<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 24
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Wilbur H. Gantz and Alan R. Meyer, or any one of
them, his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him/her and in his/her name, place, and
stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all pre- or post-effective
amendments to Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the PathoGenesis
Corporation 1999 Employee Stock Option and the PathoGenesis Corporation Employee
Stock purchase Plan, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-
fact and agent, or their, his/her substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Wilbur H. Gantz Chairman, Chief Executive July 13, 2000
---------------------------
Wilbur H. Gantz Officer, President and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Alan R. Meyer Executive Vice President, Chief July 13, 2000
---------------------------
Alan R. Meyer Financial Officer and Director
(Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
/s/ John Gordon Director) July 13, 2000
---------------------------
John Gordon
/s/ Elizabeth M. Greetham Director) July 13, 2000
---------------------------
Elizabeth M. Greetham
/s/ Michael J. Montgomery Director) July 13, 2000
---------------------------
Michael J. Montgomery
/s/ Arthur W. Nienhuis Director) July 13, 2000
---------------------------
Arthur W. Nienhuis
/s/ Talat M. Othman Director) July 13, 2000
---------------------------
Talat M. Othman
<PAGE>
/s/ Eugene L. Step Director) July 13, 2000
---------------------------
Eugene L. Step
/s/ James R. Tobin Director) July 13, 2000
---------------------------
James R. Tobin
/s/ Fred Wilpon Director) July 13, 2000
---------------------------
Fred Wilpon
