EXHIBIT 10.1 FIRST AMENDMENT TO NOTE BETWEEN COLLATERAL THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND IMPERIAL BANK, DATED APRIL 4, 1998 The First Amendment ("Amendment") amends that certain note ("the Note") in the original principal amount of $400,000 executed by...

EXHIBIT 10.1



                              FIRST AMENDMENT TO NOTE
                       BETWEEN COLLATERAL THERAPEUTICS, INC.
                       AND IMPERIAL BANK, DATED APRIL 4, 1998


The First Amendment ("Amendment") amends that certain note ("the Note") in the
original principal amount of $400,000 executed by Collateral Therapeutics, Inc.
("Maker") in favor of Imperial Bank ("Bank") as of September 14, 1998, as
follows:

1.   The dollar figure "$400,000.00" at the beginning of the Note and in the
first paragraph of the Note is hereby amended to read as "$1,000,000.00" in each
of the two places it appears.

2.   Except as provided above, the Agreement remains unchanged.

3.   This Amendment is effective as of September 14, 1998, and the parties
     hereby confirm that the Agreement as amended is in full force and effect.


COLLATERAL THERAPEUTICS, INC.
"BORROWER"

By:  /s/    ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
            ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title:      Chief Operating and Financial Officer

IMPERIAL BANK
"BANK"

By:  /s/    ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title:      Vice President