CENTOCOR INC
S-3, 1996-07-09
IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES
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<PAGE>
 
   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 9, 1996
                                                     Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549
                              ____________________

                                    FORM S-3

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                              ____________________

                                 CENTOCOR, INC.
          -------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     Pennsylvania                                                23-2117202
- --------------------------                                   -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer 
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)

 
                            200 Great Valley Parkway
                          Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355
                                  (610) 651-6000
      ------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
            area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

                              ____________________

                            George D. Hobbs, Esquire
                Vice President, Corporate Counsel and Secretary
                                 Centocor, Inc.
                            200 Great Valley Parkway
                          Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355
                                  (610) 651-6000
           --------------------------------------------------------
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                              ____________________

                                    Copy to:
                            David C. Toner, Esquire
                           Duane, Morris & Heckscher
                               One Liberty Place
                          Philadelphia, PA  19103-7396
                              ____________________

     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time
to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [_]

     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box.  [X]

     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the
following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the
earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]
                                                                   -------------
<PAGE>
 
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [_] ______________________________

     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434
under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box. [_]

                              ____________________


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

=====================================================================================================
 
                                               Proposed              Proposed
 Title of securities     Amount to be      maximum offering     maximum aggregate       Amount of
  to be registered        registered        price per share       offering price     registration fee
<S>                    <C>                <C>                  <C>                   <C>
 
Common Stock,           920,716   shares      $ 28.06    (1)       $ 25,835,291(1)    $ 8,909       
$.01 par value
=====================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) Pursuant to paragraph (c) of Rule 457, the proposed maximum offering price
per share and the proposed maximum aggregate offering price have been computed
on the basis of $28.06 per share, the average of the high and low sales prices
of the Common Stock of the Company on the Nasdaq National Market on 
July 8, 1996.

                              ____________________

   The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall
file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration
Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933, or until the Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting
pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
<PAGE>
 
PROSPECTUS


                                920,716 Shares
                                        
                                 CENTOCOR, INC.
                                  COMMON STOCK 
                                  ------------
 
     This Prospectus relates to 920,716 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value
per share, of Centocor, Inc. ("Centocor" or the "Company") that were acquired by
Eli Lilly and Company ("Lilly" or the "Selling Shareholder") in a private
transaction. See "Selling Shareholder." Some or all of the shares of Common
Stock to which this Prospectus relates may be sold from time to time by the
Selling Shareholder, or by pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in
interest to the Selling Shareholder, at public or private sale at prevailing
market prices, prices related to prevailing market prices, negotiated prices or
fixed prices (and, in the case of sales through brokers, upon payment of normal
brokerage commissions). The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from
the sale of the shares of Common Stock offered hereunder by the Selling
Shareholder.

     The Common Stock of the Company is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market
under the symbol "CNTO." The last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the
Nasdaq National Market on July 8, 1996 was $27.625 per share.
                         -----------------------------

SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE 4 HEREOF FOR INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS.
                         -----------------------------

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
                         -----------------------------

     This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell securities in any
jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer in such
jurisdiction.

     No person has been authorized by the Company to give any information or to
make any representations, other than as contained in this Prospectus, and, if
given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon.

     Neither delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall,
under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in
the affairs of the Company since the date hereof.

                         -----------------------------

              The date of this Prospectus is                , 1996
<PAGE>
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information filed by the Company may be inspected and
copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room
1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549-1004, and
at the Commission's following Regional Offices: New York Regional Office, 7
World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048; and Chicago Regional
Office, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511.
Copies of such material may also be obtained at prescribed rates from the Public
Reference Branch of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza,
Washington, D.C. 20549-1004. Quotations relating to the Company's Common Stock
appear on the Nasdaq National Market and such reports and other information
concerning the Company can also be inspected at the offices of the Nasdaq Stock
Market, 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006-1506.
 
     The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") with respect to the
Common Stock offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all of the
information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and
schedules thereto, certain portions of which have been omitted as permitted by
the rules and regulations of the Commission. Statements contained in this
Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are
not necessarily complete; and with respect to each such contract or document
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, reference is made to such
exhibit for a more complete description of the matters involved, each such
statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. For further
information with respect to the Company and the Common Stock, reference is made
to the Registration Statement and exhibits thereto. The information so omitted,
including exhibits, may be obtained from the Commission at its principal office
in Washington, D.C. upon payment of the prescribed fees, or may be inspected
without charge at the public reference facilities of the Commission at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549-1004.

 

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                                  THE COMPANY

          Centocor is a biotechnology company that develops therapeutic and
diagnostic human health care products for cardiovascular, autoimmune and
infectious diseases and cancer. The Company's primary technological focus is on
monoclonal antibodies, with additional programs in genetic vaccines and
peptides.  The Company's strategy is to identify proprietary high value-added
product opportunities, and to commercialize those opportunities by focusing on
clinical development, regulatory process, manufacturing and market development.
The Company seeks to license technology and product candidates from research
institutions and other biotechnology companies, in addition to conducting
selected basic research.

          The Company has two therapeutic products approved for sale and several
product candidates in various stages of development.  ReoPro is marketed and
sold in the United States and Europe for the reduction of acute ischemic cardiac
complications in patients undergoing angioplasty procedures who are at high risk
for abrupt artery closure.  Panorex is marketed and sold in Germany as an
adjuvant therapy in the treatment of post-operative colorectal cancer.  Panorex
is a trademark of Centocor.  ReoPro is a trademark of Lilly.  The Company also
markets several diagnostic products for cancer and infectious disease in the
United States, Europe and Japan.

          Consistent with its strategy, the Company maintains and seeks
strategic alliances with major pharmaceutical companies for the
commercialization and marketing of each of its therapeutic products, pursuant to
which the Company and its respective partner jointly focus on the continued
clinical and market development for the product, while the Company's partner
primarily conducts the marketing, promotion and distribution of such product.
The Company maintains and seeks distribution agreements for its diagnostic
products with companies having established positions and distribution networks
in applicable market segments.
 
          The Company was incorporated in Pennsylvania in 1979.  The Company's
corporate headquarters are located at 200 Great Valley Parkway, Malvern,
Pennsylvania  19355, and its telephone number is (610) 651-6000.

          In this Prospectus, the terms "Centocor" and the "Company" include
Centocor, Inc. and its subsidiaries, and the term "Common Stock" refers to the
common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company, including the common
stock purchase rights attached thereto.

          The 920,716 shares of the Company's Common Stock covered by this
Prospectus (the "Shares") are, or may be, offered by the Selling Shareholder.
The Selling Shareholder is Lilly. See "Selling Shareholder."

 
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                  RISK FACTORS

     Before purchasing the shares of Common Stock offered hereby, prospective
investors should consider carefully the risk factors set forth below as well as
the other information set forth elsewhere in this Prospectus or incorporated
herein by reference in evaluating the Company and its business.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources; Need for and Uncertainty of Additional Capital

     The Company has incurred significant operating expenses attempting to
develop therapeutic and diagnostic products. The Company's product sales have
not produced sufficient revenues to cover the Company's operating costs.
Consequently, the Company has experienced substantial net cash outflows, which
have been only partially offset by significant contract revenues received
through collaborative alliances with pharmaceutical companies and the Company's
financing activities.
 
     The Company's future financial condition is highly dependent upon the
reduction of the Company's rate of net cash outflows and, ultimately, upon the
achievement of significant and sustained levels of therapeutic product sales.
For the year ended December 31, 1995, sales of the Company's products, including
ReoPro and Panorex, did not generate sufficient revenue to result in positive
cash flow for the year. Under the Company's strategy of entering into
collaborative alliances with established pharmaceutical companies, the Company
generally shares sales revenues from products covered by such arrangements with
its partners. There can be no assurance that those products, in conjunction with
the Company's therapeutic product candidates under development and diagnostic
products, will achieve a level of sales sufficient to generate positive cash
flow from operations for the Company, given the current and currently
anticipated future scope of the Company's operations. The level of future sales
of both diagnostic and therapeutic products will be dependent upon several
factors, including, but not limited to, the timing and extent of future
regulatory approvals of the Company's products, approval and commercialization
of competitive products and the degree of acceptance of the Company's products
in the marketplace. There can be no assurance that Food and Drug Administration
(the "FDA") or other regulatory approvals expanding the authorized use of ReoPro
and Panorex or permitting the commercial sale of any of the Company's product
candidates under development will be obtained. Failure to obtain additional
timely FDA or other regulatory approvals for the use of ReoPro and Panorex or
other product candidates will have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
     Until significant and sustained levels of therapeutic product sales are
achieved, the Company expects that it will need to secure significant additional
funding in the future from collaborative arrangements with pharmaceutical
companies or from the capital markets. There can be no assurance that sufficient
additional funding will be available to the Company or that the Company can
obtain additional collaborations with established pharmaceutical companies and
receive payments for product rights and/or the achievement of milestones under
such collaborative agreements. Even if the Company obtains such funding, there
can be no assurance that such



                                       4
<PAGE>
 
funding will be sufficient to sustain the Company's operations until it
generates positive cash flows from operations.
 
     As of March 31, 1996, agreements covering $17,396,000 of Centocor's
outstanding debt balances contain certain financial and non-financial covenants,
including the maintenance of minimum equity and cash balances and compliance
with certain financial ratios. Centocor is currently not in compliance with
certain of these covenants; however, Centocor has obtained waivers of such
covenants on the condition that it maintains certain investments at the lending
bank, which at March 31, 1996 totalled $20,000,000. There can be no assurance
that Centocor will be able to continue to collateralize such loans and,
accordingly, Centocor has classified this $17,396,000 of debt as short-term.
Additionally, $7,229,000 of Centocor's short-term debt is secured by investments
maintained at the lending bank of $7,260,000. If cash flows continue to be
negative, Centocor's ability to service its debt may be impaired.
 
History of Operating Losses; Risks Associated with Products Under Development

     Centocor has recorded significant losses from operations. Many of
Centocor's product candidates are in various stages of research, development or
clinical testing, and cannot be sold commercially without first obtaining a
license for marketing from the FDA and, outside the United States, other
regulatory authorities. The process of obtaining such licenses usually takes a
number of years to complete and requires significant expenditures to conduct
clinical trials of the safety and efficacy of a potential product. There can be
no assurance that any of the Company's products currently under development will
obtain the required approvals or, if approved, will obtain sufficient market
acceptance to become commercially successful. Even if one or more of its
products under development is licensed for marketing by the FDA and achieves
substantial market acceptance, there can be no assurance that the Company will
achieve profitability. Additionally, the Company has in the past recorded
substantial special charges for acquired research and development, inventory
reserves for one of the Company's products that was withdrawn from the market,
restructurings, a royalty buyout, and a writedown of certain facilities and
equipment. There can be no assurance that Centocor will not record additional
special charges in the future or that product sales will be sufficient to cover
its future operating expenses.
 
Litigation

     The Company is subject to litigation.  Litigation to which the Company is
currently or has been subjected relates to, among other things, the Company's
patent and intellectual property rights, licensing arrangements with other
persons and financing activities. The Company cannot predict with certainty the
eventual outcome of pending litigation, and could be required to incur
substantial expense in defending these lawsuits. The Company has in the past
taken substantial special charges relating to certain litigation, and there can
be no assurance that pending, or future, legal proceedings will not result in
additional special charges or have a material adverse effect on the Company's
financial condition and results of operations.
 


                                       5
<PAGE>
 
Dependence on Collaborative Partners; Customer Concentration

     Centocor's strategy for research, development and commercialization of
certain of its products entails entering into various arrangements with
corporate partners and others, including those discussed below. The success of
these products is dependent, in part, upon the subsequent success of these
outside parties in performing their responsibilities. The Company's
collaborators may also compete with the Company. Although Centocor believes its
collaborators have an economic incentive to succeed in performing their
contractual responsibilities, the amount and timing of resources that they
devote to these activities is not within the control of Centocor. There can be
no assurance that such parties will perform their obligations as expected or
that any revenue will be derived from such arrangements. If any of Centocor's
collaborators breaches or terminates its agreement with the Company or otherwise
fails to conduct its collaborative activities in a timely manner, the
development or commercialization of the product candidate or research program
under such collaborative arrangement may be delayed, the Company may be required
to undertake unforeseen additional responsibilities or to devote unforeseen
additional funds or other resources to such development or commercialization, or
such development or commercialization could be terminated. The termination or
cancellation of collaborative arrangements could also adversely affect the
Company's financial condition, intellectual property position and operations. In
addition, disagreements between collaborators and the Company could lead to
delays in the collaborative research, development or commercialization of
certain products or could require or result in formal legal process or
arbitration for resolution. These consequences could be time-consuming and
expensive and could have material adverse effects on the Company.

     In July 1992, Centocor and Lilly entered into a Sales and Distribution
Agreement (the "Sales and Distribution Agreement"). Under that agreement,
Centocor is principally responsible for developing and manufacturing ReoPro, and
Lilly will assist Centocor in the regulatory filings and continued development
of ReoPro for various clinical indications. Also, in the event Centocor cannot
manufacture ReoPro or under certain other circumstances, such as material breach
of the agreement by or the bankruptcy of Centocor, Lilly has the option to
assume the manufacture of ReoPro and assure the continued supply of the product,
even to the extent of acquiring Centocor's related manufacturing assets at their
independently appraised values.
 
     Centocor may be required to make a payment to Lilly of $40 million through
December 31, 1996, or decreasing amounts through December 31, 1999, in the event
of any change in control of Centocor or in the event of any governmental action
or determination that results in the Sales and Distribution Agreement not being
in full force and effect in all material respects in major jurisdictions,
excluding the United States, and the subsequent termination of the Sales and
Distribution Agreement by Lilly based solely on such events.
 
     In November 1993, Centocor and Glaxo Wellcome plc ("Glaxo Wellcome")
entered into an alliance agreement for the development and marketing of certain
of Centocor's monoclonal antibody-based cancer therapeutic products, including
Panorex. In November 1994, Centocor and Glaxo Wellcome amended their alliance
agreement and Glaxo Wellcome became the exclusive worldwide distributor for
Panorex. Under the agreement, Glaxo Wellcome is responsible principal-



                                       6
<PAGE>
 
ly for the continuing clinical development of Panorex, and Centocor is
responsible principally for manufacturing Panorex and securing regulatory
approvals.
 
     The Company may seek additional collaborative arrangements to develop and
commercialize its products in the future. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to negotiate acceptable collaborative arrangements in the
future or that any such collaborative arrangements will be successful.  In
addition, there can be no assurance that the Company's collaborative partners
will not pursue alternative technologies or develop alternative compounds
independently or in collaboration with others as a means of developing
treatments for the diseases targeted by their collaborative programs with
Centocor.
 
     During 1995, approximately 50% of the Company's total product sales were to
three customers, as follows: 24% to Lilly, 11% to Glaxo Wellcome and 15% to
Toray-Fuji Bionics, Inc.  During 1994, approximately 60% of the Company's total
product sales were to four customers, as follows: 10% to Abbott Laboratories,
12% to Boehringer Mannheim GmbH, 13% to CIS bio International and 25% to Toray-
Fuji Bionics, Inc.
 
Patents and Licensing Arrangements; CPIII Purchase Option

     Products currently being marketed, developed or considered for development
by the Company are in the area of biotechnology, an area in which there are
extensive patent filings. The patent position of biotechnology firms generally
is highly uncertain and involves complex legal and factual questions. To date,
no consistent policy has emerged regarding the breadth of claims allowed in
biotechnology patents. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that patent
applications owned or licensed by the Company will result in patents being
issued or that, if issued, such patents will afford protection against
competitors with similar technology. In addition, there can be no assurance that
products covered by such patents, or any other products developed by the Company
or subject to licenses acquired by the Company, will not be covered by third
party patents, in which case continued development and marketing of such
products would require a license under such patents. There can be no assurance
that such required licenses will be available to the Company or its licensees on
acceptable terms.
 
     Other entities have filed applications for or have been issued patents and
are expected to obtain additional patents to which Centocor may need to acquire
rights. The extent to which Centocor may need to obtain rights to any such
patents or to contest their scope or validity will depend on final product
formulation and other factors. The ability to license any such patents and the
likelihood of successfully contesting the scope or validity of such patents are
uncertain and the costs associated therewith may be significant. If Centocor is
required to acquire rights to valid and enforceable patents but cannot do so at
a reasonable cost, Centocor's ability to manufacture or market its products in
the country of issuance of any such patent may be materially adversely affected.
 
     There has been substantial litigation regarding patent and other
intellectual property rights in the biotechnology industry. Litigation may be
necessary to enforce certain intellectual property



                                       7
<PAGE>
 
rights of the Company. Any such litigation could result in substantial cost to
and diversion of effort by the Company.
 
     ReoPro is being developed by Centocor for Centocor Partners III, L.P.
("CPIII"). Centocor has an exclusive option to purchase the limited partnership
interests in CPIII. There can be no assurance that Centocor will exercise its
option to purchase the limited partnership interests in CPIII. If Centocor does
not or is unable to exercise such option, it will have no rights to the
technology or products developed on behalf of CPIII, including ReoPro.
 
Governmental Regulation

     Substantially all of the Company's products require regulatory approval by
governmental agencies. In particular, human therapeutic products are subject to
rigorous preclinical and clinical testing for safety and efficacy and approval
processes by the FDA, as well as regulatory authorities in foreign countries.
The process of obtaining such approvals is costly and time-consuming. There can
be no assurance that required approvals will be obtained. Any failure to obtain,
or delay in obtaining, such approvals could adversely affect the ability of the
Company or its collaborators to market products successfully and to generate
revenues from sales.
 
     Any approved products are subject to continuing regulation, and non-
compliance with applicable requirements can result in fines, recall or seizure
of products, total or partial suspension of production, refusal of the
government to approve product license applications, restrictions on the
Company's ability to enter into supply contracts and criminal prosecution. The
FDA also has the authority to revoke product licenses and establishment licenses
previously granted. Further, the regulation of recombinant DNA technologies and
the regulation of manufacturing facilities by state, local and other authorities
is subject to change.
 
Uncertainties Regarding Health Care Reimbursement and Reform

     The Company's ability to commercialize products successfully may depend in
part on the extent to which reimbursement for the costs of such products and
related treatments will be available from governmental health administration
authorities, private health insurers and other organizations. Significant
uncertainty exists as to the reimbursement status of newly approved health care
products, and there can be no assurance that adequate third party coverage will
be available for the Company to maintain price levels sufficient for realization
of an appropriate return on its investment in developing new products.
Government and other third party payors are increasingly attempting to contain
health care costs by limiting both coverage and the level of reimbursement for
new products approved for marketing by the FDA, and by refusing, in some cases,
to provide any coverage for uses of approved products for indications for which
the FDA has not granted marketing approval. Currently Medicare reimburses for
angioplasty procedures on a per procedure basis regardless of whether additional
drugs, such as ReoPro, are used in conjunction with the therapy. Although the
Company is seeking to have angioplasty with ReoPro reimbursed at a higher rate
than angioplasty without ReoPro, the Company believes the benefits of using
ReoPro will outweigh its cost and accordingly believes that Medicare's current
non-reimbursement policy will not adversely affect sales of ReoPro. Recent
initiatives to reduce



                                       8
<PAGE>
 
governmental deficits in the United States and elsewhere and to reform health
care delivery are increasing these cost containment efforts. As managed care
organizations continue to expand as a means of containing health care costs, the
Company believes there may be attempts by such organizations to restrict use or
delay authorization to use new products, such as those being developed by the
Company, pending completion of cost/benefit analyses of such products by those
managed care organizations.  If adequate coverage and reimbursement levels are
not provided by government and other third party payors for uses of the
Company's products, the market acceptance of these products would be adversely
affected.
 
Significant Competition and Technological Change

     Monoclonal antibody, genetic vaccine and peptide technology and other
innovations in biotechnology are being examined, evaluated and practiced in
biology research laboratories throughout the United States and in many other
countries, including laboratories of other biotechnology companies and major
pharmaceutical firms, many of which have greater resources than Centocor.
 
     Several established pharmaceutical companies have internal research and
development groups, and alliances with other biotechnology companies, and are
seeking to develop monoclonal antibody-based, genetic vaccine-based, peptide-
based and other biological products. In addition, a number of companies have
recently entered the biological products field, some through acquisition or
merger, and more may be expected to do so in the future. As a result, Centocor
anticipates that new biological products will be developed by others.
 
     Centocor's management believes that its ability to compete in its targeted
markets will depend upon, among other things, its ability to develop, produce
and market innovative products. Centocor's management also believes that
significant competition will come from established pharmaceutical companies that
have greater capital resources, manufacturing and marketing experience, research
and development staffs, sales forces and production facilities than Centocor.
Such competition is expected to be in the form of a variety of therapeutic
products, which may include monoclonal antibody-based, genetic vaccine-based and
peptide-based products.  There can be no assurance that the activities of others
will not render Centocor's products or technologies obsolete or uncompetitive.
 
Exposure to Currency Fluctuations

     Centocor maintains a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Leiden, The
Netherlands and an in-vitro diagnostic products manufacturing facility in
Guildford, England. In addition, product sales include sales in foreign
currencies. As a result, Centocor's operating results are subject to currency
fluctuations. Currency fluctuations may result in variations in the costs of
products produced which may affect the Company's gross margin from sales.
Furthermore, currency fluctuations may cause reported sales to fluctuate from
period to period regardless of the fluctuation in the volume of such sales in
foreign currencies.
 


                                       9
<PAGE>
 
Change in Control

     Certain provisions of Centocor's charter documents (including cumulative
voting provisions for electing directors and provisions permitting Centocor to
issue preferred stock in the future), the terms of Centocor's shareholders
rights plan, pursuant to which the holders of the Common Stock have certain
rights to purchase shares of the Company's preferred stock, the terms relating
to the acceleration of the exercisability of certain options and the vesting of
certain restricted stock awards and the terms of certain convertible securities
relating to the purchase of such securities by Centocor, may have the effect of
delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of Centocor, thereby
possibly having the effect of depriving shareholders of receiving a premium for
their shares of Common Stock. Certain provisions of Pennsylvania law relating to
the acquisition of shares representing voting control over 20% or more of
Centocor's stock may have a similar effect.
 
     Additionally, in the event of a change in control of Centocor, Centocor may
be required to make a payment to Lilly of $40 million through December 31, 1996
or decreasing amounts through December 31, 1999. See "-Dependence on
Collaborative Partners; Customer Concentration."
 
Skilled Personnel and Key Relationships

     The success of Centocor will depend, in large part, on Centocor's continued
ability to attract and retain highly qualified management, scientific,
manufacturing and sales and marketing personnel, and on its ability to develop
and maintain important relationships with leading research institutions and key
distributors. Competition for such personnel and relationships is intense. There
can be no assurance that Centocor will be able to attract or retain such
personnel or maintain such relationships.
 
Product Liability

     The testing and marketing of medical products entail an inherent risk of
product liability. Centocor maintains limited product liability insurance
coverage. Centocor's business may be materially adversely affected by a
successful product liability claim in excess of any insurance coverage. There
can be no assurance that product liability insurance coverage will continue to
be available to Centocor in the future on reasonable terms or at all.
 
Variation in Quarterly Operating Results

     The Company's results of operations can be expected to be subject to
quarterly fluctuations. Quarterly results can fluctuate as a result of a number
of factors, including timing of research and development expenses, the level of
product sales, the completion or commencement of significant contracts and
foreign exchange fluctuations. The Company believes that quarterly comparisons
of its financial results should not be relied upon as an indication of future
performance.
 


                                      10
<PAGE>
 
Volatility of Centocor Common Stock Price; Absence of Dividends

     The market prices for securities of biotechnology companies in general, and
Centocor in particular, have been highly volatile and may continue to be highly
volatile in the future.  Announcements of technological innovations or new
commercial products by Centocor or its competitors, developments concerning
proprietary rights, including patents, publicity regarding actual or potential
medical results relating to products under development by Centocor, regulatory
developments in both the United States and foreign countries, public concern as
to the safety of biotechnology products and economic and other external factors
or other calamity or crisis, as well as period-to-period fluctuations in
financial results, may have a significant impact on the market price of the
Common Stock.  Centocor has not paid any dividends and does not expect to pay
any dividends in the foreseeable future.
 
Dilution

     As of April 30, 1996, approximately 4,551,000 shares of Common Stock were
issuable upon exercise of outstanding options and warrants and upon vesting of
restricted stock awards. Additionally, approximately 2,049,000 shares of Common
Stock were issuable upon conversion of Centocor's 6/3/4% Convertible Debentures
due 2001. Centocor also holds an exclusive option under an arrangement with
CPIII under which Centocor may issue additional shares of Common Stock to effect
the purchase of the limited partnership interests in CPIII. To the extent such
options and warrants are exercised and such securities are converted, the
interests of holders of Common Stock will be diluted. As of April 30, 1996,
there were approximately 67,548,000 shares of Common Stock issued and
outstanding.  As of April 30, 1996, Centocor had a net tangible book value per
share of Common Stock of $2.77.



                                      11
<PAGE>
 
                              SELLING SHAREHOLDER

     The Shares are, or may be, offered by the Selling Shareholder.  The Selling
Shareholder is Lilly.

     On July 15, 1992, the Company and Lilly entered into the Sales and
Distribution Agreement, pursuant to which Lilly became the exclusive worldwide
distributor of ReoPro.  Under the terms of its Sales and Distribution Agreement
with Lilly, the Company sells ReoPro to Lilly for Lilly's further sale to the
end market.  The Company is principally responsible for developing and
manufacturing ReoPro and for securing regulatory approvals.  Lilly is
principally responsible for the marketing, selling and distribution of ReoPro.

     The Company has entered into an Amendment to Sales and Distribution
Agreement (the "Amendment") dated as of June 26, 1996 with Lilly, pursuant to
which, among other things, (i) Lilly agreed to terminate its rights to market,
sell and distribute ReoPro in Japan and (ii) Lilly agreed to use its best
efforts to assign to Centocor any rights that it may have in its trademark
application for "ReoPro" in Japan. Centocor issued the Shares to Lilly in
consideration for Lilly's performance under the Amendment. Pursuant to the
Amendment, the Company has agreed to register the Shares on a Form S-3
registration statement in a manner that will constitute a "shelf" registration
for purposes of Rule 415 under the Securities Act. This Prospectus is part of a
Registration Statement filed by the Company with the Commission in order to
register the Shares and fulfill the foregoing obligation of the Company.

     Additional information as to the Selling Shareholder and its beneficial
ownership of the Company's Common Stock is set forth below.

<TABLE>

                                                                           Common Stock To
                                                                           Be Beneficially
                               Common Stock                              Owned If All Shares
                            Beneficially Owned        Shares That        That May Be Offered
                             On July 9, 1996         May Be Offered      Hereunder Are Sold
                          ---------------------                         --------------------
   Name                      Shares   Percent          Hereunder          Shares   Percent
   ----                      ------   -------        --------------       ------   -------
   <S>                     <C>                       <C>                 <C> 

Eli Lilly and Company       1,585,716   2.3%              920,716         665,000    1.0%
                           ------------------           ----------        -------   ------

</TABLE>

     Pledgees, donees or transferees of or other successors in interest to
the Selling Shareholder will be identified in a supplement to this Prospectus.
If the number of shares of Common Stock transferred is material, the new holders
of the shares transferred will also be identified in a post-effective amendment
to the Registration Statement.



                                      12
<PAGE>
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

          The Company has been advised that the distribution of the Shares by
Lilly, or by pledgees, donees or transferees of or other successors in interest
to Lilly, may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions (which
may involve block transactions) on The Nasdaq National Market or such other
exchange or market in which the Company's Common Stock may from time to time be
trading, in negotiated transactions or in a combination of any such
transactions.  Such transactions may be effected by Lilly at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market
prices, at negotiated prices or at fixed prices.  Lilly may effect such
transactions by selling Shares to or through broker-dealers, including purchases
by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by such broker-dealer for its account
pursuant to this Prospectus.  Such broker-dealers will receive compensation in
the form of discounts or commissions from Lilly and may receive commissions from
the purchasers of Shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agents (which
discounts or commissions from Lilly or such purchasers, if in excess of those
customary for the types of transactions involved, will be disclosed in a
supplemental prospectus).

          Any broker-dealer that participates with the Selling Shareholder in
the distribution of Common Stock may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act, and any commissions or discounts received by such
broker-dealer and any profit on the resale of Shares by such broker-dealer may
be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.

          Under the terms of the Amendment, the costs and expenses of the
registration of the Shares, except for underwriting or selling discounts or
commissions, will be paid by the Company.  These costs and expenses borne by the
Company will include, without limitation, all registration and filing fees,
printing expenses and costs of special audits incident to or required by the
registration of the Shares.

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

          The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the
Shares offered hereunder by the Selling Shareholder.

                                 LEGAL MATTERS

          The validity of the issuance of the Shares offered hereby has been
passed upon for the Company by Duane, Morris & Heckscher, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.

                                    EXPERTS

  The consolidated financial statements and schedule of the Company as of
December 31, 1995 and 1994, and for each of the years in the three-year period
ended December 31, 1995 and the financial statements of CPIII as of December 31,
1995 and 1994, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December
31, 1995, have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration
statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,



                                      13
<PAGE>
 
independent certified public accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and
upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1995, the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 1996 and the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 26, 1996
and February 15, 1996 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
description of the Company's Common Stock contained in its Registration
Statements on Form 8-A as filed with the Commission on April 28, 1983, as
amended, and October 11, 1988 are hereby incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus except as superseded or modified herein. All documents filed with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended after the date of this Prospectus and prior to
the termination of the offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein
or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus. The Company will provide
without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of such person, a copy of
any and all of the documents that have been or may be incorporated by reference
herein (other than exhibits to such documents which are not specifically
incorporated by reference into such documents). Such requests should be directed
to the Company's Corporate Secretary at its principal executive offices at 200
Great Valley Parkway, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355, or by telephone at 
(610) 651-6000.



                                      14
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.   Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                          <C>
SEC Registration Fee.......................................   $ 8,909
                                                               
Registrar and Transfer Agent Fees *........................       500
Legal Fees and Expenses *..................................     5,000
Accounting Fees and Expenses *.............................     5,000
Miscellaneous *............................................     1,000
                                                               ------
 Total.....................................................   $20,409
                                                               ======
_________________
*  Estimated.
 
     The Company will bear all of the foregoing expenses.
</TABLE>
 
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
 
     The Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988 authorizes the registrant
to grant indemnities to directors and officers in terms sufficiently broad to
permit such indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities
(including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities
Act.
 
     Article 5 of Centocor's By-laws provides as follows:
 
           "INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHER PERSONS

     5.1   Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Other Persons.   The
Corporation shall indemnify any director or officer of the Corporation or any of
its subsidiaries who was or is an "authorized representative" of the Corporation
(which shall mean, for the purposes of Paragraphs 5.1 through 5.7, a director or
officer of the Corporation, or a person serving at the request of the
Corporation as a director, officer, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise) and who was or is a "party" (which shall include for purposes of
Paragraphs 5.1 through 5.7 the giving of testimony or similar involvement) or is
threatened to be made a party to any "proceeding" (which shall mean for purposes
of Paragraphs 5.1 through 5.7 any threatened, pending or completed action, suit,
appeal or other proceeding of any nature, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, whether formal or informal, and whether brought
by or in the right of the Corporation, its shareholders or otherwise) by reason
of the fact that such person was or is an authorized representative of the
Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law, including without limitation
indemnification against expenses (which shall include for purposes of Paragraphs
5.1 through 5.7 attorneys' fees and disbursements), damages, punitive damages,
judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such proceeding unless the
act or failure to act giving rise to the claim is finally determined by a court
to have



                                     II-1
<PAGE>
 
constituted willful misconduct or recklessness. If an authorized representative
is not entitled to indemnification in respect of a portion of any liabilities to
which such person may be subject, the Corporation shall nonetheless indemnify
such person to the maximum extent for the remaining portion of the liabilities.
 
       5.2   Advancement of Expenses.   The Corporation shall pay the expenses
(including attorneys' fees and disbursements) actually and reasonably incurred
in defending a proceeding on behalf of any person entitled to indemnification
under Paragraph 5.1 in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding upon
receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if
it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be
indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in Paragraphs 5.1 through 5.7 and
may pay such expenses in advance on behalf of any employee or agent on receipt
of a similar undertaking. The financial ability of such authorized
representative to make such repayment shall not be prerequisite to the making of
an advance.

     5.3   Employee Benefit Plans.   For purposes of Paragraphs 5.1 through 5.7,
the Corporation shall be deemed to have requested an officer or director to
serve as fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan where the
performance by such person of duties to the Corporation also imposes duties on,
or otherwise involves services by, such person as a fiduciary with respect to
the plan; excise taxes assessed on an authorized representative with respect to
any transaction with an employee benefit plan shall be deemed "fines"; and
action taken or omitted by such person with respect to an employee benefit plan
in the performance of duties for a purpose reasonably believed to be in the
interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be
for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation.
 
     5.4   Security for Indemnification Obligations.   To further effect,
satisfy or secure the indemnification obligations provided herein or otherwise,
the Corporation may maintain insurance, obtain a letter of credit, act as self-
insurer, create a reserve, trust, escrow, cash collateral or other fund or
account, enter into indemnification agreements, pledge or grant a security
interest in any assets or properties of the Corporation, or use any other
mechanism or arrangement whatsoever in such amounts, at such costs, and upon
such other terms and conditions as the Board of Directors shall deem
appropriate.
 
     5.5   Reliance Upon Provisions.   Each person who shall act as an
authorized representative of the Corporation shall be deemed to be doing so in
reliance upon the rights of indemnification provided by these Paragraphs 5.1
through 5.7.
 
     5.6   Amendment or Repeal.   All rights of indemnification under Paragraphs
5.1 through 5.7 shall be deemed a contract between the Corporation and the
person entitled to indemnification under these Paragraphs 5.1 through 5.7
pursuant to which the Corporation and each such person intend to be legally
bound. Any repeal, amendment or modification hereof shall be prospective only
and shall not limit, but may expand, any rights or obligations in respect of any
proceeding whether commenced prior to or after such change to the extent such
proceeding pertains to actions or failures to act occurring prior to such
change.
 


                                     II-2
<PAGE>
 
     5.7   Scope. The indemnification, as authorized by these Paragraphs 5.1
through 5.7, shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those
seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any
statute, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity and as to action in any
other capacity while holding such office. The indemnification and advancement of
expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, these Paragraphs 5.1 through 5.7
shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be an officer or director in
respect of matters arising prior to such time, and shall inure to the benefit of
the heirs, executors and administrators of such person."
 
     The Board of Directors of Centocor has determined to provide liability
insurance for each director and officer for certain losses arising from claims
or charges made against them while acting in their capacity as directors or
officers of Centocor.
 
Item 16.  Exhibits.

     4.1  Specimen Certificate for Common Stock (incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 4 to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 Registration Statement, File
          No. 2-80098).

     4.2  Rights Agreement between Centocor, Inc. and the First National Bank of
          Boston as Rights Agent dated September 26, 1988 (incorporated by
          reference to Exhibit 4 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K
          dated September 26, 1988).

     5.1  Opinion of Duane, Morris & Heckscher.
     23.1 Consent of Duane, Morris & Heckscher (included in their opinion filed
          as Exhibit 5.1).
     23.2 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
     24.1 Power of Attorney *
     --------------
     * Included on signature pages hereto.

Item 17.  Undertakings.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

     (a)  to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement 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;

     (b)  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; and

     (c)  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.



                                     II-3
<PAGE>
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby further 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
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) 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.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant, 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 Securities Act of 1933 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
Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

     (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h)
under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this registration
statement as of the time it was declared effective.

     (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
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.



                                     II-4
<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-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Malvern, Pennsylvania on July 8, 1996.
 
                                  CENTOCOR, INC.

                                  By:/s/ David P. Holveck
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                     David P. Holveck,
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer

     Know all men by these presents, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints David P. Holveck and Dominic J. Caruso, and each
or any of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full
power of substitution, for him, and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities to sign any or all amendments or post-effective amendments to this
Registration Statement, as well as any related registration statement (or
amendment thereto) filed pursuant to Rule 462 promulgated under the Securities
Act of 1933, 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 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 of them or their substitutes, may 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 below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signatures                        Title                            Date
- ----------                        -----                            ----

/s/ Hubert J.P. Schoemaker        Chairman of the Board            July 8, 1996 
- ------------------------------                                      
Hubert J.P. Schoemaker                                              


                                  President, Chief Executive
                                  Officer, and Director
/s/ David P. Holveck              (principal executive officer)    July 8, 1996
- ------------------------------                                   
David P. Holveck                  

                                  Vice President-Finance and
                                  Chief Financial Officer
/s/ Dominic J. Caruso             (principal financial and         July 8, 1996
- ------------------------------    accounting officer)               
Dominic J. Caruso

                               
/s/ Anthony B. Evnin              Director        
- ------------------------------                                     July 8, 1996
Anthony B. Evnin                                                    



                                     II-5
<PAGE>
 
/s/ William F. Hamilton                   Director               July 8, 1996
- ---------------------------------------
William F. Hamilton
 
/s/ Antonie T. Knoppers                   Director               July 8, 1996
- ---------------------------------------
Antonie T. Knoppers
 
/s/ Ronald A. Matricaria                  Director               July 8, 1996
- ---------------------------------------
Ronald A. Matricaria
 
/s/ Lawrence Steinman                     Director               July 8, 1996
- ---------------------------------------
Lawrence Steinman
 
/s/ Richard D. Spizzirri                  Director               July 8, 1996
- ---------------------------------------
Richard D. Spizzirri
 
/s/ Jean C. Tempel                        Director               July 8, 1996
- ---------------------------------------
Jean C. Tempel



                                     II-6
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
                    (Pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K)
 
 
Exhibit
  No.            Exhibit
- -------          --------
 
4.1              Specimen Certificate for Common Stock                         
                 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to                    
                 Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 Registration                      
                 Statement, File No. 2-80098).                                 
4.2              Rights Agreement between Centocor, Inc. and the               
                 First National Bank of Boston as Rights Agent                 
                 dated September 26, 1988 (incorporated by                     
                 reference to Exhibit 4 to Registrant's Current                
                 Report on Form 8-K dated September 26, 1988).                 
5.1              Opinion of Duane, Morris & Heckscher.                         
23.1             Consent of Duane, Morris & Heckscher (included in             
                 their opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).                          
23.2             Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.                             
24.1             Power of Attorney.*                                           
- --------------
*    Included on signature pages hereto.

<PAGE>
 
                           Duane, Morris & Heckscher

                                ATTORNEYS AT LAW

                               ONE LIBERTY PLACE
                          PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103-7396
                                 (215) 979-1000

                                      FAX
                                 (215) 979-1020
122 E. 42nd STREET, SUITE 2125
NEW YORK, NY 10168-0002

314 S. STATE STREET
DOVER, DE 19901

51 HADDONFIELD ROAD, SUITE 340
CHERRY HILL, NJ 08002-4810

1201 MARKET STREET, SUITE 1500
WILMINGTON, DE 19801-0195

305 NORTH FRONT STREET
HARRISBURG, PA 17108-1003

968 POSTAL ROAD, SUITE 200
ALLENTOWN, PA 18109-0400

735 CHESTERBROOK BOULEVARD
WAYNE, PA 19087-5638

                                 July 9, 1996


The Board of Directors of
  Centocor, Inc.
200 Great Valley Parkway
Malvern, PA  19355-1307

       Re:  Centocor, Inc.
            --------------

Gentlemen:

       We have acted as counsel to Centocor, Inc. (the "Company") in connection
with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of a registration statement on
Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") relating to the offer and sale by Eli
Lilly and Company, a shareholder of the Company, of 920,716 shares (the
"Shares") of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company.

       As counsel to the Company, we have supervised all corporate proceedings
in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement.  We
have also examined the Company's Articles of Incorporation and By-laws, as
amended to date, the corporate minutes and other proceedings and records
relating to the authorization, sale and issuance of the Shares, and such other
documents and matters of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate in order
to render this opinion.  Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that each
of the Shares is duly authorized, legally and validly issued and outstanding,
fully paid and nonassessable.

       We hereby consent to the use of this opinion in the Registration
Statement, and we further consent to the reference to our name in the Prospectus
under the caption "Legal Matters."

                                          Sincerely,

                                          /s/ Duane, Morris & Heckscher


RLC:kpd

<PAGE>
 
                                                              Exhibit 23.2


Consent of Independent Accountants


The Board of Directors
Centocor, Inc.


We consent to the use of our reports incorporated herein by reference and to the
reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in this registration 
statement.

/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
July 8, 1996


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