Benzylguanine has the potential to enhance the activity of O(6) 
alkylating agents in drug resistant cancers.  This is particularly exciting 
because cancer resistance to these alkylating agents has been a major problem 
for their efficacy," commented Dr. David Golde, Physician-in-Chief, Sloan 
Kettering Cancer Center and Chairman of Pacific's Scientific Advisory Board.  
     
"This novel class of compounds has the potential to expand the indications 
for O(6) alkylating agents to other cancers," stated H. Laurence Shaw, M.D., 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.  Pacific Pharmaceuticals, 
Inc. is actively engaged in the development of cancer therapies, and is 
preparing to enter Phase I/II human clinical trials this year with its 
proprietary photodynamic therapy compound BOPP for the treatment of brain 
cancer, and a proprietary Cancer Immunotherapy for the treatment of 
metastatic breast cancer.  The Company manages products through pre-clinical, 
clinical development and regulatory approval to position them for successful 
commercialization.



The terms of the license agreement include payments for royalties, license 
fees and milestone payments to be paid in cash or common stock of the 
Company.  Paramount Capital Investments, LLC ("Paramount") acted as financial 
advisor to the Company in connection with the identification, negotiation and 
consummation of the license and will receive a fee in cash and securities 
vesting upon achievement of certain performance based events.  Paramount is 
affiliated with certain significant shareholders and a Director of the 
Company.
     
THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS.  THE ACTUAL RESULTS 
COULD VARY FROM THOSE EXPECTED DUE TO A VARIETY OF RISKS SET FORTH FROM TIME 
TO TIME IN THE COMPANY'S FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, 
INCLUDING THE COMPANY'S REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3, AS DECLARED 
EFFECTIVE ON SEPTEMBER 4, 1997.  THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION TO 
PUBLICLY RELEASE THE RESULTS OF ANY OF THESE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS WHICH 
MAY BE MADE TO REFLECT EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER THE DATE HEREOF OR TO 
REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF UNANTICIPATED EVENTS.








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