GENOME THERAPEUTICS CORP
S-8, 1997-07-02
IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES
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                                                    Registration No. 333-_____

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            GENOME THERAPEUTICS CORP.
               (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

 MASSACHUSETTS                                                04-2297484
(State or other jurisdiction of                            (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                             Identification No.)
                                100 Beaver Street
                          Waltham, Massachusetts 02154
           (Address of Principal Executive offices including zip code)

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENTS
                            (Full title of the Plan)
                                  Fenel M. Eloi
                            Genome Therapeutics Corp.
                                100 Beaver Street
                          Waltham, Massachusetts 02154
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (617) 893-5007
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                  Please send copies of all communications to:

                              David C. Chapin, Esq.
                                  Ropes & Gray
                             One International Place
                        Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2624
                            Telephone: (617) 951-7371

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                      <C>                       <C>                   <C>                    <C>
                                                    Proposed              Proposed
Title of                                            Maximum               Maximum
Securities                 Amount                   Offering              Aggregate              Amount of
To Be                      To Be                    Price Per             Offering               Registration
Registered                 Registered               Share<F1>             Price<F1>              Fee


Common Stock,              215,000                  $8.3125               $1,787,187.50          $542
$.10 par value.
- -------------------------
<FN>

<F1>Estimated  solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the
basis of the average  high and low prices of the Common Stock as reported by the
National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers  Automated  Quotation  System  on
June 27, 1997. Exhibit Index can be found on page 8.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                           This is page 1 of 16 pages.

                                                  



<PAGE>



                                     Part II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

        The  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year  ended
August 31, 1996,  the Company's  amended  Annual Report on Form 10-K/A-1 for the
fiscal year ended August 31, 1996, the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended November 30, 1996, the Company's  Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter  ended March 1, 1997,  all the reports filed by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a) and (c),
14 and 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 since the end of the fiscal
year  covered  by the  Company's  Annual  Report  referred  to  above,  and  the
description of the Company's  Common Stock  contained in its Form 10/A, File No.
0-10824  are  incorporated  by  reference  and made a part of this  registration
statement.

        All  reports  and  other  documents  subsequently  filed by the  Company
pursuant to Sections 13(a) and (c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended,  prior to the filing of a  post-effective  amendment  which
indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters
all securities remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein and to be a part hereof  from the date of the filing of such  reports and
documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities

           Not Required.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

           Not Applicable.


Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

        The  Company  is  organized  under  the  laws  of  The  Commonwealth  of
Massachusetts.   The  Massachusetts   Business  Corporation  Law  provides  that
indemnification of directors,  officers,  employees, and other agents of another
organization,  or who serve at its request is any  capacity  with respect to any
employee  benefit plan, may be provided by the  corporation  to whatever  extent
specified in its charter documents or votes adopted by its shareholders,  except
that no  indemnification  may be  provided  for any person  with  respect to any
matter as to which the person shall have been  adjudicated in any proceeding not
to have acted in good faith in the reasonable  belief that his action was in the
best interest of the  corporation.  Under  Massachusetts  law, a corporation can
purchase and maintain  insurance on behalf of any person  against any  liability
incurred as a  director,  officer,  employee,  agent,  or person  serving at the
request of the corporation as a director,  officer,  employee, or other agent of
another  organization  or with  respect to any  employee  benefit  plan,  in his
capacity  as such,  whether  or not the  corporation  would have power to itself
indemnify him against such liability.


                                       -2-
                                                         

<PAGE>



        The Company's Articles of Organization  provide that its directors shall
not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach
of fiduciary duty as a director,  except to the extent that the exculpation from
liabilities is not permitted under the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law as
in effect at the time such liability is determined. The By-Laws provide that the
Company shall indemnify its directors and officers to the full extent  permitted
by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In addition, the Company holds
a Directors and Officer Liability and Corporate Indemnification Policy.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed

        Not Applicable.

Item 8.        Exhibits.


Exhibit 4(a).                       Form of Stock Option Agreements and Schedule
                                    of Agreements.

Exhibit 4(b).                       The Company's Restated Articles of Organiza-
                                    tion (filed as an exhibit to the Company's
                                    Registration Statement on Form S-1
                                    (No. 2-75230) and incorporated herein by
                                    reference).

Exhibit 4(c).                       Amendment  dated  January  5, 1982 to
                                    Restated Articles of Organization  (filed as
                                    an exhibit to the Company's Quarterly Report
                                    on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended  February
                                    27,   1982  and   incorporated   herein   by
                                    reference).

Exhibit 4(d).                       Amendment  dated  January 24, 1983 to
                                    Restated Articles of Organization  (filed as
                                    an exhibit to the Company's Quarterly Report
                                    on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended  February
                                    26,   1983  and   incorporated   herein   by
                                    reference).

Exhibit 4(e).                       Amendment  dated  January 17, 1984 to
                                    Restated Articles of Organization  (filed as
                                    an exhibit to the Company's Quarterly Report
                                    on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended  February
                                    25,   1984  and   incorporated   herein   by
                                    reference).

Exhibit 4(f).                       Amendment  dated  December 9, 1987 to
                                    Restated Articles of Organization  (filed as
                                    an exhibit to the Company's Quarterly Report
                                    on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended  November
                                    28,   1987  and   incorporated   herein   by
                                    reference).

Exhibit 4(g).                       Amendment  dated  January 24, 1994 to
                                    an exhibit to the Company's Annual Report on
                                    Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1994
                                    and incorporated herein by reference).


                                       -3-


                                                         

<PAGE>



Exhibit 4(h).                       Amendment  dated  August 31,  1994 to
                                    Restated Articles of Organization  (filed as
                                    an exhibit to the Company's Annual Report on
                                    Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1994
                                    and incorporated herein by reference).

Exhibit 4(i).                       The Company's By-laws (filed as an exhibit
                                    to the Company's Registration Statement on
                                    Form S-1 (No. 2-75230) and incorporated
                                    herein by reference).

Exhibit 4(j).                       Amendment  dated  October 20, 1987 to
                                    the  By-laws  (filed  as an  exhibit  to the
                                    Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                                    fiscal  year  ended   August  31,  1987  and
                                    incorporated herein by reference).

Exhibit 4(k).                       Amendment  dated  October 16, 1989 to
                                    the  By-laws  (filed  as an  exhibit  to the
                                    Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                                    fiscal  year  ended   August  31,  1989  and
                                    incorporated herein by reference).

Exhibit 5.                          Opinion of Ropes & Gray.

Exhibit 23(a).                      Consent of Ropes & Gray (contained in
                                    Exhibit 5).

Exhibit 23(b).                      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

Exhibit 24.                         Power of Attorney  (included as part of
                                    the  signature  pages  to this  Registration
                                    Statement).

Item 9.  Undertakings.

        (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

               (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                     (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section
        10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                     (ii) To  reflect  in the  prospectus  any  facts or  events
        arising after the effective date of the  registration  statement (or the
        most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,  individually or in
        the aggregate,  represent a fundamental  change in the  information  set
        forth in the registration statement;

                     (iii) To include any material  information  with respect to
        the plan of distribution  not previously  disclosed in the  registration
        statement or any material change to such information in the registration
        statement;


                                       -4-


                                                         

<PAGE>



provided,  however,  that paragraphs  (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) will not apply if
the information  required to be included in a post-effective  amendment by those
paragraphs  is  contained  in periodic  reports  filed with or  furnished to the
Commission  by the  registrant  pursuant  to Section 13 or Section  15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  that are  incorporated  by  reference  in the
registration statement.

               (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

               (3) To  remove  from  registration  by means of a  post-effective
amendment  any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

        (b) The undersigned  registrant  hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 (and,  where  applicable,  each  filing of any
employee  benefit  plan's  annual  report  pursuant  to  Section  15(d)  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934)  that is  incorporated  by  reference  in the
registration  statement  shall  be  deemed  to be a new  registration  statement
relating to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        (c)  Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under  the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and  controlling
persons of the registrant  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,
the  registrant  has been  advised  that in the  opinion of the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission such  indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for
indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other  than  the  payment  by  the
registrant of expenses  incurred or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling
person of the  registrant  in the  successful  defense  of any  action,  suit or
proceeding)  is  asserted by such  director,  officer or  controlling  person in
connection with the securities being registered,  the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether  such
indemnification  by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                       -5-

                                                         

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Waltham,  Commonwealth of Massachusetts,  on this 2nd
day of July, 1997.
                                           Genome Therapeutics Corp.


                                            By: /s/ Fenel M. Eloi
                                            Title: Vice President, Treasurer and
                                                   Chief Financial Officer

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Robert J. Hennessey and Fenel M. Eloi and each of
them,  with  full  power  to  act  without  the  other,   his  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him and in his name,  place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any
or all  amendments  to this  registration  statement,  including  post-effective
amendments,  and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  granting
unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents and each of them full power and authority
to do and perform  each and every act and thing  requisite  and  necessary to be
done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might
or  could  do  in  person,   hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all  that  said
attorneys-in-fact  and agents or any substitutes lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration  statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                      <C>                                            <C>

    Name                                     Title                                          Date

/s/ Robert J. Hennessey                    Chairman of the Board;                         July 2, 1997
- --------------------------                 President and Chief
Robert J. Hennessey                        Executive Officer (Principal
                                           Executive Officer)


/s/ Philip Leder                           Director                                       July 2, 1997
__________________________
Philip Leder




/s/ Lawrence Levy                          Director                                       July 2, 1997
__________________________
Lawrence Levy



                                       -6-



<PAGE>


    Name                                     Title                                          Date


/s/ Donald J. McCarren                     Director                                       July 2, 1997
- ----------------------------
Donald J. McCarren



/s/ Steven M. Rauscher                     Director                                       July 2, 1997
- -----------------------------
Steven M. Rauscher


/s/ Michael Rosenblatt                     Director                                       July 2, 1997
_____________________________
Michael Rosenblatt



/s/ Fenel M. Eloi                          Vice President; Treasurer and                   July 2, 1997
- ----------------------------------         Chief Financial Officer
Fenel M. Eloi                              (Principal Financial and
                                           Accounting Officer)

</TABLE>




                                       -7-



<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>               <C>                                                                <C> 



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Number                           Title of Exhibit                                                 Page

4(a).              Form of Stock Option Agreements and Schedule                                     9
                   of Agreements

5.                 Opinion of Ropes & Gray                                                          14

23(a).             Consent of Ropes & Gray                                              Contained in Exhibit 5

23(b).             Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP                                                   16

24.                Power of Attorney                                                    Included as Part of Signature
                                                                                        Pages to this Registration
</TABLE>


                                       -8-



<PAGE>





                                                                   EXHIBIT 4(a)

                            GENOME THERAPEUTICS CORP.

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

                             (Non-Statutory Option)


Non-Statutory Stock Option granted by Genome Therapeutics Corp., a Massachusetts
corporation  (the  "Company"),  to  [Optionee],  a director of the Company  (the
"Optionee").

                   1.  Grant of Option

This  agreement  evidences the grant by the Company to the Optionee of an option
to  purchase,  on the terms  provided  herein,  a total of ______  shares of the
Company's Common Stock, $.10 par value ("Common Stock"), at a price of $____ per
share.  This option does not  constitute  an incentive  stock option  within the
meaning  of  Section  422A of the  Internal  Revenue  Code.  This  option  shall
terminate on __________, 200_, and is subject to earlier termination as provided
in  Sections 5 and 6 below.  Subject to the other terms  hereof,  this option is
exercisable as follows:  as to ______ if the average closing price of the Common
Stock is, for a period of ten (10) out of twenty (20) consecutive  trading days,
$_____ or higher,  as reported on the NASDAQ National Market ("NASDAQ") (or such
principal  securities  exchange as the Common Stock may be traded;  and as to an
additional  ______  shares if the average  closing price of the Common Stock is,
for a period of ten (10) out of twenty (20) consecutive  trading days, $_____ or
higher,  as reported  on NASDAQ (or such  principal  securities  exchange as the
Common Stock may be traded..

                   2.  Exercise of Option

Each  election  to  exercise  this  option  shall be in  writing,  signed by the
Optionee or by his  executor or  administrator  or the person or persons to whom
this  option  is  transferred  by will or the  applicable  laws of  descent  and
distribution  (the "Legal  Representative"),  and received by the Company at its
principal  office in Waltham,  Massachusetts,  accompanied by this agreement and
payment  in full as  provided  in  Section 3 below.  In the event the  option is
exercised by such Legal Representative, the Company shall be under no obligation
to deliver stock  hereunder  unless and until the Company is satisfied  that the
person or persons exercising the option is or are the duly appointed executor or
administrator  of the  deceased  Optionee  or the person or persons to whom this
option has been  transferred  by Optionee's  will or by the  applicable  laws of
descent and distribution.

                   3.  Payment for Stock


                                       -9-



<PAGE>



Shares  shall be issued only upon  receipt by the Company of full payment of the
purchase price for the shares as to which the option is exercised.  The purchase
price  is  payable  by the  Optionee  to the  Company  either  (i) in cash or by
certified check or cashier's check payable to the order of the Company;  or (ii)
through the  delivery of shares of Common  Stock (duly owned by the Optionee and
as to  which  the  Optionee  has good  title  free and  clear of any  liens  and
encumbrances)  having  a fair  market  value  (as  determined  by the  Board  of
Directors of the Company) equal to the purchase price; or (iii) by a combination
of cash and Common Stock as provided above. The Company will not be obligated to
deliver any shares unless and until,  in the opinion of the  Company's  counsel,
all applicable  federal and state laws and regulations  have been complied with,
nor, in the event the  outstanding  common  stock is at the time listed upon any
stock exchange,  unless and until the shares to be delivered have been listed or
authorized  to be added to the list upon  official  notice of legal  matters  in
connection  with the issuance  and delivery of shares have been  approved by the
Company's counsel. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company
may require from the Optionee such investment  representation or such agreement,
if any, as counsel for the Company  may  consider  necessary  in order to comply
with the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended and may require that the Optionee
agree  that he will  notify the  Company  when he makes any  disposition  of the
shares whether by sale, gift or otherwise. The Company will use its best efforts
to effect any such compliance or listing,  and the Optionee will take any action
reasonably  requested by the Company in such connection.  The Optionee will have
the rights of a  shareholder  only as to shares  actually  acquired  by him upon
exercise of the option granted hereby.

                   4.  Non-transferability of Option

This option may not be transferred by the Optionee  otherwise than by will or by
the laws of descent and  distribution;  and during the Optionee's  lifetime this
option may be exercised only by him.

                   5.  Termination of Service as a Director

If the Optionee ceases to be a director of the Company for any reason other than
his death, he may thereafter  exercise this option to the extent he was entitled
to exercise it on the date when his service as a director  terminated,  but only
within three months after the date of such  termination  (unless a longer period
is allowed by the Board of Directors of the Company).  In no event, however, may
the  Optionee  exercise  this  option  at a time  when the  option  would not be
exercisable had the Optionee's service as a director continued.  For purposes of
this  provision,  the  Optionee's  service as a director  will not be considered
terminated in the case of a bona fide leave of absence  approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company.

                   6.  Death

If the Optionee dies at a time when he is entitled to exercise this option, then
at any time or times within  three years after his death (or such longer  period
as the  Board  of  Directors  of the  Company  may  allow)  such  option  may be
exercised,  as to all or any of the shares  that the  Optionee  was  entitled to
purchase immediately prior to his death, by his executor or administrator or the
person or persons to

                                      -10-



<PAGE>



whom the option is  transferred  by will or the  applicable  laws of descent and
distribution,  and except as so exercised  such option will expire at the end of
such  period.  In no event,  however,  may this  option be  exercised  after the
termination of the option.

                   7.  Administration

The  option  granted  by this  agreement  will be  administered  by the Board of
Directors  of the  Company  which  will have the  authority  to  interpret  this
agreement and to decide all questions and settle all  controversies  and dispute
which may arise in  connection  therewith.  All  decisions,  determinations  and
interpretations  of the  Board  of  Directors  will be  binding  on all  parties
concerned. A majority of the members of the Board of Directors will constitute a
quorum,  and all  determinations  of the  Board of  Directors  will be made by a
majority of its members.  Any determination of the Board of Directors under this
agreement  may be made without  notice or meeting of the Board of Directors by a
written  instrument  signed  by a  majority  of  the  members  of the  Board  of
Directors.

                   8.  Stock to be Delivered

Stock to be delivered  upon exercised of this option will be common stock of the
Company and may constitute an original issue of authorized but unissued stock or
may consist of  previously  issued stock  acquired by the Company as  determined
from time to time by the Board of  Directors.  The  Board of  Directors  and the
proper  officers of the Company will take any  appropriate  action  required for
such delivery.

                   9.  Changes in Stock

In  the  event  of  a  stock  dividend,   split-up  or  combination  of  shares,
recapitalization or merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation, or
other  similar  capital  change,  the  number  and  kind of  shares  of stock or
securities of the Company subject to the option granted hereby, the option price
and other relevant  provisions  will be  appropriately  adjusted by the Board of
Directors of the Company,  whose  determination will be binding on the Optionee.
In the  event of a  consolidation  or merger  in which  the  Company  is not the
surviving  corporation,  or in the event of complete liquidation of the Company,
the option  granted  hereby will  thereupon  terminate,  provided  that at least
twenty days prior to the effective date of any such consolidation or merger, the
Board of Directors  shall either (a) make the option granted hereby  immediately
exercisable,   or  (b)  arrange  to  have  the  surviving  corporation  grant  a
replacement option to the Optionee.

                   10.  Amendments

The Board of  Directors of the Company may at any time or times amend the option
granted hereby for the purpose of satisfying the  requirements of any changes in
applicable laws or regulations or for any other purpose which may at the time be
permitted by law,  provided  that (except to the extent  explicitly  required or
permitted  hereinabove)  no such  amendment  will,  without the  approval of the
stockholders

                                      -11-



<PAGE>



of the Company,  (a) increase the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the
option,  (b)  reduce the  exercise  price of the  option,  (c) extend the period
within which the option may be  exercised,  or (d) amend the  provisions of this
Section  10,  and no such  amendment  will  adversely  affect  the rights of the
Optionee without his consent.

                   11.  Governing Law

This  agreement  shall be  governed  by and  construed  in  accordance  with the
internal laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

                   12.  Stockholder Approval

This agreement  shall not become  effective  unless and until the option granted
hereby is approved by the stockholders of the Company.

                   IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this agreement to
be executed by its duly  authorized  officer,  under its  corporate  seal.  This
option is granted at the Company's office, on the date stated below.


                                               GENOME THERAPEUTICS CORP.



                                                By:___________________________
                                                   President


Date:  As of ____________, 1997

Accepted and Agreed:



- -----------------------------
[Optionee]

                                      -12-



<PAGE>



                       SCHEDULE OF STOCK OPTION AGREEMENTS


                       Price Per    Grant     Expiration   Shares       Exercise
Optionee               Share        Date      Date         Granted      Dates

Barry
Eisenstein              $7.06     3/31/97     3/31/07        7500         <F1>

Christopher Kelly       $9.06     3/14/97     3/14/07      150000         <F2>

James Gusella           $7.06     3/31/97     3/31/07        7500         <F1>

Michael
Rosenblatt              $9.50      2/7/97      2/7/07       50000         <F3>




[FN]

<F1>The options are exercisable by their terms in equal  installments  over four
years, the first installment of 12,500 exercisable commencing on March 31, 1998.

<F2>The options are  exercisable by their terms as follows:  (i) an aggregate of
75,000  options are  exercisable  with respect to equal  installments  over four
years,  the first  installment of 18,750 options are  exercisable  commencing on
March 14, 1998; (ii) 25,000 options shall be exercisable if the closing price of
the Common Stock for a period of 20 out of 40 consecutive trading days after the
date of grant is $14.25 or higher;  (iii) 25,000 options shall be exercisable if
the closing  price of the Common Stock for a period of 20 out of 40  consecutive
trading days after the date of grant is $18.25 or higher; (iv) and the remaining
25,000 options shall be exercisable if the closing price of the Common Stock for
a period of 20 out of 40  consecutive  trading  days  after the date of grant is
$20.25 or higher.

<F3>The options are exercisable by their terms in equal  installments  over four
years,  the first  installment of 12,500  exercisable  commencing on February 7,
1998.
[/FN]

                                      -13-



<PAGE>

                                                                 EXHIBIT 5
                                  Ropes & Gray
                            One International Place
                        Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2624
                                 (617) 951-7000
                              FAX: (617) 951-7050

                                                                  July 2, 1997


Genome Therapeutics Corp.
100 Beaver Street
Waltham, Massachusetts  02154

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for Genome Therapeutics Corp., a Massachusetts
corporation (the "Company") in connection with the preparation of a registration
statement on Form S-8 and all exhibits  thereto (the  "Registration  Statement")
filed with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended,  for the registration of 215,000 shares of Common Stock,  $.10
par value (the "Shares").

         The 215,000  shares being  registered are issuable upon the exercise of
options granted pursuant to certain stock option  agreements (the  "Agreements")
between the Company and the respective holders. The Company has informed us that
the Shares  issuable upon the exercise of options  granted under the  Agreements
may be  authorized  but unissued  shares or shares held from time to time in its
treasury.

         For  purposes  of  this  opinion,  we  have  examined  a  copy  of  the
Registration  Statement;  copies of the  Agreements;  the  Restated  Articles of
Organization of the Company,  as amended to date; the By-laws of the Company, as
amended to date; the votes of the Board of Directors and the stockholders of the
Company approving and adopting the Agreements;  and such other documents and
records as we deem necessary for purposes of this opinion.

         We have  assumed  that the Shares will be issued only  against  payment
therefor as  provided in the  Agreements  and that the  purchase  price for such
shares  will not be less than the par value  per share of the  Company's  Common
Stock. We have also assumed that the issuance of any such shares will not result
in the  issuance  by the  Company of more than its  authorized  shares of Common
Stock.

                                      -14-
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         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

         1.       The Company is a duly organized and validly existing
corporation under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

         2. The Shares,  when issued and paid for upon the  exercise of options,
pursuant to the terms and conditions of the  Agreements,  will be validly issued
and will be fully paid and nonassessable.

         In  connection  with any issue and sale of the Shares,  steps should be
taken to effect  compliance with all applicable  laws,  rules and regulations of
governmental authorities regulating sales and offerings of securities.

         We understand  that this opinion is to be used in  connection  with the
Registration  Statement.  We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name therein.

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     /s/ Ropes & Gray

                                                     Ropes & Gray

                                      -15-



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                                                                  EXHIBIT 23(b)

                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

         As   independent   public   accountants,   we  hereby  consent  to  the
incorporation  by reference in this  Registration  Statement of our report dated
October  18,  1996 in Genome  Therapeutic  Corp.'s  Form 10-K for the year ended
August 31, 1996 and to all references to our Firm included in this  Registration
Statement.


                                                     /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
                                                     ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


June 27, 1997

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