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FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(B)(2)
FILE NUMBER 333-39275
PRICING SUPPLEMENT NO. 2
(To Prospectus Dated November 12, 1997, and
Prospectus Supplement dated April 28, 2000)
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$2,000,000
CYGNUS, INC.
Common Stock
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DATE OF PURCHASE............................ AUGUST 8, 2000
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NUMBER OF SHARES............................ 217,438
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PRICE PER SHARE............................. $9.198
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PROCEEDS TO CYGNUS.......................... $2,000,000
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The date of this Pricing Supplement is August 18, 2000.