SEC Filing | Neurocrine Biosciences

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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCHEDULE 13D Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 2) NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, No Par Value (Title of Class of Securities) 64125C109 (CUSIP Number) Wayne P. Merkelson, Esq. Novartis Corporation 564 Morris Avenue Summit, NJ 07901-1398 Telephone: (908) 522-6777 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) Copy to: Spencer D. Klein, Esq. Shearman & Sterling 599 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10022 Telephone: (212) 848-4000 December 10, 1999 (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box |_|.

CUSIP No. 64125C109 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Names of Reporting Person S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person Novartis AG - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (a) [ ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) SEC Use Only - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Source of Funds (See Instructions) OO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) Citizenship or Place of Organization Switzerland - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (7) Sole Voting Power 0 Number of Shares ------------------------------------------------------------ Beneficially (8) Shared Voting Power 0 Owned by Each ------------------------------------------------------------ Reporting Person (9) Sole Dispositive Power 0 With ------------------------------------------------------------ (10) Shared Dispositive Power 0 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 0 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) 0% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) CO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 2

CUSIP No. 64125C109 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Names of Reporting Person S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (a) [ ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) SEC Use Only - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Source of Funds (See Instructions) OO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) Citizenship or Place of Organization Delaware - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (7) Sole Voting Power 0 Number of Shares ------------------------------------------------------------ Beneficially (8) Shared Voting Power 0 Owned by Each ------------------------------------------------------------ Reporting Person (9) Sole Dispositive Power 0 With ------------------------------------------------------------ (10) Shared Dispositive Power 0 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 0 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) 0% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) CO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 3

CUSIP NO. 64125C109 SCHEDULE 13D Item 1. Security and Issuer This Amendment No. 2 amends the Statement on Schedule 13D (the "Schedule 13D") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 10, 1996 by Ciba-Geigy Limited and subsequently amended on January 23, 1998. This Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13D relates to shares of common stock, no par value (the "Common Stock"), of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (the "Issuer"). The principal executive office and mailing address of the Issuer is 10555 Science Center Drive, San Diego, California 92121. The following amendments to Items 4 and 5 are hereby made. Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Schedule 13D. Item 4. Purpose of Transaction. In a series of transactions culminating on December 10, 1999, Novartis AG and Novartis Pharamaceuticals Corporation have sold all their interests in the Common Stock. Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer. (a) Novartis owns, beneficially or otherwise, no shares of Common Stock, and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation owns, beneficially or otherwise, no shares of Common Stock. (b) Not applicable. (c) Novartis AG sold all of its shares of Common Stock in the following transactions: 49,000 shares sold at a price of $16.523 per share on December 6, 1999; and 1,121,353 shares sold at a price of $14 per share on December 10, 1999. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation sold all of its shares of Common Stock in the following transactions: 25,000 shares sold at a price of $4.9375 per share on October 20, 1998; 10,000 shares sold at a price of $5 per share on October 21, 1998; and 307,559 shares sold at a price of $15.1489 per share on December 2, 1999. All of these transactions were effected through sales on the open market. (d) Not applicable. (e) On December 10, 1999, Novartis AG ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the Common Stock. Page 4

SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: January 14, 1999 NOVARTIS AG By /s/ J. Vierkotter ------------------------------------ Name: J. Vierkotter Title: Signatory By /s/ F. Eichhorn ------------------------------------ Name: F. Eichhorn Title: Signatory Page 5

SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: January 14, 1999 NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION By /s/ Wayne P. Merkelson ------------------------------------ Name: Wayne P. Merkelson Title: Vice President & Assistant Secretary Page 6