AMERICAN BIOGENETIC SCIENCES INC
8-K, 1996-10-07
BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS, (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES)
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                 --------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 30, 1996




                       AMERICAN BIOGENETIC SCIENCES, INC.
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

                                    DELAWARE
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (State of jurisdiction of incorporation)


        0-19041                                        11-2655906
- ---------------------------          -------------------------------------------
  (Commission File No.)                    (IRS Employer Identification No.)


      1375 Akron Street, Copiague, New York                   11726
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Address of Principal Executive Offices)              (Zip Code)


                                  516-789-2600
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Registrant's telephone number, including area code


                                 Not Applicable
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)




<PAGE>




Item 5.    Other Events
- -------    ------------

           On September 30, 1996, the Company  completed a private  placement to
twelve accredited  investors of an aggregate of $9,000,000 of its 7% Convertible
Debentures due September 30, 1998 (the "Debentures"). Interest on the Debentures
is payable quarterly at the rate of 7% per annum. The Company has undertaken (in
the  Registration  Rights  Agreements  discussed  below) to file, on or prior to
October 20, 1996, a registration  statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the  "Securities  Act") with the Securities and Exchange  Commission to
register for resale the shares of Common Stock  issuable upon  conversion of the
Debentures.  Debentures  (together  with any accrued but unpaid  interest)  will
become  convertible  to  the  extent  of 25% of  the  principal  amount  thereof
commencing on the earlier of the effective date of the registration statement or
December  29,  1996,  with an  additional  25% of the  principal  amount  of the
Debentures  becoming  convertible  on each  of the  30th,  60th  and  90th  days
thereafter  at a  conversion  price  equal to 83% of the  average of the closing
prices of the Company's  Class A Common Stock for the five  consecutive  trading
days ending on the trading day immediately  preceding the conversion date of the
Debentures (the "Current Market Price"); provided, however, that in no event may
the  conversion  price be less than  $3.00 per share  (the  "Minimum  Conversion
Price") nor greater than $8.00 per share (the "Maximum  Conversion  Price").  In
the event that, but for the Minimum  Conversion Price, the number of shares that
would have been issued is greater than the number of shares actually issued, the
holder  converting  such  Debenture  will also be entitled to receive cash in an
amount equal to such  difference  multiplied by the Current Market Price. In the
event any Debenture  remains  outstanding  at its maturity date, the Company has
the option to either  convert such Debenture into shares of Class A Common Stock
on the same basis as the Debentureholder  could have converted such Debenture or
pay the  outstanding  principal  amount  thereof,  plus any  accrued  and unpaid
interest thereon, in cash.

           The Company has also entered into Registration Rights Agreements with
each of the investors  pursuant to which,  among other  things,  the Company has
agreed to file, on or prior to October 20, 1996, a registration  statement under
the  Securities  Act  covering  the  shares  issuable  upon  conversion  of  the
Debentures,  use its best efforts to have such registration  statement  declared
effective as soon  thereafter  as  practicable  and maintain  such  registration
statement  effective  and current (with  certain  exceptions)  until all of such
shares are either sold either pursuant to such  registration  statement or under
Rule 144  promulgated  under the  Securities  Act or such time as Rule 144 would
permit the investors to sell all of such shares without registration during a 90
consecutive day period. Should such registration  statement not become effective
before   December  29,   1996,   the  Company  will  be  required  to  pay  each
Debentureholder  an amount equal to 1% of the principal  amount of such holder's
Debentures  during  the  first  30  days  thereafter,  and 2% for  each  30 days
thereafter,  that the registration  statement is not effective.  The Company may
elect, in certain instances,  in lieu of cash, to pay such amount by delivery of
Class A Common  Stock  having an  aggregate  market value equal to the amount so
payable but only if such shares are freely tradeable  without  restriction under
the  Securities  Act or any state  securities  laws.  All  expenses  of all such
registrations are to be borne by the Company,  other than brokerage commissions,
underwriting

                                       -2-

<PAGE>


discounts and commissions, other fees and expenses of investment bankers and any
fees and expenses of counsel employed by the investors which are the obligations
of the investors.

           As compensation to the placement agent of the Debentures, the Company
paid Shoreline Pacific  Institutional  Finance,  The  Institutional  Division of
Financial  West Group,  the  placement  agent,  a commission of $360,000 and has
issued to brokers  affiliated with the placement  agent a warrant  entitling the
placement  agent to  purchase an  aggregate  of 15,618  shares of the  Company's
Common  Stock  at an  exercise  price of  $5.7625  per  share at any time  until
September 30, 1998 (the "Warrants").

           The foregoing is a brief description of the Debentures,  Registration
Rights Agreements and Warrants,  forms of which appear as Exhibits 4.1, 99.1 and
99.2 of this Report, respectively. The foregoing description does not purport to
be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such documents.

Item 7.    Financial Statements and Exhibits
- -------    ---------------------------------

           (a)        Financial statements of businesses acquired: None

           (b)        Pro forma financial information: None

           (c)        Exhibits:

                      4.1        Form   of   the   Company's   7%    Convertible
                                 Debentures.

                      99.1       Form of the basic Registration Rights Agreement
                                 between the Company and each of the  purchasers
                                 of the Company's 7% Convertible Debentures.

                      99.2       Form of Warrant  issued to  brokers  affiliated
                                 with Shoreline Pacific  Institutional  Finance,
                                 The  Institutional  Division of Financial  West
                                 Group

                                   SIGNATURES

           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                            AMERICAN BIOGENETIC SCIENCES, INC.
                                                     (Registrant)



Dated:    October 7, 1996                   By: /s/ Josef C. Schoell
                                                ------------------------
                                                  Josef C. Schoell,
                                                  Vice President Finance


                                       -3-



NEITHER THESE SECURITIES NOR ANY SECURITIES  ISSUABLE UPON THE CONVERSION HEREOF
HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND THE RULES
AND REGULATIONS  PROMULGATED THEREUNDER (THE "1933 ACT"), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS
OF ANY STATE.  NEITHER THESE  SECURITIES  NOR ANY  SECURITIES  ISSUABLE UPON THE
CONVERSION HEREOF MAY BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD OR OTHERWISE  TRANSFERRED UNLESS
THEY ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE 1933 ACT AND THE LAWS OF APPLICABLE STATES OR SUCH
OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER IS EXEMPT FROM SUCH REGISTRATION.

                 7% CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE DUE September 30, 1998

$___________                                                  September 30, 1996
Number ____

           FOR VALUE RECEIVED,  American Biogenetic  Sciences,  Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"),  hereby promises to pay to _______________________,
or  registered  assigns  (the  "Holder") on  September  30, 1998 (the  "Maturity
Date"),   the   principal   amount   of    ______________________________Dollars
($___________),  and to pay interest on the  principal  amount  hereof,  in such
amounts, at such times and on such terms and conditions as are specified herein.

ARTICLE 1.  Interest

           The Company shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of this
Debenture (this "Debenture") at the rate of seven percent (7%) per year, payable
quarterly  in  arrears  on the  last  day of each  calendar  quarter  commencing
September  30,  1996  until  the  principal  hereof  is paid in full or has been
converted;  provided  that if the  Holder  shall  have  failed to  present  this
Debenture  for  payment  following  the  Maturity  Date  pursuant  to Article 2,
interest shall cease to accrue on the Maturity Date.  Interest on this Debenture
shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no
interest has been paid, from the date of issuance. Interest shall be computed on
the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. If the Holder shall convert
this  Debenture  during any quarter,  the Company shall pay to the Holder,  upon
conversion,  the  pro-rata  portion  of accrued  interest  payable  through  the
conversion date in the manner provided in Section 3.1 below in lieu of cash.

ARTICLE 2.  Method of Payment

           This  Debenture  must be  surrendered to the Company in order for the
Holder to receive  payment of the principal  amount hereof.  Except as otherwise
provided  herein,  the Company  shall pay the  principal of and interest on this
Debenture in United States dollars.  However,  the Company may pay any principal
and interest  payable by cash, by a check payable in such money. The Company may
draw a check for the  payment  of  interest  to the order of the  Holder of this
Debenture  and mail it to the  Holder's  address  as shown on the  Register  (as
defined in Section 7.2 below).  Interest and principal payments shall be subject
to withholding  under applicable  United States Federal Internal Revenue Service
Regulations.


<PAGE>


7% Convertible Debenture
Page 2


ARTICLE 3.  Conversion

           SECTION 3.1.        Conversion Privilege

           (a)        The Holder of this Debenture  shall have the right, at its
option,  to convert this Debenture in integrals of $10,000  principal  amount or
the remaining  principal amount hereof if less than $10,000 into shares of Class
A Common Stock,  par value $0.001 per share, of the Company  ("Common Stock") at
any time which is before the close of business on the Maturity  Date,  except as
set forth in Section 3.1(c) below. The number of shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the  conversion  of this  Debenture is determined by dividing the principal
amount  hereof to be  converted  plus all  accrued and unpaid  interest  thereon
through the conversion date by the conversion price (as defined in paragraph (b)
of this  section  3.1  below) in effect on the  conversion  date (as  defined in
Section 3.2 below).  On  conversion,  no further  payment of or  adjustment  for
accrued  interest  shall be made in  addition to that  provided in the  previous
sentence.

           (b)        The conversion price is eighty-three  percent (83%) of the
current  market price of the Common Stock on the  conversion  date as determined
under Section 3.7 below; provided,  however, that in no event may the conversion
price exceed $8.00 per share (the  "Maximum  Conversion  Price") and in no event
may the conversion  price be less than $3.00 per share (the "Minimum  Conversion
Price").  In the event that, but for this Section 3.1(b),  the conversion  price
would have been below $3.00, the difference  between (a) the number of shares of
Common Stock that would have been issued at what the conversion price would have
been but for the Minimum  Conversion Price limitation  contained in this Section
3.1(b) multiplied by 100% of the current market price of the Common Stock on the
conversion date as determined  under Section 3.7 below,  minus (b) the number of
shares of Common Stock actually issued  multiplied by 100% of the current market
price of the Common Stock on the conversion date as determined under Section 3.7
below,  shall be paid to the  Holder in cash (or by check  drawn to the order of
the Holder). The Minimum Conversion Price and the Maximum Conversion Price shall
be proportionately adjusted from time to time to reflect stock dividends,  stock
splits and stock combinations.

           (c)        Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary  set  forth in
Section 3.1(a), this Debenture may not be converted until the earlier of 90 days
after the first  closing of the sale of  Debentures  by the  Company in the same
offering as this Debenture was sold or such time as the  registration  statement
which the Company is to file with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the
"Commission"),  pursuant to Section  2(a) of that  certain  Registration  Rights
Agreement being entered into contemporaneously  herewith between the Company and
the initial Holder of this Debenture, for the resale of the shares issuable upon
conversion  of  this  Debenture,   is  declared  effective  by  the  Commission.
Commencing  with the earlier of (i) 90 days after the first  closing of the sale
of Debentures by the Company in the same offering as this  Debenture was sold or
(ii) upon the effectiveness of such registration statement, 25% of the principal
amount  of  this  Debenture  may be  converted,  with an  additional  25% of the
principal  amount of this  Debenture  becoming  convertible on each of the 30th,
60th and 90th days thereafter.


<PAGE>


7% Convertible Debenture
Page 3


           Notwithstanding the foregoing,  in the event the Company proposes, by
dividend or otherwise, to make a distribution to the holders of its Common Stock
generally,  of cash, securities (other than in a stock dividend,  stock split or
stock  combination) or other assets, the Company shall so notify the Holders not
less than five (5) business  days prior to the record date of such  distribution
and the entire  principal  amount of this  Debenture  shall  become  immediately
convertible  (at the option of each such  Holder) into Common Stock as otherwise
set forth herein.

           (d)        In the event this  Debenture  remains  outstanding  on the
Maturity  Date,  the Company  shall have the option to convert  the  unconverted
portion of such Debenture into shares of Common Stock on such date in the manner
set forth in this  Section  3.1 or to repay  the  outstanding  principal  amount
hereof plus any accrued and unpaid interest.

           Section 3.2.  Conversion  Procedure.  To convert this  Debenture into
Common  Stock,  the Holder must (a) complete  and sign the Notice of  Conversion
attached  hereto,  (b)  surrender  the  Debenture  to the  Company,  (c) furnish
appropriate  endorsements and transfer documents if reasonably  requested by the
Company  and (d)  subject to Section  3.4,  pay any  transfer  or similar tax if
reasonably required by the Company. The date upon which the Company receives the
completed  Notice  of  Conversion  (by  mail,  facsimile  or  otherwise)  is the
conversion  date,  provided  that the Company shall not be required to deliver a
certificate  for  Common  Shares  unless  and until  the  Company  receives  the
Debenture.  The Company shall use its best efforts to deliver a certificate  for
the number of full shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon the  conversion  and a
check for any  fraction of a share in  accordance  with Section 3.3 below within
three (3) business days after receipt of the Notice of Conversion,  provided the
Company has received the Debenture  from the Holder and any other items that may
be required  pursuant to this Section.  The person in whose name the certificate
of Common Stock is to be registered  shall be treated as a shareholder of record
on and after the conversion date. If the Holder converts more than one Debenture
at the same time, the number of full shares  issuable upon the conversion  shall
be based on the total principal  amount of Debentures  converted by such Holder.
Upon surrender of a Debenture that is to be converted in part, the Company shall
issue to the Holder a new Debenture equal in principal amount to the unconverted
portion of the Debenture surrendered.

           SECTION  3.3.  Fractional  Shares.  The  Company  shall  not  issue a
fractional share of Common Stock upon the conversion of this Debenture. Instead,
the Company  shall pay in lieu of any  fractional  share the cash value  thereof
(rounded to the nearest  1/100th of a share) at the then current market price of
the Common Stock as determined under Section 3.7 below.

           SECTION  3.4.  . Taxes  on  Conversion.  The  Company  shall  pay any
documentary,  stamp or similar  issue or transfer tax due on the issue of shares
of Common Stock upon the conversion of this Debenture. However, the Holder shall
pay any such tax which is due because the shares are issued in a name other than
its name.

           SECTION 3.5.  Company to Reserve Stock. The Company shall reserve out
of its  authorized  but  unissued  Common Stock or Common Stock held in treasury
such  number of shares of Common  Stock to permit the  conversion  of all of the
then outstanding Debentures at the Minimum Conversion


<PAGE>


7% Convertible Debenture
Page 4


Price. All shares of Common Stock which may be issued upon the conversion hereof
shall be fully paid and nonassessable.

           SECTION 3.6. Restrictions on Transfer.  This Debenture and the Common
Stock issuable upon the  conversion  hereof have not been  registered  under the
Securities  Act of 1933 (the  "Act") and this  Debenture  and the  Common  Stock
issuable upon the conversion of this Debenture may not be offered for sale, sold
or otherwise transferred unless such offer, sale or other transfer is registered
under the Act or is exempt from such registration.

           SECTION 3.7.  Current Market Price.

           (a)        In  Sections  3.1 and 3.3,  the current  market  price per
share of Common  Stock on any date is the  average of the  quoted  prices of the
Common  Stock  for five  consecutive  trading  days  ending on the  trading  day
immediately preceding the date in question.

           (b)        As used in this  Section  3.7, the term quoted price shall
mean (i) the closing bid prices thereof on any such trading date, as reported by
Bloomberg,  L.P. or (ii) in the event the Common  Stock is not  reported on such
system,  the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company in its good faith judgment.

           SECTION 3.8. Mergers, Etc. If the Company merges or consolidates with
another corporation or sells or transfers all or substantially all of its assets
to another  person and the holders of the Common  Stock are  entitled to receive
stock,  securities  or property in respect of or in exchange  for Common  Stock,
then as a condition of such merger, consolidation, sale or transfer, the Company
and any such successor,  purchaser or transferee shall agree that this Debenture
may thereafter be converted on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
above into the kind and amount of stock,  securities or property receivable upon
such merger,  consolidation,  sale or transfer  which the Holder would have been
entitled to receive had the Holder converted this Debenture immediately prior to
such merger, consolidation, sale or transfer and been the owner of the number of
shares of Common  Stock  into  which this  Debenture  might have been  converted
immediately before such merger, consolidation, sale or transfer.

           Section 3.9. Listing. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause
all Common Shares into which this Debenture may be converted to be listed on (i)
the National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers  Automated  Quotation  System
("NASDAQ") National Market System, (ii) a national securities exchange, or (iii)
the NASDAQ small-cap market.

ARTICLE 4.  Mergers

           The Company shall not  consolidate  or merge into, or transfer all or
substantially  all of its assets to, any person,  unless such person assumes the
obligations  of the Company  under this  Debenture  and  immediately  after such
transaction  no Event of Default  exists.  Any  reference  herein to the Company
shall refer to such surviving or transferee  corporation  and the obligations of
the Company shall terminate upon such assumption.



<PAGE>


7% Convertible Debenture
Page 5


ARTICLE 5.  Reports

           The Company will mail to the Holder hereof at its address as shown on
the  Register a copy of any annual,  quarterly  or current  report that it files
with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  ("SEC")  promptly after the filing
thereof and a copy of any annual,  quarterly or other report or proxy  statement
that it gives to its shareholders generally at the time such report or statement
is sent to shareholders.  In the event the Company is no longer required to file
reports  with the SEC,  the  Company  shall  provide  the  Holder  with  reports
containing  substantially  the same  information  as would be  included  in such
reports if they were required.

ARTICLE 6.  Defaults and Remedies

           SECTION 6.1.  Events of Default.  An "Event of Default" occurs if (a)
the Company does not make the payment of the  principal of this  Debenture  when
the same  becomes due and payable at  maturity,  (b) the Company does not make a
payment of interest when such interest  becomes due and payable and such default
continues  for a period of 5 days  thereafter,  (c) the  Company  fails to issue
shares of Common Stock upon conversion, (d) the Company fails to comply with any
of its other  agreements in this  Debenture  and such failure  continues for the
period and after the notice  specified  below,  (e) the  Company  pursuant to or
within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (as hereinafter defined): (i) commences
a voluntary  case;  (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it
in an involuntary  case;  (iii)  consents to the  appointment of a Custodian (as
hereinafter defined) of it or for all or substantially all of its property; (iv)
makes a general  assignment for the benefit of its creditors;  or (v) a court of
competent  jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(A) is for relief  against the Company in an  involuntary  case;  (B) appoints a
Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially  all of its property or (C)
orders the  liquidation of the Company,  and the order or decree remain unstayed
and in effect for 60 days.  As used in this Section  6.1,  the term  "Bankruptcy
Law" means Title 11 of the United  States  Code or any similar  federal or state
law for the relief of debtors. The term "Custodian" means any receiver, trustee,
assignee,  liquidator or similar  official under any  Bankruptcy  Law. A default
under clause (d) above is not an Event of Default  until the holders of at least
25% of the aggregate  principal  amount of the Debentures (as defined in Section
7.1) notify the Company of such  default and the Company does not cure it within
5 days after the receipt of such notice, which must specify the default,  demand
that it be remedied and state that it is a "Notice of Default."

           SECTION  6.2.  Acceleration.  If an Event of  Default  occurs  and is
continuing,  the  Holder  hereof by  notice  to the  Company,  may  declare  the
principal of and accrued interest on this Debenture to be due and payable.  Upon
such  declaration,  the principal  and interest  hereof shall be due and payable
immediately.

           SECTION 6.3.  Waivers.  The holders of a majority in principal amount
of  the  Debentures  then  outstanding  may  waive  a  default  or  rescind  the
declaration  of an Event  of  Default  and its  consequences  except  that (1) a
default in the payment of  principal of or interest on any  Debenture,  or (2) a
default  in the  conversion  of any  Debenture  may only be waived by the Holder
affected thereby.


<PAGE>


7% Convertible Debenture
Page 6



ARTICLE 7.  Registered Debentures

           SECTION 7.1.  Series.  This Debenture is one of a numbered  series of
Debentures  having an  aggregate  principal  amount of not more than  $9,000,000
which are  identical  except as to the  principal  amount  and date of  issuance
thereof.   Such   Debentures  are  referred  to  herein   collectively   as  the
"Debentures". The Debentures shall be issued in whole multiples of $10,000.

           SECTION 7.2. Record Ownership.  The Company shall maintain a register
of the  holders of the  Debentures  (the  "Register")  showing  their  names and
addresses and the serial numbers and principal  amounts of Debentures  issued to
or  transferred  of record  by it from time to time.  A Holder  may  change  its
address on the Register in  accordance  with the notice  procedures in Article 8
below.  The  Register  may  be  maintained  in  electronic,  magnetic  or  other
computerized  form. The Company may treat the person named as the Holder of this
Debenture  in the  Register as the sole owner of this  Debenture.  The Holder of
this  Debenture  is the  person  exclusively  entitled  to receive  payments  of
interest  on  this  Debenture,   receive  notifications  with  respect  to  this
Debenture, convert it into Common Stock and otherwise exercise all of the rights
and powers as the absolute owner hereof.

           SECTION 7.3.  Registration  of Transfer.  Transfers of this Debenture
may be  registered  on the  books of the  Company  maintained  for such  purpose
pursuant  to  Section  7.2  above  (i.e.,  the  Register).  Transfers  shall  be
registered  when this  Debenture  is  presented to the Company with a request to
register  the  transfer  hereof  and  the  Debenture  is  duly  endorsed  by the
appropriate  person,  reasonable  assurances are given that the endorsements are
genuine and effective,  and the Company has received evidence satisfactory to it
that such  transfer is rightful  and in  compliance  with all  applicable  laws,
including tax laws and state and federal securities laws. When this Debenture is
presented for transfer and duly transferred hereunder,  it shall be canceled and
a new Debenture  showing the name of the transferee as the record Holder thereof
shall be issued in lieu hereof.  When this Debenture is presented to the Company
with a  reasonable  request  to  exchange  it for an equal  principal  amount of
Debentures  of other  denominations,  the Company  shall make such  exchange and
shall cancel this Debenture and issue in lieu thereof  Debentures having a total
principal amount equal to this Debenture in the  denominations  requested by the
Holder  (but only in  multiples  of $10,000 or the  remaining  principal  amount
hereof if less than  $10,000).  The Company may charge a reasonable  fee for any
registration  of transfer or exchange  other than one  occasioned by a notice of
redemption or the conversion hereof.

           SECTION 7.4.  Worn and Lost  Debentures.  If this  Debenture  becomes
worn, defaced or mutilated but is still  substantially  intact and recognizable,
the  Company  or its agent may issue a new  Debenture  in lieu  hereof  upon its
surrender. Where the Holder of this Debenture claims that the Debenture has been
lost,  destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue a new Debenture in
place of the original  Debenture if the Holder so requests by written  notice to
the Company  actually  received by the  Company  before it is notified  that the
Debenture  has  been  acquired  by a bona  fide  purchaser  and the  Holder  has
delivered  to the  Company an  indemnity  bond in such amount and issued by such
surety as the Company  deems  satisfactory  together  with an  affidavit  of the
Holder setting


<PAGE>


7% Convertible Debenture
Page 7


forth the facts  concerning  such loss,  destruction or wrongful taking and such
other  information in such form with such proof or  verification  as the Company
may request.

ARTICLE 8.  Notices

           Except as otherwise  provided in this Debenture,  any notice which is
required or convenient  under the terms of this Debenture shall be duly given if
it is in writing  and (a)  delivered  in person (b) mailed by first  class mail,
postage  prepaid,  or (c) sent by private  overnight  courier  service  (such as
Federal  Express) and directed to the Holder of the  Debenture at its address as
it appears on the  Register  or if to the  Company  to its  principal  executive
offices.  Such  notice  shall be  effective,  when  personally  delivered,  upon
receipt, four business days after deposit with the United States Postal Service,
or the next  business  day after  being sent when so sent by  private  overnight
courier service, as the case may be.

ARTICLE 9.  Time

           Where this  Debenture  authorizes or requires the payment of money or
the performance of a condition or obligation on a Saturday or Sunday or a public
holiday,  or authorizes or requires the payment of money or the performance of a
condition or obligation within, before or after a period of time computed from a
certain date, and such period of time ends on a Saturday or a Sunday or a public
holiday,  such payment may be made or condition or  obligation  performed on the
next  succeeding  business day, and if the period ends at a specified hour, such
payment may be made or condition  performed,  at or before the same hour of such
next  succeeding  business  day,  with the same  force and  effect as if made or
performed in accordance with the terms of this Debenture. Where time is extended
by virtue of the  provisions  of this Article 9, such extended time shall not be
included in the computation of interest.

ARTICLE 10.  Rules of Construction

           In this Debenture,  unless the context otherwise  requires,  words in
the singular  include the plural,  and in the plural  include the singular,  and
words of the masculine gender include the feminine and the neuter,  and when the
sense so  indicates,  words of the neuter  gender may refer to any  gender.  The
titles of sections  contained in this Debenture are inserted for  convenience of
reference  only,  and they neither form a part of this Debenture nor are they to
be  used  in the  construction  or  interpretation  hereof.  Wherever,  in  this
Debenture,  a  determination  of  the  Company  is  required  or  allowed,  such
determination  shall be made by a  majority  of the  Board of  Directors  of the
Company and if it is made in good faith, it shall be conclusive and binding upon
the Company and the Holder of this Debenture.

ARTICLE 11.  Governing Law

           The validity,  terms,  performance  and enforcement of this Debenture
shall be governed and construed by the provisions  hereof and in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York  applicable to agreements that are negotiated,
executed, delivered and performed solely in the State of New York (except as the
corporate laws of the State of Delaware may mandatorily apply thereto).


<PAGE>


7% Convertible Debenture
Page 8


ARTICLE 12.  No Recourse to Stockholders, Officers, Directors and Certain Others

           No  recourse  shall be had for the  payment  of the  principal  of or
interest upon this Debenture or for any claim based thereon or otherwise against
any incorporator,  stockholder,  officer,  director,  accountant or attorney, or
other agent of the Company,  past,  present or future,  whether by virtue of any
constitution,  statute, rule of law, enforcement of any assessment or penalty or
by a reason of any other matter, all such liability, by acceptance hereof and as
part of the  consideration  of the issue or  transfer  hereof,  being  expressly
waived by the Holder.

           IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Company has duly executed this Debenture as
of the date first written above.

                                           American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc.


                                           By 
                                              -----------------------------
                                                   Josef C. Schoell
                                                   Vice President, Finance


<PAGE>


7% Convertible Debenture
Page 9


                              NOTICE OF CONVERSION
         [To be completed and signed only upon conversion of Debenture]

           The  undersigned,  the Holder of this Debenture,  hereby  irrevocably
elects to exercise the right to convert it into shares (the "Shares") of Class A
common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of American Biogenetic Sciences,  Inc.
as set forth below:

The undersigned intends to promptly sell the Shares   [_] YES           [_] NO



[Complete if less than             ____________________Dollars ($__________)*___
all of principal amount              ($10,000 or integral multiples of $10,000)
is to be converted]

[Signature must be                 _____________________________________________
guaranteed by a commercial                   (Name of Holder of shares if 
bank or a member firm of                  different than the registered Holder
the New York Stock                           of Debenture) 
Exchange if registered holder
of stock differs from registered
Holder of Debenture)
                                   _____________________________________________
                                 (Address of Holder if different than address of
                                          registered Holder of Debenture)

                                   _____________________________________________
                                  (Social Security or EIN of Holder of shares if
                                        different than Holder of Debenture)

           * If the  principal  amount of the  Debenture to be converted is less
           than the entire  principal  amount  thereof,  a new Debenture for the
           balance of the  principal  amount  shall be returned to the Holder of
           the Debenture.

Date:________________                Sign:_____________________________________
                                        (Signature must conform in all respects
                                         to name of Holder shown on face of this
                                         Debenture)
Signature Guaranteed:


<PAGE>


7% Convertible Debenture
Page 10


                               ASSIGNMENT OF NOTE



           The undersigned hereby sell(s) and  assign(s)  and  transfer(s)  unto

________________________________________________________________________________
                     (name, address and SSN or EIN of assignee)

__________________________________________________Dollars ($_________)___
(principal amount of Debenture, $10,000 or integral multiples of $10,000)

of principal amount of this Debenture together with all accrued interest hereon.


Date:________                Sign:____________________________________________
                                 (Signature must conform in all respects to name
                                 of  Holder  shown on face of  Debenture  and be
                                 guaranteed by a commercial  bank or member firm
                                 of the New York Stock Exchange.)


Signature Guaranteed:




                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


           THIS REGISTRATION  RIGHTS  AGREEMENT,  dated as of September 20, 1996
(this "Agreement"),  is made by and among American Biogenetic Sciences,  Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the person named on the signature page
hereto (the "Initial Investor").

                              W I T N E S S E T H :

                      WHEREAS,   in  connection  with  the  Private   Securities
           Subscription  Agreement,  dated as of September 20, 1996, between the
           Initial Investor and the Company (the "Subscription Agreement"),  the
           Company has agreed,  upon the terms and subject to the  conditions of
           the Subscription Agreement, to issue and sell to the Initial Investor
           [Dollar Amount]  principal  amount of 7% Convertible  Debentures (the
           "Debentures"),  convertible  into  shares  of Class A  Common  Stock,
           $0.001 par value (the "Common Stock"); and

                      WHEREAS,  to induce the  Initial  Investor  to execute and
           deliver the Subscription Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide
           certain  registration  rights under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
           amended,  and the rules and  regulations  thereunder,  or any similar
           successor   statute   (collectively,   the  "Securities   Act"),  and
           applicable state securities laws with respect to the Shares;

                      NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and the
           mutual  covenants  contained  herein  and  other  good  and  valuable
           consideration,  the  receipt  and  sufficiency  of which  are  hereby
           acknowledged,  the Company and the Initial  Investor  hereby agree as
           follows:

                      1.         DEFINITIONS.

                      (a)        As used in this Agreement,  the following terms
           shall have the following meanings:

                      (i) "Debentures" means the Debentures issued to all of the
           Investors  (including  the  Initial  Investor)  pursuant  to the same
           offering in which Debentures have been sold to the Initial Investor.

                     (ii) "Initial  Investor" means the Initial Investor and any
           transferee  or assignee of Debentures or Shares issued to the Initial
           Investor  provided such transferee or assignee agrees to become bound
           by the provisions of this



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 2


           Agreement in accordance with Section 9 hereof.

                      (iii)  "Investors"  means (A) the Initial Investor and all
           other  purchasers of Debentures being offered by the Company pursuant
           to the  same  offering  in which  Debentures  have  been  sold to the
           Initial  Investor and (B) any transferee or assignee of Debentures or
           Shares from an Investor  provided such  transferee or assignee agrees
           to become bound by the  provisions  of this  Agreement in  accordance
           with Section 9 hereof.

                      (iv) "register," "registered," and "registration" refer to
           a  registration  effected by (x) preparing and filing a  Registration
           Statement or Statements in compliance with the Securities Act on such
           appropriate  registration  form  promulgated  by  the  United  States
           Securities  and Exchange  Commission  ("SEC") as shall be selected by
           the Company,  and,  when  requested by the  Investors or any Investor
           pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof,  shall (A) be reasonably  acceptable
           to the holders of a majority of the  Registrable  Securities to which
           such  registration  relates,  and (B) shall permit the disposition of
           Registrable  Securities  in  accordance  with the intended  method or
           methods  specified in the Investors'  request for such  registration,
           and  (y)  the  declaration  or  ordering  of  effectiveness  of  such
           Registration Statement by the SEC.

                      (v)  "Registrable   Securities,"  as  it  pertains  to  an
           Investor,  means the Shares which have been issued upon conversion of
           Debentures and the maximum number of Shares  issuable upon conversion
           of the Debentures which at the time are outstanding but have not been
           converted;  provided,  however,  that such  Shares  shall cease to be
           Registrable  Securities  (i)  upon  any sale  thereof  pursuant  to a
           registration  statement or Rule 144 promulgated  under the Securities
           Act,  (ii)  during  such  period,  as  determined  by  counsel to the
           Company,  as  Rule  144  would  permit  such  Investor  to  sell  all
           Registrable Securities to the public without registration in a period
           of 90  consecutive  days (but only so long as the  Company  meets the
           "current  public  information"  requirements of Rule 144) or (iii) at
           such  time as  paragraph  (k) of Rule 144 under  the  Securities  Act
           becomes  available  to such  Investor  for the sale of such Shares as
           determined by counsel to the Company.

                      (vi)   "Registration   Statement"   means  a  registration
           statement   under  the   Securities   Act   registering   Registrable
           Securities.

                      (vii)  "Shares" means the shares of Common Stock issued or
           issuable upon conversion of Debentures.



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 3



                      (b)        Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
           defined  herein shall have the  respective  meanings set forth in the
           Subscription Agreement.

                      2.         REGISTRATION.

                      (a)        SHELF  REGISTRATION.  The Company shall use its
           best efforts to file, as promptly as  practicable  following the sale
           of the last  Debenture  being offered to the Investors (but not later
           than 20 days thereafter),  a "shelf" registration  statement covering
           the then  Registrable  Securities on any appropriate form pursuant to
           Rule  415  under  the   Securities   Act  (the  "Shelf   Registration
           Statement") in order to permit the offer and sale of the  Registrable
           Securities  from  time to  time  by the  Investors  while  the  Shelf
           Registration  Statement is effective  and current.  The Company shall
           use  its  best  efforts  to have  the  Shelf  Registration  Statement
           declared  effective  as soon as  practicable  after its filing and to
           keep such  registration  statement  continuously  effective until all
           Registrable  Securities  included  therein  cease  to be  Registrable
           Securities.

                      (b)        PIGGY-BACK  REGISTRATIONS.  If at any  time the
           Company  shall   determine  to  prepare  and  file  with  the  SEC  a
           Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own account or
           the account of others under the  Securities  Act of any of its equity
           securities,  other  than  on  Form  S-4 or  Form  S-8 or  their  then
           equivalents  relating  to equity  securities  to be issued  solely in
           connection  with any  acquisition of any entity or business or equity
           securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee
           benefit  plans,  the  Company  shall  send to each  Investor,  who is
           entitled to  registration  rights  under this  Section  2(b)  written
           notice of such  determination  and, if within  twenty (20) days after
           the Company gave such notice,  the Company  shall have  received from
           such  Investor a request  therefor  in  writing,  the  Company  shall
           include  in  such  Registration  Statement  all  or any  part  of the
           Registrable  Securities  such  Investor  requests  to be  registered,
           except that if, in connection with any  underwritten  public offering
           as to  Debentures  not yet  converted,  the Company  need not include
           Registrable  Securities subject thereto in such underwritten offering
           unless and to the extent the Holder  thereof  commits to convert  the
           same  prior  to or in  connection  with  the  sale  pursuant  to such
           Registration  Statement and (ii) if such underwritten offering is for
           the account of the Company  and/or  holders of  securities  which are
           entitled by right to inclusion  of  securities  in such  Registration
           Statement, the managing underwriter(s)



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 4


           thereof  shall impose a limitation  on the number of shares of Common
           Stock which may be included in the Registration Statement because, in
           such underwriter(s)' judgment, such limitation is necessary to effect
           an  orderly  public  distribution  or is  likely  to  materially  and
           adversely affect the price that the Company or holders of such demand
           registration  rights could obtain in such offering,  then the Company
           shall be obligated  to include in such  Registration  Statement  only
           such portion,  if any, of the Registrable  Securities with respect to
           which  such  Investor  has  requested  inclusion  hereunder  that the
           underwriter(s)  advise is not likely to have either such effect.  Any
           exclusion of Registrable  Securities shall be made pro rata among the
           Investors seeking to include Registrable Securities, in proportion to
           the number of  Registrable  Securities  sought to be included by such
           Investors;  provided, however, that the Company shall not exclude any
           Registrable  Securities  unless the  Company has first  excluded  all
           outstanding securities the holders of which are not entitled by right
           to  inclusion  of  securities  in such  Registration  Statement;  and
           provided,   further,  however,  that,  after  giving  effect  to  the
           immediately   preceding   proviso,   any  exclusion  of   Registrable
           Securities  shall be made pro rata with  holders of other  securities
           having  the right to  include  such  securities  in the  Registration
           Statement to the extent such pro rata allotment is provided for under
           the Company's  currently existing agreements with such holders of the
           Company's  securities  (if not provided for, then allotment of shares
           by the Investors and such other  Investors shall be determined by the
           Company in good faith so as not to breach  such  registration  rights
           agreements). For the purpose of the pro rata allotment referred to in
           the  foregoing  sentence,  the number of shares of Common Stock to be
           included  for  each  holder  of  Debentures  shall be  determined  by
           assuming the  conversion  thereof at a conversion  price based on the
           average of the closing bid prices of the Common Stock during the five
           trading day period  ending on the second day prior to the filing date
           of  such  registration   statement.   No  right  to  registration  of
           Registrable  Securities under this Section 2(b) shall be construed to
           limit any  registration  required  under Section 2(a) or 2(c) hereof.
           The  obligations of the Company under this Section 2(b) may be waived
           by  Investors  holding a  majority  in  interest  of the  Registrable
           Securities and shall expire after the earlier of (i) such time as the
           Company has afforded the  opportunity  for the  Investors to exercise
           registration  rights under this  Section 2(a) for two  registrations;
           provided,   however,  that  any  Investor  who  shall  have  had  any
           Registrable  Securities  excluded from any Registration  Statement in
           accordance  with this Section 2(b) shall be entitled to include in an
           additional   Registration   Statement   filed  by  the   Company  the
           Registrable   Securities   so  excluded  or  (ii)  when  all  of  the
           Registrable Securities cease to be Registrable Securities.



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 5



                      (c)        DEMAND REGISTRATION.  If, at any time after the
           date  which is 30 days  after  the  closing  under  the  Subscription
           Agreements  by all  Investors,  Investors  holding a majority  of the
           Registrable  Securities shall notify the Company in writing that they
           intend to offer or cause to be offered  for public  sale  Registrable
           Securities  held by such  Investor,  the  Company  shall use its best
           efforts  to  cause  such  of  the  Registrable  Securities  as may be
           requested by any  Investor to be  registered,  on one occasion  only,
           under the Securities Act and applicable  state laws as  expeditiously
           as  possible.  Once the right  for  registration  of any  Registrable
           Securities  under  this  Section  2(c)  has  been  exercised  by such
           Investors, the Company shall use its best efforts to prepare and file
           a Registration  Statement  covering such Registrable  Securities with
           the SEC as promptly as  practicable,  but in any event not later than
           twenty (20) days after the Company's receipt of such request.

                      If  any  offering  pursuant  to a  Registration  Statement
           pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof  involves an  underwritten  offering,
           the  Investors  who hold a majority in  interest  of the  Registrable
           Securities subject to such underwritten offering shall have the right
           to select one legal counsel and an  investment  banker or bankers and
           manager or managers to  administer  the  offering,  which  investment
           banker  or  bankers  or  manager  or  managers  shall  be  reasonably
           satisfactory  to the Company.  The Investors who hold the Registrable
           Securities  to  be  included  in  such  underwriting  shall  pay  all
           underwriting discounts and commissions and other fees and expenses of
           such investment banker or bankers and manager or managers so selected
           in  accordance  with this  Section 2(c) (other than fees and expenses
           relating to registration of Registrable  Securities  under federal or
           state  securities  laws which are payable by the Company  pursuant to
           Section 5 hereof) with respect to their  Registrable  Securities  and
           the  fees  and  expenses  of  such  legal  counsel  selected  by  the
           Investors.

                      (d)        PAYMENTS BY THE  COMPANY.  If the  Registration
           Statement  covering the  Registrable  Securities  pursuant to Section
           2(a) hereof is not  effective  within 90 days after the first sale of
           Debentures  by the Company to the  Investors,  then the Company  will
           make  payments  to each holder of  Registrable  Securities  (each,  a
           "Holder")  in such  amounts and at such times as shall be  determined
           pursuant to this Section 2(d). The aggregate amount to be paid by the
           Company to all Holders  shall be  determined  as of each  Computation
           Date, and such amount shall be equal to (1) in the case of the



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 6


           first  Computation Date, one percent (1%) and (2) in the case of each
           other  Computation  Date,  two  percent  (2%),  in  each  case of the
           aggregate subscription price paid by the Investors for all Debentures
           pursuant to the  Subscription  Agreements  (the  "Periodic  Amount");
           provided,  however, that if any Computation Date is less than 30 days
           subsequent  to another  Computation  Date,  then the Periodic  Amount
           payable on the later Computation Date shall be prorated. The Periodic
           Amount shall be divided among all the Holders in the same  proportion
           as each  Holder's  Debentures  bears to the total of the  outstanding
           Debentures.  The Periodic  Amount shall be paid by the Company within
           five business days after each  Computation  Date and shall be payable
           in cash;  provided,  however,  that the  Company may elect in lieu of
           payment of any Periodic  Amount in cash to deliver to a Holder shares
           of Common Stock having an Aggregate  Market Value equal to the amount
           of the  Periodic  Amount if, but only if, (1) such  shares are freely
           tradable by the Initial  Investor  without any restriction  under the
           Securities  Act or any  state  securities  or "blue  sky" law (2) the
           number of such Shares to be issued to all  Investors,  together  with
           all  other  Registrable  Securities,  does  not  exceed  19.9% of the
           Company's  outstanding  Common Stock on the date of the first Closing
           of the  Debentures  and (3) after the  issuance of such shares to the
           Holder,  the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock  beneficially
           owned by the Holder  (determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of,
           and Regulations 13 D-G under, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
           amended  (the   "Exchange   Act"))  would  not  exceed  4.9%  of  the
           outstanding  shares of Common Stock.  In the event of the issuance of
           any Shares pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Holder shall, with
           respect to the Shares issued pursuant to the preceding  sentence,  be
           deemed to have made all  representations,  warranties  and  covenants
           contained in Section 2 of the Subscription  Agreement  related to the
           purchase of the Debentures by the Initial Investor.

                     As used in this Section  2(d),  the  following  terms shall
           have the following meanings:

                     "Aggregate  Market  Value" of any shares of Common Stock as
           of any Computation Date means the product obtained by multiplying (a)
           such number of shares of Common  Stock  times (b) the Average  Market
           Price of the Common Stock for such Computation Date.

                     "Average  Market Price" of any security for any Computation
           Date shall be  computed  as the  average of the closing bid prices of
           the  Common  Stock  over the five  trading-day  period  ending on the
           relevant Computation Date, as



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 7


           reported by Bloomberg, L.P.

                     "Computation  Date"  means the date  which is 90 days after
           the  date of the  first  sale of  Debentures  by the  Company  to the
           Investors and, if the Registration  Statement required to be filed by
           the  Company  pursuant  to  Section  2(a)  has not  theretofore  been
           declared  effective by the SEC,  each date which is 30 days after the
           immediately  preceding  Computation  Date  and,  if the  Registration
           Statement  required  to be filed by the  Company  pursuant to Section
           2(a) is not  declared  effective by the SEC within 90 days after date
           of the first sale of Debentures by the Company to the Investors,  the
           date on which such Registration Statement is declared effective.

                      3.         OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.  In connection with
           the registration of the Registrable Securities, the Company shall:

                      (a) prepare  promptly and file with the SEC promptly  (but
           in no event  later  than the  applicable  time  frames  set  forth in
           Section 2) a Registration Statement or Statements with respect to all
           Registrable Securities to be included therein, and thereafter use its
           best efforts to cause the Registration  Statement to become effective
           as  soon  as  reasonably   possible   after  such  filing.   If  such
           Registration  Statement  is filed  pursuant to Rule 415,  the Company
           shall keep the Registration  Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415
           at all times  while the shares  covered  thereby  remain  Registrable
           Securities;  provided,  however,  that,  each Investor may notify the
           Company in writing  that it wishes to exclude all or a portion of its
           Registrable  Securities from such  Registration  Statement;  provided
           further,  however,   notwithstanding  anything  to  the  contrary  in
           Sections  2(b) or (c) or Section 3 hereof,  the Company may  postpone
           the filing of any  registration  statement  otherwise  required to be
           prepared  and filed by it or keeping any  registration  statement  or
           prospectus current and/or effective (i) (with respect to postponement
           only  and  not  to  suspension)  during  any  period  up to  45  days
           reasonably  necessary in order to prepare annual financial statements
           of the Company required to be included in the registration  statement
           for the fiscal  period  most  recently  ended  prior to such  written
           requests,  (ii) for a period up to 30 days  (but no  longer  than the
           reason  for  non-disclosure  continues),  if  the  Company  would  be
           required to  disclose in such  registration  statement  any  material
           business   situation,   transaction  or  negotiation   not  otherwise
           disclosed  as  to  which  the   Company's   Board  of  Directors  has
           determined,  in good faith,  that  valid,  significant  and  material
           business reasons which are expected to be beneficial to the Company



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 8


           exist that warrant that such information not be disclosed, but not to
           exceed  two (2) times  during any one (1) year  period,  (iii) if the
           Company  ceases to be eligible to file a  registration  statement  on
           Form  S-3,  only such time as is  necessary  to cause a  registration
           statement  on Form S-1 (or  other  applicable  form)  to be  declared
           effective by the SEC (but in no event  longer than 60 days),  or (iv)
           during the ten-day period prior to, and during the ninety-day  period
           beginning on, the effective date of a registration statement covering
           an underwritten public offering by the Company of any Common Stock or
           any securities of the Company  convertible  into or  exchangeable  or
           exercisable for Common Stock.

                      (b)  prepare  and  file  with  the  SEC  such   amendments
           (including   post-effective   amendments)   and  supplements  to  the
           Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with the
           Registration  Statement as may be necessary to keep the  Registration
           Statement  effective  at all times while the Company is  obligated to
           keep the  Registration  Statement  current in accordance with section
           3(a);

                      (c) furnish to each Investor whose Registrable  Securities
           are included in the Registration Statement,  such number of copies of
           a prospectus,  including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments
           and supplements thereto and such other documents as such Investor may
           reasonably  request in order to  facilitate  the  disposition  of the
           Registrable Securities owned by such Investor;

                      (d) use reasonable efforts to (i) register and qualify the
           Registrable  Securities  covered by the Registration  Statement under
           such other  securities or blue sky laws of such  jurisdictions in the
           United States as the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the
           Registrable Securities being offered reasonably request, (ii) prepare
           and  file  in  those   jurisdictions   such   amendments   (including
           post-effective  amendments)  and  supplements,  (iii) take such other
           actions  as may be  necessary  to  maintain  such  registrations  and
           qualifications  in effect at all  times  until  such date as is three
           years after the Initial  Investor  acquired the  Debentures  and (iv)
           take all other actions  reasonably  necessary or advisable to qualify
           the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions;  provided,
           however,  that  the  Company  shall  not be  required  in  connection
           therewith or as a condition  thereto to (I) qualify to do business in
           any jurisdiction  where it would not otherwise be required to qualify
           but for this Section 3(d), (II) subject itself to general taxation in
           any such  jurisdiction,  (III)  file a general  consent to service of
           process in any such



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 9


           jurisdiction,  (IV)  provide  any  undertakings  that cause more than
           nominal  expense  or burden to the  Company or (V) make any change in
           its charter or by-laws,  which in each case the Board of Directors of
           the Company  determines  to be contrary to the best  interests of the
           Company and its stockholders;

                      (e) in the event Investors who hold a majority in interest
           of  the  Registrable  Securities  to be  included  in a  Registration
           Statement  under  Section  2(c)  shall  select  underwriters  for the
           offering,   enter  into  and   perform  its   obligations   under  an
           underwriting  agreement,  in usual  and  customary  form,  including,
           without  limitation,   customary   indemnification  and  contribution
           obligations,  with the managing  underwriter of such offering (which,
           if covering the Investors, shall supersede those contained in Section
           6 of this Agreement);

                      (f) as promptly as  practicable  after  becoming  aware of
           such event,  notify each  Investor who holds  Registrable  Securities
           being sold  pursuant to such  registration  of the  happening  of any
           event of which the  Company has  knowledge,  as a result of which the
           prospectus included in the Registration Statement, as then in effect,
           includes an untrue  statement of a material  fact or omits to state a
           material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the
           statements  therein,  in light of the circumstances  under which they
           were made,  not  misleading,  and use its best  efforts  promptly  to
           prepare a supplement  or amendment to the  Registration  Statement to
           correct such untrue  statement  or omission,  and deliver a number of
           copies of such  supplement  or  amendment  to each  Investor  as such
           Investor may reasonably request;

                      (g) as promptly as  practicable  after  becoming  aware of
           such event,  notify each  Investor who holds  Registrable  Securities
           being sold  pursuant  to such  registration  (or,  in the event of an
           underwritten  offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance by
           the SEC of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of the
           Registration Statement at the earliest possible time;

                      (h) permit a single firm of counsel  designated in writing
           to the Company as selling  stockholders' counsel by the Investors who
           hold a majority in interest of the Registrable  Securities being sold
           pursuant to such  registration to review the  Registration  Statement
           and all amendments  and  supplements  thereto a reasonable  period of
           time  prior to their  filing  with the SEC,  and  shall  not file any
           document  in a form to  which  such  counsel  timely  and  reasonably
           objects;




<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 10


                      (i) make  generally  available to its security  holders as
           soon as  practical,  but not later  than  ninety  (90) days after the
           close of the period covered thereby,  an earnings  statement (in form
           complying with the  provisions of Rule 158 under the Securities  Act)
           covering a twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day
           of the Company's  fiscal quarter next following the effective date of
           the Registration Statement;

                      (j) at the  request of  Investors  who hold a majority  in
           interest of the  Registrable  Securities  being sold pursuant to such
           registration,  furnish on the date that  Registrable  Securities  are
           delivered  to  an  underwriter   for  sale  in  connection  with  the
           Registration  Statement  (i) a  letter,  dated  such  date,  from the
           Company's  independent  certified  public  accountants  in  form  and
           substance as is  customarily  given by independent  certified  public
           accountants  to  underwriters  in an  underwritten  public  offering,
           addressed to the underwriters;  and (ii) an opinion, dated such date,
           from   counsel   representing   the  Company  for  purposes  of  such
           Registration Statement, in form and substance as is customarily given
           in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters and
           Investors;

                      (k) make  available for  inspection by any Investor  whose
           Registrable  Securities are being sold pursuant to such registration,
           any  underwriter  participating  in any  disposition  pursuant to the
           Registration Statement,  and any attorney,  accountant or other agent
           retained  by any such  Investor  or  underwriter  (collectively,  the
           "Inspectors"),  all pertinent financial and other records,  pertinent
           corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively,  the
           "Records"), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable each Inspector
           to exercise its due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's
           officers, directors and employees to supply all information which any
           Inspector may reasonably  request for purposes of such due diligence;
           provided,  however,  that each Inspector shall hold in confidence and
           shall not make any  disclosure  (except to an Investor) of any Record
           or other information which the Company determines in good faith to be
           confidential,  and  of  which  determination  the  Inspectors  are so
           notified,  unless (i) the  disclosure  of such Record is necessary to
           avoid  or  correct  a  material   misstatement  or  omission  in  any
           Registration  Statement,  (ii) the release of such Records is ordered
           pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court or government body
           of competent  jurisdiction  or (iii) the  information in such Records
           has  been  made  generally  available  to the  public  other  than by
           disclosure in violation of this or any other  agreement.  The Company
           shall not be required to disclose  any  confidential  information  in
           such Records to any Inspector until and unless such Inspector



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 11


           shall  have  entered  into  confidentiality  agreements  (in form and
           substance  satisfactory to the Company) with the Company with respect
           thereto,  substantially  in the  form  of  this  Section  3(k).  Each
           Investor agrees that it shall,  upon learning that disclosure of such
           Records is sought in or by a court or governmental  body of competent
           jurisdiction  or  through  other  means,  give  prompt  notice to the
           Company  and  allow  the  Company,   at  its  expense,  to  undertake
           appropriate   action  to  prevent  disclosure  of,  or  to  obtain  a
           protective  order for, the Records deemed  confidential.  The Company
           shall  hold in  confidence  and  shall  not  make any  disclosure  of
           information  concerning an Investor  provided to the Company pursuant
           to this  Agreement  unless  (i)  disclosure  of such  information  is
           necessary to comply with federal or state  securities  laws, (ii) the
           disclosure  of such  information  is  necessary to avoid or correct a
           material  misstatement  or  omission in any  Registration  Statement,
           (iii) the  release  of such  information  is  ordered  pursuant  to a
           subpoena  or  other  order  from a  court  or  governmental  body  of
           competent  jurisdiction  or  (iv)  such  information  has  been  made
           generally  available  to the  public  other  than  by  disclosure  in
           violation of this or any other agreement.  The Company agrees that it
           shall,  upon learning that disclosure of such information  concerning
           an  Investor  is  sought  in or by a court  or  governmental  body of
           competent  jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to
           such Investor,  at its expense,  to undertake  appropriate  action to
           prevent  disclosure  of, or to obtain a  protective  order for,  such
           information;

                      (l) use its  best  efforts  either  to (i)  cause  all the
           Shares  covered  by the  Registration  Statement  to be  listed  on a
           national   securities   exchange  and  on  each  additional  national
           securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company
           are  then  listed,  if  any,  if  the  listing  of  such  Registrable
           Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange or (ii)
           secure  designation  of all the Shares  covered  by the  Registration
           Statement as a National  Association of Securities  Dealers Automated
           Quotations System ("NASDAQ") "national market system security" within
           the meaning of Rule 11Aa2-1 of the SEC under the Securities  Exchange
           Act of 1934, as amended (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and the quotation of
           the  Registrable  Securities on the NASDAQ National Market System or,
           if,  despite the  Company's  best  efforts to satisfy  the  preceding
           clause (i) or (ii),  the Company is  unsuccessful  in satisfying  the
           preceding  clause  (i) or  (ii),  to  secure  listing  on a  national
           securities  exchange or NASDAQ  authorization  and quotation for such
           Registrable  Securities and,  without  limiting the generality of the
           foregoing, to arrange for at least two market makers to register with
           the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as such
           with respect to such Registrable



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 12


           Securities;

                      (m) provide a transfer agent and registrar, which may be a
           single  entity,  for the  Registrable  Securities  not later than the
           effective date of the Registration Statement;

                      (n)  cooperate  with the  Investors  who hold  Registrable
           Securities  being sold and the managing  underwriter or underwriters,
           if  any,  to  facilitate  the  timely  preparation  and  delivery  of
           certificates  (not  bearing  any  restrictive  legends)  representing
           Registrable  Securities sold in the denominations or amounts,  as the
           case may be, and registered in such names as the managing underwriter
           or  underwriters,  if any, or the  Investors may  reasonably  request
           within  three  business  days  after  the  sale of  such  Registrable
           Securities in accordance  with an effective and current  Registration
           Statement or Rule 144. In  connection  therewith,  the Company  shall
           deliver,  and shall  cause legal  counsel  selected by the Company to
           deliver,  to the transfer agent for the Registrable  Securities (with
           copies to the Investors whose Registrable  Securities are included in
           such  Registration  Statement)  instructions to the transfer agent to
           issue new stock  certificates  without a legend.  The  Company  shall
           notify  each  Investor  of the  effectiveness  of  each  Registration
           Statement promptly following such effectiveness; and

                      (o)  take  all  other  reasonable   actions  necessary  to
           expedite  and   facilitate   disposition   by  the  Investor  of  the
           Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement;

                      4.         OBLIGATIONS  OF THE  INVESTORS.  In  connection
           with the  registration of the Registrable  Securities,  the Investors
           shall have the following obligations:

                      (a) It shall be a condition  precedent to the  obligations
           of the  Company to take any action  pursuant to this  Agreement  with
           respect to each  Investor  that such  Investor  shall  furnish to the
           Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities
           held by it and the intended  method of disposition of the Registrable
           Securities  held by it as shall be reasonably  required to effect the
           registration  of the  Registrable  Securities  and shall execute such
           documents in  connection  with such  registration  as the Company may
           reasonably  request.  At least  fifteen  (15) days prior to the first
           anticipated  filing date of the Registration  Statement,  the Company
           shall notify each



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 13


           Investor  of the  information  the  Company  requires  from each such
           Investor (the  "Requested  Information")  if such Investor  elects to
           have any of such Investor's  Registrable  Securities  included in the
           Registration Statement. If within five (5) business days prior to the
           filing date the Company has not  received the  Requested  Information
           from an Investor (a "Non-Responsive  Investor"), then the Company may
           file  the  Registration   Statement  without  including   Registrable
           Securities of such Non-Responsive Investor;

                      (b) Each Investor  agrees to cooperate with the Company as
           reasonably   requested  by  the  Company  in   connection   with  the
           preparation  and  filing  of the  Registration  Statement  hereunder,
           unless  such  Investor  has  notified  the Company in writing of such
           Investor's  election  to exclude all of such  Investor's  Registrable
           Securities from the Registration Statement;

                      (c) In the event Investors  holding a majority in interest
           of the Registrable  Securities being  registered  determine to engage
           the services of an  underwriter,  each Investor  agrees to enter into
           and  perform  such  Investor's   obligations  under  an  underwriting
           agreement,   in  usual  and  customary   form,   including,   without
           limitation,  customary  indemnification and contribution obligations,
           with the managing  underwriter  of such  offering and take such other
           actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate
           the disposition of the Registrable  Securities,  unless such Investor
           has  notified the Company in writing of such  Investor's  election to
           exclude  all of  such  Investor's  Registrable  Securities  from  the
           Registration Statement;

                      (d) Each Investor  agrees that, upon receipt of any notice
           from the Company pursuant to the second proviso of Section 3(a) or of
           the  happening of any event of the kind  described in Section 3(f) or
           3(g),  such  Investor will  immediately  discontinue  disposition  of
           Registrable   Securities  pursuant  to  the  Registration   Statement
           covering  such  Registrable  Securities  until (I) in the case of the
           second  proviso  under  Section  3(a),  the  end of the  time  period
           contained  therein,  (II) in the case of  Section  3(f),  until  such
           Investor's  receipt  of the  copies of the  supplemented  or  amended
           prospectus  contemplated  therein, and if so directed by the Company,
           such  Investor  shall  deliver to the  Company (at the expense of the
           Company)  or destroy  (and  deliver to the Company a  certificate  of
           destruction)  all  copies  in  such  Investor's  possession,  of  the
           prospectus  covering such Registrable  Securities current at the time
           of receipt of such notice and (III) in the case of Section 3(g),  the
           lifting of the order contemplated by such section; and




<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 14


                      (e)  No  Investor  may  participate  in  any  underwritten
           registration  hereunder  unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such
           Investor's  Registrable  Securities  on  the  basis  provided  in any
           underwriting   arrangements   approved  by  the  Investors   entitled
           hereunder to approve such arrangements pursuant to Section 3(e), (ii)
           completes  and  executes  all  questionnaires,  powers  of  attorney,
           indemnities,  underwriting  agreements and other documents reasonably
           required under the terms of such underwriting  arrangements and (iii)
           agrees to pay its pro rata share of all  underwriting  discounts  and
           commissions and other fees and expenses of investment bankers and any
           manager or managers of such  underwriting  and legal  expenses of the
           underwriter applicable with respect to its Registrable Securities, in
           each case to the extent not  payable by the  Company  pursuant to the
           terms of this Agreement.

                      5.         EXPENSES OF  REGISTRATION.  All expenses (other
           than  underwriting  discounts  and  commissions  and  other  fees and
           expenses of investment bankers and other than brokerage  commissions)
           incurred in connection with registrations,  filings or qualifications
           pursuant  to Sections 2 and 3,  including,  without  limitation,  all
           registration,   listing  and   qualifications   fees,   printers  and
           accounting  fees and the fees and  disbursements  of counsel  for the
           Company, shall be borne by the Company;  provided,  however, that the
           Investors shall bear the fees and  out-of-pocket  expenses of the one
           legal  counsel  selected by the  Investors  pursuant to Section  3(h)
           hereof.

                      6.         INDEMNIFICATION.  In the event any  Registrable
           Securities  are  included  in a  Registration  Statement  under  this
           Agreement:

                      (a) To the  extent  permitted  by law,  the  Company  will
           indemnify and hold harmless each Investor who holds such  Registrable
           Securities, the directors, if any, of such Investor, the officers, if
           any, of such Investor, each person, if any, who controls any Investor
           within the meaning of the  Securities  Act or the Exchange Act (each,
           an  "Indemnified  Person"),  against  any  losses,  claims,  damages,
           expenses or liabilities (joint or several) (collectively "Claims") to
           which any of them  become  subject  under  the  Securities  Act,  the
           Exchange  Act or  otherwise,  insofar as such  Claims (or  actions or
           proceedings,  whether  commenced or threatened,  in respect  thereof)
           arise out of or are based  upon (i) any untrue  statement  or alleged
           untrue  statement of a material  fact  contained in the  Registration
           Statement or any post-effective  amendment thereof or the omission or
           alleged omission to state therein a material fact



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 15


           required to be stated  therein or  necessary  to make the  statements
           therein not misleading,  (ii) any untrue  statement or alleged untrue
           statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary  prospectus
           (as amended or  supplemented  if the Company  files any  amendment or
           supplement  thereto with the SEC) if used prior to the effective date
           of such Registration  Statement, or contained in the final prospectus
           (as  amended or  supplemented,  if the  Company  files any  amendment
           thereof  or  supplement  thereto  with the SEC),  if used  within the
           period  during  which  the  Company  shall  be  required  to keep the
           Registration   Statement  current  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  this
           Agreement,  or the omission or alleged  omission to state therein any
           material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light
           of the  circumstances  under which the statements  therein were made,
           not  misleading  or (iii) any  violation or alleged  violation by the
           Company  of the  Securities  Act,  the  Exchange  Act  or  any  state
           securities  law  or  any  rule  or  regulation  (the  matters  in the
           foregoing   clauses   (i)   through   (iii)   being,    collectively,
           "Violations"). Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6 (d)
           with  respect  to the  number of legal  counsel,  the  Company  shall
           reimburse  the  Investors and each such  underwriter  or  controlling
           person,  promptly  as  such  expenses  are  incurred  and are due and
           payable,  for any legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by
           them in connection  with  investigating  or defending any such Claim.
           Notwithstanding  anything  to  the  contrary  contained  herein,  the
           indemnification  agreement  contained  in this Section 6(a) (I) shall
           not apply to a Claim  arising out of or based upon a Violation  which
           occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information  furnished
           in writing to the Company by any  Indemnified  Person or  underwriter
           for such Indemnified  Person expressly for use in connection with the
           preparation  of the  Registration  Statement  or any  such  amendment
           thereof or supplement  thereto;  (II) with respect to any preliminary
           prospectus,  shall not inure to the  benefit of any such  person from
           whom the person  asserting any such Claim  purchased the  Registrable
           Securities  that are the  subject  thereof  (or to the benefit of any
           person  controlling  such person) if the untrue statement or omission
           of  material  fact  contained  in  the  preliminary   prospectus  was
           corrected in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, if such
           prospectus  was timely  made  available  by the  Company  pursuant to
           Section  3(c)  hereof;  and (III) shall not apply to amounts  paid in
           settlement of any Claim if such  settlement  is effected  without the
           prior  written  consent of the Company,  which  consent  shall not be
           unreasonably withheld.  Such indemnity shall remain in full force and
           effect  regardless of any  investigation  made by or on behalf of the
           Indemnified Persons and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable
           Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.




<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 16


                      (b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which
           an Investor is participating,  each such Investor agrees to indemnify
           and hold  harmless,  to the same  extent  and in the same  manner set
           forth in Section 6(a), the Company,  each of its  directors,  each of
           its officers who signs the Registration  Statement,  each person,  if
           any, who controls  the Company  within the meaning of the  Securities
           Act or the Exchange Act, any  underwriter  and any other  stockholder
           selling securities  pursuant to the Registration  Statement or any of
           its directors or officers or any person who controls such stockholder
           or  underwriter  within  the  meaning  of the  Securities  Act or the
           Exchange  Act  against  any  Claim  to which  any of them may  become
           subject,  under the  Securities  Act, the Exchange Act or  otherwise,
           insofar as such Claim  arises out of or is based upon any  Violation,
           in each  case  to the  extent  (and  only to the  extent)  that  such
           Violation  occurs (I) in reliance upon and in conformity with written
           information  furnished to the Company by such Investor  expressly for
           use in  connection  with  such  Registration  Statement  or (II)  the
           Investor's  violation  of Rules  10-b-6 or 10-b-7  under the Exchange
           Act; and such  Investor  will  promptly  reimburse any legal or other
           expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating
           or defending any such Claim;  provided,  however,  that the indemnity
           agreement  contained  in this Section 6(b) shall not apply to amounts
           paid in  settlement  of any  Claim  if such  settlement  is  effected
           without the prior  written  consent of such  Investor,  which consent
           shall not be unreasonably withheld;  provided, further, however, that
           the  Investor  shall be liable  under this Section 6(b) for only that
           amount  of a Claim  as does  not  exceed  the  net  proceeds  to such
           Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable  Securities  pursuant
           to such Registration  Statement.  Such indemnity shall remain in full
           force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf
           of such  indemnified  party and shall  survive  the  transfer  of the
           Registrable  Securities  by the  Investors  pursuant  to  Section  9.
           Notwithstanding  anything  to  the  contrary  contained  herein,  the
           indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect
           to any preliminary  prospectus  shall not inure to the benefit of any
           indemnified  party if the untrue  statement  or  omission of material
           fact  contained  in the  preliminary  prospectus  was  corrected on a
           timely basis in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented.

                      (c) The Company  shall be entitled to receive  indemnities
           from  underwriters,  selling  brokers,  dealer  managers  and similar
           securities industry professionals  participating in any distribution,
           to the same extent as provided  above,  with  respect to  information
           such persons so furnished  in writing by such persons  expressly  for
           inclusion in the Registration Statement.



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 17



                      (d) Promptly after receipt by an  indemnified  party under
           this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action (including
           any governmental action), such indemnified party shall, if a Claim in
           respect  thereof is to be made against any  indemnifying  party under
           this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of
           the commencement  thereof and the  indemnifying  party shall have the
           right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so
           desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed,
           to assume  control of the defense  thereof  with  counsel  reasonably
           satisfactory to the indemnifying  parties;  provided,  however,  that
           indemnified  party  shall have the right to retain  its own  counsel,
           with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying  party, if,
           in the  reasonable  opinion of counsel  retained by the  indemnifying
           party, the  representation  by such counsel of the indemnified  party
           and the indemnifying  party would be  inappropriate  due to actual or
           potential  differing  interests  between any indemnified party and an
           indemnifying  party  represented by such counsel in such  proceeding.
           The Company  shall pay for only one  separate  legal  counsel for the
           Investors;  which  shall  be  selected  by the  Investors  holding  a
           majority in interest of the  Registrable  Securities.  The failure to
           deliver written notice to the indemnifying  party within a reasonable
           time of the  commencement  of any such action  shall not relieve such
           indemnifying  party of any liability to the  indemnified  party under
           this Section 6, except to the extent that the  indemnifying  party is
           prejudiced in its ability to defend such action. The  indemnification
           required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic  payments of the
           amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense,  as
           such  expense,  loss,  damage or liability is incurred and is due and
           payable.

                      7.         CONTRIBUTION.  In order to provide for just and
           equitable  contribution,  if a claim for indemnification  pursuant to
           this Agreement is made but it is found in a final judgment by a court
           of competent  jurisdiction  (not subject to further appeal) that such
           indemnification  may not be  enforced  in such case,  even though the
           express  provisions hereof provide for  indemnification in such case,
           then the  indemnifying  party,  on the one hand, and the  indemnified
           party on the other hand,  shall  contribute  to the  losses,  claims,
           damages,  obligations,  penalties,  judgments,  awards,  liabilities,
           costs,  expenses and  disbursements to which the indemnified  persons
           may be subject in accordance with the relative  benefits  received by
           the indemnifying  party, on the one hand, and the indemnified  party,
           on the other hand, and also the



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 18


           relative  fault of the parties,  in connection  with the  statements,
           acts or omissions  which  resulted in such losses,  claims,  damages,
           obligations,   penalties,   judgments,  awards,  liabilities,  costs,
           expenses and disbursements, and the relevant equitable considerations
           shall  also  be  considered,   but  contribution  by  any  seller  of
           Registrable  Securities  shall be limited in amount to the net amount
           of proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable
           Securities. No person found liable for a fraudulent misrepresentation
           shall be  entitled  to  contribution  from any person who is not also
           found liable for such fraudulent misrepresentation.

                      8.         REPORTS  UNDER  EXCHANGE  ACT.  With a view  to
           making  available  to the  Investors  the benefits of Rule 144 or any
           other  similar  rule or  regulation  of the SEC  that may at any time
           permit the Investors to sell  securities of the Company to the public
           without registration,  until such time as the Investors have sold all
           the Registrable  Securities  pursuant to a Registration  Statement or
           Rule 144 or until  paragraph (k) of Rule 144 becomes  available  with
           respect to the sale of all Registrable Securities, the Company agrees
           to:

                      (a) make and keep  current  public  information  available
           under paragraph (c) of Rule 144;

                      (b) file with the SEC in a timely  manner all  reports and
           other documents  required of the Company under the Securities Act and
           the Exchange Act; and

                      (c) furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns
           Registrable   Securities,   promptly  upon  request,  (i)  a  written
           statement  by the Company  that it has  complied  with the  reporting
           requirements  of Rule 144, the  Securities  Act and the Exchange Act,
           (ii) a copy of the most  recent  annual  or  quarterly  report of the
           Company to the SEC and such other  reports and  documents so filed by
           the Company  with the SEC after the most recent  annual or  quarterly
           report  and  (iii)  such  other  information  as  may  be  reasonably
           requested to permit the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to
           Rule 144 without registration.

                      9.         ASSIGNMENT  OF  THE  REGISTRATION  RIGHTS.  The
           rights to have the Company register  Registrable  Securities pursuant
           to this  Agreement may be assigned by the Investors to transferees or
           assignees of all or any portion of



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 19


           the  Debentures  or the Shares only if: (a) the Company is,  within a
           reasonable  time after  transfer or  assignment  of such  securities,
           furnished  with  written  notice of (i) the name and  address of such
           transferee or assignee and (ii) the securities  with respect to which
           such  registration  rights are being  transferred  or  assigned,  (b)
           immediately   following  such  transfer  or  assignment  the  further
           disposition  of such  securities  by the  transferee  or  assignee is
           restricted  under the Securities Act and applicable  state securities
           laws, and (c) at or before the time the Company  received the written
           notice  contemplated by clause (a) of this sentence the transferee or
           assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the
           provisions contained herein.

                      10.        AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. Any provision
           of this  Agreement may be amended and the  observance  thereof may be
           waived  (either  generally  or in a  particular  instance  and either
           retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the
           Company  and  Investors  who hold a majority  in interest of the then
           Registrable  Securities  (with Holders of Debentures  being deemed to
           own the number of shares of  Registrable  Securities  into which such
           Debentures are  convertible on the effective date of the amendment or
           waiver).  Any amendment or waiver  effected in  accordance  with this
           Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company.

                      11.        THIRD    PARTY    BENEFICIARY.    The   parties
           acknowledge  and agree  that  Shoreline  Pacific,  the  Institutional
           Division of  Financial  West Group  ("Shoreline  Pacific"),  shall be
           deemed a third party  beneficiary  of the  Company's  agreements  and
           representations set forth in this Agreement,  entitled to enforce the
           terms thereof,  and to  indemnification  for any damages resulting to
           Shoreline Pacific from any actual or threatened breach thereof by the
           Company,  both in Shoreline  Pacific's  personal capacity and, should
           Shoreline Pacific so elect, on behalf of the Investor.

                     12.          MISCELLANEOUS.

                      (a) A  person  or  entity  is  deemed  to be a  holder  of
           Registrable  Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record
           such  Registrable  Securities.  If the Company  receives  conflicting
           instructions,  notices  or  elections  from  two or more  persons  or
           entities with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company
           shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received
           from the registered owner of such Registrable Securities.



<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 20



                      (b) Except as otherwise  provided in this  Agreement,  any
           notice  which is  required  or  convenient  under  the  terms of this
           Agreement  shall be duly given if it is in writing and (a)  delivered
           in person (b) mailed by first class  mail,  postage  prepaid,  or (c)
           sent by private  overnight  courier service (such as Federal Express)
           and directed to the Initial Investor at its address appears under its
           name in the Subscription Agreement, if to any other Investor, at such
           address  as such  Investor  shall  have  provided  in  writing to the
           Company,  or if to the Company to its principal executive offices, or
           at such other address as each such party furnishes by notice given in
           accordance  with this Section 12(b).  Such notice shall be effective,
           when personally delivered,  upon receipt, when so sent by first class
           mail,  four business days after deposit with the United States Postal
           Service,  or when so sent by private overnight  courier service,  the
           next business day after deposit.

                      (c) Failure of any party to  exercise  any right or remedy
           under this Agreement or otherwise,  or delay by a party in exercising
           such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.

                      (d) This  Agreement  shall be  enforced,  governed  by and
           construed  in  accordance  with  the  laws of the  State  of New York
           applicable to the agreements made and to be performed entirely within
           such state.  In the event that any  provision  of this  Agreement  is
           invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law,
           then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it
           may conflict  therewith and shall be deemed  modified to conform with
           such  statute or rule of law.  Any  provision  hereof which may prove
           invalid or unenforceable  under any law shall not affect the validity
           or enforceability of any other provision hereof.

                      (e) This Agreement  constitutes the entire agreement among
           the parties hereto with respect to the subject  matter hereof.  There
           are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than
           those set forth or  referred  to herein  with  respect to the subject
           matter  hereof.  This Agreement  supersedes all prior  agreements and
           understandings  among the parties  hereto with respect to the subject
           matter hereof.

                      (f) Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof,  this
           Agreement  shall  inure to the  benefit  of and be  binding  upon the
           successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.




<PAGE>


American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc./[BUYER]
Registration Rights Agreement                                             [DATE]
Page 21

                      (g) All pronouns and any  variations  thereof refer to the
           masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the context may
           require.

                      (h) The headings in the Agreement are for  convenience  of
           reference  only and shall not limit or  otherwise  affect the meaning
           hereof.

                      (i)  This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  two  or  more
           counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed an  original  but all of
           which shall  constitute one and the same  agreement.  This Agreement,
           once executed by a party,  may be delivered to the other party hereto
           by telephone line facsimile  transmission of a copy of this Agreement
           bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.

           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed by their  respective  officers  thereunto duly authorized as of day and
year first above written.

                                          AMERICAN BIOGENETIC SCIENCES, INC.



                                          By_______________________________
                                               Josef C. Schoell
                                               Vice President-Finance

                                          [BUYER]



                                          By_______________________________
                                               [BUYER SIGN]
                                               [BUYER SIGN TITLE]






NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR ANY SHARES OF COMMON STOCK  ISSUABLE  UPON THE EXERCISE
OF THIS  WARRANT  HAVE BEEN  REGISTERED  UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933,  AS
AMENDED, AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS  PROMULGATED  THEREUNDER (THE "SECURITIES
ACT").  THIS WARRANT AND THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT
MAY  NOT  BE  OFFERED,   SOLD,  OR  OTHERWISE  TRANSFERRED  IN  THE  ABSENCE  OF
REGISTRATION  UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER IS EXEMPT
FROM SUCH REGISTRATION.

                    COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT CERTIFICATE

                            Dated: September 30, 1996

                                  [ ] Warrants

                             to Purchase [ ] Shares

                   of Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value Per Share

           American  Biogenetic  Sciences,  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company"),   hereby  certifies  that  [HOLDER],  its  permissible  transferees,
designees,  successors  and  assigns  (collectively,  the  "Holder"),  for value
received,  is entitled to purchase from the Company at any time until  September
30, 1998 up to [ ] shares (the "Shares") of the Company's  Class A Common Stock,
par value  $0.001  per share (the  "Common  Stock"),  at $5.7625  per share (the
"Exercise Price").

           1.  Exercise of Warrants.  Upon  presentation  and  surrender of this
Common  Stock  Purchase  Warrant  Certificate  ("Warrant  Certificate"  or "this
Certificate"),  with the attached Purchase Form duly executed,  at the principal
office of the Company at 1375 Akron Street, Copiague, NY, 11726, together with a
certified or bank cashier's check or wire transfer payable to the Company in the
amount of the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Shares being purchased,
the Company,  or the Company's Transfer Agent, as the case may be, shall deliver
to the Holder, certificates of Common Stock which in the aggregate represent the
number  of  Shares  being  purchased.  All or  less  than  all  of the  Warrants
represented by this Certificate may be exercised and, in case of the exercise of
less than all, the Company,  upon surrender hereof, will deliver to the Holder a
new Warrant  Certificate or Certificates of like tenor and dated the date hereof
entitling  said  holder to  purchase  the number of Shares  represented  by this
Certificate  which have not been  exercised and to receive  Registration  Rights
with respect to such Shares.

           In lieu of tendering the requisite  Exercise  Price to the Company in
cash,  the Holder may elect to exercise this Warrant  Certificate on a net basis
whereupon,  in lieu of the payment of the exercise  price in cash, the number of
shares of Common Stock issued upon such exercise shall be reduced by that number
of shares which have an aggregate  fair market value,  based upon the average of
the closing  prices for the  Company's  Common Stock for the three  trading days
immediately  preceding  the  Exercise  Date,  equal to the  requisite  aggregate
Exercise  Price  and the  Exercise  Price  shall be deemed to have been paid and
satisfied.



<PAGE>


Common Stock Purchase Warrant Certificate
Page 2



           2. Exchange and Transfer.  This  Certificate at any time prior to the
exercise  hereof,  upon  presentation  and  surrender  to  the  Company,  may be
exchanged, alone or with other Certificates of like tenor registered in the name
of the same Holder, for another Certificate or Certificates of like tenor in the
name of such  Holder  exercisable  for the  aggregate  number  of  Shares as the
Certificate or Certificates surrendered.

           3. Rights and  Obligations  of Holders of this  Certificate.  (a) The
Holder of this  Certificate  shall not,  by virtue  hereof,  be  entitled to any
rights of a stockholder  in the Company,  either at law or in equity;  provided,
however,  that in the event any certificate  representing shares of Common Stock
or other  securities is issued to the Holder hereof upon exercise of some or all
of the Warrants,  such Holder shall, for all purposes,  be deemed to have become
the holder of record of such Common Stock on the date on which this Certificate,
together with a duly executed  Purchase Form, was surrendered and payment of the
aggregate Exercise Price was made,  irrespective of the date of delivery of such
share certificate.

           (b) In case the Company  shall (i) pay a dividend in Common  Stock or
make a distribution in Common Stock, (ii) subdivide its outstanding Common Stock
into a greater number of shares,  or (iii) combine its outstanding  Common Stock
into a smaller number of shares (including a recapitalization in connection with
a consolidation  or merger in which the Company is the continuing  corporation),
then (x) the Exercise Price on the record date of such division or the effective
date of such action shall be adjusted by  multiplying  such Exercise  Price by a
fraction,  the  numerator  of which is the  number of  shares  of  Common  Stock
outstanding  immediately  before such event and the  denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock  outstanding  immediately  after such event and
(y) the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant  Certificate may
be exercised immediately before such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such
number by a fraction,  the numerator of which is the Exercise Price  immediately
before such event and the denominator of which is the Exercise Price immediately
after such event.

           (c) In case of any  consolidation  or merger of the  Company  with or
into another  corporation  (other than any  consolidation or merger in which the
Company  is  the  continuing  corporation  and  which  does  not  result  in any
reclassification  of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the conversion of
such  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock into  shares or other  stock or other
securities or property),  or the sale or transfer of the property of the Company
as an entirety or substantially as an entirety,  there shall be deliverable upon
exercise of the Warrant  Certificate  (in lieu of the number of shares of Common
Stock theretofore deliverable) the number of shares of stock or other securities
or  property  to which a holder of the  number of shares of Common  Stock  which
would  otherwise  have  been  deliverable  upon  the  exercise  of this  Warrant
Certificate   would  have  been  entitled  upon  such  action  if  this  Warrant
Certificate had been exercised immediately prior to such action.

           4. Common Stock. (a) The Company covenants and agrees that all shares
of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant  Certificate  will,  upon
delivery,   be  duly  and  validly   authorized   and  issued,   fully-paid  and
non-assessable.


<PAGE>


Common Stock Purchase Warrant Certificate
Page 3


           (b) The  Company  covenants  and  agrees  that  it will at all  times
reserve and keep  available an  authorized  number of shares of its Common Stock
and other applicable securities sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding options, warrants and rights, including the Warrants.

           5.  Registration  Rights.  The Common Shares  underlying this Warrant
will be  included  in the  registration  statement  to be filed  by the  Company
pursuant to the shelf  registration  obligations  of the Company as set forth in
the Registration  Rights Agreement to be entered into by the Company in favor of
each of the investors in the private placement of Debentures placed by Shoreline
Pacific  Institutional  Finance,  the  Institutional  Division of Financial West
Group.

           6.  Issuance  of  Certificates.  As soon as  possible  after  full or
partial  exercise  of this  Warrant,  but in any event  not more than  three (3)
business days, the Company, at its expense,  will cause to be issued in the name
of and delivered to the holder of this Warrant,  a certificate  or  certificates
for the number of fully paid and non-assessable  shares of Common Stock to which
that holder shall be entitled on such  exercise.  No  fractional  shares will be
issued  on  exercise  of this  Warrant.  If on any  exercise  of this  Warrant a
fraction  of a share  results,  the  Company  will  pay the  cash  value of that
fractional share, calculated on the basis of the Exercise Price.

           Prior to registration  of the shares of Common Stock  underlying this
Warrant  Certificate,  as  provided in Section 5 hereof,  all such  certificates
shall bear a  restrictive  legend to the effect that the Shares  represented  by
such  certificate  have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended,  and the Shares may not be sold or  transferred  in the absence of such
registration or an exemption  therefrom,  such legend to be substantially in the
form of the bold face language appearing on Page 1 of this Warrant Certificate.

           7. Disposition of Warrants or Shares. The Warrants and the underlying
Common  Stock have not been  registered  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended (including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the "Act"),
nor qualified under any State  securities law and may not be sold or transferred
in the absence of such  registration or an exemption  therefrom.  The Company is
under no obligation to register the Warrants and its  obligation to register the
underlying  Common Stock is as set forth in Section (5) hereof.  The Holder,  by
accepting  the  Warrants,  agrees that it is  acquiring  the  Warrants  and will
acquire any shares of Common Stock  issuable upon the exercise of any portion of
the Warrants for investment  only and without a view to  distribution  of all or
any part thereof, as the terms "investment only" and "distribution" have meaning
under the Act. The Warrants and,  until  registered,  the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants shall bear a legend  substantially in the
form of the bold face language appearing on page 1 of this Warrant Certificate.

The Holder of this Warrant  Certificate,  each transferee  hereof and any Holder
and transferee of any Shares, by his or its acceptance  thereof,  agrees that no
public  distribution  of  Warrants or Shares  will be made in  violation  of the
provisions of the Act.  Furthermore,  it shall be a condition to the transfer of
the  Warrants  that any  transferee  thereof  deliver to the  Company his or its
written  agreement  to accept  and be bound by all of the  terms and  conditions
contained in this Warrant Certificate.


<PAGE>


Common Stock Purchase Warrant Certificate
Page 4



           8. Notices. Except as otherwise specified herein to the contrary, all
notices,  requests,  demands and other communications  required or desired to be
given  hereunder  shall only be  effective  if given in writing by  certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested,  postage prepaid, or by U. S. express
mail service or private  overnight courier service (e.g.  Federal Express).  All
such notices  shall be sent to the  addresses  set forth below (or to such other
address  or  addresses  as a party  may have  advised  the  other in the  manner
provided in this  Section 8). Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given
(a) on the  business day  immediately  subsequent  to mailing,  if sent by U. S.
express  mail service or private  overnight  courier  service,  or (b) three (3)
business  days  following  the  mailing  thereof,  if  mailed  by  certified  or
registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested,:

                     If to the Company:

                     American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc.
                     1375 Akron Street
                     Copiague, NY  11726

                     If to the Holder:



           9.  Governing  Law.  This  Warrant  Certificate  and all  rights  and
obligations  hereunder shall be deemed to be made under and governed by the laws
of the State of New York (except as the corporate  laws of the State of Delaware
may mandatorily apply thereto).  The Holder hereby  irrevocably  consents to the
venue and  jurisdiction  of the State and Federal Courts located in the State of
New York, County of New York.

           10. Successors and Assigns. This Warrant Certificate shall be binding
upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties  hereto and their  respective
successors and assigns.

           11.  Headings.  The  headings  of various  sections  of this  Warrant
Certificate  have been  inserted for  reference  only and shall not be a part of
this Certificate.


<PAGE>


Common Stock Purchase Warrant Certificate
Page 5



           IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this Warrant  Certificate
to be duly executed by one of its officers thereunto duly authorized.

                                             AMERICAN BIOGENETIC SCIENCES, INC.



Date:_________________                       By:_______________________________
                                                   JOSEF C. SCHOELL
                                                   Vice President - Finance




<PAGE>





                              ELECTION TO PURCHASE

                          To Be Executed by the Holder
                      in Order to Exercise the Common Stock
                          Purchase Warrant Certificate

           The undersigned  Holder hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _______
of the Warrants  represented  by this Common Stock Warrant  Certificate,  and to
purchase the shares of Common Stock  issuable upon the exercise of such Warrants
and requests that certificates for securities be issued in the name of:

                _________________________________________________
                     (Please type or print name and address)

                _________________________________________________

                _________________________________________________

                _________________________________________________
                 (Social Security or tax identification number)

and delivered to _________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
                     (Please type or print name and address)

and, if such number of Warrants shall not be all the Warrants  evidenced by this
Common Stock Warrant  Certificate,  that a new Common Stock Warrant  Certificate
for the balance of such Warrants be registered in the name of, and delivered to,
the Holder at the address stated below.

           In full  payment of the  purchase  price with respect to the Warrants
exercised and transfer taxes, if any, the undersigned  hereby tenders payment of
$__________  by check or money order  payable in United  States  currency to the
order of American Biogenetic Sciences, Inc.

                                     [HOLDER]


Dated:___________________          By:_________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                   ____________________________________
                                                (Address)

                                   ____________________________________

                                   ____________________________________
                                  (Social Security or tax identification number)





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