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ORCHID BIOSCIENCES, INC.
303 College Road East
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
October 16, 2000
VIA EDGAR
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Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Judiciary Plaza
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: Orchid BioSciences, Inc. -
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-46448)
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Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Rule 477(a) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, Orchid BioSciences, Inc. (the "Registrant") hereby respectfully
requests that the Securities and Exchange Commission consent to the withdrawal
of its Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-46448), together
with all exhibits and amendments thereto (the "Registration Statement"). The
Registrant is requesting such withdrawal because of unfavorable market
conditions that would adversely affect the offering of the shares of common
stock, par value $.001 per share, covered by the Registration Statement. No
securities were sold or will be sold under the Registration Statement.
The Registrant further requests that, pursuant to Rule 477(c), an order
with the date of the granting of the withdrawal be included in the file for the
above-captioned Registration Statement in the following manner: "Withdrawn upon
the request of the Registrant, the Commission consenting thereto."
Please address any questions you may have to John J. Cheney, Esquire, at
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., One Financial Center,
Boston, Massachusetts 02111, telephone number (617) 542-6000, facsimile number
(617) 542-2241.
Thank you for your assistance with this matter.
ORCHID BIOSCIENCES, INC.
By: /s/ Donald R. Marvin
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Donald R. Marvin
Senior Vice President, Chief
Operating Officer and Chief
Financial Officer
cc: John J. Cheney, Esquire
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Peter Jakes, Esquire
Willkie Farr & Gallagher
